Here’s a couple of quick ones:

Leonard Flom and Ophir Almog recently received a patent for a biometric device that measures and scans your skeleton via microwave “imaging radar”.

A system for identifying an individual, including an imaging radar for receiving radar data pertaining to at least a portion of a skeleton of at least one individual, an imaging module for generating at least one skeletal image of the at least one individual based on the radar data, at least one database including a plurality of skeletal data pertaining to a plurality of individuals, an identification module for comparing the at least one skeletal image with the plurality of skeletal data to determine a match.

 

It’s not quite the X-Ray security checkpoint from Total Recall, yet, but if brought to bear would possibly the most invasive form of biometric scanning that I’ve heard of.   Imagine airport delays for broken bones, or the inevitable tales of terrorists who mutilate themselves to pass unnoticed through security stations.

In other calcium-enriched news, Researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health have uncovered new information on how the human body generates fingers and toes.

Though the research was done on chick digits, it may have implications for humans born with a genetic condition known as bradydactyly, or stubby fingers and toes. The work was undertaken in the laboratory of John Fallon, the Harland Winfield Mossman Professor of Anatomy at the SMPH, who for years has sought to understand how cell fate is determined and patterning-of digits, teeth and feathers-is achieved during embryonic development.

In birds and mammals, digits arise in the mitten-shaped autopod, or developing foot, which consists of two alternating regions. The digital rays, made up of cartilage and mesenchyme, become the phalanges in the adult chicken’s toes. These alternate with the interdigits, also consisting of mesenchymal tissue, which fill the space between the digit rays and eventually regress.

Scientists know that the gene Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) plays an important role in determining the form and number of digits, and many believe that other secondary signaling centers downstream of SHH also are involved in establishing a particular digit’s identity.

The new insight puts us one step closer to being able to possibly deal with conditions like Bradydactyly as well as possibly being able to induce Polydactyly in humans.   Perhaps even more importantly, the fact that the gene that helps regulate digit growth is named Sonic the freaking Hedgehog helps prove that scientists are just as crazy as everyone else, if not moreso.

Thanks to Tom for the link to the second piece.