Accuracy of DNA Paternity Testing Methods

Dna-For Fitter & Happy Living

Francis Harry Compton Crick was a physicist, molecular biologist and neuro scientist ? a co-discoverer of the structure of the DNA molecule in 1953. He was awarded the 1962 Nobel Prize jointly with James D. Watson and Maurice Wilkins for discovering the molecular structure of nuclei acids and the importance for information transfer in living matter.

DNA is an abbreviation for Deoxyribonucleic Acid. Since its discovery, a new page has evolved in scientific history where old questions have a new and different yet startling answers. It has mostly improved human life and thinking. It has brought the past under a clear microscopic view and the present to advancement in every field. This 3 letters have tremendously altered and will renew many aspects of living. You can pronounce it as ?de nah?

In my early years , I always had an ?addiction? for staying slim. To me staying slim means staying fit. I would never had a day without a 30 minutes jog around my living estate. The day I felt bored was the day when I did not go for a run. I was obsessed with it.

In child hood I was very playful. Not hyper but playful. Like most children. I played lots of games and my favourite was all of them. I thought this might be the reason for my being active in later life. But then my peers were not as ?slim conscious? as me. They would have been playful too like all children. And they were not excercising at all! A friend wondered how I had the desire to run everyday while he had the desire to eat anything he wanted. Despite this weak encouragement from friends I just run and burnt off that fat with delight.

My son who is now 17 years of age does not have the desire of running but has the desire to be as tall as Mr Dwayne Douglas Johnson-?Mr Rock?. My son is greatly influenced by the World Wrestling Entertainment championship matches in television. He had been jumping like a kangaroo. Well at least he has the desire to stay tall. I think his DNA is an improved version. My two daughters are still young and my eldest who just turned 16 in fact won a 1st prize in school running competition when she was 13. First participation and won. Her interest in running could have faded. Must be her pressure in school work which is taking a lot of her time. I did not notice anything in my third child and she is only 8 years old.

In one incident, I had forgotten to bring my wallet work. I told my office land rover driver to give me a lift and alight me at the nearby road so that I could run to my house to get my wallet back. No wallet no money. The driver kindly agreed. Once I reached home, I took my belonging from the drawer swiftly and came running back towards where the rover was parked as I did not want to affect my colleague's plan for the day?s work. My working colleague who was sitting behind the rover back seat looked at me with curiosity. I thought my private problem had somewhat irritated him slightly,

Surprisingly, he told me that ?you ran all the way to your home and returned so quickly??I replied, ?yeah?. He said ?you are a fast runner and you are not panting at all, very fit huh?. That was it. I was so happy to hear this. The first and only encouragement I get from a public and this pushed me to pursue with my passion- running! I kept running.

That was back in 1983 where after a clerical job in a bank for about 6 months, I joined a more ?manly job? in the Singapore Land Authority(formerly known as the Land Office) where I had all the the leisure time for my piece of cake ? running.

As I had got married in 1988 and changed to a more vibrant job in estate management I found that I could not find time for my passion . In 1995 my passion gradually came to a standstill. When my children came into my life, I did not sharpen my organisation skill to find time to pursue with my passion. The river has stopped flowing. It has frozen and became a glazier.

The year 2001 is a year with a difference. After 11 years of married life. I joined another company in estate management and I was given a project in managing a warehouse building. It was a fantastic project where everything fell into place. I had a good working team. My assistant really took care of the building and this freed me and let me had the time to divert my attention to staying slim. This time I was going high tech.

I joined a fitness centre known as Planet Fitness in 2002 for an annual fee of 900 dollars. But I did not care about the money. All I need is to burnt off my accumulated fats all over me. When I joined my burden was 90 kilogram. When I left the fitness in 2003, a year later my weight has dropped to nearly whopping 20 kilogram! I did not realise this drop in my weight until I took a photograph of me and my son (which I will post this later). It was an amazing feeling.

My profile of my body features has changed drastically. I could not believe myself. I was ineffably happy.I am not saying that the fitness centre improved my weight problem but I did 3 things for the fantastic improvement to my physique. The 3 factors are De ? Exercise,Never Over Eat and Adore Thyself. The DNA for fitter and happy life.

De ? Exercise

The word ?de? means ?do or make the opposite of ?. For example the word centralise means to cluster together or concentrate in one place. To ?de centralise? means to do the opposite that is ?to disperse?. Another example will be the word ?regulate? which means ?to rule? or ?to control?. To ?de regulate? means the opposite which means ?to remove such control?. I can go on with other examples but it comes to the same point I am making.

I use this new word ?de exercise? which means to do the opposite of exercise. To not to exercise. But in reality we are actually exercising every moment even while we are sitting down without doing anything. To understand my proposition we need to fly to outer space.

In outer space, there is microgravity or zero gravity- weightlessness.Which means , what goes up comes down quite late or in fact very late. When the heart pumps blood to the head, micro gravity slows it when it downstreams. The blood returning back from top down slows down. As a result there is decreased production of red blood cells which leads to poor nourishment to all parts of body. Likely problem is bone and muscle loss. That is why space travellers do heavy resistant exercise to stay healthy.

In other words, while on earth a slight movement of your cells means your body is ?execising? as long your heart is good and pumping blood to the rest of your body. So when you ?de exercise? your are actually taking care of your heart by not doing anything. But you are exercising!

In actual life, you are doing something everyday. You are living. While I am typing at this moment means I am doing some form of exercise. If I feel thirsty and wanted toget a cup of water, I am doing ?walking exercise? to get the water. Drinking is an exercise. Stretch your arms if you feel tired and you are exercising! All these are done unconsciously. But still you are exercising. Living is actually an exercise. Thanks to gravity. Just hold on, I am going down to the shop to get my news paper. Exercise again!

A 10 kilogram of extra weight is the equivalent of a whopping 320,000 kilojoules- but spread over a year, that works out to a mere 875 kj per day. Take a brisk 13-minutes walk with your pet dog or a good friend and you will lose 420 kj. Indulge yourself with a 20-minutes shopping spree and 470 kj will be lost.Play hide and seek with your children in your garden for 15 minutes and you can lose 485 kj

All the writings in italic, most of the readers will know by now as we are being well informed.But what need to be understood, if you are living, be rest assured that your are indeed exercising. You do not have to do a heavy workout in the gymnasium or do serious aerobics provided you follow all my DNA constantly and concurrently for 365 days. I bet you that your ugly fats will fade away from your beautiful body.

But not to unwind your conditioned mind, let me introduce an equipment which I think can deliver exceptional results. This one is actually shown in television ad and it works wonders. It is called ?ab slide?. I am not an advertiser for this product but it is easy to use. It is cheap. Try 10 stretches per day and increase by the day.

Stand infront of your mirror naked and ask yourself am I overweight? The profile will tell you the truth. If it is ?yes? then follow my step 1 that is to ?de-exercise?. I am not asking you to exercise. I need you to put in your mind that the very fact you are standing infront of that mirror, you are exercising. By ?de-exercising? and avoiding heavy workout you are actually doing a favour to your already ?hardworking? heart. By ?de-exercising? unneccessary hunger can be prevented. Are you hungry? Don?t go to MacDonalds. Read DNA for slender body step 2- Never Over Eat.

You might be wondering what I did in the fitness. I go around a circuit training using only one plate of weight or zero weight in every weight guided machine and only doing 5 workout in each machine. For example I just did 5 crunches for my tummy. I did go on like this twice in a week 365 days to be exact. But I ?never over eat? for 365 days.

Never Over Eat

Only Angels never eat. All human beings and living creatures eat. This natural stimuli from the brain telling us to put in food into your mouth to fill up your stomach. Most of the time I see it is not necessary for your body. It has so much fat in it as evidenced by the inflated image where the body can use its fat to burn as energy.

Remember, whatever your brain tells you to do is not necessarily the truth. Control it . If not you will be a slave to your brain for the rest of your lives. If you do not take a stand to fight it, even if you spend thousands of dollars working out in an expensive gymnasium or seeing a professional phisiology it will not work for you. Compete with your brain, fight it now! Fight it by food knowledge.

In a battle field even a best gladiator will lose if he has no weapons. Absence of knowledge about the energy contained in any food means absence of weapons to fight the brain?s persuasion to eat. Feed your soul with the food knowledge : the kilojoules of the food you eat. I do not want to write down all those things here to prevent duplication of information.

Kilojoules information in food is essential for weight watchers. If you take a slow walk for 20 minutes an average of 450 kj will be lost from your body. If you are in an optimum weight then you will be reading this to maintain your body. But if your are obese, then you have to seriously watch that kilojoules intake! The equation for slimmer life is I = O, input equals output. If I is greater than O then your body inflates. Otherwise, it is underweight. I was in the I > O category and I told myself to minimise my intake.

I have an acute sense of observation. Once during lunch hour I went to a restaurant to appease my apetite. It was quite empty and I was able to spot immediately a guy sitting apparently waiting for his meal. My eyes readily focused on his overblown tummy. It was so outstanding!!. Like it was going to blow out like a balloon. It was drastically not in proportion to his body. He looked like a ?d ? in side profile. When the order was placed on his table, luckily I did not swoon from shock. A ?mountain? full of rice was on his plate. I immediately got the answer to my enquiry. His tummy was overblown due to his incessant filling up of rice into his body!!!

I walked out of the restaurant and skipped my lunch. I was thinking, how could the body gets inflated by eating rice meal? I began to do reading on food and its nutrients.I will try to post later on the ABC of Nutrients. For now I will just give you a concept which will drastically improve your conscience of eating. If you follow this formula, you will attain a slimmer body. I call it the Food Code ? F-Code

F-Code *

(470kj burnt in 20 minutes walking)

23.5 kilojoules burnt in a minute

(Play hide and seek with your children in your garden for 15 minutes and you can lose 485 kj)

? 32.3 kilojoules burnt in a minute

(Take a brisk 13-minutes walk with your pet dog or a good friend and you will lose 420 kj)

? 32.3 kilojoules burnt in a minute

Therefore my F- Code shall be as follows:

If you do any of those things above for 16 to 18 minutes, you can shed 458 kj. That?s simple! Now I give you the gist of the matter. What specific food you should avoid?

Food is a fuel to your energy. It becomes fat if it is not used. Input must be equal to output. One such fuel is carbohydrates. I reduce my weight from 90 kg to 70 kg in a period of 365 days with a workout of 15 to 20 minutes - a simple routine movements of the machine. In most of the machines I did not put a single weight on it. I will give one secret with this. I forgo rice in my daily meals totally for those 365 days. I only survived on a simple bread meal 3 times a day. My wife is the witness.

Avoiding food containing drastic amount of carbohydrates will be helpful in shedding the extra pounds of flesh all around you. Carbohydrates will be changed into glucose in the body for energy. Extra glucose is stored as gycogen in muscle cells. If not used it becomes fat. The theory of ?de-exercise? works good if food containing carbohydrates are taken with minimal intake. If this is done then you will have maximum results.

The amount of thyroxine in the body also a factor in burning the fats. Thyroxine is produced when iodine is converted in the thyroid glands. It is a known scientific fact that the absence of iodine leads to goitre. Swelling of the thyroid glands. Thyroxine will increase your metabolism rate. The higher the metabolism rate the higher the rate energy is burnt in the body. So next time you see a table salt on the table ? do not ignore it.

Adore Thyself

There are two things you need to do to stay happy and fitter. You have to appreciate physiology and psychology. You move about with your physical features to stay slimmer and feel ?healthy? by using your mind. If you have a beautiful body and do not have a beautiful mind it is no use. ?Disease? of the mind is an equal disaster to human living as the disease in the body.

The basic needs of a human being is food(f) clothing( c ) and shelter (s). One fine day after waking up and realise that the whole world has thrown out this fcs when man felt that he does need food as he is being genetically tuned not to feel hungry. Genetically tuned not to feel shy of nakedness, and his body will not be affected by the climate that surrounds him do you think all his needs are extinguished? There is one more remain that will be there with him. That is the feeling of being acknowledged or welcomed by his fellow human beings.When the first man was created, God has brought him in front of the Angels for that piece of ?welcoming party?. Be welcomed.

Acknowledgment of ?self? precedes acknowledgment by others. I use the word adore for acknowledgement as adore is a better word. To adore your ?self? means to regard with or feel utmost esteem, love, and respect; honor for your ?self ?

If you begin to love and respect your ?self? your interpretation of external information will be different. Happiness begin to bloom like a flower when this is done. It will be a major factor for the purpose of happiness. Even if your body rots you will be happy if you adore thy ?self ?

A body will not function to the optimum if there is a weak heart. The heart of happiness lies in adoring the ?self?. I am not going to teach the readers to go to the banyan tree and to do a meditation like Buddha. Neither am I going to persuade them to climb to the highest peak to attain this feeling. If the Angels can be denied of their status for not ?adoring? adam what more can happen to us if we fail to know and adore our ?selves?. Self awareness is one thing but adoring that ?self? will totally change your lives for the better. What is the instant way of adoring the ?self?. Here it is.

Have you ever looked up to the sky for an answer. Do it at night. No I am not asking you to meditate again. Immediately you will gaze the many sparkling stars. So what is so sparkling about you. What are the things that you will find ?within? that make you respect, love and honour the ?self?. Perhaps ask a question to that self ?what is good about you?? The self replies ?well I?m a good writer, analyser, speaker, problem solver, painter, well wisher, lover, energizer and controller of your mind, dreamer, a good spirit, player, listener, teacher, seer of spirit through a body, motivator, pusher when your body becomes weak, holder of a positive mirror to deflect all negativity, ??etc?. Then your reply must be ? I love, respect and honour you!?

To get a fitter and happy life is a choice and not by chance. When you take care of the physiology of the body and psychology of the self you can reach even the wildest dreams or goals in life.

http://three-points-corner.com

Is Oxidative Stress Affecting your DNA?

Many people today are becoming more aware of using antioxidants (from specific foods or supplements) to combat oxidative stress. When asked why antioxidant strategies are taken, many say they fear oxidative damage to their DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), a molecule containing genetic instructions for building cells.

These fears may be justified. The fact is, the resulting mutation from oxidized DNA may trigger pathological outcomes, including cancer, neurological degeneration and organ failure. Other oxidation targets include proteins, cell membranes, lysosomes, mitochondria, blood and tissue lipids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and vitamins or antioxidant molecules themselves. So, how does oxidative stress begin and what attacks the DNA?

Oxidative Stress on our DNA

Our bodies use oxygen to create energy as fuel for our cells, forming by-products in the process. Carbon dioxide and water are two such by-products, but others include reactive oxygen species (ROS), which have both beneficial and potentially dangerous roles in human physiology.

ROS are reactive species because they lack an electron. This electron deficiency then forces the reactive species to aggressively seek a new one from any source, including cell membranes and DNA. Usually, the ROS are neutralized by antioxidants our bodies form (endogenous antioxidants, e.g., glutathione) and by antioxidants provided from food (dietary antioxidants, e.g., phenolics).

Reactive Oxygen Species?the good side, the bad side

The beneficial roles of ROS include antibacterial and antiviral actions, cell-to-cell signaling (such as by nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide), stimulation of enzyme functions, and regulation of cells controlling release of hormones. That?s the good. However, when your body produces more ROS than needed to perform these useful functions, and when you body doesn?t have enough antioxidant reserves, this creates a positive-ROS state, or oxidative stress.

How to possibly prevent an oxidative attack

Even during healthy and normal metabolism ? but worsened by exposure to added environmental pathogens such as ultraviolet radiation, smoke or other pollutants ? the ROS (which are formed continuously) are attacking each cell in our bodies thousands of times per minute or more than a million times per day!

When counterbalancing antioxidant mechanisms are insufficient, DNA lesions occur, including loss or oxidation of base material and breaks of DNA strands. The good news is that not all DNA lesions become pathogenic, as our cells (hard-workers, indeed) also contain mending functions for correcting the DNA injury, called base excision repair (BER).

While it works to repair most of the time, BER may not fully correct all injuries to DNA, leading to mutated DNA, as found in carcinogenesis, aging or age-related diseases.

Give your body a ?metabolic tune-up?

For 20 years, Dr. Bruce N. Ames of the University of California-Berkeley has analyzed ROS-initiated DNA lesions, aging onset and disease progression, and has advocated nutritional remedies as protection, including dietary supplementation with lipoic acid, acetylcarnitine, folic acid, biotin, vitamins C, E, B6 (pyridoxine) and -12 (cyanocobalamin), iron and zinc. Together, these nutrients provide what Dr. Ames has coined a ?metabolic tune-up.?

An excerpt from a 2002 publication in the Annals of the NY Academy of Science (partly edited)

In feeding studies in old rats, these mitochondrial metabolites and antioxidants furnish several benefits that include 1) arresting the age-associated decline of ambulatory activity and memory, 2) partially restoring mitochondrial structure and function, 3) inhibiting age-associated increase of oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, 4) elevating levels of antioxidants, and 5) restoring activity and substrate binding affinity of a key mitochondrial enzyme, carnitine acetyltransferase. These mitochondrial metabolites and antioxidants 1) protect neuronal cells from neurotoxin- and oxidant-induced toxicity and oxidative damage; 2) delay the normal aging of human fibroblast cells, and 3) inhibit oxidant-induced acceleration of aging. These results suggest a plausible mechanism: with age, increased oxidative damage to proteins and lipid membranes, particularly in mitochondria, causes a) a deformation of enzyme structure, with b) a consequent decrease of enzyme activity as well as c) substrate binding affinity for their substrates. An increased level of substrate restores the velocity of the reaction and restores mitochondrial function, thus delaying mitochondrial decay and aging.

So, if you want fight reactive oxygen radicals, eat the right antioxidant foods. References and Reading

* Liu J, Atamna H, Kuratsune H, Ames BN. Delaying brain mitochondrial decay and aging with mitochondrial antioxidants and metabolites. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2002 Apr;959:133-66.

* Ames BN. A role for supplements in optimizing health: the metabolic tune-up. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2004 Mar 1;423(1):227-34.

* PubMed, online database of the US National Library of Medicine, http://pubmed.org

* Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Oxidative Stress, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxidative_stress

Reading and References * Nutrient Data Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/contact.html

* Phytochemical database of the USDA, Agricultural Research Service, http://www.pl.barc.usda.gov/usda_chem/achem_home.cfm

* Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, http://www.wikipedia.com

Dr. Paul Gross is a scientist and expert on cardiovascular and brain physiology. A published researcher, Gross recently completed a book on the Chinese wolfberry and has begun another on antioxidant berries. Gross is founder of Berry Health Inc, a developer of nutritional, berry-based supplements. For more information, visit http://www.berrywiseonline.com

Genetic DNA Paternity Testing

When doing a genetic DNA paternity testing procedure, the sample comes from the mother, father and child. The mother?s sample may not be mandatory, but without it, the procedure becomes more intense with the analysis of the DNA. Baby?s need to have a mouth swab if a blood sample from the umbilical was not obtained at birth. If you need results before the birth of the child, you can have amniotic fluid tested during the pregnancy.

If two or more of the same family members need testing to determine paternity, all of them are tested along with the mother and the child. This does require more intense testing and will rule out the family members until one person shows results as the father. If testing for a decreased or missing mother or father, you can use the DNA samples from other family member to determine paternity.

Although most of the genetic DNA paternity testing is done for financial reasons, some are done for determining the parentage for a few other reasons. If a father of a child needs to donate bone marrow to the child, a paternity test will conclude if the father is a match and in some rare cases, prove the father not to be the father. In these cases, paternity testing is essential to the health of the child in question.

More reports show that genetic DNA paternity testing takes the lead in genetic testing then any other reason. This results from court ordered support, which a man can request a paternity test to prove he is or is not the father. Genetic DNA testing also may show any underlying problems that may be hereditary. When a mother questions the paternity of the father, she also may not know of any of these problems, which could become serious if not known.

In all, the reasons for paternity testing come down to he said/ she said and courts need answers. Paternity testing in support cases, divorce cases and grandparent rights cases all use genetic DNA paternity testing to settle disputes. Another case of paternity testing that has become known over the years is the fight to keep a surrogate baby, the egg of the mother and father are implanted in a surrogate until birth. In some cases the mother caring the child does not want to give the child the rightful parents, in this case a genetic paternity test will reveal the paternal and maternal parents.

As you can see, there are many reasons for genetic DNA paternity testing. As more testing becomes available, the laboratories doing the testing may become overloaded calling for more labs to accommodate the overflow.

You can also find more information at paternity testing and prenatal genetic testing. GeneticDNATestingHelp.org is a comprehensive resource for people who are interested in gentic DNA testing for paternity, genealogy, or medical reasons.

Does Your Business Have The Right DNA For Success?

Why should the consumer buy anything from YOU? That is the eternal and daily question of every business. Whether it is a huge international corporation or a mom and pop store, whether it's an ad on the top rated TV show in the US or the website that you just uploaded to the internet, the message you send to consumers must be very basic: you NEED to buy THIS from ME. What is the best way to answer that question, especially for a small business with a small advertising budget, or someone running an online business from their house? By working on your company's DNA, you can streamline the message and use your customers to get your message out to a broader market.

What is your company's DNA? It is a simple acronym, standing for Dependability, Novelty, Attitude. How do these three simple words help you build a business that will last for years and gather more customers than you had thought possible? Because these 3 words force your business to focus on the customers and their needs.

Dependability. This means that customers can expect your business to provide them with solutions to their problems and to meet their needs, every time. You can do this by establishing your self as the best in your market, and then having the customers seek you out when they need something. Or, you can engage in a regular dialogue and conversation with your customers, learn what problems they are facing, what solutions they need, and then provide those solutions in a timely manner, at a reasonable price. By communicating with your customers, and encouraging them to communicate back, you can always be on top of their problems, and establish yourself as a dependable business.

Novelty. Not like in "whoopie cushions" and "dribble glasses" (although those are always good for a laugh!). No, the novelty here is in the uniqueness or newness of your products or services. Again, you can achieve by pondering and thinking and meditating and coming up with unique invention after unique invention. But for everyone else, the way to present novel products to consumers is to present products or services focuses on their needs and problems - unique solutions, possibly available at other businesses, but packaged for the customer's needs when they need it. By regularly communicating and dialoguing with your customers, you get to learn their needs and problems, and can then focus your creative powers on solving their problems, not the problems of the universe. Anyone can sell "one size fits all" or "off the rack info products" - but by offering packages (even a package of off the rack info products) that solve your customer's problems, you provide the novelty that they will come to expect.

Attitude. How do you approach your customers? Are you so arrogant that you will offer them the products that make you the most profit or the highest commission, whether or not they even need what you are selling? Or do you ask your customers what they need, what problems they are facing, and offer them solutions that actually help them? Do you approach your clients as people who should be lucky they are given the privilege of buying from you, or do you realize that the key to your success is your customers and their satisfaction? Do you talk TO your customers, or WITH your customers?

Engaging in a conversation with your clients helps makes your business Dependable, present Novel products or services, and achieve the right Attitude for success. Establishing excellent customer relationships will help your business achieve the DNA for success. And answer the question of why the consumer should buy from you? Because you are selling what the customer has told you he or she needs.

ERIK CARTER maintains START YOUR LIFE NOW! (http://www.startyourlifenow.com), focusing on helping you achieve EXCELLENCE in Business - Fitness - Family - Personal - Spiritual, as well as presenting "Don't Build A List - Build A COMMUNITY" (http://startyourlifenow.bravehost.com) and "Aggressive Pleadings For The Non-Custodial Father" (http://dadpleadings.bravehost.com), for fathers who want to RAISE their kids, not just visit them.

Volvo Entertains DNA Evolution

Steve Mattin, Volvo's new vice president and director for design, has a problem with old Volvos: there are so many of them. "There are millions of boxy ones out there," said Mattin in an interview. "We want to move beyond the box."

To step out of the boxy image, the automaker is entertaining a new design DNA. And Mattin intends to recast the visual cues of Volvo cars. "We want to evolve our design DNA," he said. The Design DNA is a tag for the basic visual elements of cars. The DNA covers the look of a grille, the angle of a roof, and the contour of the taillights. The DNA makes a BMW a BMW. Ford DNA completes a Ford.

The design director aims to reach out to the young generation buyers and to a wider market for Volvo. "We want to pump up the visual volume," Mattin said. At Volvo, Mattin is not expecting a dramatic change. After all, it was Peter Horbury, the director for North American design at Ford, who penned the automaker?s existing design cues in his earlier job as design director for Volvo. Rather, Mattin sees an evolution.

Mattin's perspective of post-boxy Volvos is of more complex and sculptural shapes. The designer envisions more expressive and more extroverted cars. The idea is laid out in the XC60 crossover concept which was introduced at the North American International Auto Show.

Horbury, on the other hand, started his evolution of the Volvos by giving them a prominent catwalk. The catwalk is a replica of Volvos in the 1950s. It is also a way of softening the high, solid sides of the new Volvos. Horbury gave the sides a high shoulder, rounding off the box in a way that still appeared solid, though less functional.

Now Mattin has came up with angled catwalk and reshaped box as two wedges with sculptured sides. Designer Steve Potter is credited for the exterior. Justin Scully has contributed to make the interior of Volvos fascinating. "I want the cars to be recognizable as Volvos from twice as far away," Mattin noted.

To pump up the visual volume even at night, Mattin integrated small lights near the grille to make the shape visible even in the dark. He also emphasized the lighting of the arched rear end.

Mattin previously worked as a designer for the small A-Class and R-Class wagon at Mercedes-Benz in Germany. He wants Volvos to have large windows to bring in light and bodies recognizable at once as Volvos during the long nights.

The Volvo XC60's vertical rear window is a new cue for the Swedish automaker. It is an expanded version of that found on the new C30. Underneath the wide glass, the automaker?s name is spelled out in large, widely spaced letters, for a virtual banner of brand identification. It is entertained by the automaker to transform the design language back into written language. The same big letters were also shown on the new V70 wagon, which was launched at the Geneva International Motor Show this year.

Inside the car, Volvo pool of designers retains the floating console that has already become a Volvo trademark. The designers are contemplating on the introduction of the new features to serve as refined trademarks of the automaker. Simply, the evolution does not only cover the Volvo pressure plates and other safety features of the cars - it pricks into the design core itself.

Glady Reign is a 32 year old is a consultant for an automotive firm based in Detroit, Mi. she is a native of the motor city and grew up around cars hence her expertise in the automotive field.

Planet Sedna, the 6th Sign?

The newest addition to our solar system is Senda; what does it mean? And will it impact all the Astrology Signs? NASA released the story that they discovered a new planet in our Solar System, 6.2 Billion miles from Earth called Sedna. The Actual discovery date was Nov. 14, 2003, the story was announced March 15, 2004. It is named after the Innuit Goddess of the Ocean. To make this discovery all that sweeter the story was released about the Hubble Telescope?s discovery on the eve of it?s discontinuation by NASA, for safety and financial reasons. This discovery seems to have saved the fate of the Hubble (for now at least). Does this mean that the Virgo?s of the world now get a new lease on life and the Archetype that represents the Virgin? Or does it impact on of the other astrology signs? It will take time to tell. Sedna moves very slowly and currently is making it?s way through the last decan (10 degrees) of Taurus.

In order to understand how Senda affects all the astrology signs, let?s take a brief overview of the Sedna Myth. It starts with Sedna as a young girl being forced to marry a man she is not interested in. Senda has very long hair that she is known to sit and brush for hours. Despite her arguments and protestations she is made to marry this man who is beak-faced and lives on an inhospitable Island, where he takes her once they are wed. As his wife she is miserable, forced to live in a cold, bleak environment and eat nothing but fish. She is so unhappy that she sends word back home of her plight and begs to be rescued. Her father and male relatives come by boat to get her, but once she is in the boat with them, her husband who has become a giant bird attacks them relentlessly. The men then throw Sedna overboard in their attempt to save themselves. As she clutches the side of the boat, they hack at her fingers to get free of her, and these digits break off to become the seals, sea lions and whales of the ocean. Sedna then sinks to the bottom of the sea where she rests in turmoil and causes sea storms and environmental havoc. Only the Innuit Shaman who can leave their body to visit her in the Ocean depths can appease this. She is only calmed when they brush her long hair. Now we can begin to answer the question of which astrology sign she seems to fit with.

The name Sedna comes from the mythology of the Innuit people and relates closely to the sea, sea mammals and the shamanic depths of transformation, as well as betrayal. At first glance this may seem to fit for several astrology signs, especially Scorpio. If you have seen the movie, ?Whale Rider?, you can see the close connection with the Sedna myth in this story as well. One thing that this powerfully feminine archetype does for the planetary weightings of the Zodiac is that it (finally) begins to rebalance the Masculine-Feminine polarity to a more equal level among the planets (it has thus far been dominated by male archetypes). While Astrologers will no doubt hotly debate which Astrology Sign Sedna belongs to (Virgo, Libra, Taurus and Gemini are all candidates), eventually ephemeris data will be collected and become available, you?ll hear more as time progresses. A good argument can be made that Sedna belongs to the Astrology Sign of Virgo, the Virgin huntress. A connection to Vigo also exists in the Archetype of Virgo, which contains within it the myth of Persephone who was kidnapped by Hades, God of the Underworld as her mother, Demeter grieved.

In order to find the proper Astrology sign for Sedna to rule we will need to observe what happens in our world. At the deepest level the Archetype of Sedna seems very much connected to the idea of personal freedom, choice and consequences, especially of an overwhelming nature or connected to Natural Disasters. These have increased since Senda?s discovery, namely with Hurricane Katrina and the Indian Ocean Tsunami. As the most outspoken proponent of global ecological responsibility, Al Gore has become a public figurehead for this subject. And with Sedna currently closing in on his Natal Venus (values) he has been making a major statement about our collective need to change our global values and priorities and make Green the highest of priorities. This alone makes a strong case for Senda belonging to the Astrology sign of Virgo and seems to fit squarely into the overall theme of Senda. The good news about a new planet is that with each new discovery a level of consciousness is always awakened on a global scale. With Senda?s discovery, the Greening of our mass consciousness seems to be on the rise. And eventually Astrologers will (perhaps) agree on an Astrological sign for Senda to belong to.

Aura "The AstrologyChick" is a professional Astrologer and timing expert. Her articles and quotes have been featured internationally and in Newstand Magazines like "In Touch" and "OK Magazine." For weekly and monthly Horoscopes - visit Real Accurate Astrology for current events and useful updates from AstrologyChick.com.

Survival Tips: What To Do When Kidnapped

 

A little forethought and organization will payoff in a great memorable adventure for that next outdoors excursion you may have planned.

The older liquid gas lanterns give off just as much light but you will have to refill the tank with liquid gas and this can be messy as well as dangerous if you are not careful. Both types of lanterns use mantels so be sure to carry extras.

Bring along some good sunscreen. Even in the winter time a person can get a sun burn. You may want to get some type of bug repellant also. Don't combine the sunscreen and bug repellant as sunscreen may have to be used more frequently. If you have a second tarp place it on the ground under the tarp tent be sure not to place the ground tarp outside the tent if you do any rain water may flow in on the ground tarp and you may get wet. Severe weather can occur anytime of year and often with little warning. According to NOAA, lightning is one of the most underrated severe weather hazards because it usually claims one or two victims at a time and does not cause mass destruction.

Horseback riding might be a fun and exciting option while visiting a national park. Several parks offer gravel roads for horseback riding, certain parks also have horse rentals and guided excursions available.

The only problem is that camping in areas that are not designated for camping can cause problems with the law. Many land owners do not wish campers to be on their property and some nature reserves prohibit camping due to damage it can cause to the environment.

A definite upcoming trend is more and more people seeking untouched locales and wilderness. Had it with the "rat race"? Got time off but not much cash to spend? Losing touch with your family? Sounds like an old-fashioned campout is just what you need.

Survival Tips: What To Do When Kidnapped

For so long, parents have taught children to stay away from strangers. And for good reason. Children are vulnerable and need to learn how to keep safe and to protect themselves from kidnapping. We drill them to never take candy from a stranger and never to ride in a car with someone they don't know. However, children do not necessarily have the same concept of a stranger that an adult has. A child that has been brought up with encouragement and has built self-confidence will be in a better position to identify a potentially dangerous situation and to get away from it. Still, kidnappings are perpetrated not only by strangers. There are statistics that show almost half of juvenile kidnappings were done by family members. More than a quarter by an acquaintance, and the rest by strangers.

In the face of all these, and even though kidnappings are not so common it is still important to be aware, to learn how to protect yourself, and how to escape if you ever become a victim.

During the first moments when a kidnapper tries to grab you, create a commotion by yelling and screaming and getting the attention of other people. Try to get to a public place where you can find people who can help you.

Do a search on ?discount camping gear? and you will find a number of online camping stores that sell all kinds of affordable and cheap camping gear from some of the best name brands like Hillary, Coleman, Ozark Trail, Brunton, Eureka, Jansport, Swiss Army, Boy Scout, Quest, Kelty, North Face, Gregory, Closeout and Motorcycle. Cross country skiing is a wonderful way to experience the parks wilderness during the winter season. Snowshoeing trails may also be available in parks.

On the other hand when you go camping, the clothes that you wear at home will not be sufficient to shield you nor keep you comfy. It is a known fact that nature does not always make things easy for the venturers.

Activities such as hiking, fishing, cycling, horseback riding, white water rafting and kayaking, skiing, rock climbing and mountaineering are just a few of the sports you might want to include on your camping adventure.

Some of the functions of these websites include being able to search by state, campground, lake, or forest name. You can access maps of each campground to see the layout of the grounds and how close each site is to shower, bathrooms, playgrounds, beaches, etc... This feature is great because you may choose which site you would like to reserves and check for availability.

The thought of camping alone can be very intimidating, especially if you?re a woman. Ideally, it is not something recommended to women new to camping.

Be aware that the glass globe of all gas and propane lanterns get extremely hot and can give you a serious burn.

You will need ice to keep the frozen foods cool. Save up you milk containers plastic works best wash out and fill ? full of water an place in the freezer. When you have a few frozen containers you now have the ice that will keep your food cold.

The point is to treat your family to an unforgettable outdoor adventure, so it doesn't matter how you plan to camp or where you intend to go.

While you struggle with your kidnapper, pushing against him with all your strength can knock him off balance and give you the opportunity to be free from his grip, even for a second. If the kidnapper succeeded in getting you into his car, you can try to quickly go out one of the other doors. When that is not possible, lean on the horn and make as much noise as possible - again to catch the attention of other people. Anytime there are people on the street or in other cars who can see you, make a commotion.

In the event the kidnapper was able to take you to his house, continue finding a way to get noticed by other people who can help you. If they observe strange things happening in the kidnapper's house, they will get suspicious and hopefully call the police. Use whatever means available to you -- turning the lights on and off, making loud noises, screaming for help.

Look around for other things you can use like a telephone. Try all windows and doors. There may be a way out that is unlocked. You can attempt to unlock a door with tools you find or break a window. Don't give up the hope of finding a way to escape and reporting the crime.

Just like your old scoutmaster used to say, "Always be prepared". Make a list and check it three times before you leave on your camping trip.

Apart from being submerged in wilderness, an important component of camping is the interaction with the localities, villagers and natives. These native guides know the unexplored places, the less traveled paths, the unknown facts, myths and stories about the locations. Hiking is a wonderful way to view nature at its finest, as the parks really are preserving special pieces of our wilderness. Depending on what park you will be hiking, the trails will offer different ranges of difficulty levels. Many trails will lead to scenic vistas as easy hikes, while other hikes may be significantly more challenging and too steep for some.

Whatever activity you decide to enjoy, it is always wise to do a little research to know ahead of time what to expect, always check what the weather conditions will be to avoid any dangerous situations.

Nutrition, nutrition, nutrition. You?re number one priority when you?re camping should be to have a good time and enjoy nature ? something that is difficult to do when you?re sick and exhausted. Be sure to take camping food with you that will keep you well fed and your energy level up. Energy bars and gels don?t usually weigh a lot and pack a serious nutrition punch, making them great for the trail. If you don?t cook a lot at home and don?t plan to while you?re camping, do yourself a favor and eat more than candy bars and licorice. Just about anyone can boil water, so just about anyone can take some prepared camping foods on their trip and eat well.

Then once you purchase the tent, practice setting it up several times. This will give you an idea of what tools you will need to take with you. Doing this will also give you a great idea about the functionality and usage for your tent. You may also need to take some spare parts for the tent incase of breakage or damage to some parts. More on Camping Outdoors Tips at http://www.camping-outdoor.info

Just the thing for negotiating the wilds of the West Elk Mountains. I cruised south from Glenwood Springs, turned short of the road to Aspen, and passed the beehive coke ovens of Redstone to the town of Marble. In some ways, Marble is a modern ghost town, with dirt roads and weather-beaten cabins, but as it hosts a Post Office and fire department, it retains its "living" status. More on Wilderness Survival Tips. Then we had enough space for dressing or cooking. The bench-seat in back folds out into a comfortable bed, so we were all set for camping.

Instead of going up to other campers and saying, ?Hi, I?m Kerry and I?m here by myself? ask questions like ?How can I contact you if I experience a problem? or ?is this campground regularly patrolled??Don?t advertise you are by yourself by finding campsites away from walking trails
More on Outdoor Camping.

The DNA Selling Method

Because questioning is such a fundamental part of successful selling, it?s important to use an effective questioning methodology?a strategy. By using The DNA Selling Method, sellers add structure, repeatability, and predictability to the questioning, presenting, and selling process. By implementing the DNA Selling Methodology sales people utilize a proven sales methodology that reflects validated selling principles

On February 28, 1953, Francis Crick walked into the Eagle pub in Cambridge, England, and announced that he and James Watson had ?found the secret of life.? In just a few weeks of frenzied inspiration, the two men made one of the most profound discoveries in history by building a model of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) that demonstrated how the very structure of DNA provides one of life?s most essential features: the storage and transmission of genetic code. The men had solved a problem that had been baffling the scientific community for years?how did the DNA molecule make exact copies of itself? Biochemists already knew that DNA contained a biological code, a genetic language that consists of four types of molecules, known as bases?adenine, cytosine, thymine, and guanine?referred to as A, C, G, and T, but how those molecules made exact replicas of each other was still a mystery. Back in the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge, Watson and Crick concentrated on identifying the form of DNA rather than its function. They built model after model of the possible structure of DNA until on March 7, 1953, when they discovered the solution: DNA has a double helix shaped like a spiral staircase with the four bases representing the steps. Their model suggested a mechanism by which DNA could make copies of itself. The two strands of genes that made up the DNA molecule can simply unzip or unravel into reverse images of each other that can act as templates for new strands to build on. The genius of DNA is that its form is its function. Its shockingly simplistic double helix structure allows the molecules to make facsimiles of themselves, and because the bases always bond in the exact sequence, the finished copies are always the same. The concept was stunning in its implications. Using the scientific method, Watson and Crick made the most celebrated discovery of the twentieth century. The double helix now stands as an icon of the scientific understanding of life.

The Science of SellingThe same way DNA consists of the building blocks of life, The DNA Selling Method consists of the building blocks of effective selling. Similar in concept to DNA, The DNA Selling Method is a selling language?a code of questions. It is a process of discovery?a questioning framework whose form is its function. Like most sales professionals, I learned early in my career that selling was more of a science than an art. I learned that asking the right questions was more important than looking for the right answers; however, knowing the importance of asking the right questions was not enough. My questions seemed random and, at times, even uncomfortable. Asking questions ?off the top of my head? was sporadic and ineffective. This unorganized approach quite often left me tongue-tied and unable to communicate effectively. I needed a system?a questioning methodology. I needed a process that was easy to understand, easy to remember, and easy to replicate from one sale to the next. I decided to write down a series of questions that I deemed important to making sales. I then organized the questions into categories. For example, I separated qualification questions from questions that identified client needs. I differentiated need related questions from solution related questions. The result was The DNA Selling Method?a questioning methodology that leads buyers through the sales cycle. The DNA Selling Method is based on the premise that correct principles of selling have not changed. They have remained unaltered for thousands of years. If we were to view an ancient Persian craftsman selling goods or services to a Greek merchant, his selling skills would be similar, if not exact, to the skills and tactics of a salesperson today. Selling practices may have changed. But correct principles of selling have not.

Like a compass or atomic clock?sellers need to adjust their selling behaviors to reflect accurate and effective selling principles. And the most fundamental?and most universally recognized principle of successful selling?is asking effective questions. The point is that salespeople do not need to invent new selling principles. They simply need to discover them. And that is what The DNA Selling Method does. It helps sales professionals recognize and implement ancient, validated, intelligent selling principles. The DNA Selling Method is a question-based approach to selling that follows a rational probing sequence and provides sellers with a systematic approach to qualifying accounts and closing sales. Like the four bases of DNA, The DNA Selling Method consists of four probing categories that guide buyers and sellers through the purchasing process:

1.Discovery-Qualification Questions: Questions that discover a buyer?s existing circumstance, account facts, qualification factors, and purchasing capabilities.

2.Need-Problem Questions: Questions that identify a buyer?s needs, problems, and primary buying motives.

3.Ascertain-Pain Questions: Questions that ascertain the negative consequences of unfulfilled needs and/or unresolved problems, i.e., the pain.

4.Solution-Benefit Questions: Questions that focus on the benefits of implementing the proposed solution.

Asking good questions is the cornerstone of any good sales strategy and is a skill that separates elite sales professionals from average sales representatives. Questions divulge information, uncover problems to solve, and equip sellers with information that can be used to deliver account-specific presentations that address the exact needs of buyers. Think about what separates a good doctor from a bad doctor. Good doctors do not initially worry about getting the right answers. They concentrate on asking the right questions. They make intelligent inquiries, take notes, make observations, and listen. They initially gather information?they don?t provide it. Likewise, great sellers do not initially focus on providing information. They focus on acquiring it. Look at the most brilliant thinkers, innovators, and explorers of our time. They emphasized questions more than answers, a characteristic of highly intelligent individuals. Note the root of the word question is ?quest??the act of seeking or pursuing something, a search beyond that which is already known.

The DNA Selling Method is a logical questioning methodology that helps sales people on their ?quest? for information. It is a selling approach that guides sellers through the sales cycle. By asking discovery questions, sellers acquire the information needed to make informed proposals. By asking qualifying questions, sellers spend time and attention on buyers with the greatest purchasing potential. By asking need-problem questions, sellers unearth primary buying motives. By asking ascertain-pain questions, sellers identify the negative consequence of not filling a need or solving a problem. And by asking solution-benefit questions, sellers get buyers to articulate the benefits of the proposed solution. Self-interest is the catalyst that moves people to act. By asking DNAS questions sales people focus on the interests of the buyer. They ask questions that are customer centric instead of product centric. Common sense? Of course. Common practice? Unfortunately, it?s not. Because questioning is such a fundamental part of successful selling, it?s important to use an effective questioning methodology?a strategy. By using The DNA Selling Method, sellers add structure, repeatability, and predictability to the questioning, presenting, and selling process. By implementing the DNA Selling Methodology sales people utilize a proven sales methodology that reflects validated selling principles

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

Patrick Henry Hansen is the author of the From Great Moments in History? book series which includes: Power Prospecting?, The DNA Selling Method?, Winning Sales Presentations?, and Sales-Side Negotiation?. Mr. Hansen is the founder and CEO of Patrick Henry & Associates, a training company that provides sales, prospecting, presentation, and negotiation trainings for corporations involved in complex, committee-based sales. Mr. Hansen has trained, coached, and influenced thousands of professionals in forty-eight states and seven countries. To contact Mr. Hansen, or to learn more about his books and trainings, visit www.patrickhenryinc.com.

Understanding DNA Testing Methods

 

There are two main methods which can be used for paternity DNA testing, namely, PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) and RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism). In this article we are going to be looking at these two methods, what the difference is and how they work.

Polymerase Chain Reaction testing usually involves taking a swab from the inner cheek for DNA samples. It is a faster test than RFLP and usually looks at between six and nine loci on the DNA. This test however does not provide the same degree of information as is provided by the RFLP test.

PCR DNA testing works by ?amplifying? the sample DNA, or taking a small sample of DNA and then multiplying it. This is useful if only a small sample can be obtained and is also useful for working with degraded DNA. When using PCR DNA testing however the laboratory needs to be particularly careful about preventing contamination within the sample as the amplification process could tend to increase the chances of contamination.

The process of PCR DNA testing involves heating the DNA, adding primers and then cooling it so that it recombines and an enzyme reads the DNA sequence in order to create multiple copies of the DNA. Visit http://www.geneticdnatestinghelp.org for more info on genetic testing.

The Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism test takes longer than the PCR test and is a slightly older method but can provide more reliable results as each loci presents more information regarding paternity. It requires a larger sample of DNA and is more likely to use blood for the DNA testing but it can also be done using a swab from the inner cheek if necessary.

The AABB report from 2004 stated that there is a decrease in the number of laboratories using the RFLP method and an increase in laboratories using the PCR method of DNA testing with PCR being used in 98.34% of the cases.

In conclusion, there are two main methods of paternity DNA testing that are mainly used today. These two methods are Polymerase Chain Reaction testing and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism testing. PCR testing is used in 98.34% of the DNA testing cases according to the 2004 AABB report and seems to be increasing over the older method of RFLP. PCR is a quicker method of testing and multiplies the amount of DNA material so that only small samples are needed; however this does lead to a risk of contamination. If you are going for PCR testing or ordering a DNA home test kit you should ensure that they are AABB approved and that they offer at least a 99% guarantee and test at least ten loci.

learn more about genetic DNA tests on our site. You'll also find other information such as genealogy testing at http://www.geneticdnatestinghelp.org

Should You Have A Paternity DNA Test?

DNA tests are becoming more and more popular but should you have a DNA test? Before deciding to have a DNA test there are a number of things you need to consider. In this article we will be discussing some things you should consider before having a paternity test, an ancestry DNA test or similar DNA tests.

Firstly, if you are considering a paternity DNA test, think first about the situation at the moment; how old is the child now and what is your current relationship to the child? If the child has not yet been born is a newborn baby and you have not yet been able to bond with the child because of uncertainty as to whether you are the father or not then having a paternity DNA test may be the solution for you and these tests can help cement family relationships that are not yet established by confirming who the father is. If, however, the child is older and you have already formed a relationship with the child as its father then paternity DNA testing can actually have negative consequences; what happens if you suddenly discover you are not the father? How will this affect your future relationship with the child? You will need to think through these issues carefully before deciding to go for a paternity DNA test.

These factors also need to come into consideration if you are testing for other family relationships ? for example grandparent DNA tests, sibling DNA tests, etc. No matter what the relationship it is important to consider where the relationship is at currently and how you expect the DNA test to change the relationship. It can be an extremely traumatic experience to discover that what you thought was the relationship between you and someone is actually not the case. Visit http://www.geneticdnatestinghelp.org for more information on DNA testing.

What about genealogical and ancestry DNA tests? If you are considering going for an ancestry DNA test you should think about how the results could influence your life as well and how you would feel about obtaining different results. In one case someone who thought they were African American discovered that they actually had no African blood in them but a mixture of other races. Having lived their whole life as an African American this presented many problems ? who were they really and how were they going to react to this sudden change in their identity? These are questions that you need to consider when considering going for an ancestry DNA test is how it could change your identity.

DNA tests can be very useful and informing, they have many benefits and in certain circumstances can bring families closer together, help build a family tree or contribute to our lives in other ways; but DNA tests can also be destructive and it is important when considering whether to have a DNA test that you take these factors into consideration.

Learn more about home DNA test and postnatal DNA testing on our site.

How To Get A DNA Test

 

There are many reasons why you might want to get a DNA test. Although we often see DNA testing used in TV forensics shows, one of the top reasons for getting a DNA test is to determine paternity. DNA paternity testing conclusively determines if a man is the father of a particular child. DNA maternity tests and sibling tests are also available. For those who are interested in genealogy or ethnic origins, many DNA labs now offer DNA ancestry testing.

If you're wondering how to get a DNA test, you can find quite a few DNA labs online. There are certainly walk-in DNA labs scattered around the country, but using an online DNA testing provider is one of the most convenient ways to get a DNA test. For DNA paternity testing, online labs will normally send you a free DNA sample collection kit. Once you've collected your DNA samples, you return them along with payment to the DNA lab.

Most testing for relationships, like paternity, maternity and siblingship, is also divided into DNA testing for peace of mind and DNA testing for legal proceedings. You can get a DNA test for peace of mind quite easily. The cost is usually lower and you can collect your own DNA samples yourself at home. But if the DNA test results are to be used in legal situations, then it's important to purchase legally admissible DNA testing from the lab. For DNA test results to be accepted by a court, DNA samples must be collected by a neutral third party. The third party is there to confirm the identity of the DNA donors and to ensure that chain of custody rules are observed.

Once the DNA samples are collected, they are returned to the lab for analysis. DNA test results can normally be received in as few as five working days. For an extra fee, some DNA labs offer a three day turnaround of test results. Test results are usually mailed to the recipient. Some online DNA labs offer online results.

How your results will look depend on the DNA test ordered. For example, in a DNA paternity test, the alleged father is either excluded or not excluded. Paternity and maternity test provide conclusive results. DNA siblingship tests are more complex and the results will be in the form of a percentage chance of relationship. DNA ancestry testing results vary by provider. In all cases, you should do some online research ahead time so you'll know that the test you've ordered provides the kind of results you need.

For more information about Benefits of DNA Testing or The Cost of DNA Testing, please take time to visit http://www.DNA-PaternityTests.com.

DNA Mark Your Property - preventing crime with DNA

DNA Mark your property.

DNA technology has come along way and where it was commonly known as something that catches crooks, we can now use DNA as a crime prevention tool. Not just a crime scene weapon.

Apart from our own natural DNA, there are a variety of synthetic DNA products that we can use to mark our valuables.

Whilst police highly recommend that we do security mark our products, we are fully aware that DNA has helped to convict many criminals for crimes committed two or three decades ago.

I've looked at a number of DNA mark kits and outlined my findings here. As this is not an advertisement, I have excluded brand names and trademarks.

Prices vary from ?10.00 up to around ?50.00 and it really is a case of 'you get what you pay for'.

The DNA mark kit that comes in at ?9.99 is a cheap looking felt tip pen, the type you buy for your kids as a throwaway. The real deterrent is the sticker that warns a would-be burglar that property is DNA marked.

The pen has no nib as such; the busy end looks just like the fibre wadding where the felt tip ink would be and carries a clear medium that transfers your DNA to the property to be marked.

The 'DNA mark' is invisible. How would the Police find an almost invisible mark? You might ask. The makers suggest; "The client tells the officer to obtain a 10 or 15 X magnifying glass and a strong torch light and shine the light at an angle of 45 degrees where the few microns depth of the mark can be made to show up".

There are a few serious flaws such as police time and logistics. If police discover a number of DVD players in the home of a known burglar, they will more than likely scan it a black lamp looking for UV property marking but your invisible DNA won't show. It is likely that you will not see your property returned.

However, there could be a string of happy coincidences such as you telling your local village bobby that you have been burgled and all your property has your DNA on it, he happens to stop someone with property that he remembers belonging to you and using his 10 or 15 X magnifying glass and a strong torch light and shine the light at an angle of 45 degrees, sees your secret mark! The good old fashioned British Bobby at its best. Sadly Dixon of Dock Green has long gone.

There are cost implications in recovering DNA and converting it to evidence, the Forensic Science Laboratory conducts this and the police are faced with the bill (pardon the pun).

They are likely to opt for traditional property recovery techniques such as proving to the burglar that 'it's a fair cop' and asking you to physically identify your property with serial numbers, photograph or even receipts.

The ?9.99 kit is available through a network of individuals who have paid ?10 for a 'license' to sell the DNA mark kits locally. The resellers are not security checked and can buy their business opportunity via internet auction sites and other advertisements. ?10 gets them into the security business!

A police recognised product is Smart Water Tracer, designed for the protection of domestic and household possessions as well as commercial assets. The unique forensic fingerprint is practically invisible to the human eye. However it fluoresces under ultraviolet light that police use as standard, and is virtually impossible to completely remove. The cost is around ?45.00 and claims to reduce the risk of burglary by up to 83%. Police support SmartWater as it has enabled them to obtain a 100% conviction rate in court. The kit also includes warning labels to deter thieves and it takes just 20 minutes to mark property in a typical house.

The choices are spending ?10 on the unknown or ?45 on a commercially recognised property marking kit.

Back to DNA Marking kit. For around ?50 there is another DNA Property marking kit, this one boasts he UK Secured By Design accreditation, not easy to get and very important. This too comes with warning stickers the unique DNA resides in a pot of special glue to apply to your valuable items of property. Once this glue is applied, removal of the entire DNA marking from an item is almost impossible. It is invisible to the human and can only be located with a UV lamp and remnants of the DNA will easily remain in crevices and uneven surfaces.

The added benefit is that the DNA code along with the customers details are held on a secure LPCB (The Loss Prevention Certification Board ) approved database and allows recovered property to be traced back to the owner after analysis. Forensic testing will pick up even a tiny molecule of glue and can be used to determine whom the item really belongs.

There is a DNA Print kit that retails around ?40 with a patented and technically advanced UV product that is saturated with selected sequences of DNA strands embedded in the security ink. By simply placing your thumbprint on the objects that you wish to protect and/or writing your personal code or number on them using the DNA UV Security Writing Pen, you will have peace of mind knowing that if items are ever lost or stolen, and subsequently recovered, they can be scanned by the DNA UV Detector to illuminate your invisible marks and prove ownership.

This DNA print kit has more items than the others mentioned, the kit includes... DNA UV Security Ink Pad to DNA mark hundreds of objects with your personal thumbprint, DNA UV Security Writing Pen this is designed to invisibly write your personal information that can identify you as the owner, DNA UV Detector with Pen to Illuminate invisible marks. Inventory Ledger to record the location and type of invisible marks placed on your property. And Tamper-Proof Tags to alert the police that recovered items are tagged with DNA UV security markings.

DNA was used to protect all licensed merchandise for 2000 Summer Olympics in Sidney, Australia, the work of famous artists such as Joe Barbara (The Flintstone's) and Thomas Kincaid and the property of a major film studio. It was also used to protect items from athletes like Mohammad Ali, and Mark McGuire's famous 70th home run ball. Now you can take advantage of this cutting edge technology to protect your property with undisputable identification.

Digby Farquart is a Top UK Security Consultant and Crime prevention advisor. He writes for UK Crime Prvention.org and UK Security Directory.

Dating And Sexual Confidence Series Pt 7 - Is Sexiness A Part Of Some People's DNA? No, Seriously Is It?

Is sexiness a part of some people's DNA? No, seriously is it?

Extensive evidence says that both men and women form a schema of "sexy" according to media and fashion stereotypes about sexiness. They first look for men/women who fit media and fashion model stereotypes, because that's what we've been told sexiness is; then start realizing that's not where the sexiness is.

So where is the sexiness? But before we get to that, where isn't the sexiness?

Not in good looks - It's true that some people are born better looking than others and that mere fact makes them more noticeable compared to those of us not born with great looks. But study after study shows that sexy people are not any more good looking or better dressed than the average looking person. Sexiness goes beyond conventional good looks and certainly beyond prada and amani. Some good looking, well dressed people can be lookers, but hardly "sexy".

Not in trying too hard - Sexiness is something that you either have or you don't. Any trying too hard to be sexy can be the unsexiest thing there is, especially if it's uselessly and needlessly out-there. If it looks like you spent hours on it or if you are working it too hard, it can seem like a flat detail on a painting -- precisely done for no added value. It is the sheer effortless and easy nonchalance with which genuinely sexy people achieve their sexiness that makes them sexy. They never try to be sexy, they just are sexy.

Not in second guessing - Regardless of whether you have good looks or not, if you do not believe deep down inside that you're "sexy" - you are not. You can pretend for the real or imagined "cameras" (hey, look at me, I'm trying to do sexy, but I feel like shit) but if you are posing just to appear sexy, it's not sexy.

Not in age - They say beauty wears thin but sexiness increases with age. As you will see below, a lot of what constitutes sexy is really how we communicate our inner confidence and inner youthfulness to others. You can fool some people some of the time but you can't fool all people all of the time. The attempt to fool people into believing you're younger than you are just makes you appear less confident about your inner beauty - which is your inner youthfulness.

If sexiness is not in any of the usual suspects, what is it about some people that we can't help but be drawn to their magic, even if only in small doses?

Let's look at just ten feral qualities that these people have in common, qualities that intrigue us, that seem to calls us by name, and taunt us with fantasies ...

1. The look of mischief - a look that has laughter and delight in the eyes. They have a touch of untamed naughtiness under their omniscient gaze - a window to the soul.

2. Sophisticated mysteriousness -elegant yet edgy, rugged but still polished, friendly yet reserved. They posses a sort of "captivating unknown" or "dissonance" that keeps our "want to know" minds on edge.

3. Relaxed vulnerability - a kind of carefree childlike fearlessness. They put themselves out there partly because they feel secure enough to just be themselves.

4. Self-assured confidence - fundamental ease in their own skin. They stride into a room with poised surety that their aura compels us to notice them.

5. Wit and Humour - wise, funny and generous with their time and their presence. They can cheer up mundane situations and experiences.

6. Lavish sensuousness - a peculiar mingling of voluptuous pleasure and vibrant soulfulness. They are in every bit immersed in the depth and richness of their beingness.

7. Health and abundance - physical fitness, resources, abilities. Whatever they have, they are content and that makes it look like they have it in plenty

8. Heartfelt sincerity - genuineness, simplicity, openness. They show strong and authentic emotions and affection.

9. Exuberant vitality - passion, intensity, drive, bounce - that reveals both the fire and desire within. They are positively overflowing with genuine appetite for life - and for living.

10. Human warmth - kindness, compassion, approachability. They are interested in others and are interesting themselves.

The good news is that, these are all qualities that we all have within - some in smaller amounts than others. The REALLY good news is that it's not that hard at all to develop these qualities to fully blossoming levels. All we have to do is remove the mental, emotional, social and spiritual blocks obscuring what is our innate radiance. Innate radiance? Hmm, in this sense we can say sexiness is in everybody's DNA.

Once you start embodying one quality, it will cause another one to follow suit, then another and another. I've seen men and women literally transform into wholesomely sexy people (without any plastic surgery) that I am like "You Sexy Thing! Where Did You Come From?"

Christine Akiteng, Internationally renowned Sexual Confidence/Dating Coach and author of ebook: The Art Of Seducing Out Of Fullness? is helps men and women cultivate that NATURAL EASE that draws the opposite sex in without you trying, without you putting effort into attracting them, and without the mental stress and emotional frustration of today's dating dynamics.

Christine's websites: http://www.torontosnumber

DNA - Crime Prevention & Detection

DNA goes where you go. Unlike a fingerprint; you cannot avoid leaving it behind. Your normal activities will assist in leaving your DNA; cough, sneeze and talk, you will leave DNA, or just touch someone or something and you will leave a trace of your DNA no matter where you go.

What is DNA? DNA stands for Deoxyribonucleic Acid. It is a molecule not just found in the cells of people but, animals and plants.

DNA holds the genetic code that makes us all very unique. Our height, sex, hair, eye colour and other personal features contribute to the variations in the code. 50% of our DNA was inherited from each parent. Siblings are more likely to have similar DNA than unrelated people.

Imagine a tangled knot of very thin strands; that is how DNA exists in the cells of our body but it is invisible. If we straightened it out, the DNA from each cell would stretch to two metres long. It is difficult to imagine that we have more than six feet of it inside a cell and it is actually invisible to the human eye!

If we took the DNA from all the cells in our body it would stretch to the sun and back not once or twice but a whopping 500 times. We have more than 45,000,000,000 miles of DNA!

DNA Crime Prevention and Detection.

Given that it is highly likely for a sample of DNA to be found at the scene of crime, it can be used in a number of ways. It can be compared with a sample that has been taken from a suspect. A positive match can be used as evidence.

DNA can be taken from a suspect and checked against the National DNA Database. DNA taken from other crime scenes may be linked to that person. DNA can positively identify offenders through DNA taken from close relatives.

DNA isn't just about catching criminals; it is also used to eliminate suspects and identification of bodies.

DNA can be used to mark property and aid recovery from the thieves.

How is DNA used?

DNA doesn't need to be surgically removed, simply by using a buccal swab (buccal meaning inner-cheek) and gently rubbing the inside of the cheek, DNA from the mouth cells are collected and can be forensically analysed

Like fingerprints, not every single difference between people's DNA is required. Techniques are deployed to look at specific areas of DNA that are conclusively known to vary widely between people. This technique is called 'DNA Profiling' it analyses and measures the recorded differences to link the DNA with the suspect and crime scene or weapon.

The National DNA Database is used by every police force in the UK to compare DNA taken from scenes of crime. At present there are over two million samples of DNA taken from individuals that are stored on the DNA Database.

It might be that DNA is only present in tiny amounts. These can be greatly amplified using a technique called Polymerisation Chain Reaction (PCR). This can produce a positive result from just one nanogram (one thousand millionth of a gram) of DNA.

Profiling is conducted in the forensic science laboratory and takes between 16 and depending on the DNA sample.

Digby Farquart is a Top UK Security Consultant and Crime prevention advisor. He writes for UK Crime Prvention.org and UK Security Directory.

DNA Testing: Prenatal DNA Testing

The popularity of DNA paternity testing continues to grow in our society. Some observers have expressed concern about the emotional and financial impact of DNA paternity test results on young children. Paternity can now be determined before a baby is born through the use of prenatal DNA testing. Prenatal DNA testing is possible because a child's DNA is formed at conception and does not change. Although prenatal DNA testing is a little more involved than a standard home DNA paternity test, the process is still fairly straightforward. The accuracy levels of prenatal DNA testing are identical to standard DNA paternity testing.

Prenatal DNA testing requires samples from the unborn child, the mother, and the alleged father. DNA samples from the unborn child are collected via amniocentesis or CVS. Amniocentesis is the removal of a small sample of the amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus. Amniocentesis can be performed during the 14th to 24th week of pregnancy.

Prenatal DNA testing also requires a separate physician's fee for drawing the DNA samples. DNA samples from the parents are collected via a buccal swab rubbed against the inside of the mouth. As with standard DNA paternity testing, DNA sample collection procedures may vary depending on whether you need court-admissible results. Prenatal DNA testing for court proceedings requires proof of identities and chain of custody verification by a witness.

Questions have been raised regarding the ethics of prenatal DNA testing, given that there are risks to the fetus. But there are several instances in which prenatal DNA testing is preferred. For example, in cases of artificial insemination, there may be a need to verify the sample source. Some DNA testing labs are now offering the option of non-invasive prenatal DNA testing.

For more information about Different Types of DNA or How to Get a DNA Test, please take time to visit http://www.DNA-PaternityTests.com.

Dna And Paternity Testing

The most important thing to do when you get the results of the paternity testing is to open them with the alleged father present. By comparing the DNA characteristics of the mother and child, it is possible to identify what the make-up of the father's DNA should look like. Adoption reunions are very easy in this day and age with the help of DNA testing for paternity being fairly low cost. Costs for DNA testing can range from reasonable to exorbitant depending on what kind testing and for what scrutiny level. Adoption reunions into may be very painful when a child finds out the paternity test proves who they thought was their father really isn't. This will ensure a sense of clarity and certainty for the man who feels the child is not of his offspring.

Costs for DNA testing mainly vary from lab to lab depending upon the size and order of the sample to be tested. This type of testing does not require a significant amount of blood sampling from the father in question or the child. There are mulitple reasons to establish paternity; whatever the reason maybe just be for certain you have the right charactor the first time. By comparing the genetic material of a child to that of any adults involved in the situation, there is a very good chance the parents can be found. There are three distinctive companies that provide paternity testing; you can do a general search online to find the companies in your very area.

A simple DNA home test can be a strong indicator of paternity of a father who can not afford the more expensive tests. Since most samples of DNA collected for paternity tests are collected in a lab, it is possible to give in a sample of DNA for testing as well. Companies offering paternity testing by DNA analysis must be trusted to perform the task by all the rules and regulations of the state they reside in for now.

A family may find out very quickly if there is a biological relationship between a child and a father with a paternity test. The most important thing about getting the results of the test is that; you will finally know once and for who the father child is or is not. Although DNA is as reliable as ever for determining paternity, the people reading and analyzing the data may make mistakes.

http://dna-paternity-testing-lab.info/2007/01/05/paternity-tests-online

How is DNA Testing Done

DNA testing is done for many different reasons. DNA evidence can link an alleged criminal to a crime scene. DNA paternity and maternity testing can identify a child's father or mother. DNA relationship testing can determine if two individuals are full or half siblings. DNA ancestry testing can determine ethnic origins and genealogical roots.

How DNA testing is done depends on the results desired and the samples available. DNA fingerprinting (or profiling as it's also known) is the process of analyzing and comparing two DNA samples. Only identical twins have the exact same DNA sequence, everyone else's DNA is unique. This makes DNA the perfect way to link individuals to each other or to locations where they have been.

The entire DNA chain is incredibly long, much to long to examine all of it. Human DNA is made up of about 3.3 billion base pairs. The differences between DNA samples occur only in small segments of the DNA--the rest of the DNA is pretty much the same. DNA testing focuses on those segments that are known to differ from person to person.

As DNA testing has evolved over time, the testing methods have become more precise and are able to work with much smaller DNA samples. Early DNA testing was done using dime-size drops of blood. Today's tests can extract DNA from the back of a licked stamp. The DNA must be extracted from whatever sample is provided. DNA must be isolated and purified before it can be compared. In essence, it has to be "unlocked" from the cell in which it exists. The cell walls are usually dissolved with a detergent. Proteins in the cell are digested by enzymes. After this process, the DNA is purified, concentrated, and tested.

DNA testing is done most often today using a process called "short tandem repeats," or STR. Human DNA has several regions of repeated sequences. These regions are found in the same place on the DNA chain, but the repeated sequences are different for each individual. The "short" tandem repeats (repeated sequences of two to five base pairs in length) have been proven to provide excellent DNA profiling results. STR is highly accurate--the chance of misidentification being one in several billion.

For more information about Different Types of DNA or Prenatal DNA Testing, please take time to visit http://www.DNA-PaternityTests.com.

DNA Testing Basics: Prenatal DNA Testing

 

The popularity of DNA paternity testing continues to grow in our society. Some observers have expressed concern about the emotional and financial impact of DNA paternity test results on young children. Paternity can now be determined before a baby is born through the use of prenatal DNA testing.

Prenatal DNA testing is possible because a child's DNA is formed at conception and does not change. Although prenatal DNA testing is a little more involved than a standard home DNA paternity test, the process is still fairly straightforward. The accuracy levels of prenatal DNA testing are identical to standard DNA paternity testing.

Prenatal DNA testing requires samples from the unborn child, the mother, and the alleged father. DNA samples from the unborn child are collected via amniocentesis or CVS. Amniocentesis is the removal of a small sample of the amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus. Amniocentesis can be performed during the 14th to 24th week of pregnancy.

Prenatal DNA testing also requires a separate physician's fee for drawing the DNA samples. DNA samples from the parents are collected via a buccal swab rubbed against the inside of the mouth. As with standard DNA paternity testing, DNA sample collection procedures may vary depending on whether you need court-admissible results. Prenatal DNA testing for court proceedings requires proof of identities and chain of custody verification by a witness.

Questions have been raised regarding the ethics of prenatal DNA testing, given that there are risks to the fetus. But there are several instances in which prenatal DNA testing is preferred. For example, in cases of artificial insemination, there may be a need to verify the sample source. Some DNA testing labs are now offering the option of non-invasive prenatal DNA testing.

Fetal DNA can be isolated out of blood samples drawn from the mother's arm. This lowers the cost of prenatal DNA sample collection, and expands the number of facilities where samples may be drawn. And, most importantly, it eliminates risk to the unborn child.

For more information about Different Types of DNA or How to Get a DNA Test, please take time to visit http://www.DNA-PaternityTests.com.

DNA Paternity Testing

 

Q. What is DNA Paternity Testing?

A. DNA identification is the most precise and definitive method available for determining parentage. Everyone is born with their own genetic blueprint known as DNA. Because DNA is passed down from mother and father to child, DNA identification provides a conclusive way to determine biological relationships. Consequently, DNA typing has become the most accepted method of proving (or discounting) a family relationship.

Q. What is the difference between a 'curiosity' test and a Court Admissible DNA Test?

A. The two tests are treated identically at the laboratory and during the testing phase of the process. The main differences rests in the method used to collect the DNA sample and the court admissible test is more sensitive. In the instance of a court admissible test, the DNA must be collected by an independent and qualified witness such as a GP or Staff Nurse.

Q. Is the DNA test accurate?

A. Samples of DNA can be used to establish whether individuals are related.

The test will either: 1. prove 100 per cent that the person is not a relation or parent of the child; or 2. show a 99.99 per cent probability that they are a relation or parent of the child.

Q. How does DNA testing work?

A. DNA paternity testing can be performed on a wide variety of samples including cheek cells, tissue samples, blood cells and semen. Every person's DNA is unique (except for identical twins). DNA is the genetic material in the cells of your body. Every nucleated cell has 46 chromosomes, except the sperm and the egg which contain 23 chromosomes each. At the moment of conception they join together to start creating a person. Therefore each human being receives half of their genetic material (DNA) from the biological mother, and the other half from the biological father.

To do the test, DNA is extracted from the buccal (cheek) cells from inside the mouth. Enzymes are used to cut the DNA sample into fragments which are then placed into a gel. An electric current is used to drive the fragments across the gel - the smallest of which move the farthest. The separated DNA fragments are transferred to a nylon membrane which reveals black bands where the probes are bound to the DNA. The visible band pattern of the child is unique - half matches the mother and half matches the father. The process is repeated several times to provide a certainty greater than 99.99% that there is a paternal relationship with the child.

Q. What age can a child be tested?

A. Testing can be performed on a child of any age after birth. Using mouth swabs as instead of needles for blood samples makes the testing of children safe and painless.

Q. Does the mother need to be tested?

A. It is possible to perform a DNA Paternity Test without the mother; however the results will be more conclusive if the mother is included.

Steve Wrigley - http://www.dnadiagnostics.co.uk

Kidnapping And Ransom Insurance For Businesses: Absolute Necessity

Kidnapping for ransom money is on the high. Kidnapping and ransom insurance for businesses now comes up in three categories. Firstly, as a part of comprehensive business insurance package, secondly, as a stand-alone policy for people and lastly some of the insurance companies provide it as a part of their home owners? insurance policy.

Corporate policies normally cover most kidnapping-related expenses like hostage negotiation fees, lost wages and the ransom amount. On the other hand, stand-alone policy for individual plays a pivotal part in paying for the cost of dealing with a kidnapping. However, it does reimburse for ransom payments.

What is Kidnap and Ransom Insurance?

Kidnap, and Ransom Extortion insurance gives you numerous benefits and services. Apart from providing coverage for kidnappings and other happenings through a blend of financial indemnification and expert crisis management, a basic policy cover items like ransom payment, loss of income and medical care.

In addition, insurance companies can also give you some expert opinion on crisis management and can also impart employee training to prepare them if situation arises. This training can help them immensely in giving them the feel of what to do in a hostage situation to reduce losses due to kidnap or ransom.

When do I need Kidnap and Ransom Insurance?

According to one estimate, kidnap extortion and detention are real dangers for business firms operating both overseas and in domestic markets. Though, top management of these firms always overlooks these things by saying that it will never happen to us. They do not understand how much damage it can do on the business? With more than 1,000 annual kidnappings of business professionals and executives all around the world and number of terrorist?s attacks, such policies is an absolute necessity in the eye of life and health insurance professionals who travels internationally.

Kidnap and Ransom insurance policies gives a much-needed cushion to your business with regard to independent investigations, collaborations, arrangement and delivery of funds, and number of other services pivotal to a safe, speedy and satisfactory resolution.

Extortionists don?t discriminate on the basis of religion. Any business firm of any size can be a target for extortion threats against the firm and its employees. People tend to think business extortion and kidnapping always happen with firms who are global in nature. Radical groups and criminals are present everywhere. Kidnapping and ransom insurance will help you manage the costs link up with an extortion threat against your products, or your employees.

Alexander Gordon is a writer for http://www.smallbusinessconsulting.com - The Small Business Consulting Community. Sign-up for the free success steps newsletter and get our booklet valued at $24.95 for free as a special bonus. The newsletter provides daily strategies on starting and significantly growing a business.

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