Category Archives: DNA

A father and son wanted to know how much DNA they shared. They took a secret test together. The results that arrived later disclosed some unsettling secrets about the guys mother.

Redditor Help23andme wanted to use his birthday money on something worthwhile. Thats when he and his dad had the crazy idea of getting their DNA tested. They bought two home-based testing kits from 23andme, a DNA report generator that delivers reports through mail.

The two were eager to know their results. A few days later, the mail arrived. The Redditor rummaged through the report to find his matches. He was shocked to see his dad shared only 29.2 percent with him and was declaredhis half-brother. It didnt make any sense at first.

The Original Poster (OP) claimed he and his dad had identical features. The OP was sure that the man was his father. But something felt amiss, particularly after he recalled his cousins match with him. He explained:

My cousin also had taken the test a while back, and she shared 24.6 percent with me, also predicted to be my half-sibling. Were supposed to share around 12 percent, being 1st cousins.

The OP couldnt understand the reliability of the results. However, he knew the results from 23andme couldnt deceive him. He was lost in deep thought and tried to connect the missing dots between him, his cousin, and his uncle, David (name changed for obvious reasons.)

He sensed the only probability that his uncle, his cousins father, and dads brother, was his biological father. The OP couldnt battle the reality anymore. He was enraged and decided to seek answers. He added:

I rushed out of my room and confronted my mother downstairs. My mom is a businesswoman and is often away on business trips. She had no idea my dad and I had done one of these tests since she was away.

He made his statement clear. The OP boldly asked his mother if she cheated on his dad with his uncle, David. His mother turned pale and muttered: What kind of question is this? Of course not! The OP wasnt convinced and told her about the tests. Thats when some disturbing secrets came to light.

After hearing about the test results, the OPs mom fell to the ground. She sobbed and begged him to keep it a secret. He lost his temper and left her to weep alone. The OP informed his cousin. Moments later, his uncle arrived. He explained:

Dad (now uncle) then came home and stumbled into my room asking whats wrong with mom. I told him everything too. He didnt say anything after calming down. He left the room, and I locked the door.

He heard his family argue vigorously. The OPs grandparents and his aunt rushed to the scene. He could listen to themfighting outside. At a point, his dad and uncle got physical. The OP stayed inside and fearedthe consequences.

He was guilty of undergoing the DNA test with his birthday money. However, he felt light on knowing the truth. He was too afraid and turned to social media for advice. Several people from the online forum advised the OP to talk to his father first. User Asternon said:

But he spent 19+ years raising OP, and likely doesnt want to lose the rest of their time. He absolutely should talk to his father and explain that nothing will change between them because for any genuinely decent person, it will mean a hell of a lot.

Most agreed with the user and claimed the OPs mother and uncle were the only people at fault. They comforted him, saying that his real dad was the man who raised him, not the one who shared his genes. The OP thanked his supporters and decided to take some immediate action.

He left the room and reached out to his dad. However, a lot had happened meanwhile. His father was attending to his mother at the hospital as she had a heart attack after the incident. The OP knew his mom was still at home. He left her alone without a word more and rushed to see his grandma.

Luckily, the gran was in a stable condition. The OP sat his dad down for a gentle conversation. First thing, the two vowed that nothing in their relationship had changed. The dad later told him about his mothers confession.

The OPs mother had claimed that her brother-in-law forced her. But when his dad told her he would lodge a police complaint, she slightly edited her allegations. The dad had his doubts, and thats when his brother came over.

His uncle David told that whatever happened between them was purely consensual. He told everyone that the OPs mother lied to save herself from shame. Meanwhile, Davids wife filed for divorce.

After reading his update, user moburkes comforted the OP, saying he neednt feel guilty for someone elses mistake. The person noted: What none of us wants is for you to place and accept the blame for actions you did not initiate. The people responsible need to accept that blame and responsibility.

Several uses sympathized with the OPs aunt and cousin. They claimed that the truth affected them as much as it affected the OP and his dad. Some placed them in the OPs shoes and said they would cut ties with the uncle and mother as they would likely manipulate him.

The OP and his dad stayed with his grandparents until they decided on a permanent solution. He claimed he never regretted confronting his mom and that she deserved the shock for cheating on his father. However, he said he felt sorry for telling his dad and cousin the truth and putting his family through stress.

If you enjoyed reading this story, then youd like this one about a mother who discovered she wasnt the biological parent of her seven-year-old son.

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Boy Sends Grandmother to the Hospital after Taking a DNA Test and Ruining Entire Family - AmoMama

A team of physicists has discovered how DNA molecules self-organize into adhesive patches between particles in response to assembly instructions. Its findings offer a proof of concept for an innovative way to produce materials with a well-defined connectivity between the particles.

The work is reported in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

We show that one can program particles to make tailored structures with customized properties, explains Jasna Brujic, a professor in New York Universitys Department of Physics and one of the researchers. While cranes, drills, and hammers must be controlled by humans in constructing buildings, this work reveals how one can use physics to make smart materials that know how to assemble themselves.

Scientists have long sought a means for molecules to self-assemble and have achieved breakthroughs on many fronts. However, less developed are measures in which these tiny particles self-assemble with a preprogrammed number of bonds.

The video shows that a blue particle initially binds to three red particles, satisfying its valence at room temperature. Upon heating, those bonds are broken, but upon cooling, the particle finds three red partners again, showing that the particle chooses the number of bonds it makes. Their result implies that the DNA bonds between particles are reversible and rearrange on the particle surface to optimize valence. Credit: Courtesy of Angus McMullen/NYUs Department of Physics

To address this, Brujic and her colleagues, Angus McMullen, a postdoctoral researcher in NYUs Department of Physics, and Sascha Hilgenfeldt, a professor of mechanical science and engineering at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, ran a series of experiments to captureand manipulatethe behavior of DNA molecules on particle surfaces.

Operating at a micron levelwith particles 1/25th the size of a speck of dustthey submerged tiny droplets into a liquid solution. Attached to these droplets were DNA linkersmolecular tools possessing sticky ends that allow for mixing and matching to form an array of structures desired by the researchers.

The beauty of this procedure is we can program the properties of a specific material, such that it could be elastic or brittle, or even have self-healing powers once broken, since the bonds can be made and broken reversibly, observes Brujic. Creators could decide to put in five particles that stick to only one other one, 10 that stick to two, and 20 that stick to three, or any other combination. This would allow you to build materials with specific topologies or architectures.

Reference: DNA self-organization controls valence in programmable colloid design 2 November 2021, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2112604118

The work was supported by the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) program of the National Science Foundation (NSF DMR-1420073, NSF PHY17-48958, and NSF DMR-1710163).

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Physicists Discover How DNA Molecules Self-Assemble: Laws of Nature Harnessed To Create Smart Materials - SciTechDaily

5 TAKEAWAYS FROM THE MAVS 107-104 WIN OVER CELTICS

The legend of Luka Doncic continues to grow as the fourth-year point guard used his magic to bury a three-pointer at the buzzer, which allowed the Dallas Mavericks to upend the Boston Celtics, 107-104, on Saturday night at American Airlines Center.

It was the third buzzer-beating game-winner for Doncic, tying him with Dirk Nowitzki for the most in Mavs history. He also scored 33 points and now has 63 career games with 30 or more points.

Here are our five takeaways from Saturdays game.

DONCIC AT THE BUZZER: First of all, everyone needs to just stop saying: Can you believe it whenever Luka Doncic makes one of those eye-popping, game-winning, step-back three-pointers. Believe it! Because this is what he does. Its right there on his DNA chart. Google it. Doncic lives for those occasions where he takes your breath away with his theatrics. And he choreographed yet another goose-bump moment on Saturday when his step-back three-pointer at the buzzer snapped a 104-104 tie and won this game for the Mavs in dramatic fashion. To paraphrase Maya Angelou, when someone shows you a side of them the first time, believe them. And when it comes to Luka, believe him, because knocking down game-winners is what he does.

PORZINGIS A HUGE FACTOR: Kristaps Porzingis showed very little signs of rust after missing the previous five games with lower back tightness. After scoring six points in the first half, the 7-3 forward tallied 15 points in the second half and finished with 21 points, seven rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot. In 28 minutes, Porzingis was 7-of-13 from the field. In the palm-sweating fourth quarter, he also tallied more points (10 on 4-of-6 shots) than any other player. Porzingis, in fact, converted four of the 11 baskets the Mavs made in the fourth quarter. He also negotiated a much-needed put-back dunk that knotted the game at 104 apiece with 1:29 remaining. In addition, Porzingis collected over half (four) of the seven offensive rebounds the Mavs recorded during this game.

ANOTHER CLOSE SHAVE: So far, this season has been a wild ride for the Mavs and their fans. The Mavs are winning the close games and losing the not so close ones. That was the case again Saturday when Luka Doncic provided the dramatics with his three-pointer at the buzzer that beat the Celtics by three points. That game came two days after the Mavs won in San Antonio by the slimmest of margins (109-108). The Mavs are now 4-0 in games decided by six points or less and 5-0 in games decided by eight points or less. (The Mavs are 0-3 in games decided by 15 or more points, but let me get back to proving my point). When the game is close, the Mavs must feel confident theyll find a way to survive and come out on top. It happened again against the Celtics.

BRUNSON STEADY (THIS TIME) OFF THE BENCH: After starting and starring in the previous two games, Jalen Brunson went back to his customary role of coming off the bench and providing a spark. Brunson finished with 13 points all in the first half five rebounds and five assists, and was 6-of-12 from the field. And despite coming off the bench, Brunson played 35 minutes, which tied him with Luka Doncic and Tim Hardaway Jr. for the most minutes played by any member of the Mavs on Saturday. All of this came after Brunson started the two previous games against the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs and scored 56 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in games played on consecutive nights. The Mavs showed how valuable Brunson is by having him on the court for 11 of the 12 fourth-quarter minutes.

BULLOCK WAS BULLISH: Reggie Bullock has been rapidly finding his way around the Mavs offense, and where he can fit in. But based on what transpired against Boston, mission accomplished. Against the Celtics, not only did Bullock display the shooting skills that helped the New York Knicks advance to last seasons playoffs. He also showed why the Mavs signed him to a free agent contract over the offseason. Bullock came up big against the Celtics, scoring 13 points and snatching three rebounds. He was 5-of-11 from the field and 3-of-8 from three-point range. In addition, when the Celtics were putting heat on the Mavs and rallying from a 19-point deficit, Bullock played 10 minutes in the fourth quarter and drilled a pair of crucial three-pointers.

Twitter: @DwainPrice

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Doncic's breath-taking buzzer-beater is something that's in his DNA - The Official Home of the Dallas Mavericks - Mavs.com

"Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." The words of Ian Malcolm in Jurassic Park as he tries to explain his worries about a theme park inhabited with dozens of prehistoric creatures that would happily feast on the tourists. Now apparently, his words should be resonating with a team of scientists in the Chinese Academy of Scientists, who have published a paper claiming to have found fully intact dinosaur DNA in a fossil aged around 125 million years old. Hold on to your butts.

The paper, which can be viewed online, claims that the DNA was discovered on the cartilage of a Caudipteryx fossil, a dinosaur that lived in the Cretaceous era and was around the size of a peacock. The findings say that the cartilage was extracted from the femur and treated with a chemical solution that is intended to illuminate different structures of cells within the subject. The results of this have brought out a number of elements that indicate the presence of intact DNA strands.

While this will get some people excited at the prospect of Jurassic Park becoming a reality - because everyone wants the chance to be chased by a Tyrannosaur - other scientists are not quite as eager to believe the findings just yet. According to Chemistry World, a number of counter suggests say that the technique used in these tests is not a conclusive process and are too imprecise to make any kind of world-breaking announcement about the findings.

However, Alida Bailleul, corresponding author of the study, said in a press release, "We are obviously interested in fossilized cell nuclei, because this is where most of the DNA should be if DNA was preserved. So, we have good preliminary data, very exciting data, but we are just starting to understand cellular biochemistry in very old fossils. At this point, we need to work more."

What should be noted, is that the discovery of partial dinosaur DNA is not a new thing and organic material has been found in 75 million-year-old fossils previously but The Imperial College London, and by the same research scientists at the Chinese Academy of Scientists. Whether the DNA is partial or complete, even Bailleul acknowledged that the current discovery is a starting point for their research, but it is very unlikely that we would even make it to a position of being able to clone dinosaurs from this in the way John Hammond's team did in Jurassic Park, and on the whole, having now seen where that is heading in Jurassic World: Dominion, it is probably for the best.

The final movie in the Jurassic World trilogy finds dinosaurs once again walking the world freely, seemingly being given the same "they have rights" badge as every other living creature on Earth, but not really willing to stop and think before they chomp down on anyone that moves. The film unveiled its opening sequence in IMAX cinemas earlier this year, but we are still awaiting a full trailer for the movie, which fans are hoping will give a first look at original cast members Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum back in the thick of the action, trying to save the world from being taken back to the prehistoric age for good.

Jurassic World: Dominion is set to be released in movie theaters on June 10th, 2022. You can find out more about the dinosaur DNA at Nature.com.

Topics: Jurassic Park, Jurassic World

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Scientists Discover 125 Million Year Old Dinosaur DNA, Are We Getting a Real Jurassic Park? - MovieWeb

Chhath Puja celebrations in Delhi have brought to light the extreme levels of pollution in the Yamuna river flowing in the national capital. During Chhath Puja snan (holy dip) in Yumana, pictures of white froth immerged leading to a war of words between the ruling party and the opposition.

Meanwhile, what remains ignored in this senseless political rhetoric is the'pathetic' state of the river which is the lifeline of Delhi as its water is being harnessed from both of its banks for domestic, industrial and irrigation purposes. To meet the ever-growing water demand of the city, the river is tapped at three points - Wazirabad, ITO and Okhla barrages.

As per reports, the 22-kilometre stretch of the Yamuna between Wazirabad and Okhlaaccounts for around 80% of the pollution load in the river. The stretch is said to beless than 2% of its length of 1,370 kilometres spanning from Yamunotri to Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh.

However, the formation of toxic foam in the Yamuna is nothing new. Every year, during the Chhath Puja, images of devotees standing in a waist-deep toxic froth in the Yamuna river make headlines. But nothing much has been done so far to understand the cause and rectify it.

Under natural circumstances, the formation of foam on the surface of the water is very common.This phenomenon takes place on many lakes and streams.

Foam bubbles are produced when organic matter decomposes.Dead and decaying parts of plants contain fat molecules that do not mix with water.

These are lighter than water so they float on the surface and thengradually accumulate andform an invisible floating layer on the water surface.

The foam-producing molecules have one end that repels water and another that attracts water. This works to reduce the surface tension on the water.

The foam made from organic matter in rivers and lakes can last for a long time.But the amount visible in Yamuna cannot be explained by such natural phenomenon.

The high level of phosphates in the Yamuna river is what causes such foam to build up say, scientists.

Phosphates and surfactants in untreated sewages from Delhi, Haryana and UP is another reason behind frothing in the river.

Phosphates are an ingredient used in many detergents. These compounds make cleaning a lot easier.

While phosphates and surfactantsin the Yamuna river comprise 1%, the remaining 99% is air and water.

When the water gets disturbed by waves, natural waterfalls or artificial falls from river barrages, the fatty layer gets beaten into a froth.

Delhi Jal Board Vice Chairman Raghav Chadha claims waste material falls from a height at the Okhla barrage leading to formation of foam.

Industrial effluents, organic matter from decomposing vegetation and the presence of filamentous bacteria cause foam.

Short-term exposure to such froth in the Yamuna river can lead to skin irritation and allergies.

If ingested, these chemicals may cause gastrointestinal problems and diseases like typhoid.

Long term exposure to heavy metals in industrial pollutants can cause neurological issues and hormonal imbalances.

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DNA Explainer: What is the reason behind toxic white foam floating on Yamuna in Delhi? - DNA India

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) Two men are hoping that new DNA testing will be enough to vacate their convictions for the 1993 murder of Deborah Meindl in her City of Tonawanda home.

It was February of 1993 when a young mother was stabbed and strangled in her home in the City of Tonawanda. Two men were sentenced to murder. Brian Scott Lorenz is still in prison for it, and James Pugh, who was paroled in 2019, maintained his innocence from the start.

I know nothing of this crime. I know nothing about the husband I dont know this family and Im not a murderer, said Pugh at his sentencing in may of 1994.

On Wednesday, Pugh was in State Supreme Court where his attorneys are asking a judge to vacate the murder conviction based on improved DNA testing which excludes any traces of Pugh or Lorenz at the murder scene.

The one and only thing the jury heard about DNA is that blood under Mrs. Meindls fingernails was her own blood, said Ilaan Mazzel, the attorney representing Lorenz. So there was no meaningful DNA produced at all at trial.

MORE | David Sweat moved to fourth different prison since 2015 escape

The attorneys are taking it even further by claiming they have evidence that the real killer is Richard Matt, who was convicted of murdering his boss, escaped from prison in Dannemora in 2015 and was shot to death while on the run.

Maazel said Mattlived a few blocks away from the victim and was also a very close frond of a lead investigator in the case. Its shocking that the lead investigator in the case was investigating a case where his very good friend Richard Matt was a suspect.

But in court Wednesday, prosecutor Colleen Curtin Gabel said the new DNA evidence also excludes Richard Matt from being at the murder scene. Its now up to Judge Christopher Burns to decide whether or not to vacate the convictions based on the updated DNA testing.

MORE | Dead prison escapee Richard Matt had WNY ties

Scotts been in prison for 28 years and three months, for 10,319 days we think every single day he remains in prison for this crime he didnt commit is a terrible injustice.

District Attorney John Flynn would not discuss many elements of the case, but released a statement Wednesday morning dismissing assertions by Maazel that the District Attorney was attempting to block the new evidence.

Read the rest of Flynns statement below:

Any assertion that the two prosecutors initially assigned to investigate this matter were removed from the case or reassigned because I did not agree with their findings is not true. I, along with my entire senior leadership team, several of my senior bureau chiefs and most experienced trial attorneys, disagreed with their conclusions due to a lack of any credible evidence. Both attorneys did not accept my decision with the professionalism expected of career prosecutors. Ultimately, I made the decision to remove both prosecutors from the case.

While I cannot comment further on personnel matters, I can confirm that both prosecutors were later reassigned after I made the decision to remove them from the case. One prosecutor was relieved of his Bureau Chief position. He continues to work as an Assistant District Attorney in the Appeals Bureau. The other prosecutor was not demoted, but reassigned from the Appeals Bureau to the offices Felony Trials Bureau.

It is incumbent on defense counsel to submit new, credible evidence that establishes that these defendants did not commit this murder in order to vacate their conviction or re-open the criminal case. Without any new, credible evidence, I will continue to oppose this motion.

I anticipate that all issues raised in this matter will be litigated in the course of the proceedings that will include submissions by both parties and in arguments before the Court. Our office cannot comment further on this matter as the 440 motion is pending.

Matt is known for his 2015 escape from Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, alongside David Sweat.

Weeks after his escape, Matt was shot dead by law enforcement officers. But Sweat was later captured and taken back into custody.

Before their escape, Sweat and Matt were behind bars for murder, and the case of Matt was connected to western New York.

Matt was an Erie County native. More than two decades ago, he was convicted of killing and dismembering North Tonawanda businessman William Rickerson.

Eventually, he ended up spending time in a Mexican prison in relation to a separate homicide.

Evan Anstey is an Associated Press Award and Emmy-nominated digital producer who has been part of theNews 4team since 2015.See more of his work hereandfollow him on Twitter.

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New DNA testing could clear men convicted of murdering a Tonawanda mother in 1993 - WIVB.com - News 4

COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Clarametyx Biosciences Inc., (Clarametyx) a preclinical stage biotechnology company developing targeted, immune-enabling biologic therapies to counter serious infections associated with biofilms, today announced the publication of a new study in the prestigious journal CELL providing critical new insights about the components within bacterial biofilms that drive resistance to current medicines.

Bacterial biofilms are communities of bacteria embedded within a protective matrix that are associated with nearly 80 percent of bacterial infections. Because biofilms contribute to persistent infections, inflammation, and resistance to therapeutic interventions, there is a pressing need for novel strategies to combat this bacterial defense mechanism. Prior research has demonstrated that an extracellular DNA (eDNA) network stabilized by DNABII proteins are required for the structural integrity of biofilms across many bacterial pathogens. While enzymes that digest DNA can prevent biofilm formation, these enzymes are ineffective against biofilms that have fully formed.

This research initiative aimed to understand the development and maturation of the biofilm to elucidate its resistance to the innate immune system. A series of studies indicated that the biofilm structure is not built on the typical B-form of DNA, but instead relies on the rare Z-form of eDNA, which accumulates as biofilms mature and provides structural integrity to the biofilms matrix. Importantly, the assessments found Z-DNA to be the primary structural form of eDNA within mature biofilms across a range of bacterial pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae, each of which contribute significant patient burden today. These findings suggest that the development of therapeutic agents designed to drive biofilm eDNA back into its native B-form could enhance the prevention or clinical resolution of biofilm-mediated diseases.

This seminal publication answers a critical piece of the biofilm puzzle by articulating the central role of Z-DNA in the pathogenesis of the biofilm and its resistance to immune intervention, said Steven Goodman, Ph.D., study author, Director of the Oral GI Microbiology Research Affinity Group in the Center for Microbial Pathogenesis at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute (AWRI) at Nationwide Childrens Hospital and co-chair of the Clarametyx scientific advisory board. This improved understanding of the key contributors to biofilm development and defense will transform research efforts to overcome the mature biofilm and prevent its development.

The publication of our research in the globally renowned CELL journal validates the significance of this finding to the research community trying to solve the challenge of persistent bacterial infections and antimicrobial resistance, said Lauren Bakaletz, Ph.D., study author, Director of the Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Vice President of Basic Sciences for AWRI and co-chair of the Clarametyx scientific advisory board. That the Z-form is the primarily form of eDNA found in mature biofilms provides a vital insight into how we approach the biofilm. If we know what to target, we can efficiently dismantle the eDNA structure, rendering the bacteria much more vulnerable to immune or antibiotic intervention and resolving infections more efficiently to improve patient outcomes while also reducing the risk of antibiotic resistance.

A more sophisticated understanding of the role of the molecular components that strengthen the biofilm and protect the bacteria is critical in our design of novel therapeutics and vaccines that could benefit many people who contract a wide range of severe bacterial infections, said Charles McOsker, Ph.D., co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Clarametyx. This invaluable research not only reinforces the central scientific strategy we are pursuing at Clarametyx but also informs the ongoing development of our CMTX-101 novel anti-biofilm antibody therapy that could transform the treatment of bacterial infections by disrupting both newly-formed and mature biofilms.

About Clarametyx Biosciences

Clarametyx Biosciences is combating the formidable challenge of persistent and recalcitrant infections through an innovative technology platform targeting the biofilmbacteria embedded in a protective matrixto enable a more effective immune response or antibiotic intervention. The Columbus, Ohio-based company is building a dynamic pipeline of immune-enabling therapies and vaccines for life-threatening bacterial infections associated with biofilms. Its lead candidate, CMTX-101, is a humanized monoclonal antibody in preclinical development for hospital-acquired pneumonia. For more information, visit us on the web or on LinkedIn.

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New Publication in CELL Implicates a Rare Form of DNA Driving Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacterial Biofilms - Business Wire

Famed 19th century Native American leader Sitting Bull, who died in 1890, is seen in this picture from circa 1885. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution/Handout via REUTERS

WASHINGTON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - A sample of Sitting Bull's hair has helped scientists confirm that a South Dakota man is the famed 19th century Native American leader's great-grandson using a new method to analyze family lineages with DNA fragments from long-dead people.

Researchers said on Wednesday that DNA extracted from the hair, which had been stored at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, confirmed the familial relationship between Sitting Bull, who died in 1890, and Ernie LaPointe, 73, of Lead, South Dakota.

"I feel this DNA research is another way of identifying my lineal relationship to my great-grandfather," said LaPointe, who has three sisters. "People have been questioning our relationship to our ancestor as long as I can remember. These people are just a pain in the place you sit - and will probably doubt these findings, also."

The study represented the first time that DNA from a long-dead person was used to demonstrate a familial relationship between a living individual and a historical figure - and offers the potential for doing so with others whose DNA can be extracted from remains such as hair, teeth or bones.

The new method was developed by scientists led by Eske Willerslev, director of the Lundbeck Foundation GeoGenetics Centre at the University of Cambridge.

The researchers took 14 years to discover a way of extracting useable DNA from the hair, which was degraded after being stored at room temperature before being handed over by the Smithsonian to LaPointe and his sisters in 2007.

Willerslev said he read in a magazine about the Smithsonian turning over the lock of hair from Sitting Bull's scalp and reached out to LaPointe.

"LaPointe asked me to extract DNA from it and compare it to his DNA to establish relationship," said Willerslev, senior author of the research published in the Science Advances. "I got very little hair and there was very limited DNA in it. It took us a long time developing a method that, based on limited ancient DNA, can by compared to that of living people across multiple generations."

The novel technique centered on what is known as autosomal DNA in the genetic fragments extracted from the hair. Traditional analysis involves specific DNA in the Y chromosome passed down the male line or specific DNA in the mitochondria - powerhouses of a cell - passed down from mothers to children. Autosomal DNA instead is not gender specific.

"There existed methods, but they demanded for substantial amounts of DNA or did only allow to go to the level of grandchildren," Willerslev said. "With our new method, it is possible to establish deeper-time family relationships using tiny amounts of DNA."

Sitting Bull, whose Lakota name was Tatanka-Iyotanka, helped bring together the Sioux tribes of the Great Plains against white settlers taking tribal land and U.S. military forces trying to expel Native Americans from their territory. He led Native American warriors who wiped out federal troops led by George Custer at the 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn in what is now the U.S. state of Montana.

Two official burial sites exist for Sitting Bull, one at Fort Yates, North Dakota and the other at Mobridge, South Dakota. LaPointe said he does not believe the Fort Yates site contains any of his great-grandfather's remains.

"I feel the DNA results can identify the remains buried at the Mobridge, South Dakota site as my ancestor," LaPointe said, raising the possibility of moving the Mobridge remains to another location in the future.

Reporting by Will Dunham, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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DNA from Sitting Bull's hair confirms living great-grandson's ancestry - Reuters

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa., Nov. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --INOVIO (NASDAQ:INO), a biotechnology company focused on bringing to market precisely designed DNA medicines to help protect people from infectious diseases, and help treat cancer, and HPV-associated diseases, today announced that it has received authorization from India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO)'s Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to proceed with the Phase 3 segment of INOVIO's global Phase 2/3 trial, INNOVATE (INOVIO INO-4800 Vaccine Trial for Efficacy), in India for INO-4800, its DNA vaccine candidate for COVID-19. INOVIO is partnering with Advaccine Biopharmaceuticals Suzhou Co., Ltd. (Advaccine) to conduct the INNOVATE Phase 3 segment in multiple countries in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Regulatory authorization in India follows authorizations from health authorities in Brazil, Philippines, Mexicoand Colombia.

The global Phase 3 segment of INNOVATE will evaluate the efficacy of INO-4800 in a two-dose regimen (2.0 mg per dose), administered one month apart, in a 2-to-1 randomization in men and non-pregnant women 18 years of age and older. The primary endpoint of this case-driven Phase 3 trial is virologically confirmed symptomatic COVID-19.

"As COVID-19 continues to threaten the health and safety of the global population, and many areas of the world are still awaiting sufficient access to safe and effective vaccines, INOVIO is pleased to receive regulatory authorization to proceed with our efficacy Phase 3 trial in India," said Dr. J. Joseph Kim, President and CEO of INOVIO. "INOVIO remains steadfast in its mission to fight COVID-19 through the development of INO-4800, which is designed to serve the needs of those in India and beyond, as both a primary series and a booster vaccine."

INNOVATE's Phase 3 segment builds upon the Phase 2 segment, which was conducted in the U.S. and funded by the U.S. Department of Defense Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense, in coordination with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs and the Defense Health Agency. Interim Phase 2 data from the ongoing study was disclosedin a pre-print in MedRxiv in May 2021 and showed INO-4800 to be well-tolerated and immunogenic in adults 18 and older. In another previously disclosed study using clinical samples, INO-4800 was also foundto provide broad cross-reactive immune responses, including neutralizing antibodies and notable T cell responses, against variants of concern (alpha, beta, gamma and, in subsequent research, delta) factors which could be critical in containing COVID-19 as it shifts from pandemic to endemic spread.

This news builds on INOVIO's previously announcedauthorization to proceed in China with two Advaccine-sponsored clinical trials investigating the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of heterologous boost combinations with INO-4800, as well as recent positive homologous boostingdata for INO-4800, which was found to produce robust immune responses and was well-tolerated as both a two-dose series and as a homologous booster dose in all adults, including participants 65 years of age and older. Of note, a durable antibody response was observed six months following the second dose, and a homologous booster dose administered 6 to 10.5 months following the second dose also significantly increased antibody and T cell responses. INO-4800 was well-tolerated, with no treatment-related serious adverse events reported. Most adverse events were mild in severity and did not increase in frequency with age and subsequent dosing.

About INO-4800

INO-4800, INOVIO's DNA vaccine candidate against SARS-CoV-2, is composed of a precisely designed DNA plasmid that is injected intradermally followed by electroporation using a proprietary smart device, which delivers the DNA plasmid directly into cells in the body and is intended to produce a well-tolerated immune response. As one of the only nucleic-acid based vaccines that is stable at room temperature for more than a year, at 37C for more than a month, has a five-year projected shelf life at normal refrigeration temperature and does not need to be frozen during transport or storage, INO-4800 is anticipated to be well-positioned for a primary series immunization as well as a booster.

About INOVIO

INOVIO is a biotechnology company focused on rapidly bringing to market precisely designed DNA medicines to treat and protect people from infectious diseases, cancer, and diseases associated with HPV. INOVIO is the first company to have clinically demonstrated that a DNA medicine can be delivered directly into cells in the body via a proprietary smart device to produce a robust and tolerable immune response. Specifically, INOVIO's lead therapeutic candidate VGX-3100 met primary and secondary endpoints for all evaluable subjects in REVEAL 1, the first of two, Phase 3 trials for precancerous cervical dysplasia, demonstrating ability to destroy and clear both high-grade cervical lesions and the underlying high-risk HPV-16/18. INOVIO is also evaluating INO-4800, a DNA vaccine candidate against COVID-19, in a Phase 2/3 clinical trial; the Phase 3 segment of which has received regulatory approvals to begin in Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, Philippines, and India. INOVIO's partners, Advaccine Biopharmaceuticals and International Vaccine Institute, are also evaluating INO-4800 in ongoing clinical trials in China and South Korea, respectively.

Partners and collaborators include Advaccine, ApolloBio Corporation, AstraZeneca, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency/Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense/Department of Defense, HIV Vaccines Trial Network, International Vaccine Institute, Kaneka Eurogentec, Medical CBRN Defense Consortium, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Ology Bioservices, the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Plumbline Life Sciences, Regeneron, Richter-Helm BioLogics, Thermo Fisher Scientific, University of Pennsylvania, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, and The Wistar Institute. For more information, visit http://www.inovio.com.

CONTACTS:

Media: Jeff Richardson, 267-440-4211, [emailprotected]Investors: Ben Matone, 484-362-0076, [emailprotected]

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to our business, including our plans to develop and commercialize DNA medicines, our expectations regarding our research and development programs, including the planned initiation and conduct of pre-clinical studies and clinical trials and the availability and timing of data from those studies and trials, our ability to successfully manufacture and produce large quantities of our product candidates if they receive regulatory approval and planned collaborations with third parties. Actual events or results may differ from the expectations set forth herein as a result of a number of factors, including uncertainties inherent in pre-clinical studies, clinical trials, product development programs and commercialization activities and outcomes, our ability to secure sufficient manufacturing capacity to mass produce our product candidates, the availability of funding to support continuing research and studies in an effort to prove safety and efficacy of electroporation technology as a delivery mechanism or develop viable DNA medicines, our ability to support our pipeline of DNA medicine products, the ability of our collaborators to attain development and commercial milestones for products we license and product sales that will enable us to receive future payments and royalties, the adequacy of our capital resources, the availability or potential availability of alternative therapies or treatments for the conditions targeted by us or collaborators, including alternatives that may be more efficacious or cost effective than any therapy or treatment that we and our collaborators hope to develop, issues involving product liability, issues involving patents and whether they or licenses to them will provide us with meaningful protection from others using the covered technologies, whether such proprietary rights are enforceable or defensible or infringe or allegedly infringe on rights of others or can withstand claims of invalidity and whether we can finance or devote other significant resources that may be necessary to prosecute, protect or defend them, the level of corporate expenditures, assessments of our technology by potential corporate or other partners or collaborators, capital market conditions, the impact of government healthcare proposals and other factors set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 , our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 and other filings we make from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. There can be no assurance that any product candidate in our pipeline will be successfully developed, manufactured, or commercialized, that results of clinical trials will be supportive of regulatory approvals required to market products, or that any of the forward-looking information provided herein will be proven accurate. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise these statements, except as may be required by law.

SOURCE INOVIO Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

http://www.inovio.com

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INOVIO Further Expands INNOVATE Phase 3 Trial for COVID-19 DNA Vaccine Candidate INO-4800 With Regulatory Authorization from India - PRNewswire

Officials say a young hitchhiker who died in a car crash in Alabama in 1961 and was buried in a grave marked UNKNOWN has finally been identified through DNA testing. Killed when a vehicle from which hed accepted a ride crashed and plunged into a river in Bibb County, the hitchhiker didnt have any identification. Community members raised money for his burial, and a tombstone was engraved with the date of the wreck: March 27, 1961. Coroner CW West says a team of genealogists using DNA from the body confirmed the remains to be those of 15-year-old Daniel Paul Danny Armantrout. They've contacted a surviving brother who plans to come to Alabama.

Officials say a young hitchhiker who died in a car crash in Alabama in 1961 and was buried in a grave marked UNKNOWN has finally been identified through DNA testing.

Killed when a vehicle from which hed accepted a ride crashed and plunged into a river in Bibb County, the hitchhiker didnt have any identification.

Community members raised money for his burial, and a tombstone was engraved with the date of the wreck: March 27, 1961.

Coroner CW West says a team of genealogists using DNA from the body confirmed the remains to be those of 15-year-old Daniel Paul Danny Armantrout.

They've contacted a surviving brother who plans to come to Alabama.

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Victim of 1961 car wreck finally identified using DNA - WVTM13