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The Evolutionary Foundation Of Genomic Imprinting In Lower Vertebrates
A Chinese scientist group working in College of Life Science, Zhejiang University, has shown that, as mammalian Igf2 CpG island, goldfish Igf2 CpG island has a parental differentially methylated region (DMR). These results indicate that the evolutionary foundation of genomic imprinting exists in lower vertebrates and genomic imprinting should not be considered as a unique evolutionary event of mammals. The study is reported in volume 54 (Issue 8, April, 2009) of Chinese Science Bulletin.
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Opinion Pieces Discuss Criticisms Of Supreme Court Nominee Sotomayor
Two opinion pieces recently responded to criticisms of Judge Sonia Sotomayor, President Obama"s nominee to the Supreme Court.~ Raina Kelley, Newsweek: The "discussions about whether ... Sotomayor was chosen just because she is a Hispanic woman drive me nuts," Newsweek columnist Kelley writes. She continues, "Yes, the fact that she"s a Latina makes a difference in what she brings to the bench, but let"s not overlook the fact that she"d be qualified for the job even if she were a white man." Citing Sotomayor"s experience as a Second Circuit Court of Appeals judge for more than a decade and her educational qualifications as a graduate of Princeton University and Yale Law School, Kelley writes that "we can assume that she has at least some of the appropriate skills to be a Supreme Court justice." She adds, "But when she sits down for those hearings in front of the cameras and the country, the lingering question will still be, "Did she get into all those great schools just because of her race?"" Kelley writes, "It"s infuriating to me that a woman as competent as Sotomayor will have to prove she deserves her nomination while a white-male colleague with the same resume can skip that step and go straight to his judicial philosophy." According to Kelley, "It is time for our hallowed institutions to look like the country" they serve. She notes that "white males have gotten the jobs over at the Supreme Court 96% of the time," concluding that "the assumption that they"re naturally the best candidate for everything, and we"re doing anyone else a favor if we give them a desirable job, is a bit much" (Kelley, Newsweek, 5/29).~ Kathleen Parker, Washington Post: "Even without the help of all those foot soldiers who blast out late-night memos, any sentient being could have predicted the reaction" last week to the nomination of Sotomayor, syndicated columnist Parker writes. She adds, "Within minutes" of the announcement, "a dozen other e-mails tumbled through the hatch enumerating all the reasons Sotomayor was a terrible pick: affirmative action, identity politics, the Ricci [v. DeStefano] case, double standards, racism, sexism." She continues, "Although her judicial record has raised some legitimate concerns, Sotomayor isn"t so easily characterized as the radical liberal that some on the right have suggested. She has ruled favorably toward abortion protesters and unfavorably toward minority plaintiffs." In reference to Sotomayor"s 2001 comments that her experiences as a Hispanic woman might help her reach a ""better conclusion than a white male who hasn"t lived that life,"" Parker asks, "Could a white man get away with saying something comparable about a Latina? Of course not. After Latinas have run the world for 2,000 years, they won"t be able to say it ever again either." Parker continues, "For now, the hot winds of punditry could use a little chill," concluding, "Calling Sotomayor a sexist and racist, far from being fair, is an irrational rush to judgment unbecoming ladies, gentlemen, scoundrels and scholars" (Parker, Washington Post, 5/31).
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No Evidence That Combined DTP-HBV-Hib Vaccine Works Better
There is no evidence that giving infants a combination vaccine for diphtheria (D), tetanus (T), pertussis (P), hepatitis B (HBV), and Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) protects them as effectively as separate vaccines, according to the results of a new Cochrane review.
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Zimbabwean PM To Meet With Clinton, Obama In Appeal For Foreign Aid

Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai met with U.S. lawmakers in Washington, D.C., Wednesday in an attempt to secure donations for a country in economic collapse, ZimOnline reports. Tsvangirai"s visit is part of "a three-week trip to America and Europe to try to drum up financial support for the power-sharing government," entered into with his political rival, President Robert Mugabe in February, according to ZimOnline (ZimOnline, 6/11). Tsvangirai will meet with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday before meeting President Barack Obama on Friday, VOA News reports (Zulu/Chiripasi, VOA News, 6/10). SAPA/News24 writes, "Obama and Tsvangirai will "discuss the difficult road ahead in Zimbabwe, including how the United States can support the forces of reform as they work to bring the rule of law, respect for human rights, and free and fair elections back to Zimbabwe," the White House said" (SAPA/News24.com, 6/9). "It will be important for the U.S. to give transitional support to us, because the alternative" - such as an increase in hyperinflation, poverty and violence - "is too ghastly if we fail," Tsvangirai said (Magee, Dow Jones Newswires/Wall Street Journal, 6/10). Zimbabwe"s economic crisis has led to a breakdown of basic social services in the country, complicated by a cholera crisis that has infected about 100,000 people and killed more than 4,200. In early June, the U.N. increased its appeal for foreign aid from $550 million to $718 million to meet Zimbabwe"s growing humanitarian crisis (Kaiser Daily Global Health Policy Report, 6/2). However, U.S. leaders are hesitant, Reuters reports. "The top U.S. diplomat for Africa, Johnnie Carson, said this week that Washington was troubled by the absence of reform in Zimbabwe and had no plans for now to offer major aid or lift sanctions against Mugabe. Western aid is only beginning to trickle in - and all of it is bypassing the government," writes Reuters (Reuters, 6/10). NPR"s All Things Considered examines the task ahead of Tsvangirai in convincing U.S. leaders to "to lift sanctions and put some trust in his power-sharing arrangement" (Kelemen, NPR, 6/10). This information was reprinted from globalhealth.kff.org with kind permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Global Health Policy Report, search the archives and sign up for email delivery at globalhealth.kff.org. © Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.


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