Dr. H Gobind Khorana and the words of life...

From the alphabets (bases) of a DNA,
U for Uracil,
C for Cytosine,
A for Adenine and
G for Guanine

scientists identified "words". For some reason they are all three lettered words by nature. Sequence of these words form "phrases". Some of the words marked the "start and stop word" of a phrase. This discovery has lead to our understanding of genetic code passed through ancestry and decipher its meaning.


Three letter words on DNA

One of the key individuals who discovered and defined these genetic words is Dr. Har Gobind Khorana, a noble laureate of Indian origin. He passed away this week near our neck of the woods at Concord, Massachusetts.

During my high school days, I remember my Biology teacher used to quote his work on genes. His journey of life from a small village in India is filled with remarkable achievements and relentless search for the meaning of life. In his journey he has given us something akin to the 'periodic table' of the fundamental building blocks of "life".

May his Soul rest in peace.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/14/us/h-gobind-khorana-1968-nobel-winner-for-rna-research-dies.html

Fair and Tan

"The grass is always greener on the other side". That is true when it comes to establishing industries across the globe. People want opposite things on either side of the planet.

The tanning saloons are a growing business in the US. So much so that California has to pass legislation to restrict girls younger than 18 yrs old from using the tanning saloons. White skinned girls and women want to look brown, aka 'tanned' in the sun. They subject themselves to UV radiation in an indoor bed to turn the color of their skin to brown. Some research indicates that excessive use of tanning beds can be carcinogenic for young girls. So came the California law.

On the other side of the world, there is a craze for the fairness creams. A 'lovely' product is now advertising the fairness cream for men in India. There is fascination in trying to look white or fair instead of dark skinned or brown. The desire is so embedded in the culture that almost in every matrimonial ad people are looking for a fair girl. No one seems to want a dark skinned girl, unfortunately. At least they don't seek out.

The irony is that some of the same companies who make the tanning products for the western world also make the fairness products for the other market! The tragedy of capitalism is in trying to sell the rope if someone wants to commit suicide. No questions asked! Goes back to the edict 'buyer beware'. Why can't we all just look the way we are naturally born!?