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To: Logain Ablar who wrote (14287)	2/28/2019 12:08:08 PM
From: Pogeu Mahone	1 Recommendation Recommended By Cogito Ergo Sum Respond to of 17062

Scientists Have Created Cannabis's Active Ingredients In The Lab Without Using The Plant HEALTH AND MEDICINE Rachel Baxter 28 FEB 2019, 13:05 For centuries, we’ve relied on a tiny fungus called brewer’s yeast to help us produce a rather essential trio: bread, beer, and wine. Now, scientists have genetically engineered it to produce Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) – the key ingredients of marijuana. Publishing their findings in Nature, the team modified yeast so that it contained a number of genes normally found in the marijuana plant. They engineered two different sets of yeast – one that could produce a substance called THCA and another that made CBDA. When these are heated, you get THC and CBD. In recent years, scientific research has shown marijuana to have a number of potential medical uses, from easing anxiety and PTSD to reducing epileptic seizures. Although we still have a lot to learn about its effects on the body, research suggests it is safer to use than alcohol and tobacco, so it’s perhaps not all that surprising that cannabis, its extracts, and THC-containing medicines are now legal in various countries and US states. THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis, is currently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat nausea experienced by patients undergoing chemotherapy and to increase the appetite of those suffering from AIDS. Meanwhile, CBD, which affects the brain without causing a high, is approved for the treatment of epileptic seizures in children. An obstacle for scientists trying to unlock the marijuana plant’s full potential is that the chemicals within it occur in very small quantities and are therefore difficult to extract. But yeast are little powerhouses that can churn out the substances for scientists to study and consumers to use. “For the consumer, the benefits are high-quality, low-cost CBD and THC: you get exactly what you want from yeast,” said Jay Keasling, a University of California, Berkeley professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and of bioengineering, in a statement. “It is a safer, more environmentally friendly way to produce cannabinoids.” Growing marijuana plants damages the environment as outdoor farms pollute water with pesticides and fertilizers, while indoor growing arrangements use a great deal of energy to maintain artificial lighting and ventilation. Using yeast could massively reduce marijuana’s impact on the environment. Intriguingly, the GM yeast also produces its own cannabinoids that aren’t made by the plant. According to Keasling, there is “the possibility of new therapies based on novel cannabinoids: the rare ones that are nearly impossible to get from the plant, or the unnatural ones, which are impossible to get from the plant. “When you read about cases of patients who have seizures and are helped by CBD, especially children, you realize there is some value in these molecules, and that producing cannabinoids in yeast could really be great.”

To: Logain Ablar who wrote (14287)	3/17/2019 12:29:30 PM
From: Pogeu Mahone	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 17062

Ticks are dangerous and disgusting. Pennsylvania is in the midst of a 5-year look at diseases they spread. Updated Mar 16, 8:47 AM; Posted Mar 16, 7:30 AM Third-Party-Submitted A deer tick on an adult thumb, for size comparison. (Stuart Meek, Wikimedia Commons image) 18 618shares By Hanna O'Reilly \| For lehighvalleylive.com Pennsylvania is working to get a handle on ticks and tickborne illnesses like Lyme disease, that pose a threat to public health to the Lehigh Valley and beyond. Since July 2018, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has coordinated with county governments on a five-year effort to assess the risk of tickborne illnesses across the state. The environmental surveillance program stems from a recommendation from the PA Lyme Disease Task Force. “Lyme disease is a major public health concern in Pennsylvania,” Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine said in a statement. “Many people believe that Lyme disease, and the ticks that carry the disease, can only be found in wooded areas. These surveillance efforts will help us to share with all Pennsylvanians the importance of taking steps to protect yourself,” she added. This survey is occurring in every county in Pennsylvania as a way to analyze ticks and their habitats, life states and peak activity levels. Lehigh and Northampton counties are among 38 counties that are also part of specific surveys of nymphal blacklegged ticks. The Pennsylvania Department of Health is funding the study. The ticks will be collected using white felt drags, which sample low-lying ground cover and understory vegetation for ticks. One goal is to better alert the public about how to avoid tick-infested areas and their potentially debilitating diseases. This spring and summer, the survey will be taken from May through August, once per week at two different sampling locations, which can be parks, playgrounds, recreational fields or other domestic habitat (with landowner permission), according to the DEP. Ticks collected are immediately placed in a 70-80 percent alcohol solution, labeled and sent to the DEP. “Lyme disease affects thousands of Pennsylvanians every year, but ticks are also known to carry other pathogens that could infect humans,” DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell said in a statement. “This survey will provide important data that will help us better understand these arachnids in our environment and inform Pennsylvanians on how, when and where to avoid getting bitten by a disease-carrying tick." Here is more from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on avoiding ticks and tickborne illness like Lyme disease: DOCUMENT PAGES TEXT Zoom « Page 1 of 12 » CDC Lyme Disease Widget Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.