Poland 2011 Cystic Fibrosis Week

28 February is Rare Disease Day in Poland, and for this day in 2011, a stamp was released marking Cystic Fibrosis Week. The stamp features the face of a boy, half in colour, the other half in grey scale, probably representing good health and poor health. The first day postmark features the double helical represenation of DNA structure, and the left side of the cover is illustrated with the human chromosome 7 with the region q31.2 marked in red - location of the CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) gene. Mutation of this gene leads to the development of cystic fibrosis.

Centenary of the award of Nobel Price for Chemistry to Marie Curie

The United Nations has declared 2011 to be the International Year of Chemistry, this year also marks the centenary of the award of the Nobel Price for Chemistry to Marie Curie, for her discoveries related to radium. The most important medical consequence of Marie's discoveries, is that a small amount of radium could destroy human tissue, thus opening the way to the search to treat cancers. La Poste of France issued the stamp marking this important year on 28 January 2011, featuring Marie Curie in her laboratory. The postal authorities of many countries will be issuing stamps commemorating the International Year of Chemistry, and many of them will feature Marie Curie, so far Sri Lanka did it on 30th January, and Spain on 7th February. I supposed as the year goes, we shall see more.