Category Archives: DNA

Using fossilized eggs in up to 2500-year-old feces from Viking settlements in Denmark and other countries, researchers at the University of Copenhagens Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences and the Wellcome Sanger Institute (UK) have made the largest and most in-depth genetic analysis of one of the oldest parasites found in humans the whipworm.

The study, published in Nature Communications, presents completely new knowledge about the parasite's development and prehistoric dispersal. This knowledge can be applied in efforts to prevent the parasite's drug resistance and its future spread.

The study suggests that human and parasite have developed a delicate interaction over thousands of years, whereby the parasite tries to stay under the radar not to be repelled, which allows it more time to infect new people. From other studies, it is known that the whipworm stimulates the human immune system and the gut microbiome, to the mutual benefit of both host and parasite.

While whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) is now rare in industrialized countries, and most often only causes minor problems among healthy individuals, the parasite is estimated to affect 500 million people in developing countries.

"In people who are malnourished or have impaired immune systems, whipworm can lead to serious illness. Our mapping of the whipworm and its genetic development makes it easier to design more effective anti-worm drugs that can be used to prevent the spread of this parasite in the world's poorest regions," says Professor Christian Kapel of UCPHs Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences.

Eggs, not worms, made it possible for researchers to examine the genetic material of thousands-of-years-old whipworms. Due to extremely durable chitin in egg capsules, their internal DNA has been well preserved while the eggs have been buried in moist soil.

By examining fossilized stool samples which were previously discovered in the latrines of Viking settlements in Viborg and Copenhagen, the researchers isolated the eggs under a microscope, sieved them from the stool and subjected them to refined genetic analyses that the researchers have been perfecting for years in previous studies.

"We have known for a long time that we could detect parasite eggs up to 9000 years old under a microscope. Lucky for us, the eggs are designed to survive in soil for long periods of time. Under optimal conditions, even the parasite's genetic material can be preserved extremely well. And some of the oldest eggs that weve extracted some DNA from are 5000 years old. It has been quite surprising to fully map the genome of 1000-year-old well-preserved whipworm eggs in this new study," explains Christian Kapel.

The researchers examined archaeological stool samples from several locations. These ancient genetic samples are compared with contemporary samples obtained from people with whipworms from around the world. Doing so has provided researchers with an overview of the worm's genome and its evolution over ten-thousands of years.

"Unsurprisingly, we can see that the whipworm appears to have spread from Africa to the rest of the world along with humans about 55,000 years ago, following the so-called 'out of Africa' hypothesis on human migration," explains Christian Kapel.

A whipworm can grow five to seven centimeters in length and live unnoticed in the intestine of a healthy individual for several months. During this time, it lays eggs continuously, which are expelled through feces. In people with weakened immune systems, whipworm can cause a wide range of gastrointestinal diseases, malnutrition and even delay childhood development.

Worms are transmitted via the fecal-oral route, meaning that microscopic parasite eggs in soil can spread to drinking water or food, after which they are ingested through the mouth of a new host.

"The eggs lie in the ground and develop for roughly three months. Once matured, eggs can survive in the wild for even longer, as they wait to be consumed by a new host in whose digestive tract they will then hatch. Their entire life cycle is adapted to survive in soil for as long as possible," explains Christian Kapel.

As such, the golden years for these worms in our part of the world were when our toilet and kitchen conditions, as well as personal hygiene, were significantly different than today.

"During the Viking Age and well into the Middle Ages, one didn't have very sanitary conditions or well-separated cooking and toilet facilities. This allowed the whipworm far better opportunities to spread. Today, it is very rare in the industrialized part of world. Unfortunately, favorable conditions for spreading still exist in less developed regions of the world," says Christian Kapel.

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Viking Poop DNA Reveals New Insights on Relationship With Gut Companions - Technology Networks

This partnership will reimagine personalized health with genomics and raw PPG biometric data and create a comprehensive non-invasive and reliable precision therapeutics solution

BURBANK, Calif., Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- EndoCanna Health ("EndoCanna"), the industry leader in endocannabinoid system genomic testing, has chosen to partner with Biostrap USA, LLC ("Biostrap"), a digital health leader in pioneering the industry of medical-grade biosensors, data processing techniques and machine learning, to offer a personalized therapeutics solution.

"It's the raw data that really separated Biostrap from everybody else."

"By aligning DNA with biometrics, we are able to create hyper-personalization to offer better outcomes while minimizing adverse reactions," Len May, CEO and Founder of EndoCanna Health said, adding that "it's the raw data that really separated Biostrap from everybody else. Using the Biostrap wrist-worn device, we're able to verify the efficacy and the outcome of the actual protocol that's been suggested, creating a truly personalized therapeutic experience."

CBD and cannabinoid products available on the US market today are vast. According to Statista, sales of legal recreational cannabis are expected to reach an estimated $25 billion by 2025. While, sales of CBD products are expected to grow to $16 billion in value by 2026.

Each year, millions of people turn to these therapeutics for various reasons from easing chronic pain or anxiety and depression to helping with sleep and elevating overall mood. However, more often than not, the efficacy of these products remain questionable on an individual level. Thus, there's no one-size-fits-all solution.

The cannabis plant has more than 500 compounds and over 100 cannabinoids of which, CBD is one and THC is another. In addition to that, every individual has a unique endocannabinoid system, or ECS, that is made up of millions of cannabinoid receptors throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems.

How a person's body reacts to any type of CBD or cannabinoid product will depend on their ECS and genetic makeup. That's where the EndoCanna and Biostrap partnership makes a difference.

Through analyzing more than 675,000 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) related to the ECS, the science team at EndoCanna has been able to uncover unique endocannabinoid genotypes to provide precision matching of cannabinoid and THC ratios and terpene profiles for an individual's health goals.

Taking it a step further, combining genomic data with Biostrap's ultra high-fidelity raw photoplethysmography, or PPG, biometric data will offer a wrist-worn, non-invasive way to measure treatment efficacy, improve outcomes and minimize risk or any adverse side effects.

After establishing an individual's endocannabinoid profile and receiving a personal protocol from a medical professional, an EndoCanna Care Counselor will monitor each client's sleep and nocturnal biometrics through a HIPAA-compliant platform to provide feedback and help interpret the data.

"This is the kind of partnership that shows how Biostrap's clinically reliable PPG data can bridge the gap between personalizing health interventions and treatments, and monitoring the efficacy of a prescribed protocol with data-driven accuracy," Sameer Sontakey, CEO and Co-Founder of Biostrap said. "Our team believes that providing a secure, reliable and cloud-based remote physiologic monitoring platform can truly help personalize and optimize the precision therapeutics experience."

AboutEndoCanna Health

Endocanna Health is the industry leader in endocannabinoid system genomic testing and the manufacturer of genetically aligned formulations that create optimal cannabis experiences.

Endocanna is a biotechnology research company that utilizes a patent-pending process for its cannabinoid DNA variant report, EndoDecoded, and product matching algorithm, EndoAligned. EndoDNA provides two ways to submit DNA for analysis, either collected through a simple saliva swab or a direct upload of genetic data files from popular DNA testing services like Ancestry, 23andMe, Family TreeDNA, or MyHeritage DNA. Endocanna's HIPAA compliant and secure health and wellness portal, Mydna.live, provides customers with a personalized experience to access their EndoDecoded report and EndoAligned formulation suggestions for their specific genotype.

Learn more at http://www.endodna.com.

About Biostrap

Biostrap is pioneering the industry of medical-grade biosensors, lossless data processing techniques and artificial intelligence and machine learning to provide custom digital health solutions for health care and government organizations, clinical research and telehealth and telemedicine industries. Biostrap captures clinical-grade, continuous, ultra high-fidelity raw signals for analysis in a cloud-based Pulse Engine. Built with convenience, efficiency and security in mind, Biostrap translates complex biometric signals into customized insights, dashboards and mobile applications to meet their clients' needs. API & Bluetooth SDK Integration options available. Learn more at http://www.biostrap.com

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ENDOCANNA HEALTH TO SELECT BIOSTRAP TO FURTHER PERSONALIZE AND OPTIMIZE CLIENTS' DNA-MATCHED CANNABINOID EXPERIENCE AND PROVIDE A CLINICALLY RELIABLE...

New Delhi: Although there have been several technological triumphs in our country, people's obsession with meaningless superstitions still exists. Women are more often than not the victims of such superstitions. In a recent case, 3 women were beaten to deathin Ranadih village near Ranchi district of Jharkhand as they were accused of being 'witches'. The villagers suspected that the women residing in the village were 'ichhadhari serpents'. This refers to the myth of a serpent that lives in the guise of a woman during the day and becomes a serpent at night.

In today's DNA, Zee News' Rohit Ranjan will analyze how superstition against women is still prevalent in remote parts of the country and leads to more than 100 deaths per year.

The women were labelled 'ichhadhari serpents' by a healer or 'Ojha'. A few villagers had been bit by a snake in the past. To investigate this, the 'ojha' was called and he concluded that it was the three women who were actually serpents. The villagers have reportedly stopped speaking about the killings of the women but police are investigating the case.

Many people think these incidents are very rare and that they don't happen anymore. However, the data speaks a different story. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, between 2001 and 2020, 2,885 women were killed as witches in the country. That is, every year 144 women were killed as witches. Jharkhand tops the list in such incidents, where 590 women have been killed as witches in the last 20 years. Odisha is second with 506 murders and Andhra Pradesh is third with 409 murders.

Cases of killing by calling them witches are especially seen in tribal areas. This is still a major problem in rural areas. There are different reasons as to why a particular woman may be accused of being a witch such as:

Although there are awareness programs in Jharkhand for this issue, there is still a stronger belief in 'tantriks' and supernatural healers over laws and officials.

Originally posted here:
DNA Exclusive: Analysis of superstitions against women in villages - Zee News

OTARU, Hokkaido--DNA testing has identified a skull found on the coast near the site of the fatal Kazu I tour boat disaster as that of one of the missing passengers, according to the Japan Coast Guard.

Officials have now confirmed 15 of the 26 passengers and crew members to be dead, but the 11 others remain unaccounted for.

The Kazu I sank in rough seas off the Shiretoko Peninsula, eastern Hokkaido, on April 23.

Volunteers, including fishermen, who were searching for the missing people, discovered the human skull on Aug. 14 near Bunkichi Bay, about 900 meters southwest of Cape Shiretoko. They submitted the skull to Hokkaido prefectural police.

They also found sneakers and a womans clothing in the vicinity.

Hokkaido prefectural police on Sept. 2 informed Coast Guard officials that the DNA of the skull matched that of a passenger, according to the 1st Regional Coast Guard Headquarters in Otaru, Hokkaido.

It said that Coast Guard officials have reported their findings to the passengers bereaved family.

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DNA of remains matches one of the missing Kazu I passengers | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis -

The third edition of BERLIN, BERLIN has arrived. From in-person pop-ups and parties, to exclusive content and products, we're delving into Berlin's creative culture. Explore the contenthereand browse the dropshere. BERLIN, BERLIN is made possible thanks to support by the Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises.

Mercedes-Benz is having a moment. From a Balenciaga collab, to a Virgil Abloh release, and even a teased A$AP Rocky x AWGE collab, everyone is working with the famed auto manufacturer. To add to the list is Acte TM, a rising creative studio based in Berlin. The agency has overseen a broad range of projects from installations in the Eastern Alps with Moncler to handling art direction for the coveted Prada x adidas collection, and has even worked with Mercedes-Benz before.

For this release, the studio wanted to expand on duo's collaborative design language and draw inspiration from Mercedes-Benzs digital and physical archives.

We were very open to a collaboration that would allow us to think together about how luxury and purism can coexist or even merge in the future," Acte TM tells us, who learned of the project from Antoni Garage, a Berlin based agency known for its work with the automotive manufacturer. For the project, we drew on the brand's information archive to delve deeper into its background, especially its history that combines emotion and intelligence into design that operates away from trends and thus has a timeless effect.

The entire Capsule Collection includes 28 handmade pieces that can be combined to create a variety of looks. Each item is modular and exists in a coherent system that builds on each piece.

Pieces like the ACC-LT01, a performance oriented bodysuit made of old advertising banners that look akin to one of Mercedes-Benz most influential patents, the airbag, are a perfect example of the innovation Acte TM brings to the table. The entire suit borrows Mercedes-Benz's anti-slip application commonly found in the interior and exterior of its vehicles.

The AB-BG01, a bag that mimics the basic characteristics of a car body utilizes a large 3D printed storage case that can be changed, or replaced to fit inside the bags recycled aluminum frame. Due to the modular, exchangeable individual parts of the bag, it also picks up the methodology and function of the consoles in the interior.

The studio also teamed up with winner of the first BERLIN, BERLIN Prize Kasia Kucharska to assist with the bold project.

We chose to work with Studio Kasia Kucharska as they specialize not only in fashion design, but in sustainable and innovative manufacturing techniques, which we were able to integrate and benefit from for ACC01. Like Acte TM, Kasia Kucharska also makes future forward work that pushes the boundaries of design and clothing.

After a long preparation process with a first test run, we approached them to collaborate on the project, Acte TM mentions. Since then, we have closely worked together on further developing the design and the physical engineering of the garments. We had regular fittings in their studio, flipping ideas and possibilities to find the best solution for each garment.

When asked about the project Acte TM mentioned Its an exciting process to take these components and transform them into a new functional object or product. Regardless of the discipline or work thats made, the Mercedes-Benz DNA of intelligence and emotion remains evident through these references.

You can view the new ACC01 Capsule Collection exclusively at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week from Sep 5-7 at NOWADAYS.

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Acte TM Fuses the DNA of Mercedes-Benz in the New Collection - Highsnobiety

September 7, 2022

Company Name: AnGes Inc.

Presentative: Ei Yamada, President & CEO

AnGes Announces Discontinuation of Development of DNA Vaccine for Original Wuhan Strain of COVID-19 and Start of Research into Improved DNA Vaccine for COVID-19 Variants and Formulation for its Intranasal Delivery

AnGes, Inc. hereby announces that it has decided to discontinue the development of a DNA vaccine for the original Wuhan strain of COVID-19 it had previously been working on ("initial vaccine") and to start researching an improved DNA vaccine that is also effective in treating COVID-19 variants (Omicron BA.5, etc.) as well as a formulation for its intranasal delivery. Details are as follows.

1. Background to the development of DNA vaccine for original Wuhan strain of COVID-19

In March 2020, we decided to use our DNA plasmid technology to develop a DNA vaccine for the original Wuhan strain of COVID-19. We began conducting a non-clinical trial for the initial vaccine from March 2020 and proceeded with its development with a Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial and a Phase 2/3 Clinical Trial. However, in November 2021, we came to the conclusion that the initial vaccine was unlikely to have the expected effect.

Meanwhile, since August 2021, AnGes has also been conducting a Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial using a vaccine with a higher drug concentration than the initial vaccine (hereinafter referred to as the "high-concentration vaccine").

2. Discontinuation of development of DNA vaccine for the original Wuhan strain of COVID-19

We have now completed administration for the Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial using the high- concentration vaccine and are in the process of organizing and analyzing the data.

Whilst further time is needed to determine the final results of the clinical trial of this high- concentration vaccine, but preliminary data from the clinical trial confirm its safety. However, although the high-dose formulation had enhanced immunogenicity compared to the initially developed early vaccine, the primary endpoints of neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus at 12 weeks and SARS-CoV-2 spike (S)-glycoprotein-specific antibody titer at 12 weeks were not reached at the expected levels in either the intramuscular or intradermal vaccination groups. Based on these results, AnGes decided to discontinue development of the initial vaccine including the high-concentration vaccine targeting the original Wuhan strain of COVID-19.

(Note)This document has been translated from the Japanese original for reference purposes only.

In the event of any discrepancy between this translation and the Japanese original, the original shall prevail.

We previously received subsidies for our development of the initial vaccine under the "Drug Discovery Support Promotion Project - Vaccine Development Against Novel Coronavirus Infectious Disease (COVID-19)" and the Vaccine Development Promotion Project implemented by The Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) and the Vaccine Production System Urgent Development Project implemented by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. These subsidies are recorded in "Advances Received" under liabilities on the balance sheet at the time of payment. Advances received as of the end of the second quarter of the fiscal year ending December 2022 amounted to 5,764 million yen. After recording this subsidy as an advance payment, our company reports the details of the expenses used in the development of the vaccine, and the report is investigated every fiscal year, and the vaccine development expenses recognized as appropriate are transferred to the subsidy income of non-operating income. Subsidies for vaccine development to be provided to our company have already been paid, and with regard to subsidies already recorded in advance payments, the costs of vaccine development deemed appropriate based on future declarations and investigations will be recorded as subsidy income for each research year. Following the discontinuation of the initial vaccine development, the joint research on the initial vaccine with Osaka University, Takara Bio Inc., Daicel Corp., EPS Group, FanPep Co., Ltd., Peptide Institute Inc., Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd., Human Metabolome Technologies Inc., Future Corp., 3D-Matrix, Ltd., AGC Biologics, Cytiva, Shionogi Pharma Co., Ltd., Kaneka Eurogentec and Brikell Biotech will also be terminated.

However, for the time being we plan to use cash on hand to cover the cost of research into the improved vaccine and a formulation for its intranasal delivery, given that this research is in the initial stages, and will consider funding based on an assessment of the progress of our research and

(Note)This document has been translated from the Japanese original for reference purposes only.

In the event of any discrepancy between this translation and the Japanese original, the original shall prevail.

development.

The impact that discontinuation of development of the initial vaccine and the research on the improved DNA vaccine and its intranasal formulation on our consolidated business results and financial position for the current consolidated fiscal year is difficult to predict at this time because the details, such as the extent to which vaccine development expenses will be recognized during the current fiscal year out of the subsidy recorded as an advance payment as described above, have not yet been determined. The details of the grant, including the extent to which vaccine development expenses will be recognized during the current fiscal year, have not yet been determined, and it is difficult to foresee the impact at this point in time. Based on future progress, we will promptly disclose such information as soon as a reasonable calculation becomes possible.

AnGes, Inc.

Public Relations & Investor Relations Group

https://www.anges.co.jp/en/

(Note)This document has been translated from the Japanese original for reference purposes only.

In the event of any discrepancy between this translation and the Japanese original, the original shall prevail.

Disclaimer

AnGes MG Inc. published this content on 07 September 2022 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 07 September 2022 10:59:04 UTC.

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AnGes : Announces Discontinuation of Development of DNA Vaccine for Original Wuhan Strain of COVID-19 and Start of Research into Improved DNA Vaccine...

Cashmere knit jacket with shearling fur, cashmere turtleneck, and cotton corduroy pants

NEW YORK (PRWEB) September 07, 2022

At Paul Stuart, bold color combinations and patterns define the new collection from Creative Director Ralph Auriemma this season.

In the Need for Tweed -Inspired by the colors of the Scottish Highlands the fall collection features the return of the 3-piece suit in Shetland lambswool in light blue herringbone, moss brown, and a sage green Donegal tweed. There are also coordinating bow ties and brushed flannel sport shirts. Fair Isle Shetland sweaters are paired with chevron tweed pants. Tweed topcoats, a field coat in corduroy, and a flannel overcoat with a bold lining, all feature details that are exclusive to Paul Stuart. Crew neck sweaters in Shetland wool tweed, Fair Isle wool crew-neck sweaters in green, and reverse seam tweed cardigan sweaters provide contrast. Accessories this season include tweed caps and cashmere knit beanie caps. The Hastings Chelsea boot provides the natural finishing touch. Auriemma says, When designing this collection, my intention was to honor the weave of the cloth, the texture of the yarns, and the colors of the Scottish Highlands.

Tuscan Country Life - This is the luxurious half of the Paul Stuart sportswear collection with lots of fur, leather, and cashmere woven throughout. A few of the many styles to choose from include suede vests with sheared beaver trims, mink brown bomber jackets with sheared beaver, and a soft cashmere sweater with a sheared beaver lining. The Highlander jacket returns in olive and brown alpaca and wool with suede trim and leather-covered buttons. The cognac suede vest with box pleat pockets is paired with tweed pants in grey and brown. Perfect for relaxing in are the horizontal corduroy pants exclusive to Paul Stuart that is pre-washed for softness. The new Gideon monk strap loafer made from the softest Italian leather completes this group perfectly. They fit like a glove the moment you put them on.

Trevor Shimpfky, CEO and President says, This season our Creative Director, Ralph Auriemma, has outdone himself. He has filled our stores with exclusive designs in both the finest tailored clothing and luxurious sportswear collections that Paul Stuart has ever presented.

American Sartorial -The new made-to-measure styles along with this American Sartorial collection feature innovative constructions and exclusive fabrics while staying consistent with Paul Stuarts sartorial identity, says Auriemma. There are new Italian and Japanese suits that celebrate the brands heritage style in fabric and color. New super 120 wool fabrics that are wind resistant and water-repellent in the tailored coats are exclusive to Paul Stuart. Contemporary suiting is available in shades of blue in a round yarn construction that provides a more refined drape and a dressier finish. These are steam pressed and feature a hand-pleated waistband and unique shoulder construction. Patterns include but are not limited to checks, windowpanes, and herringbones. The new Waldorf suede loafer in 9 colors compliments the Estate Tweed Collection of made-to-measure and sport jacket styles perfectly.

Modern Sartorial - Paul Stuarts sport jacket with a sewn-in gilet in blue, grey, and brown features a contemporary silhouette paired with wool and cashmere sweater jogger pants, and sneakers. The shirt jacket is a modern interpretation of a fall standby and theres a new sports jacket with a built-in hood in navy. Retail prices for all of these collections range from $165 for a wool tie to $3200 for 3-piece suit. Sneakers and casual footwear finish these comfortable looks in leather and suede.

About Paul Stuart: Headquartered in New York City, Paul Stuart, Inc. was founded by Ralph Ostrove and named for his son Paul Stuart Ostrove, has remained in its original location since opening in 1938. The company designs exclusive collections of mens and womens tailored clothing, sportswear, and accessories. Additional stores are located in Southampton, NY, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.

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While Staying True to the Original DNA of the Brand, the Fall Collections at Paul Stuart have been Updated for the Contemporary Man - PR Web

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Investigators announced Tuesday that they have collected new DNA evidence they hope will lead to a break in the killing of two Kansas women at a bakery 20 years ago.

A delivery driver found the bodies of 24-year-old Mandi Alexander and 79-year-old Mary Drake the evening of Sept. 4, 2002, at a Dolly Madison Bakery outlet in Great Bend, Kansas.

Drake was a customer, and Alexander had begun working as a clerk the week she was killed.

KANSAS TEACHER WINS $95,000 AFTER SCHOOL PUSHED HER TO 'DECEIVE' PARENTS ABOUT STUDENTS' GENDER IDENTITY

Investigators said they were killed with a sharp object, but the murder weapon was never found. Although money was missing from the bakerys cash drawer, authorities arent sure if robbery was the motive for the crimes.

Investigators have discovered a DNA sample relating to the case of two Kansas women who were killed in 2002.

A male's DNA was found in a sample taken from one of the victims, Cory Latham, special agent for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, said in a news conference. He did not say which woman the DNA was taken from.

Latham said in the last year, KBI agents and forensic scientists reviewed all the evidence collected in the case, focusing on technology that has advanced beyond what was available in 2002.

Investigators did not find enough DNA to enter it into a national database of criminal offenders. However, investigators could compare it to a sample of someone's DNA if they were to find a suspect.

KANSAS DEMOCRATIC GOV. KELLY RACES TO THE MIDDLE IN NEW AD: 'IT ISN'T ABOUT BEING A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN'

"So while useful, it doesn't help answer the question as to who that person is today. But it's promising and we hope it will help us in the future," Latham said.

He said Great Bend police, Barton County sheriff's deputies and KBI agents collected numerous DNA samples in the past and held Tuesday's news conference to encourage someone who might have even the slightest detail relevant to the case to come forward.

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DNA evidence collected in connection to 2002 murder of 2 women in Kansas - Fox News

Credit: Oliver Uberti

The tales of humanitys distant past were once revealed only by digging up ancient settlements, bones, and artifacts or by reading ancient texts, from the cuneiform clay tablets of the Hittites to the vivid chronicles of Herodotus.

In the past decade, however, a powerful new window has opened into humanitys past, in the stories written in the genes of our distant ancestors. Since 2014, the number of individuals from thousands of years ago whose DNA has been analyzed has leapt from a mere handful to more than 8,000. That has ushered in what Kristian Kristiansen, professor of archaeology at University of Gothenburg in Sweden, calls a major scientific revolution. It has created a new kind of independent evidence to answer questions in archeology that had never before been resolved, Kristiansen explains.

Indeed, the first results were quite shocking, Kristiansen says. For 50 years, scientists had assumed that our ancestors were mostly homebodies, so that recent populations in many countries were largely the descendants of those who had lived in the same general areas for thousands of years. Wrong. Beginning in 2015, ancient DNA pioneer David Reich, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator at Harvard Medical School, and others published genetic data showing that the story of humanity is actually one of vast and frequent migrations. About 5,300 years ago, Reich and others showed in detail, nomadic herders called the Yamnaya used newly invented horse-drawn carts to journey from the steppes for far eastern Europe (present-day Ukraine and western Russia) westward across Europeeven to Britainand eastward to India. As they roamed, they carried with them the seeds of the Indo-European languages spoken by billions of people around the world today. The DNA evidence was a breakthrough, showing how the languages trace the path of the migration, explains Reich.

Yet the evidence for the wandering Yamnaya raised deeper mysteries. Where did the closely related languages in ancient Anatolia (modern-day Turkey), such as Hittite, come from? And where was the origin of the parent language to Indo-European and these Anatolian languages? The leading theory was that the steppe population had travelled southeast through the Balkans into Anatolia, bringing an early version of Indo-European. Finding genetic evidence, however, was challenging, says Reich. The region is hot, and DNA does not do well in a warm environment.

But then in 2018, geneticists at the University of Copenhagen reported that theyd been able to sample the genes of a few individuals from ancient Anatolia. They found no trace of steppe ancestry, says Guus Kroonen, professor of linguistics at the University of Copenhagen and University Lecturer at the Leiden University Centre for Linguistics. That was unexpected evidence for another theorythat the Anatolian languages came not from the steppe but could rather be traced back to people who lived in the Caucasus highlands, north of the Fertile Crescent.

Now comes a far more complete and detailed answer to that question and others in a trio of papers (and cover image) in the 26 August issue of Science from Reich and a huge team of co-authors. Using advanced techniques for extracting and studying ancient DNA from bones found in the warm climate, the researchers analyzed the genes of 727 individuals across the entire Southern Arc (including modern-day Cyprus, Greece, the Balkans, Turkey, and Armenia), representing a sweeping 11,000 years of human history.

The new results demolish the previous leading theorythe idea of migrations into Anatolia from the north and westwhile providing overwhelming evidence for what the Copenhagen team had suggested. Our data show almost no DNA from the steppe in Anatolia, explains Reich. Instead, the genetic analysis points like an arrow to the Caucasus as the origin of movements that spread populations and languages both north into the steppe and west into Anatolia, he says. It also reveals that the Caucasus has been a place that has harbored a lot of diversity for a long time, says Reich, bolstering the idea that the region has been a crucible for languages and cultures.

With the DNA, we can see things, like the Anatolian influx in Rome, that that text writers might not have known about or chosen to record due to the biases of the time.

David Reich, HHMI Investigator at Harvard Medical School

Despite the large number of samples, the genetic signatures in the region dont provide absolute proof of the origins and spread of languages, linguists caution. They point out that the linguistic evidence doesnt correlate with the genetic evidence, because the reconstructed Proto-Indo-European lexicon does not reflect the predominantly farming lifestyle that was dominant in the East Mediterranean, including the Caucasus, from an early stage. Its still conceivable that a small group from the steppe might have traveled to Anatolia, bringing their language, before their genetic signal was lost as they mixed into the existing populations, says Kroonen. But the massive new evidence from Reichs team for the Caucasus origin of both Hittite (and related languages) in Anatolia and Indo-European in the steppe makes that scenario increasingly unlikely. It makes a lot of sense, and to me it looks convincing, says Kristiansen.

The new solutions to major mysteries like the origin and spread of languages is just one of the findings in Reichs three Science papers, however. The new data also are full of nuggets that fill other gaps in our stories of the past. Some 10,000-12,000 years ago, for example, the first evidence for farming appears in Anatolia. DNA extracted from those farmers shows that their genes are similar to those of contemporary people from Mesopotamia, suggesting a common ancestry. But a bit later, pottery appears in archeological sites in Anatolia for the first time. Thats when new DNA appears in the Anatolian farmers as well, a genetic signature thats more like that from farmers in the Levant (modern-day Israel and Jordan) rather than Mesopotamia. The conclusion: There is a migration associated with the arrival of pottery that is really connected to the Levant, explains Reich.

Another result sheds new light on Roman history, thousands of years after the stories of Anatolian farmers and the steppe migrations. During the heyday of the Roman Empire, Rome was a huge, diverse city. But where did most of the people and their ancestors hail from? Previous studies had shown that they were genetically different from the Italians who initially founded the city but couldnt pinpoint their origin. Now we know the answer, says Reich. The genetic mix found in Romans about 2000 years ago is almost identical to that from Anatolia, suggesting that the people in Imperial Rome were largely descended from Anatolians. Thats not something that the ancient historians mentioned in their voluminous writings. With the DNA, we can see things, like the Anatolian influx in Rome, that that text writers might not have known about or chosen to record due to the biases of the time, says Reich.

At the same time, though, some of the new evidence adds to the mysteries and complexities. The genetic data show overwhelmingly that Greece was one of many destinations for the Yamnaya nomads as they spread across Europe 5,000-4,000 years ago, bringing with them the precursor of todays Greek language. And yet the remains of the so-called Griffin Warrior, a wealthy man buried in an incredibly elaborate grave near the ancient city of Pylos in 1450 BC, show that he had nary a trace of steppe ancestry. One might think that the newer arrivals from the steppe might be more privileged and powerful than those they replaced genetically, says Reich. But here one of the wealthiest people is not associated with the big change, he says. It shows there is complexity in the relationship between ancestry and power.

More broadly, one of the key contributions of the new papers is a technical innovationa statistical framework that makes it possible for all of the published ancient DNA from many parts of the world to be compared and analyzed together. That allows us to think about people from diverse regions who are usually studied separately, Reich explains. The artifacts and settlements unearthed by archeologists often dont point to possible connections among far-flung populations, he says, but the genetics can, making it possible to tell stories that before were unknown. Thanks to the analysis of ancient DNA, we can write a much more detailed history of how human populations changed over time and place, says Reich.

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Citation

Lazaridis I, Alpaslan-Roodenberg S et. al. The genetic history of the Southern Arc: A bridge between West Asia and Europe, Science. 2022 Aug 26. doi: 10.1126/science.abm4247

Lazaridis I, Alpaslan-Roodenberg et. al., A genetic probe into the ancient and medieval history of Southern Europe and West Asia, Science. 2022 Aug 26. doi: 10.1126/science.abq0755.

Lazaridis I, Alpaslan-Roodenberg S et. al. Ancient DNA from Mesopotamia suggests distinct Pre-Pottery and Pottery Neolithic migrations into Anatolia, Science. 2022 Aug 26. doi: 10.1126/science.abq0762.

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Ancient DNA Offers New Insights into the Origins and Spread of Languages and Populations Across the Southern Arc - Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Researchers around the world have been racing to develop new vaccines, antivirals, and other therapies to blunt SARS-CoV-2s attack, even while the virus evolves to become an endemic problem.

While existing vaccines are capable of reducing severe cases of COVID-19, at least with a recent booster, continued mutations and the difficulty of maintaining high booster rates mean that better defenses will need to be developed.

Vaccines are making a huge difference, but vaccines are not universal, and there is still a tremendous need for other approaches, Anders Nr, a professor of metabolic biology at UC Berkeley, said.

While existing vaccines are capable of reducing severe cases of COVID-19, continued mutations and the difficulty of maintaining high booster rates mean that other defenses will need to be developed.

Nr and his Cal colleagues approach uses inhalable, DNA-like molecules to throw a wrench into the coronaviruss replication machine.

A nasal spray that is cheaply available everywhere and that could prevent someone from getting infected or prevent serious disease could be immensely helpful, Nr said.

Gumming up the works: The Berkeley teams nasal spray, published in Nature Communications, uses short snippets of synthetic DNA called antisense oligonucleotides or ASOs for short.

ASOs can be programmed to glom onto specific strings of RNA blocking them from being copied or turned into proteins.

Nr has been studying the use of ASOs for over a decade, trying to figure out how to use them to affect RNA involved in conditions like type 2 diabetes, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and fatty liver disease.

But when the pandemic hit, they set their sights on a different type of RNA virus RNA.

The SARS-CoV-2 genome is single-stranded RNA, similar to messenger RNA or microRNA, Nr said. We thought perhaps we could use these ASOs to stick onto the viral RNA and prevent it from working.

The nasal spray uses DNA-like molecules to gum up SARS-CoV-2s replication.

The hairpin bend: Working with the Innovative Genomics Institute and Berkeley researcher Sarah Stanleys lab, the team sicced hundreds of different ASOs all designed to attack different parts of the genome on SARS-CoV-2.

One target in particular proved effective: a non-coding portion of the virus RNA that forms a hairpin and seems to play a key role in replication. With an ASO stuck to its hairpin, the virus was unable to replicate.

The ASOs stopped the coronavirus from replicating in human cells in the lab, and in animal experiments, it both prevented infection, when given early, and treated COVID-19 after infection.

We showed that if you bind an ASO to this hairpin, it dissolves the hairpin, and the RNA forms a straight line instead of a bubble structure, Nr said. We think that this prevents the virus from effectively translating and replicating, and we found that it was incredibly effective at preventing viral replication in human cells.

When sprayed in the noses of mice and hamsters, the ASO protected against and treated COVID-19, but just as importantly, it did not spark an immune response of its own suggesting it likely wont cause toxic side effects in people.

The hairpin is found in all known variants of SARS-CoV-2, and the teams ASOs were shown to be effective against variants of concern, including Delta and Omicron.

A nasal spray that is cheaply available everywhere and that could prevent someone from getting infected or prevent serious disease could be immensely helpful.

Next steps: ASOs are stable and relatively cheap to produce at scale, the researchers said, making them a potential boon for fighting the virus around the world.

Theyre also a promising way to attack other RNA viruses, like influenza, RSV, and other respiratory viruses, since they can be designed to stick to any RNA genome. The team has already found an ASO which sticks to a target in SARS-1, and they have begun preliminary work on influenza.

More research will be required before human clinical trials can begin, though.

Its very clear that this virus is not going away, Nr said. We need a lot of different avenues to tackle it, and therapeutics like ours that are agnostic to the variants could play a major role.

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Synthetic DNA nasal spray could stop COVID, flu, and other viruses - Freethink