Dog skull study reveals genetic changes linked to face shape

A study of dog DNA has revealed a genetic mutation linked to flat face shapes such as those seen in pugs and bulldogs.

The research reveals new insights into the genes that underpin skull formation in people and animals.

Scientists say their findings also shed light on the causes of birth defects that affect babies' head development in the womb.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute analysed DNA samples from 374 pet dogs of various pedigree and mixed breeds. The dogs were being treated at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.

All of the animals underwent body scans as part of their care, producing detailed 3-dimensional images of the dogs' heads.

These high-resolution images -- called CT scans -- enabled the researchers to take precise measurements of the shape of the dog's skull.

By comparing the dogs' genetic information with measurements of their skulls, the team were able to pinpoint DNA variations that are associated with different head shapes.-read more

JOHN NOAKES R.I.P

When i was growing up i used to watch the cult childern,s show BLUE PETER and one of my favorite presenters was JOHN NOAKES  who in this show for twelve and half years -1965-1978.He was famous for doing daredevil stunts like climbing nelsons column in Trafalgar square ,crashing a bobsled,leaping fro a plane to free fall 5 miles.He had a real on screen chemistry with resident collie co star -SHEP -who died in 1987 -and would say on many a show get down shep which became a bit of a catchphrase .

Rare WHITE sparrow snapped in Wales

The unique feathered creature was spotted hopping around and being fed by its mother in Newport, South Wales, by hobby photographer Claire Griffiths.

The stunning white bird could be mistaken for an albino, but the 46-year-old believes it has a condition called Leucism which only affects the pigment in its skin and feathers giving it its white hue. -READ MORE

WELL DONE EDDIE HALL WORLDS STRONGEST MAN

Eddie Hall has become the first Briton in 24 years to be crowned the World’s Strongest Man as he beat runner-up Hafthor Julius Bjornsson – better known as The Mountain from TV show Game of Thrones.

Hall, who is nicknamed The Beast – made history by winning the competition in Botswana on Sunday.

The 31-stone strongman came out on top in the squat lift, Viking press and deadlift rounds on the way to winning the title.-read more

NEW FITNESS FAD MADNESS

If  you are willing to try yet another fitness fad method please consider the following -BUGGY BOOTCAMP -in which new mums can use their babies as weights no for me .

man lives with magpie

Baa-humbug! Scientists develop face test for sad sheep

LONDON -- They may look placid while grazing in fields but sheep's faces can tell us a lot, according to scientists in Britain who have developed a new system to work out if sheep are in pain or just feeling sad.

The test is based on 500 photos of sheep collected by veterinarians and used to design an algorithm by researchers at Cambridge University that measures five key markers of ovine facial expressions.

When sheep are in pain their eyes narrow, their cheeks tighten, their ears fold forwards, their lips pull down and back and their nostrils change from a U shape to a V shape, according to the scientists.

They now hope to extend the test to other species, including horses, rabbits and some rodents.

By installing cameras in sheep pens, the scientists hope the test will help farmers spot injuries or illnesses early on and find treatment.-read more

Giant sloth remains found in Los Angeles

Fossils found by workers digging a tunnel for a new railway line in Los Angeles have been identified as the remains of a giant sloth and a bison.

The "amazing discovery" of a sloth's hip bone and a fragment of a bison's radius bone was made about 16ft (5m) below ground in Park Mesa Heights.

Scientists say the Harlan's Ground Sloth could have weighed 1,500lb (680kg), and been up to 10ft in length.

The sloth and bison species have been extinct for at least 10,000 years.-read more

CAN I HAVE YOUR PERFUME SAYS TIGER.

Howletts ,the aspinall wild animal park,Kent  is asking for donations of perfume and aftershave for its tigers.These are used to spray around tiger enclosures as it is believed that the smells awaken the tiger senses and trigger natural tracking behaviour and communication.see their Facebook page video and post

5 Things You Need To Know About Direct Cremation

Basic Features Of Direct Cremation

Because direct cremation does not include a formal funeral or any pre-funeral events, many of the costs of a traditional funeral are avoided.

• The body is cremated immediately after death, which means that you may engage the services of a crematory directly rather than a funeral home. This can potentially save you a significant amount of money.
• The body is usually cremated in a simple container, rather than an expensive casket
• There is no viewing, visitation, or wake before the cremation, which eliminates the need for embalming or other body preparations
• A memorial service may be held at a later date, which eliminates the need for an expensive casket and funeral arrangements

Service Options

If you are interested in a direct cremation but want to have a formal service as well, that service will likely take the form of a memorial service at a later date. If you want to have a service before the cremation, you will not be planning a direct cremation, -READ MORE

SIR ROGER MOORE R.I.P

To me he was the James bond 007 i grew up with and watched in the cinemas ,why did i like him as the character of James bond it was due to his humour ,trademark Englishman,killer instinct and some of the greatest theme songs featured in his 7 films but he was also Simon templer aka the saint on television and did a lot of charity work -peta and unicef -and got a knighthood in 2003 for humanitarian work.I finish this bit of post with a goodnight mr bond and will revisit his films.He once said of his acting(he had 3 expessions,eyebrow up,eyebrow down and then both of them at same time.READ MORE ABOUT HIM ON WIKI LINK

Orbit of Earth-Size Exoplanet TRAPPIST-1h in Alien Solar System Nailed Down

The orbits of all seven Earth-size planets in the TRAPPIST-1 system are now known.

Astronomers have nailed down the path of TRAPPIST-1h, the outermost planet in the system, finding that this world takes just under 19 Earth days to complete one lap around its small, faint host star. 

The new result suggests that TRAPPIST-1h is too cold to host life as we know it, and it confirms that all seven TRAPPIST-1 worlds circle their star in a sort of gravitational lockstep with one another, study team members said. [Exoplanet Tour: Meet the 7 Earth-Size Planets of TRAPPIST-1]

"It's incredibly exciting that we're learning more about this planetary system elsewhere, especially about planet h, which we barely had information on until now," Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate at the agency's headquarters in Washington, D.C., said in a statement. -read more

FANCY A POSH BITE.

If you like something a little bit on the posh side why not try a cruffin.What is a cruffin well its a cross between a muffin and a croissant -flaky like a croissant on the outside and with  a muffin like filling .As for flavours you can get chocolate and hazelnut ,seville orange and strawberry ,champagne ,all you need to do is pop into your nearest marks and spencers .

COULD I WRITE A BOOK?

Their say everyone has a good book inside them but i think not .If i was to write a book about myself it would be mostly boring with some bits worth a read .What would i put in my book events in my life i think .

BOY I NEED A WEE.

Every morning without fail due to taking tablets for enlarged prostate gland i go wee at less 8 times if not more .When the weather gets hotter or colder i get uneasiness in my groin area which can last a few days and is uncomfortable to put with.I get embarrassment when miss the toilet and wet myself not something i am proud about but will admit to you dear reader.

Strange Signals from Outer Space!

For decades some have suspected that there might be others out there, intelligent beings capable of communicating with us, even visiting our world. It might sound like science fiction, but today scientists from across the globe are scouring the universe for signals from extraterrestrials.

In 2006, husband and wife team Duncan Lorimer and Maura McLaughlin discovered an enigmatic signal from space, known as a fast radio burst. It was a pulse of radiation so bright, it didn't appear to be caused by any known object in the universe. Explanations ranged from colliding neutron stars to communication signals from an alien civilisation far more advanced from our own.

Scientists have been searching the cosmos for strange signals like the Lorimer Burst for more than 50 years. The film ends with scientists' latest search for extraterrestial intelligence. Horizon obtained exclusive access to film researchers at the Green Bank Telescope searching for radio signals from Tabby's Star, a star so mysterious that some scientists believe it might be surrounded by a Dyson Sphere, a vast energy collector built by advanced aliens.-read more and see programme

lighting flash recorded from my front room at holsworthy ,devon 26-05-2017

Barbara Raines 26.05.5.2017.in memory of my mum

What can I say about the person I knew as my mum;the person who brought me -mark ;nicky;joanne;jayne into the world. Mum was the one who never told me off when I bunked off school or put a football  through the front room window. She was married to my  dad -Paul Tony Raines who died 13.05.2013;for nearly fifty years. She was not perfect as obsessive with her cleaning but I will  always remember her taking me and Nicky for a meal after work -then as a cleaner at southend hospital I enjoyed the banana split for afters. I would ring  her every week for a chat and she always give to all her grandchildren. Still least she got to see us all get married and see her girls have children if their own. So how do I say goodbye to my mum with a gaze into the Stars and hope she is looking down on me and my sisters and extended family so we can say thank you for being  my mum. -</div>

ANICENT TATTOO NEEDLES FOUND.

An Alaskan dig discovered 400 year old ivory tattoo needles and masks which were used by natives known as YUPIKS,and these items are to be sent to UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN for preservation.

Where's wallaby? A marsupial is on the run in Cornwall

The RSPCA is asking people in Cornwall to contact them if they see a wallaby after one was spotted earlier this week. The animal welfare charity was called by a member of the public who had spotted the marsupial roaming near South Petherwin in Launceston, during Monday evening, 8 May.-read more and see photos