SPLASH! milk science update: September 2012 issue

SPLASH! milk science update

  September 2012 Issue

   This month, we bring you articles on how to measure milk quality, variations in the milk microbiome, the co-evolution of humans and dairy cows, and milk fat and brains.

   Enjoy!

The new frontier of milk quality and nutrition

 Lights, camera, action!

           If you wandered onto a set filled with cameras, mass spectrometers, and detectors that enable scientists to see fragments otherwise invisible, you may believe this is an episode of Crime Scene Investigation! In reality, this is the scene of the new frontier of milk analysis. Read More.

Tales from an often-ignored community

 Breast milk contains bacteria. That much is known. Some studies (although not, alas, the Human Microbiome Project) have even characterized the bacterial community found in milk. But how does the composition of such a community vary among women? And how might it change over the course of lactation?  Read more to find out.

How dairying shaped the human genome

Something amazing happened about 10,000 years ago - humans developed organized agriculture, profoundly influencing the emergence of civilizations in many regions of the world. This past year has seen an explosion of revelations as scientists exploit the power of DNA sequence information to discover the genetic adaptations of humans to dairying. Read more about what they found.

When fat is fabulous: Milk and infant neurodevelopment

Fat is back, baby! After a pretty extensive smear campaign, fats are now recognized necessities for a healthy, balanced, adult diet. But for infants, fats have always been an essential constituent in mother's milk and formula. Fatty acids are critical structural components of the brain. Read more about how fats in milk affect infant neurodevelopment.

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 Editorial Staff of "SPLASH! milk science update"

 Dr. Danielle Lemay, Executive Editor
 Prof. Daniela Barile, Associate Editor
 Prof. Katie Hinde, Associate Editor
 Dr. Ross Tellam, Associate Editor
 Prof. Johan van Arendonk, Associate Editor
 Anna Petherick, Associate Editor
 Caitlin Kiley, Copy Editor & Science Writer