Having taught Dustin Hoffman to sound and move like a woman for his role in “Tootsie” and having helped many patients in the Transgender Community make the transition both from “ male to female” or “female to male” like( Chasity to Chaz) by teaching them either them either “male” or “female” body language, voice, and speech skills I was very impressed with how well Chaz Bono (formerly Chasity Bono and Cher’s daughter) is adapting to his new identity.

In watching Chaz Bono’s interview with Chris Cuomo on GMA, Chaz’s voice and body language had so many male characteristics , it was difficult to conceive that she ever lived life as a female, which she did up until 8 months ago. Not only was her vocal pitch as lot lower, she did a lot of things men do as opposed to women- she didn’t open her jaw as much when she spoke and used about two to three octaves in his tone as opposed to the four to five octaves females use. This means there was not as much vocal animation as a male. Body language wise, he took up more room with legs apart and his handshake, where he reached out to Chris was very “male” as opposed to female. His posture and outward hand movement made away from the body was “ male” as well.

There was one interesting body language “ tell” that one of my wonderful and astute readers also noticed and pointed out – Chaz’ shoulder shrugs. My reader asked me if Chaz was lying when he said he was happy because she noticed Chaz was shrugging his shoulders when he said that.

That was an excellent observation. Here is where “Context” is so important when reading body language. The shrug may also mean “I don’t know” or “I’m not sure” which was the case here. It didn’t mean that Chaz was lying about being happy. Instead, it meant that he is still going through the transition and there is more to come and he’s still a bit insecure. In fact on the next breath, he admitted that. He said he was getting there as it had only been eight months since he had his breast reduction surgery and began hormone treatment.

I should also add that there was a lot of lip licking during the interview which many would also misconstrued as a “tell” of deception. But it was not the case here. The lip licking her meant that Chaz’s mouth was dry from being nervous and uncomfortable in the situation he was in. He even admitted to Chris that it was difficult to get out there publically and discuss his transition- that it was uncomfortable. So the lip licking you were seeing was part of that discomfort Chaz was feeling. That is why I can’t stress enough that context is so important when reading body language.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE BORN ONE SEX WHO FEEL LIKE THE OPPOSITE SEX SINCE CHILDHOOD
Gender reassignment is a very difficult and misunderstood concept. May think that people who do this are simply crazy or freaks or they are acting out or doing it for attention. They believe that you are born one sex that is who you are and that is who you shall remain. Until I went to the University of Michigan where I got my Masters Degree in Speech and Speech Pathology I used to think that if you were born one sex that’s what you were- plain and simple. But I soon found out that was not the case.

As part of our clinical practice as graduate students, we had to see different types of patients with speech and voice concerns who came into the U of M Communication Disorder Clinic and write up an evaluation report. I was given a patient who was drop dead gorgeous. She was around my height 5’9 to 5’10, had a svelte figure, long dark hair and bright blue eyes. I examined her vocally. She sounded fine except her voice was on the low side. I thought she may have suffered from vocal nodules or vocal polyps- a growth on her vocal cords and wrote up a treatment plan to help cure her condition.

I turned it into my professor, Dr. H. Harlan Bloomer, who by the way was one of the founding fathers of my field. He read my report and said that it was thorough except for one thing- “she” was a “he. “What?” I said thinking I misheard him, he repeated what he said and went on to tell me that she had come to the U of Michigan for gender reassignment surgery. The look of utter shock on my face lead him to explain to me that there were people who, although they were one gender, deep inside believed they were another gender and that it was our job to help these people make that transition by helping them learn to speak like a member of the opposite sex.

Dr. Bloomer also shared with me something that was later confirmed to me by Dr. John Money at Johns Hopkins University, a leading pioneer in the area of Gender Research. If you take a child with Gender Dysphoria and ask them to walk across the room as John or Mary (whatever their sex was) and then ask them to walk back to you as the opposite sex- a girl or a boy, a child with gender dysphoria can easily do it. If a child doesn’t have these gender issues, they will resist and say “I’m not a boy” or” I’m not a girl.” So it’s something that we now know happens in the brain early on in life.

In fact, in his interview, Chaz remarked that he always felt like a boy since childhood and always gravitated to the boys, even joining their teams instead of the girls team.

HOW DO I MAKE A MAN SOUND LIKE A WOMAN?

Apparently back in the day, the University of Michigan is where many went to get transitioned from one sex to the other. These patients also came to the Speech Clinic to learn how to sound like a woman. So it was my job to make this woman who was really a man but looked like a woman, now sound like a woman.

But there was a huge problem. How do you do it? There were no books or research on the subject back in the day. So, I had to do my own research as a graduate student. I had to learn what to do by the seat of my pants. I studied what I did as a woman and how different it was from what guys I knew did. I began to take notes about my fellow male and female classmates and observe them.

Of course I knew the pitch of the voice was different, but what do you do to physically raise a person’s pitch so it doesn’t sound campy? I had to figure that out by trial and error. But body language wise there were also differences as I quickly observed. I saw how the guys sat differently- more causal. They took up more room. They walked differently and even sat differently at their desks and wrote differently. They gestured differently. I made notes and applied them in working with my patient.

Since I really didn’t know what I was doing at the time I just made my patient sound like me, move like me, and act like me. It was weird to see the results- my behaviors being mirrored in another physical being. It was surreal. Subsequently as a grad student I worked with several other transgender patients and became more familiar with what to do.

DUSTIN HOFFMAN AND TOOTSIE

After getting my PhD from the University of Minnesota and coming to Los Angeles to attend UCLA and get a Post Doctorate in Medical Genetics and do research on speech and hearing issues on patients with genetic diseases, I went to my first Hollywood party. There I shared my experience with some fellow guests about how as a grad student I taught men to sound like women. They were fascinated and asked for my card.

A few days later I was told to go to a secret address in Westwood on Manning Ave. and to not tell anyone where I was going. Naively I went. (Today I definitely would have asked more questions) . When the door opened I almost fell over- it was Dustin Hoffman! So for the next few months I worked with him to help him sound like a woman for Toostsie. He was magnificent! And all of you I am sure saw the results. Dustin was so believable as a woman that he even received an Academy Award for his performance.

HE SAYS SHE SAYS- CLOSING THE COMMUNICATION GAP BETWEEN THE SEXES
After Tootsie came out everyone wanted to know how Dustin Hoffman came to be so believable as a woman. They wanted to know who helped him sound and move that way? So the press found out that I was behind it and did countless stories in newspapers and magazines about my work. I even appeared on radio and TV shows across the country.

Because of all the press, people from the transgender communities from around the country and abroad came to work with me. I helped men sound like women like I did for Dustin Hoffman and women sound like men. I discovered that it was a lot easier getting a woman to sound and act like a man that vice versa. Even though there were a lot more challenges, all of them succeeded vocally and body language wise.

In working with these patients there was still very little research about men and women and communication. There were a few books but they were written by linguists that weren’t very practical. So what that men do this and women do that. What do you do with that knowledge? How do you apply it to your daily life, your love life, or your business life?

I figured that out.I took some of that information that existed in the literature based on the linguist’s research and then I incorporated my own research that I did back in my University of Michigan days and subsequent research and was the first to come up with practical advice that men need to do to better get along with women in their daily lives, in the bedroom, and in business ad vice versa.

I published this information in my book He Says She Says –Closing the Communication Gap Between the Sexes (Putmam, 1991) and later in my book The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Men and Women (Macmillan, 1999) I Also devised a “Sex Talk Quiz “ which lets you see just how much you know about the opposite sex. You may see that qui in various books and articles as people have been given my permission to use it or have been granted a licensing fee by me to use it.

ACCEPTING PEOPLE FOR WHO THEY ARE
After working with so many people in the transgender community, I have come to learn their struggles and the pain they have suffered throughout their lives. People like you and I, who are born in the sex we were born in and enjoy living out lives as a woman or a man, have no idea the mental torture these people go through. So when Chaz said on television yesterday that she was happy for the first time in his life, I believe him.

In parting when Chris Cuomo said to Chaz Bono, “ If you’re happy, then I’m happy,” I concur. If Chaz is happy so am I . I want everyone to be happy with who they are and do whatever it takes to get there.

By the way, if you happen to be interested in learning more about male female communication or you want to know how to better improve your life with the opposite sex, you can order my books (He Says She Says or the Complete Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Men and Women) at Amazon or Barnes and Noble or order them or even DOWNLOAD it from my website at www.drlillianglass.com

Getting into grad school.

Specifically: Johns Hopkins University

Ha. It’s a long shot, but hey-can’t hurt to try right? Well it can hurt my feelings when I get rejected but…

So it’s actually an online Masters programme. 10 courses, 8 of them online, 2 of them in 2 3-week summer sessions on campus in Baltimore. And just like that, I’ll be a Master of Environmental Management. Sounds good, right? Online really would work out perfectly for me, because I can continue to earn a paycheque & gain experience in my field, while advancing my education. As opposed to up-rooting my life for 2 years while sacrificing an income and experience. (I’m guessing this is why online-school appeals to most adults…am I an adult?)

I’ve been “working” on my application for…geez…over a year now. But I guess I’ve never been 100% serious about it.

Yes, theoretically, I want a Masters Degree (more like I want the increased earning potential), and theoretically, I do have the time (although I’m not the most productive person…ahh Hello procrastination) and theoretically, I’m sure the bank would give me a loan to pay for it (am I actually responsible enough to have a loan?)

But…I hate school.

Let me rephrase that. My “college experience” was awesome. Tulane – great! New Orleans – amazing! Class, homework, exams, papers…not so much. It’s not that I’m not capable of doing the work, and doing it well…it’s just that, I’ve always been smart enough to get by without doing anything…and so…I haven’t…

Anyway. I don’t really have any excuse not to try. All that’s really left to complete on my application is my personal statement. Any ideas?

Dear Johns Hopkins,

I just got rejected from a dream opportunity in Fiji, and you’re my back-up. Maybe if I’d had a Master’s degree already, I would have been selected for that placement. So the idea behind getting this degree is to be a more appealing candidate in the future. Do me a solid and let me in, k? Thanksbye.

I like it. What you think?

Woah! 2 posts in a day! (Please refer to the post below for my thoughts on OKTOLIVE! first episosde ^^)

Well, that day in NCT, we heard the presentation from Sam and Nad about facebook groups and pages. They were talking about how uninteresting it will get, but I beg to differ! I think it is not as bad as they said, at least I did not feel like sleeping at all! Thats quite an achievement, considering the fact that I sleep at horrible timings like…now? XD

Actually I do know about the difference(a little), but the usage is pretty unknown to me. Like, I do not know that pages needs to be official and that groups can be set up by anyone, as long as you are a user of facebook. Now that I know that pages are only considered lawful if they are set up by official managements, somehow, I have more trust in the pages that I have joined (unless I pay them a visit and realise that it is not the official management)

While listening to their presentation, I found an article, which talks about how facebook is going to tighten their privacy policy for their users. –> Here.

Actually, sometimes, I wonder if privacy is really possible on the cyberspace, like what Ping said, the answer is probably no. And it also makes me wonder why people who joined social networking sites and have their profiles everywhere, seek privacy? If they are out to join SOCIAL NETWORKING sites, then what is all the talk about privacy, other than obvious security-related matters, I don’t see the big fuss about having privacy online.

In my opinion, privacy is pretty much self-controlled when it comes to being online. If you have a blog, and you care sooo much about privacy, there are solutions. 1. DONT HAVE THAT BLOG. <– get a book and kick it old school with something called the diary, jot down whatever you think and tuck it nicely in a locker or something. 2. DONT BLOG ABOUT STUFF YOU DEEM PRIVATE. <– isn’t this simple and straightforward? you are your own main gatekeeper.

In conclusion to this privacy matter, I feel that everyone should get connected on social networking sites, instead of worrying about privacy, think about the 1001 benefits it has. I am not a hugeeee lover of facebook, but I sure would like to thank the fact that its existence got me connected with friends that I have already lost contact with. The power of facebook is seriously an eye opener

Oh and fyi, There will be a Facebook movie, titled “Facebook: The Movie”, it is a feature film about Mark Zuckerberg, the creator of Facebook. I will be quite attracted to watch this film. Anyone? Check out more about it HERE.

They even found a place to replace Havard University (the place where Facebook started out),m, fiming will take place at Johns Hopkins University. Check out HERE.

FL’s full disclosure: Matthew Crenson is this writer’s uncle. Nevertheless, Prof. Crenson is one of the area’s most oft-quoted political minds and this writer would be doing the readership a disservice by not talking to him.

Now that that’s out of the way…

Photo credit: Tyler Waldman

Matthew Crenson is professor emeritus of political science at Johns Hopkins University. Crenson has authored or co-authored several books, including “Downsizing Democracy,” “Building the Invisible Orphanage” and “Presidential Power: Unchecked & Unbalanced.” He specializes in urban politics and American political development and is frequently quoted by Baltimore-area news outlets on such matters. Crenson lives in Towson, Md., with his wife and cat.

According to two studies presented at a retina meeting, patients with macular edema related to retinal vein occlusion had significant improvement in vision when treated with ranibizumab (Lucentis) in each of two dosages. In trials including approximately 400 patients apiece, researchers from Johns Hopkins University and Houston’s Methodist Hospital randomized patients to monthly 0.5 mg or 0.3 mg intravitreal injections of ranibizumab, or to sham injections, for six months. Notably, 46 to 47 percent of patients in both ranibizumab groups improved by at least 15 letters, compared with 16.9 percent of the control group.

Amid the cacophony of Tea Partiers, scare tactics, misinformation and disinformation – not to forget an indecorous Congressman — a key reality in the health care reform debate is being overlooked at our nation’s peril.

The social profit sector* is a significant employer throughout the country. Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Civil Society Studies (http://www.ccss.jhu.edu/) estimates that in some parts of the US (New England and Middle Atlantic states), social profit employment represent almost 12% of the total working population and the national average is 7.2%. Now consider the fact that government retrenchment has thrust more and more responsibility on the social profit sector for filling an increasing number of holes in our societal “safety net,” and you have a national disaster in the making.

Just ask one of LEVELheaded’s Senior Consultants, Tom Viall. In his former role as an Executive Director, he knows the hoops he had to jump through to try and keep health insurance affordable for his organizations as well as staff that served constituents so passionately. All EDs in the social profit sector know that, in most cases, they cannot compete with the private sector when it comes to salary and many other benefits. Beyond commitment to the “cause,” and good health insurance, we had few other tools in our recruiting arsenal . . . and now even those few options are being depleted.

Not enough attention is being paid to the negative impact our current health care system is having on the social profit sector. We will not comment here on details regarding the merits or demerits of such issues as the “public option.” We will, however, state clearly and most emphatically that something MUST be done or the social profit sector will become increasingly unable to fill even its traditional role, let alone the more expansive role of the last decade.

In short, we agree with President Obama when he says, “Doing nothing is not an option.”

* see LEVELheaded’s blog “Nonprofit Sector or Social Profit Sector?” (http://levelheadedinc.wordpress.com/2009/08/26/nonprofit-sector-or-social-profit-sector/)

About Author: Mr. Khalid Hashmani is a Washington DC-based veteran human rights activist. He is the founding President of Sindhi Association of North America (SANA) and Chief coordinator of Sindhi Excellence Team (SET) that participates in advocacy activities on behalf of rural Sindhi.

Khalid Hashmani

Author’s note – Last Tuesday (September 15), SAIS organized a presentation by Dr. Zaidi (introduced him as as one of Pakistan’s leading political Economists) on the topic of multiple identities of Pakistan and how Pakistanis increasingly feel that they belong to the Middle Eastern region and not to South Asia. There were several interesting comments from the professor who ignored Sindh and Sindhis all together in his presentation and pretended that Karachi was a separate unit from Sindh. My impressions on this presentation and follow-up question and answer session are shared below.

By: Khalid Hashmani

Washington DC. September 12, 2009 – This week a senior leadership team of MQM headed by General Musharraf, Governor of Sindh, and Mayor of Karachi accompanied by a large cast supporting delegations is visiting Washington DC. Their mission is to secure a lion’s share of recently allocated US Aid. This team also includes Dr. S. Akbar Zaidi, who is well connected to US think-tank organizations. Last Tuesday (September 15), Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) organized a presentation by Dr. Zaidi (introducing him as one of Pakistan’s leading political Economists) on the topic of multiple identities of Pakistan and how Pakistanis increasingly feel that they belong to the Middle Eastern region.

According to Dr. Zaidi, although Pakistan has not changed its borders in the last 38 years, it is undergoing a marked identity change. In a way, there are competitive tendencies between its South Asian identity and Muslim identity. Pushing further, Dr. Zaidi said that in a way Pakistan had been excavated from South Asia and placed in the Middle East region.

In the first part of his presentation, Dr. Zaidi explained that the term “South Asia” was created by the US State department for an area that used to be known as Indo-Pak subcontinent few years ago. He added that Pakistanis seem to be very proud of the fact that their country has been part of several civilizations and feel in varying degrees to belong to Middle East, South Asia or Central Asia. Not only that, but because of being a neighbor of China, they feel affinity with Chinese Muslims and also consider to have been influenced by Chinese Civilization. There is even a confusion in some international organizations on the question of identity of Pakistan. He gave the example of World Health Organization (WHO) which lists Pakistan in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region.

Commenting on the “official” point of view, he said increasingly, Pakistani officials are branding Pakistan as a Middle Eastern country with focus on its “Muslim” heritage. When dealing with Chinese, they cite the impact of Chinese civilization to promote business relations with China. He called this as “Multi-polar identity” for the sake of profit making and said that these aspects have increased identity crisis among Pakistanis. He questioned as to who has the right to decide whether Pakistan was a South Asian, Central Asian, or Middle Eastern country?

Emphasizing the “identity” changes in India and Pakistan, Dr. Zaidi said that people in both countries view their identities differently. He continued pressing this point by adding that even in India the liberal view that Pakistan belongs to South Asia is rooted in their sadness due to breakup of Punjab and largely confined to North India and as well as migration of large number of Indians to Pakistan and vice versa. He said “partition” is now genuinely celebrated in both India and Pakistan. The fear of Pakistanis is that in a South Asian association, India would be dominant player is a factor that is pushing Pakistanis towards their Muslim identity. Dr Zaidi said that the Pakistani establishment, which is mainly composed of senior military officers believes that the notion of “South Asia” was miss-construed as it implies India’s dominance where Pakistan is marginalized. The establishment thinks that now that they too are a nuclear power, they should be treated and considered equal to India. He added that in fact India is changing too – India is becoming more Hindu India as Pakistan is becoming more Muslim Pakistan.

Talking about major ethnic groups and provinces of Pakistan, he said that despite “Sarhadi Ghandi”, whose role is largely exaggerated, people living in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) feel more closer to Kabul than to the rest of Pakistan. He said that Baloch trace their history in a totally different direction and do not think that they have anything to do with Asia. He continued that is is only Punjabis and Mohajirs who feel that they belong to “South Asia”. Dr. Zaidi emphasized by saying that “in fact Pushtun and Baloch would contest being part of South Asia.”

Dr. Zaidi did not mention Sindh and Sindhis until a member from audience pointed that out and expressed disappointed for Dr. Zaidi’s failure to talk about the sufi and non-violent Sindhis whose civilization has survived for thousands of years. The same member of audience also criticized the failure of Mohajirs to assimilate with Sindhis. Dr. Zaidi said that Mohajirs and Sindhis will never be able to bridge their difference and are in fact diverging further. Another member of audience then told Dr. Zaidi that Karachi will always remain part of Sindh and increasingly become Sindhi even if Mohajirs refused to learn Sindhi language as more and more Pathans will start learning Sindhi and adapt Sindhi as their first language as the earlier migration of Pathans did.

Talking about economics and migration, Dr. Zaidi said that some say that Pakistan is a Middle Eastern country as many Pakistanis have migrated to to UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other gulf countries. He continued that old “Karachi-Bombay” business hub is being replaced by “Karachi-Dubai” business hub. He said that Urdu had become second language in Middle East. He backtracked from this argument in the Question-Answer session, when a member of audience pointed out that more Indians than Pakistanis had migrated to the Gulf region and what he said about spread of Urdu in these countries was in fact the use of Hindi language as Indian films had been popular in that region for decades.

Talking about civilian-and-military interests in Pakistan, he said the perception of Pakistani military was that the military would end up loosing its clout if relations between India and Pakistan improved. It is for this reason that they have always sabotaged civilian regimes whenever they tried to have good relations with India. He said many Pakistanis feel that Pakistan is ruled by Saudi Arabia and the USA. The visits by Pakistani civilian leaders such as General Musharraf and Mr. Nawaz Sharif to seek intervention of Saudis on their behalf in Pakistan is an indication of that influence.

I know that I am a little late on this compared to some, but FIRE, the organization for which I worked this summer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has launched a full page ad campaign in U.S. News and World Report’s America’s Best Colleges issue.  The ad, displayed above, give a brief synopsis of FIRE’s case at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), where custodian and student Keith John Sampson was tried and convicted of “racial harassment” for reading a book about the defeat of the Ku Klux Klan.  This case is one of the most horrendous cases FIRE has had, on account of a “Affirmative Action Office” that literally judged a book by its cover when it unjustly punished Sampson for his protected expression.  Although other prominent FIRE cases have been the consequence of similarly egregious violations of students’ rights and academic freedom (including its perhaps most famous case at the University of Delaware), this case is specifically ridiculous in that the Affirmitive Action Office at IUPUI literally judged a book by its cover.

To my readers who wonder what you can do to assist in FIRE’s mission:

1. You can donate to FIRE.  FIRE is a 501(c)(3) organization, and thus contributions to it are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

2. Students and faculty–Join the Campus Freedom Network.  For doing so, you will receive a free t-shirt, a free copy of FIRE’s Guides (professionally written books that explain your rights on campus), and you can become part of the grass roots effort to defend and sustain liberty on our nation’s college campuses.  FIRE will not blow up your inbox with a bunch of spam, either.  You will get a few mailings a year with updates on what is going on at FIRE and its current cases.  Joining the CFN will allow you to earn incentive points as well, and assist you in bringing FIRE speakers to your campus to discuss these issues.  You may also wish to participate in the annual CFN conference, where you will spend three days in Philadelphia learning all about free speech on college campuses from the FIRE staff and leading scholars.

3. If you are censored, fight back!  FIRE has reached millions of people thus far in its mission of defending the essential freedoms that are wholeheartedly necessary for education to continue into the future.  If your rights have been violated, contact FIRE immediately and the staff will assist in your case.

4. Work at FIRE!  Through the FIRE summer internship program, a small number of people are afforded the opportunity to work right alongside the staff and assist in active cases.  FIRE also hires law students for its legal internship program.

5. Vocalize the mission!  Without the support of CFN, blogs like this one, news and other media outlets, donations, and the efforts of FIRE’s legal network, its mission could not continue.  Writing op-eds, letters to the editor of your campus newspaper, and blogging all play a crucial part in realizing the potential of FIRE.  FIRE is an excellent resource, but it is the efforts of grassroots activism that will ultimately influence change of the atrocious current state of speech codes on college campuses.

6. Attorneys, join the FIRE’s Legal Network.  Students throughout the country need your support.  When FIRE’s traditional efforts to publicize events and seek redress of grievances through diplomatic means fail, it is the work of Legal Network attorneys who can help.  FIRE has assisted in many cases of litigation, which have resulted in the restoration of the rights of millions of students.

I leave you with a  that I think serves to explain just how important this issue is:

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free — Ronald Reagan

Indeed.

Via KurzweilAI.net — very cool news in nanotechnlogy. Beautiful and practical, a great combination.

First 3-D Patterned Nanostructures

Technology Review, Aug. 20, 2009 3-D nanostructures with patterned surfaces for drug delivery, electronics, and other applications have been made by Johns Hopkins University chemists. They created arrays of patterned, cross-shaped nickel structures on a silicon wafer, then added tin hinges. When placed in a plasma etching chamber, the flat structures folded up into cubes and released from the wafer. To make nanocubes as small as 100 nanometers a side, the researchers added another panel. (ACS/Nano Letters)   Read Original Article>>

Scientists in Israel have demonstrated that it is possible to fabricate DNA evidence, undermining the credibility of what has been considered the gold standard of proof in criminal cases.

The scientists fabricated blood and saliva samples containing DNA from a person other than the donor of the blood and saliva. They also showed that if they had access to a DNA profile in a database, they could construct a sample of DNA to match that profile without obtaining any tissue from that person.

“You can just engineer a crime scene,” said Dan Frumkin, lead author of the paper, which has been published online by the journal Forensic Science International: Genetics. “Any biology undergraduate could perform this.”

Dr. Frumkin is a founder of Nucleix, a company based in Tel Aviv that has developed a test to distinguish real DNA samples from fake ones that it hopes to sell to forensics laboratories.

The planting of fabricated DNA evidence at a crime scene is only one implication of the findings. A potential invasion of personal privacy is another.

Using some of the same techniques, it may be possible to scavenge anyone’s DNA from a discarded drinking cup or cigarette butt and turn it into a saliva sample that could be submitted to a genetic testing company that measures ancestry or the risk of getting various diseases. Celebrities might have to fear “genetic paparazzi,” said Gail H. Javitt of the Genetics and Public Policy Center at Johns Hopkins University.

Tania Simoncelli, science adviser to the American Civil Liberties Union, said the findings were worrisome.

“DNA is a lot easier to plant at a crime scene than fingerprints,” she said. “We’re creating a criminal justice system that is increasingly relying on this technology.”

John M. Butler, leader of the human identity testing project at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, said he was “impressed at how well they were able to fabricate the fake DNA profiles.” However, he added, “I think your average criminal wouldn’t be able to do something like that.”

The scientists fabricated DNA samples two ways. One required a real, if tiny, DNA sample, perhaps from a strand of hair or drinking cup. They amplified the tiny sample into a large quantity of DNA using a standard technique called whole genome amplification.

Of course, a drinking cup or piece of hair might itself be left at a crime scene to frame someone, but blood or saliva may be more believable.

The authors of the paper took blood from a woman and centrifuged it to remove the white cells, which contain DNA. To the remaining red cells they added DNA that had been amplified from a man’s hair.

Since red cells do not contain DNA, all of the genetic material in the blood sample was from the man. The authors sent it to a leading American forensics laboratory, which analyzed it as if it were a normal sample of a man’s blood.

The other technique relied on DNA profiles, stored in law enforcement databases as a series of numbers and letters corresponding to variations at 13 spots in a person’s genome.

From a pooled sample of many people’s DNA, the scientists cloned tiny DNA snippets representing the common variants at each spot, creating a library of such snippets. To prepare a DNA sample matching any profile, they just mixed the proper snippets together. They said that a library of 425 different DNA snippets would be enough to cover every conceivable profile.

Nucleix’s test to tell if a sample has been fabricated relies on the fact that amplified DNA — which would be used in either deception — is not methylated, meaning it lacks certain molecules that are attached to the DNA at specific points, usually to inactivate genes.

Dr. Bailey brings DoD and media relations expertise to the company’s Board

ROCKVILLE, MD, June 15, 2007—Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE: EBS), a biopharmaceutical company, announced today that at a regularly scheduled meeting of its board of directors the board passed a resolution authorizing the expansion of the total number of members of the board to eight.  The board also unanimously appointed Sue Bailey, M.D., as a Class III director, for a two-year term that will expire at the 2009 annual meeting of stockholders.

“I am delighted to welcome Dr. Bailey to the Emergent BioSolutions Board of Directors.  Her extensive experience in managing complex organizations and healthcare-related issues for both the federal government and private corporations and her expertise in media relations will contribute greatly to our ability to meet our nation’s need for bioterrorism countermeasures and to create shareholder value,” said Fuad El-Hibri, Emergent BioSolutions’ chairman and chief executive officer.

Dr. Bailey served as a news analyst for NBC Universal from 2001 to 2006, focused on national security, bioterrorism, environmental safety and public health issues.  Dr. Bailey also served as Administrator for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration from 2000 to 2001, as Assistant Secretary Of Defense (Health Affairs) from 1998 to 2000, and as Deputy Assistant Secretary Of Defense (Clinical Services) from 1994 to 1995.  During her tenure with DoD Health Affairs, Dr. Bailey headed the $17 billion military medical system, with responsibility for protecting American military forces from combat causalities, disease, environmental hazards, and biochemical warfare.

“Protecting America’s military men and women against acts of bioterrorism and safeguarding citizens against infectious diseases has been the focus of my career,” said Dr. Bailey.  “I am pleased to be joining the Board of Emergent BioSolutions where I can help guide the company’s development of medical countermeasures that can protect the lives of those most at risk.”

Dr. Bailey is a board certified physician whose clinical and academic background included a faculty position at Georgetown University Medical School.  In addition, she was formerly a Navy officer, having achieved the rank of Lt. Commander, U.S. Navy Reserve.  Dr. Bailey also serves as an advisor or member of the board of directors for a variety of industry, academic and trade healthcare and safety-oriented organizations.

Dr. Bailey holds a degree from the University of Maryland and her medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.  She completed her internship and residency at George Washington University and completed a medical post-graduate fellowship at Johns Hopkins University.

About Emergent BioSolutions Inc.
Emergent BioSolutions Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to one simple mission—to protect life.  We develop, manufacture and commercialize immunobiotics, consisting of vaccines and therapeutics that assist the body’s immune system to prevent or treat disease.  Our biodefense business focuses on immunobiotics for use against biological agents that are potential weapons of bioterrorism and biowarfare.  Our marketed product, BioThrax® (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed), is the only vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the prevention of anthrax infection.  Our commercial business focuses on immunobiotics for use against infectious diseases and other medical conditions that have resulted in significant unmet or underserved public health needs.  More information on the company is available at www.emergentbiosolutions.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Any statements, other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, including our expected revenue growth and net earnings for 2007, and any other statements containing the words “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “estimates” and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements.  There are a number of important factors that could cause the company’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including our performance under BioThrax® sales contracts with the U.S. government, including the timing of deliveries under these contracts; our ability to obtain new BioThrax sales contracts with the U.S. government; our plans for future sales of BioThrax; our plans to pursue label expansions and improvements for BioThrax; our plans to expand our manufacturing facilities and capabilities; the rate and degree of market acceptance and clinical utility of our products; our ongoing and planned development programs, preclinical studies and clinical trials; our ability to identify and acquire or in license products and product candidates that satisfy our selection criteria; the potential benefits of our existing collaboration agreements and our ability to enter into selective additional collaboration arrangements; the timing of and our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for our product candidates; our commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities and strategy; our intellectual property portfolio; our estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; and other factors identified in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 and subsequent reports filed with the SEC.  The company disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.

AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY AND   ELIMINATE CANCER,  JOHNS HOPKINS IS FINALLY STARTING TO TELL YOU THERE   IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY .     

   Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins :

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few   billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are   unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.
2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person’s lifetime. 

3. When the person’s immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumours. 

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental ,  food and lifestyle factors. 

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system. 

Radiation Therapy

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow,gastro-intestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc. 

7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs. 

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not   result in more tumor destruction. 

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence   the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.

10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer   cells to spread to other sites. 

11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply. 
 

WHAT CANCER CELLS FEED ON: 

A. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like   NutraSweet, Equal,Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses   but only in very sma ll amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in colour. Better   alternative is Bragg’s aminos or sea salt. 

B. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and   substituting with unsweetened soy milk, cancer cells are being starved. 

C. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than   beef or pork.  Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer. 

D. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline   environment.  About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach   down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to no urish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try   and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at   temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).

E. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties.   Water-best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it. 
12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines become putrified   and leads to more toxic buildup. 

13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of   cancer cells and allows the body’s killer cells to destroy the cancer cells. 

14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the   body’s own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the
body’s normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells. 

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor.Anger,   unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life. 

16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in anoxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular   level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.