The tomato genome has been decoded! Plant geneticists from 14 different countries spent the last nine years mapping the genetic makeup of the tomato, and have discovered that the tomato contains 31,760 genes – that’s 7,000 more genes than a human being!

Causes of differences between individuals include independent assortment, the exchange of genes (crossing over and recombination) during reproduction (through meiosis) and various mutational events. There are at least three reasons why genetic variation exists between populations.

30,000 genes

A second reason why plants have so many genes might be gene duplication, or more precisely gene retention fol- lowing gene duplication. Gene duplication and retention in plants has been extensive and gene families are gener- ally larger in plants than in animals.

A microscopic, see-through water flea is the most complex creature ever studied, genomically speaking. Daphnia pulex is the first crustacean to ever have its genome sequenced, and it turns out it has about 31,000 genes — 25 percent more than we humans.

STIs in animals “Two or three of the major STIs [in humans] have come from animals. We know, for example, that gonorrhoea came from cattle to humans. Syphilis also came to humans from cattle or sheep many centuries ago, possibly sexually”.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), previously known as venereal diseases (VD), were present among the populations of antiquity as well as during the Middle Ages. Some passages of the Bible say much about the sexual behavior of the ancient Hebrews.

He said Chlamydia pneumoniae was originally an animal pathogen that crossed the species barrier to humans and had adapted to the point where it could now be transmitted between humans. “What we think now is that Chlamydia pneumoniae originated from amphibians such as frogs,” he said.

Professor Timms said the research revealed evidence that humans were originally infected zoonotically by animal isolates of Chlamydia pneumoniae which have adapted to humans primarily through the processes of gene decay.

Chlamydia cannot be passed on through casual contact, such as kissing and hugging, or from sharing baths, towels, swimming pools, toilet seats or cutlery.

Can chlamydia be cured? Yes, chlamydia can be cured with the right treatment. It is important that you take all of the medication your doctor prescribes to cure your infection. When taken properly it will stop the infection and could decrease your chances of having complications later on.

Highlights

Among the STIs listed above, chlamydia is the most common….States with the highest rates of reported chlamydia cases (per 100,000 people):

• Alaska: 832.5.
• Louisiana: 774.8.
• Mississippi: 740.1.
• South Carolina: 674.9.
• New Mexico: 670.5.

People at higher risk should get checked for chlamydia every year:

• Sexually active women 25 and younger.
• Older women who have new or multiple sex partners, or a sex partner who has a sexually transmitted disease.
• Men who have sex with men (MSM)

What happens if chlamydia goes untreated? If a person is not treated for chlamydia, complications may occur. Women frequently develop pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can cause infertility (not being able to get pregnant), chronic pelvic pain, tubal pregnancies, and the continued spread of the disease.

Does chylamedia stay in the body even if its been cured? Nope! Chlamydia is easily cured with antibiotics. Chlamydia is a bacterial infection (like strep throat or an ear infection), which means that once you’ve been treated and tested negative for it (to make sure the antibiotics worked), it’s gone.

In women, untreated chlamydia can spread into the uterus or fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Symptomatic PID occurs in about 10 to 15 percent of women with untreated chlamydia. However, chlamydia can also cause subclinical inflammation of the upper genital tract (“subclinical PID”).

Diagnosis and treatment Chlamydia typically goes away within 1 to 2 weeks. You should avoid sex during this time to prevent transmitting the disease.

Currently, there are 4 sexually transmitted infections (STIs or STDs) that are not curable: herpes (HSV), hepatitis B (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and human papillomavirus (HPV).

A chlamydia discharge is often yellow in color and has a strong odor. A symptom that frequently co-occurs with this discharge is painful urination that often has a burning sensation in the genital area.

No STD is harmless. Myth: You can catch an STD from a toilet seat, telephone or other object used by an infected person. Fact: STDs are transmitted by vaginal, anal, and oral sex. Some STDs may spread to a baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.