Category Archives: DNA

On Aug. 3, 2018, UWMadison student Torrey Tiedeman (center) uses a pickaxe to remove soil from a dig site in northern France during a World War II M.I.A. soldier recovery mission that was a joint effort between the University of WisconsinMadisons MIA Recovery and Identification Project and the U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. Photo: Bryce Richter

The University of WisconsinMadison team that recovered the remains of three American servicemen missing since World War II is putting the universitys expertise in DNA sequencing to work to guide searches for more missing, and will return this summer to a recovery site in Belgium they began excavating in 2019.

The COVID-19 pandemic kept the UW MIA Recovery and Identification Project from the second of two planned trips to an area near Bastogne where they hope to find a crew member missing since a World War II plane crash.

Im sure the site is overgrown, and well have to go back almost to square one to clear it all again before we can pick up where we left off, says Charles Konsitzke, associate director of the UW Biotechnology Center and team lead for the MIA Project. But were all looking forward to the opportunity to complete this project and give another family closure.

Machine gun bullets are recovered at the 2018 dig site in northern France. Photo: Bryce Richter

Since 2014 the UWMadison group has had a hand in returning the remains of U.S. Army Air Force pilots 1st Lt. Frank Fazekas and 2nd Lt. Walter B. Buster Stone and Army soldier Pfc. Lawrence S. Gordon, and theyre at work preparing for another case in partnership with the Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

DPAA funding supports much of the work done on cases chosen by the agency, though the UW MIA Project must raise a significant portion of costs associated with preliminary work on cases involving Wisconsin soldiers.

The MIA Project will host COMING HOME, a live, online concert at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 27, as part of its fundraising efforts. The concert, which includes local bluegrass bands Armchair Boogie and Horseshoes and Hand Grenades as well as Six Mile Grove, veteran Theresa Bowman (known in the music industry as Filitaliana) and more, will be streamed on the MIA Projects website. While there is no charge for access, there is a suggested donation of $25 per household.

About 14 staff and volunteers will travel to Belgium in June, but the MIA Project has already made its first forays into the field this year, taking samples of water and sediment from the underwater site of a plane crash close to Saipan, an island and American commonwealth near Guam in the western Pacific Ocean.

What we do here at the Biotechnology Center is then extract all the DNA from those samples to see if there are high levels of human DNA, says Konsitzke. If thats the case, there are likely human remains at that site, and our results can help plot the best places to begin searching.

The Saipan site is in about 65 feet of water, but collaborators from the University of California, San Diegos Scripps Institution of Oceanography have taken samples from another site nearly 1,000 feet deep.

UWMadison student Samantha Zinnen (right) sifts through soil taken from the dig site. Photo: Bryce Richter

The DNA processing work, led by Biotechnology Center researcher Bridget Ladell, is just one of many contributions to the search for those missing from past wars that make the MIA Project unique. As the first academic partner the Department of Defense took on to try to recover missing remains, UWMadison stands out even after more than 60 colleges, universities and other organizations have worked with DPAA.

Many of them specialize in a small part of the whole process, says Konsitzke. At UWMadison, we can cover the spectrum of expertise you need for a recovery from historical analysis and geophysical science to anthropology and archaeology to biological testing and forensics.

Staff and student volunteers, including students in the History Departments Missing in Action Seminar taught by Vaneesa Cook, lead historian for the UW MIA Project are investigating several dozen Wisconsin cases. Konsitzke hopes to find funding enough that the MIA Project can carry out a recovery mission for one of the many cases of missing Wisconsinites the students have compiled.

Every case we can help close is important to many people and rewarding, but to be able to use all our experience and expertise to return someone from Wisconsin to their family would be special, Konsitzke says.

Related from On Wisconsin magazine: A Hero Comes Home

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MIA Project begins DNA-based searches, raises support to find missing from Wisconsin - University of Wisconsin-Madison

SALEM, Mass. A forensic scientist testified Thursday that DNA matching both accused murderer Joel Monegro and his deceased wife, Yesenia, were found on bloody knives seized as evidence from their Lawrence apartment.

Amy Joy, who was previously employed by the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab, defined DNA for jurors as the blueprint that makes us who we are.

Joy was another prosecution witness who testified to testify in Salem Superior Court. Thursday was the third day of the criminal trial.

Monegro, 35, is charged with murdering Yesenia, 28, on May 28, 2018, in their Doyle Street apartment.

Answering questions posed by Assistant District Attorney Kate MacDougall, Joy said DNA taken from blood samples on two knives and fingernails found in the apartment belonged to both Joel and Yesenia.

MacDougall, in her opening statement Tuesday, said Yesenia suffered 30 stab wounds to her face, neck, torso, arms and back. Despite the slash wounds, she was able to tell a Lawrence police officer it was Monegro, her high school sweetheart and husband, who stabbed her.

Yesenia was pronounced dead a short time later at a Boston hospital.

The attack occurred after Yesenia learned Joel was having a second child with Toni Marie Eaton, a woman hed been having an affair with, she said.

Eaton was about four months pregnant when Yesenia was killed. Eatons first child with Monegro was born in September of 2016, she testified on Wednesday.

However, defense attorney Kevin Mitchell, in his opening statement, said Monegro acted in self defense.

He said Monegro, who carries a knife for work purposes, went to the apartment that day to meet Yesenia and give her some money.

If convicted of first degree murder, Monegro faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.

In addition to Joy, State Police Lt. Michael Perry also testified Thursday. He worked in crime scene services in May 2018.

MacDougall removed two knives from evidence boxes and Perry identified them as the weapons collected from the Doyle Street apartment and tested.

The trial is expected to stretch into early next week.

Follow staff reporter Jill Harmacinski on Twitter @EagleTribJill.

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Forensic scientist testifies husband and wife's DNA found on knives - Eagle-Tribune

Dublin, March 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Viral Vectors And Plasmid DNA Global Market Report 2022: By Product, By Application, By Disease, By End-User" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global viral vectors & plasmid DNA market is expected to grow from $0.69 billion in 2021 to $0.80 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.8%. The growth is mainly due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and requires targeted delivery of the drug to treat affected patients, resulting in a surge in demand for viral vectors & plasmid DNA. The market is expected to reach $1.38 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 14.8%.

The main types of products in viral vectors & plasmid DNA are plasmid DNA and viral vectors. A plasmid is a single-stranded, circular DNA molecule which is different from the chromosomal DNA of a cell. Plasmids are found organically in bacterial cells as well as in certain eukaryotes. Plasmid genes frequently confer genetic benefits to bacteria, such as antibiotic resistance. The different diseases include infectious diseases, genetic disorders, cancer, others and is used in gene and cancer therapies, viral infections, immunotherapy, formulation development, others. The several sectors include research institutes, biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical companies.

North America was the largest region in the viral vectors & plasmid DNA market in 2021. Middle East is expected to be the fastest growing region. The regions covered in this report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.

The rise in the global incidence of cancer is driving the viral vector & plasmid DNA market. The major causes for most cancers include obesity, smoking, alcohol, improper eating habits. According to American cancer society 2020, an estimated 1.8 million new cancer cases diagnosed and 606,520 cancer deaths in the United States. Furthermore, according to the American Cancer Society, in 2019, around 606,880 deaths were caused in USA due to prevalence of the cancer. Cancer Research UK predicts that there will be 27.5 million new cases of cancer each year by 2040. The rise in the global incidence of cancer is expected to boost the demand for the viral vectors and plasmid DNA market over the coming years.

The unaffordable cost of gene therapies is a major challenge in the viral vectors & plasmid DNA market. The prices of gene therapies range between $0.2 million to $2.1 million. The high price is due to various factors like government regulations, production costs, and so on. Therefore, the unaffordable cost of gene therapies is limiting the viral vector & plasmid DNA market growth.

The report focuses on viral vectors & plasmid DNA market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the viral vectors & plasmid DNA market which will be shaping and changing our lives over the next ten years and beyond, including the markets response to the challenge of the global pandemic.

Report Scope

Markets Covered:

By Product: Plasmid DNA; Viral VectorsBy Application: Gene And Cancer Therapies; Viral Infections; Immunotherapy; Formulation Development; OthersBy Disease: Infectious Diseases; Genetic Disorders; Cancer; OthersBy End User: Research Institutes; Biopharmaceutical And Pharmaceutical Companies

Countries: Australia; Brazil; China; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA

Regions: Asia-Pacific; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; South America; Middle East; Africa

Time series: Five years historic and ten years forecast

Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, expenditure per capita,

Data segmentations: country and regional historic and forecast data, market share of competitors, market segments

Companies Mentioned

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/vk8zew

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Viral Vectors and Plasmid DNA Global Market (2021 to 2026) - Featuring FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Renova...

Nobody should want to play the Bucks in the playoffs. It's been a bit of an up and down season for the defending champs, but they're starting to round out into form and get healthy with the regular season drawing to a close.

Few teams, if any, can match Milwaukee's trio of stars.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is playing at an MVP level once again, posting 30-12-6 on a nightly basis while flirting with the scoring title and the greatest PER in NBA history. Khris Middleton got off to a slow start by his standards but is now playing his best basketball of the season. And while Jrue Holiday was the only one of the three to not be named an All-Star this season, he had a legitimate reason to feel as though he was snubbed.

They already proved they can win it all together. This season, they're even more in sync, especially in crunch time. Not that Antetokounmpo, Middleton and Holiday need a whole lot of help to get going, but there is one particular way the Bucks weaponize their three stars at the same time at the end of games.

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The play itself is pretty simple: Holiday brings the ball up the court while Antetokounmpo and Middleton make their way to the elbow. The two other Bucks park themselves on the perimeter to maximize spacing.

From there, Antetokounmpo sets a screen for Middleton...

...and that is where the fun begins.

Middleton is Milwaukee's most versatile shooter. He's at his best when he's breaking defenders down and raining in silky smooth midrange jumpers, but he's equally capable of stepping out to the 3-point line. So if his defender gets caught up in Antetokounmpo's screen, he can do his best Klay Thompson impression bypopping out to the perimeter, like so:

If Middleton doesn't get open, he usually clears out to the 3-point line, paving the way for the Bucks to flow into a pick-and-roll with Holiday as the ball handler and Antetokounmpo as the screener.

Holiday has quietly been one of the league's most efficient pick-and-roll scorers this season. Nobody is going to confuse him with Stephen Curry, but Holiday is a legitimate threat to score from all three levels.

According to NBA.com, Holiday has connected on 40.7 percent of his pull-up 3-point attempts this season. Ducking underneath screens against him isn't really a safe option. That's a scary development for an already proven championship point guard.

He's also been dynamite from midrange, canning well over half of his looks from that distance.

And Holiday is one of the better finishers at his position around the basket. Just ignore him, uhh, blowing this layup:

If Holiday isn't in a position to score, Antetokounmpo or one of Milwaukee's shooters probably are. Antetokounmpo has become one of the league's most feared rollers and the Bucks have several floor-spacers to choose from on their roster in Wesley Matthews, Grayson Allen, Pat Connaughton, Jordan Nwora, Bobby Portis and Brook Lopez.

Then there's option No. 3, which is by far the scariest: Antetokounmpo gets the ball at the elbow.

Everyone in the world knows that Antetokounmpo wants to get to the basket only Nikola Jokic and Ja Morant have outscored himin the paint so far this season and yet there's little anyone can do to stop him. He's too quick and shifty for most centers and far too strong for most forwards.

Building a wall has become most teams' only hope of even having a shot at slowing him down, but with four perimeter players surrounding him, keeping him out of the paint is much easier said than done. And preemptively building that wall before he touches the ball opens up the aforementioned Middleton and Holiday to get to work.

There's more where all that came from as well.

As you may have noticed in some of the examples above, Middleton will sometimes screen for Holiday before he clears out to the perimeter, giving Holiday's defender yet another obstacle to fight through. Antetokounmpo is going to look to score more often than not when he gets the ball at the elbow, but he can easily dribble the ball out to Holiday or Middleton for a handoff if teams pack the paint. Holiday can even get involved as a screener to get Antetokounmpo a more favorable mismatch.

Basically, the options are almost endless, and they always put one of Antetokounmpo, Middleton and Holiday in position to do what they do best.

It's no wonder why it's become Milwaukee's go-to play in the clutch. Best of luck to anyone trying to stop it.

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Championship DNA: This Bucks' go-to play in the clutch could lead to another NBA Finals - Sporting News

Organisations that constantly evolve benefit from creativity, ingenuity, and collaboration, experts from TAFEP note.

This article on continuous evolution is the third installment of the five-part series on the building blocks to develop the DNA of a progressive employer. Read parts one and two here.

Change is not just a management buzzword; it is a necessity for business survival in a world of disruptions. Keeping pace with change requires organisations to continuously evolve, and this is identified as one of the five building blocks to develop the DNA of a progressive employer in a study commissioned by the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP).

Organisations that embrace continuous evolution continually improve their processes, programmes, and practices to achieve superior business outcomes. They experiment with new ways of working to improve the status quo, and use data to track and measure effectiveness. More importantly, they bring their people along the change journey.

Examples of organisations that have been actively changing their business processes or products are, as expected, some of Silicon Valleys big tech players. But in what may come as a sweet surprise, Singapores oldest sugar manufacturer is also transforming.

Founded in 1947, Singapores Cheng Yew Heng Candy Factorys family business has evolved in the last seven decades from producing sweet snacks like sour plum candies to manufacturing rock, red and black sugars for global export.

It modernises the business with automation to increase productivity and instils in employees a culture of learning and innovation. This accelerated when third-generation leader John Cheng joined the business in 2008.

For instance, he sent employees for courses to upgrade their skills, created new product lines to provide jobs for staff whose work have been replaced by machinery, and introduced a system of employee benefits.

On the other side of the world, US tech companies also charted new frontiers. For example, Netflix evolved from a DVD rental company to a giant subscription streaming service and production company with over 200mn subscribers.

Netflixs success could be attributed to its culture, where employees are trusted to take smart risks, make and own decisions based on what they think is best for the organisation, and have candid exchange of constructive feedback at all levels to embrace different perspectives, make better decisions, and understand how one can improve, learn, and adapt more quickly.

How can you develop a company culture of continuous evolution? Here are some tips to get started:

#1 Encourage experimentation, learning, and discovery

Both employers and employees must be curious to challenge norms and assumptions, without fear of failure and view setbacks as opportunities to learn.

This can be achieved with leaders who do not play the blame game, and instead find out what went well to identify areas for refinement. To further encourage employees to test new ideas, leaders should recognise employees efforts by rewarding the innovative spirit that resulted in both achievements and those with less than sterling results.

Leaders also ought to instil a growth mindset and ensure that there are fair and relevant training opportunities for employees to acquire new skillsets to keep up with changes.

#2 Ensure all employees contribute

Giving employees a voice in initiating change helps build ownership and makes them more likely to support change and champion it.

Empower your employees creativity by fostering collective participation, where everyone feels responsible to contribute and proactively identify areas for change.

This can be done by giving them outlets to pinpoint areas where they can improve and ideas to do so. More importantly, listen to them and develop line managers to become your change-makers for better engagement and business growth.

#3 Put in place a clear process to facilitate change

Clear processes and guidelines help reduce uncertainty, enabling employees to act with greater confidence.

For example, periodic reviews to track progress and analyse results, especially during the experimentation phase or when a pilot initiative is launched will help promote agility in making adjustments and improvements along the way, and ramping up internal communications to employees provide clarity and ensure that they feel more involved in the process.

Organisations that embrace a culture of continuous evolution enable creativity, ingenuity, and collaboration to flourish, and are agile in responding to organisational changes. This will lead to business longevity and sustained success.

[View part two of the series:Decoding the DNA of progressive employers: How to value employee voice]

Learn more about instilling a culture of continuous evolution at your workplace by downloadingTAFEP'sBeyond 20/20: DNA of Progressive Employers.

Image / 123RF

Follow us onTelegramand onInstagram@humanresourcesonlinefor all the latest HR and manpower news from around the region!

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Decoding the DNA of progressive employers: How to continuously evolve for superior business outcomes - Human Resources Online

Getting a DNA test is exciting, to say the least. But its an excitement that can be interpreted in several ways.

For instance, do you want to learn about your heritage and where you come from? Nice, go get it. Do you, however, accept that there is a non-zero chance that you will also learn something you wish you have never learned at all? You know, a dark family secret like your dad isnt really your dad, or that you were adopted, or the fact that you have married your first cousin?

Speaking of which, a Redditor recently shared a story of how he ended up figuring the latter out by simply gifting his wife a DNA test kit.

More info: Reddit

Image credits: Vivian Evans (not the actual photo)

Reddit user u/PM_MeMyPassword recently went to the TIFU, or Today I Effed Up, subreddit with quite a unique story.

So, both OP and his wife grew up in a small town in the South. Both of their families have been living there for quite some time now. Both of these lovely individuals also had previous marriages and 3 kids each from those marriages, and there are no plans for any more now that they are together.

Last year OP got his wife an Ancestry DNA kit as a gift. Apparently, she wanted to know more about her European roots, and her sister decided to do the same.

Image credits: u/PM_MeMyPassword

As you might have guessed by this point, the results came in and the test began making connections they didnt quite expect. Apparently, OPs wife was genetically related to his mother, oldest son, his uncle this is where most people in this situation would get a sense of impending doom.

So, they asked the wifes mother about the relations here, and she started crying and explains that when she was younger, she once overheard someone claim that her father is not who she always thought her dad was. She simply put it out of her mind, convinced herself it was a mere rumor. Turns out, not quite.

Image credits: u/PM_MeMyPassword

OP calls his mom, asks if she ever heard such a rumor, and mom goes quiet. After a brief moment, she confirms that she has heard rumors, and her mother actually thought it was true. His grandpa was known to be a womanizer back then.

So, they follow up the information on 23&Me, a genomics and biotechnology company who do DNA tests, and again they get confirmation that the wife shares a great grandparent with his oldest son.

More of us are now getting tests on the same platform but it appears a WW2-era secret has come to light, concluded OP with a joke.

Image credits: u/PM_MeMyPassword

He also gave some updates to the post, like pointing out that his wife was laughing at first, but the reality of it all caught up to her, and that neither he, nor his wife are thinking of changing anythingthey are in love and they want to stay that way.

In under a day, the post got 38,000 upvotes and over 30 Reddit awards, including the subreddits exclusive TIFU award, and generated over 2,700 comments.

Image credits: u/PM_MeMyPassword

In the comments, people shared their own Surprise! Were related! stories, while others explained that they dont see anything wrong hereits not like they couldve known. Besides that, one Redditor estimated that if they are first half-cousins, they share around 6 percent of DNA, which is not all that significant if they end up wanting to have kids. If anything, who cares, its their decision.

Yet others pointed out that this isnt all that uncommon, with one person saying that this happens around the world, not just in the South. In other countries, marrying cousins and other relatives was and still is culturally and religiously justified.

Image credits: u/PM_MeMyPassword

Whatever the case, you can check it all out in the original post here, and wed also love to hear what you think on the topic in the comment section below.

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Married Couple Takes DNA Test, Discovers They're First Cousins, Confront Family Who Kept It A Secret - Bored Panda

In the making of Adrian Lynes Deep Water, both of its stars had specific anxieties that they faced while developing their performances. For Ana de Armas, it was a concern about how audiences would receive her character the actor playing a selfish and vicious viper of a woman in the aftermath of her star-making, charismatic turn in Rian Johnsons Knives Out.

For Ben Affleck, however, the concern went deeper. According to the films director, Affleck expressed fear that his performance as the vulnerable and cuckolded Vic Van Allen in Deep Water was not something he felt was in his DNA. Lyne, however, knew differently.

I interviewed Adrian Lyne virtually last week prior to the release of Deep Water on Hulu, and during our conversation we spent time talking about his experience working with Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas both individually, and as an on-screen couple. The filmmaker told me that he expressly wanted a turn from Affleck that he had never seen before, and apparently it was a challenge that the star wasnt wholly sure he could overcome. Said Lyne,

I was very excited to see Ben Affleck in a different way. I didn't want him to be outgoing and sort of ebullient, which I'd seen before. In this movie, I wanted him to be sort of vulnerable, almost childlike. I wanted you to believe that he was obsessed with these snails. And so, a vulnerable man. And he would say at times during the movie, he would say, 'This isn't in my DNA,' but it was in his DNA because he did it for me!

In Deep Water, based on the novel of the same name by Patricia Highsmith, Ben Afflecks Vic is a wealthy, retired tech designer who is married to Ana de Armas Melinda Van Allen though they have an unconventional relationship. Wanting to maintain a stable family life for their daughter, Trixie (Grace Jenkins), he permits his wife to carry on extramarital affairs. While she is regularly off drinking and seducing young bachelors, he stays at home minding his snail farm.

It objectively is a very different kind of character and performance than we typically get to see from Ben Affleck, and Adrian Lyne shared how he helped evoke the turn from the actor. The filmmaker said that the chemistry tests with Affleck and Ana de Armas were not conducted in a cold, empty soundstage, but instead at his own home so that he could see the potential co-stars in a real domestic environment. Lyne explained,

What was interesting was that I tested them my house in Beverly Hills. They came around and it was good working there we were doing a test there, because I'd use the bathroom, I'd use the bedroom, I'd use the terrace or whatever, so it wasn't a sort of an antiseptic thing in a studio. And so it was very interesting just watching the chemistry between them, me the fly on the wall.

Continuing, Adrian Lyne recounted a specific moment from the test one that began with Ana de Armas interacting with Ben Affleck while he was off camera. But that didnt remain the case through the read, as Affleck found himself drawn in to join her in the scene:

There was a scene I remember, when she's sitting on the edge of the bed and she's putting lotion on her legs, and she's pissed off at him. And he's kind of wry and sort of dealing with it. And she's sort of semi-flirtatious. It's a nice mix between them. And so at one stage, after three or four takes... He was off camera, and he was intrigued with what she was doing, and he said, 'I'm going in.' Because he wanted to be part of working with her, for me to see that, you know? And so that was exciting, just seeing the start of the chemistry between them.

Should Deep Water ever get a home video release, one hopes that the recorded chemistry tests would be made available as a special feature. For now, audiences can enjoy their on-screen chemistry by watching the actual film, which is streaming exclusively on Hulu as of this past Friday (if you dont have a subscription its extremely easy to get one).

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Deep Water's Ben Affleck Feared His Performance Wasn't 'In His DNA,' But The Director Knew Otherwise - CinemaBlend

STONY BROOK, N.Y., March 23, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: APDN), a leader in cell-free, enzymatic DNA production, today announced that CEO Dr. James A. Hayward is invited to present at the 2022 Virtual Growth Conference presented by Maxim Group LLC and hosted by M-Vest, on March 28th - 30th from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EDT. Dr. Haywards presentation will be available on-demand for the duration of the conference via the sign-up link: Sign up here to access the presentation

During the virtual conference, investors will hear from executives from a wide range of sectors, including Biotech, Clean Energy, Electric Vehicles, Financial Services, Fintech & REITs, Gaming & Entertainment, Healthcare, Healthcare IT, Infrastructure, Shipping and Technology/Media/Telecom. The conference will feature company presentations, fireside chats, roundtable discussions, and live Q&A with CEOs moderated by Maxim Research Analysts.

This conference will be live on M-Vest. To attend, sign up to become an M-Vest member: Click Here to Reserve your seat

About Applied DNA Sciences

Applied DNA is commercializing LinearDNA, its proprietary, large-scale polymerase chain reaction ("PCR")-based manufacturing platform that allows for the large-scale cell-free production of specific DNA sequences.

The LinearDNA platform has utility in the nucleic acid-based in vitro diagnostics and preclinical nucleic acid-based drug development and manufacturing market. The platform is used to manufacture DNA for customers as components of in vitro diagnostic tests and for preclinical nucleic acid-based drug development in the fields of adoptive cell therapies (CAR T and TCR T therapies), DNA vaccines (anti-viral and cancer), RNA therapies, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) based therapies, and gene therapies.

The LinearDNA platform also has non-biologic applications, such as supply chain security, anti-counterfeiting and anti-theft technology. Key end-markets include textiles, pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, and cannabis, among others.

Story continues

Leveraging its deep expertise in nucleic acid-based technologies, the Company has also established safeCircle, a high-turnkey solution for population-scale COVID-19 testing. safeCircle is designed to look for infection within defined populations or communities utilizing high throughput testing methodologies that increase testing efficiencies and provide for rapid turn-around-times.

Visit adnas.com for more information. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Join our mailing list.

The Company's common stock is listed on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol 'APDN,' and its publicly traded warrant is listed on OTC under the ticker symbol 'APPDW.'

Applied DNA is a member of the Russell Microcap Index.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220323005721/en/

Contacts

Investor Relations: Sanjay M. Hurry, 917-733-5573, sanjay.hurry@adnas.com Web: http://www.adnas.com Twitter: @APDN

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Applied DNA to Participate in the 2022 Virtual Growth Conference Presented by Maxim Group LLC and Hosted by M-Vest on March 28th 30th from 9:00 a.m....

In today's DNA Special we analyse that news where there is a hidden lesson for others to learn.The world's number one female tennis player Ashleigh Barty from Australiahas announced retirement at the age of just 25 years.For the last 114 weeks, that is, for almost two years, she has remained the number one player in the world. She is also theAustralian Open title holder.

How big this success was, you can guess from the fact that in the last 44 years, no tennis player of Australia could win this Grand Slam. But Ashleigh Barty fulfilled this dream. At the time when she was at the peak of her career, she surprised everyone by suddenly announcing her retirement from the sport. So today a big question arises is that whether a person can get tired of his success?

Ashleigh Bartysays that she has fulfilled all the dreams she had for herself in the game of tennis and that is why she now wants to move away from tennis and fulfill her new dreams.It is not that Ashleigh Barty became successful overnight and then one day she suddenly decided to retire from this sport.

Read |Ashleigh Barty retirement: World no.1 breaks down, REVEALS why she's quitting tennis at age 25

When she first participated in an international tennis tournament, she was only 14 years old. The world first came to know about her when she won the Junior Wimbledon title in the year 2011. After this she also reached the doubles final of three Grand Slams.

In the year 2014, she became the number one female tennis player in the doubles category. She was then only 17 years old. And everyone felt that she could become a great tennis player. But at that time she suddenly announced to quit tennis and gave the reason behind it that she is suffering from mental stress due to her past successes.

To overcome this, he also decided to leave tennis and play cricket. And on the cricket field too, she won the match of life by defeating all the challenges. She played 10 matches in a cricket league named Big Bash and was associated with it for 17 months. However, after that she realised that she wanted to return to the tennis court.

And this comeback happened in the year 2016. After this she won the French Open in 2019, Wimbledon in 2021 and Australian Open Grand Slam in the same year. She managed to win 15 Singles and 12 Doubles category titles in her short career. During this tenure she won a prize money of 23.8 Million Dollar which is about Rs 180 crore as prize money.

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DNA Special: Here's why Ashleigh Barty bid goodbye to tennis at the age of 25 years - DNA India

Sample demographics

Twenty-five participants from across the UK were interviewed who were diagnosed with early-stage melanoma (Stages IAIIC) between 2011 and 2021 (see Table1 for a description of the cohort).

Views from participants regarding ctDNA monitoring for signs of early relapse and early treatment were grouped into two themes: (1) ctDNA monitoring would add service value and (2) test results provide opportunity and knowledge, with each theme including subthemes. All participant names have been replaced with pseudonyms.

The majority of participants did not know what ctDNA monitoring was or were unable to provide a definition. Upon providing participants with a simple definition of the new technology and blood test procedure, all of the participants described regular ctDNA monitoring as a good idea, as the new technology would be more scientific, would reduce the fear of the unknown and identify relapse early.

The majority of participants described skin check procedures as inconsistent in quality. They explained that at each appointment checks would be performed by a different healthcare professional, with some more thorough than others. They felt that skin checks are subject to human error and feared that changes could be missed. Consequently, participants believed that more could be done to provide them with a consistent marker of relapse:

Ive gone from having really detailed full body checks, lymph node checks, et cetera, every single one of the moles and I have a lot of them on my body being checked, to, okay, well check your lymph nodes, well look at the original site, are there any that youre worried about, type thing? (Fiona, 42, stage 1b, diagnosed in 2015)

When presented with the idea of a blood test to detect for early signs of relapse, all participants reacted positively, identifying ctDNA monitoring as the next step in melanoma care:

I think the treatment, as they stand at the moment, is all pretty visual. You know, on the whole, especially for stage 1 and 2, I think its virtually all visual, and things can get missed. Whereas, if youve got definite results, or likely results, from something like a blood test, I believe that to be more the way forward. (Harry, 49, stage 2b, diagnosed in 2017).

Compared to skin checks, they described a blood test as a more scientific measure, providing conclusive evidence of cancer recurrence. They explained that if ctDNA monitoring had been offered as part of their follow-up care, they would have been more reassured, describing the test as an extra safety measure or as one participant described another line of defence (Graeme, 34, stage 2a, diagnosed in 2021):

Id be over the moon if someone said to me, were going to put you on regular checks for x number of years as well as these visual skin checks. It feels more scientific. (Gill, 51, stage 1a, diagnosed in 2019)

As well as mitigating the effects of human error at skin checks, participants explained that blood test monitoring for early signs of relapse would be essential for providing internal evidence of change. Nevertheless, although deemed more conclusive than skin checks, all participants believed that ctDNA monitoring should not replace visual checks but be used alongside them for a belt and braces approach to care:

I just think its like a double check really isnt it, its like a belt and braces, youve got a visual and then youve got the internal and youve got something scientific that can be kind of highlighting you as early as possible. Especially if its being done every three months, thats so quick in terms of, if you start to see something then, you could do something quite preventable. (Yvonne, 47, stage 1b, diagnosed in 2019)

Participants described melanoma as a sneaky disease with no reliable means of knowing whether relapse would occur. This fear of the unknown was identified as anxiety-provoking and hard to live with post-diagnosis. However, the participants explained that a regular blood test would provide them with the confidence and peace of mind that they were being monitored for melanoma relapse more closely:

well certainly me with melanoma, you know, thats absolutely my biggest fear, is that its going to come back and Im not going to know about it, Im not going to know about it until, you know, Im so much further down the line so to speak. So, you know, if anything could detect something early and there could be early intervention then, you know, I would want to have it. (Lisa, 32, stage 2a, diagnosed in 2018)

They suggested that opting for this blood test would enable patients to feel more proactive about their care, reducing anxiety and enabling them to be forewarned about a potential relapse. Similarly, all participants felt that with regular blood tests, the anxieties regarding small changes to the skin and moles that occur between appointments could be better managed due to perceived additional surveillance:

say youre 1A and then finding a lymph node enlarged. That might happen in a second because you might find it and your mind does this massive jump, whereas if you were being monitored youd have a bit of logic. Youd be able to think well, I was monitored however long ago, this could be something else. I think it would just add a kind of reassurance that more than you poking and prodding your own body around. (Louise, 47, stage 1a, diagnosed in 2019)

The majority of participants viewed having regular blood tests for ctDNA monitoring could be useful as an early detection measure for relapse. Although the thought of relapse was difficult to consider, participants felt that a ctDNA test would provide them with the best opportunity to catch recurrence early before presentation with symptoms or radiological detection:

if it can detect something that mightthat wouldnt necessarily get picked up because obviously melanoma travels in the blood and unless youve got something, I dont know, maybe a mole or a lump, or something like that, you would never know until that. But obviously if this could pick that up beforehand then I think it would be a good thing. (Rebecca, 49, stage 1a, diagnosed in 2015)

In addition due to the radiation risks associated with computerising tomography (CT) scans, regular blood tests were deemed more favourable for some participants:

I think a blood test would be better than a scan, in levels of progression you would get your skin check, your blood check and then a scan would be the next step after that Id say. So it saves you having to have unnecessary exposure to radiation and things like that, which obviously is another cause of cancers. (Cathy, 34, stage 1a, diagnosed in 2019)

However, not all participants agreed that early treatment following the detection of ctDNA was appropriate, as a minority questioned whether treatment should be provided only after evidence of a tumour has been found via a CT scan, as they believed treatment prior to the identification of mass could be unnecessary:

Its hard, isnt it, because I think if youve actually got cancer and its there and you know its there, you want to do everything you can to get rid of it, dont you? [] But if its not actually come yet, do you really want treatment that could make you ill? (Jean, 63, stage 1a, diagnosed in 2017)

For the reassurance it would provide a number of participants explained that they would be happy to receive a ctDNA test for the rest of their lives, especially if the frequency of the blood test was manageable:

So if it was every few months, every three months or longer then Id probably be happy for it to go on for longer or indefinitely if need be. (Eric, 39, Stage 2a, diagnosed in 2018)

However, they understood that this might not be possible due to NHS funding, as well as the scientific rationale that the risk of recurrence decreases over time. For ctDNA monitoring to add the most value to patients, the majority explained that monitoring should be more frequent closer to diagnosis and reduced as the risk decreases, identifying a need for a risk-stratified approach:

I suppose it would depend how far after your diagnosis you were and what your dermatologist said were your chances of it recurring. So possibly the same as skin checks where its more frequent in the beginning and maybe spaces out as you get further away from it. (Louise, 47, stage 1a, diagnosed in 2019)

They described that three monthly for three years and 6 monthly for 2 years would be ideal as it would fit in with the existing care structure for stage two patients in the UK. Despite this ideal timeline, all participants stressed the importance of identifying ctDNA in the blood at the earliest opportunity. They, therefore, explained that if ctDNA can be identified earlier or later than three months then the frequency of blood tests should reflect this:

So it would depend on, I guess, the evidence for how likely you would expect to see changes. So if its once a year, six months, three months, I would say yes to whatever people gave me because it sounds like a preventable strategy kind of thing. (Yvonne, 47, stage 1b, diagnosed in 2019)

All participants described waiting and receiving test results as anxiety-provoking regardless of the outcome. They felt that being informed as to when to expect their ctDNA test results would improve anxiety. Notification of a negative test result would provide them with the reassurance to move on with life between tests. A positive test result, although worrying was viewed as an opportunity to access treatment early and receive better health outcomes.

All participants described waiting for test results as an anxious time and a result for a ctDNA blood test would be no exception. Participants identified that until results were received, there is constant speculation about the outcome, with some not being able to relax during the waiting period:

once you have a test for something youve always got it in the back of your mind until the results come in, so I wouldnt be totally on edge all the time, but it would be in [the] back of my head all the time. (Vanessa, 57, stage 2b, diagnosed in 2018)

With result anxiety in mind the majority of participants cited under two weeks as an appropriate time to receive notification of results. Others explained that waiting for their blood test result would depend on laboratory turnaround times in processing blood samples. However, no matter how long results would take, all participants explained that they would require notification of when to expect their results enabling them to manage their anxiety:

if they dont know what timeframe its going to be expected in, some peoples anxiety levels may be really, really high, straight from the off [] Whereas, if they know its not going to be expected for two weeks, a month, then they can at least get on with their lives, and not have it right at the forefront of their thoughts all the time. (Sam, 53, stage 1b, diagnosed in 2015).

Yet some identified that after attending for multiple blood tests receiving results would become routine and less worrying over time:

I dont think I would be particularly thinking about results coming through. I can imagine Id forget about it really over time and a letter or whatever it is would arrive every two months and I wouldnt be anticipating receiving it or anything like that. (Eric, 39, stage 2a, diagnosed in 2018).

When they considered how it would feel to receive ctDNA results, all participants said that they would be happy and trust their result if it were negative. All participants explained that they would want to be notified of a negative test result, as lack of notification would be unacceptable. They argued that they would not accept no news is good news but would instead worry and speculate about their result, with some being prepared to call services directly for confirmation:

I think, if I wasnt notified, Id be wondering if the letter is stuck in the post or if theres some problem at the hospital notifying, or there was an admin error. To have a negative result is much better than to be told if youre positive because it stops you worrying - I just want to check that that was okay and its just that you havent sent it out or I think I, personally, would still ring up about a few weeks later to say just want to check what results are on the file or Id bother my GP for it. (Gill, 51, stage 1a, diagnosed in 2019.)

Participants explained that a simple letter or text message notifying them of a negative result would provide them with peace of mind before their next appointment. Knowledge of a negative test result for ctDNA was viewed as something that could enable patients to move on with their lives between tests, providing them with time to enjoy life and worry less. Specifically, one participant explained that consistent notifications of negative test results would improve their state of mind regarding a potential relapse:

I think as well, the more times that happened [receiving a negative test result], so the further into those five years I got, I would become more and more reassured. You know, at three years, at four years, Id start to be probably quite optimistic. Because, again, I know that most melanoma reoccurs within the first two years. And I know that if you get to five years, you know, its quite a Its a very positive milestone (Graeme, 34, stage 2a, 2021)

However for a minority, the thought of there is always next time would be difficult to ignore, meaning any reassurance gained from a negative test result would be temporary. For example, one participant explained that the level of reassurance a negative test result would provide would depend on when the test was taken during their follow-up, with a negative ctDNA result at the beginning of monitoring being less significant than one received towards the end of follow-up:

I think it depends how long after youve been diagnosed that the test takes place, you know, where you are on your long term journey I suppose. If its, you know, a few months after I think youd be waiting for the next test for something, you know, youd be expecting something else to be happening next time in terms of spread. (Steph, 52, stage 2a, diagnosed in 2018)

Participants explained that a positive ctDNA blood test result would provide them with a chance to be treated early. Although a positive test result is not good news, they would be grateful that relapse was identified before cancer had time to progress and present visually:

Well, obviously thats [a positive result] going to cause a bit more anxiety, isnt it? But also at the same time there could be a bit of a relief there, you know, that its actually been caught rather than it not being picked up. So it can work either way, really. For me, if it was positive, Id rather know. That theres something going on, and maybe we can do something about it. (Jean, 63, stage 1a, diagnosed in 2017)

The majority of participants explained that they would soon deal with the initial shock of a positive test result and instead would concentrate their minds on what needed to be done to reduce the chances of cancer progressing:

Well, the first word that came to my mind was devastated, gutted. But, Id be like, right, okay, its been caught, before it can hopefully get anywhere, like if youre in regular testing? Id think, right, its been caught early, what are we going to do about it? (Cathy, 34, stage 1a, diagnosed in 2019)

As the majority would want to immediately know their management plan, they suggested that information material, such as leaflets and result letters state clearly what a positive test result would mean. Should a positive test result be delivered by letter, participants stressed the importance of having the opportunity to speak with a healthcare professional or have an appointment automatically arranged. Others believed that a positive test result and notification of needing treatment should be delivered in person to enable the patient to ask questions and be provided with the space and time they need to process the information with a healthcare professional present.

See original here:
Circulating tumour DNA monitoring and early treatment for relapse: views from patients with early-stage melanoma | British Journal of Cancer -...