Category Archives: DNA

The human genome has long been a difficult book to read. Modern technological advances have recently opened doors for researchers to begin asking a big question: What parts of our DNA sequences might influence disease? Mary Lauren Benton, Ph.D., recently joined the Baylor Engineering and Computer Science faculty as an assistant professor of bioinformatics, and she is working to answer that question.

Mary Lauren Benton, Ph.D.

If you think of the genome like an instruction manual, Im interested in the grammar, Benton said. Im interested in understanding how short DNA sequences turn genes on and off in different cells and allow for many different outcomes. If we know how a particular sequence influences risk of heart disease, for example, we can use that information to help us guide clinical decisions, whether thats applying different treatments, prescribing different medications or scheduling more preventative care. All of these things can help clinicians to better prioritize and care for patients.

Benton uses computer modeling to look through large data sets of genetic information. Bioinformatics allows for processing of these large data in ways not possible previously, giving room for biological researchers to find patterns and solutions using methods and tools from computer science.

I think of bioinformatics as the intersection of computer science and biology, Benton said. I take tools and methods from computer science, and I apply them to solve fundamental biological questions. We have a lot of really big data sets in biology. The human genome is 3 billion base pairs long, which we cant analyze by hand. The tools from computer science and statistics give us a way to ask questions that we wouldnt be able to otherwise. They open the doors to analyses that would have been impossible even 10 or 20 years ago.

Benton most recently authored The Influence of Evolutionary History on Human Health and Disease, which was published in the Nature Reviews Genetic Journal and takes a look at the evolutionary origins of disease. Being diagnosed with a disease or health problem may feel like a present problem; however, Benton explained that looking at the foundations of a disease is important to understanding how to move forward with treatment.

The foundations and the systems that are involved in disease have really deep evolutionary origins, she said. Cancer might be something that youre diagnosed with today, but the foundation of cancer can be traced back to the idea that we have cells that are able to grow and divide, which also provides the opportunity for tumors to grow.

Benton explained that its important to consider the history of the disease and the systems involved alongside any variants or environmental factors that help to cause the disease. A holistic understanding of disease can influence how patients are treated as well as provide information about how their diseases came to be.

Its not enough to understand whats happening in a person right now or in the last five years, Benton said. Understanding the million-year history of how people got here is equally important to make advances in personalizing medicine, especially genomic medicine. Having that long lens is something that is often lost in the day-to-day operations of a doctors office.

Benton is excited to be evaluating the way that researchers think about decoding genetic information. While a common approach is to think of genes as being able to be turned off or on with a simple switch, that may not be the most accurate approach.

We study these sets of genetic switches and how they turn genes on and off at the right times. Often, we think about these switches working one-at-a-time; the gene is either on or its off, Benton said. But it is much more complicated than that. There are often multiple switches that act more like a dashboard of knobs and dials that all work together to properly tune the output of the genome.

Bentons research is moving toward the development of new models and ways of thinking about how known individual elements are combined and factored into this much larger, more accurate dashboard. Differences based on demographic histories, environmental variables and evolutionary processes all influence the risk of disease in different ways. A better understanding of genomes and how genetic variants relate to disease has major implications for precision medicine.

Its really vital for precision medicine to take into account the full diversity of the human experience. We cant focus on one particular kind of person or one population. People of European ancestry are over-represented in genetic studies, Benton said. Improving diversity and representation in our genomic studies is vital to understanding how the genome relates to disease and to learning how to appropriately treat all of the patients that might walk through the doors of a clinic.

Precision medicine, in some ways, seems futuristic and far-off. But, in other ways, precision medicine is already being used to protect at-risk individuals from diseases like cancer. While widespread precision medicine may not be seen for a long time, research like Bentons plays a role in better understanding disease risk broadly and providing context for clinical solutions moving forward.

Precision medicine is both happening right now and is something that well probably always be working toward, Benton said. There are things that we understand right now about specific genetic variants that might predispose you to a certain kind of breast cancer, for example. We already have diseases that we can test for or treat differently based on someones genotype. But, because the genome is such a complicated thing, walking into the clinic and handing your DNA sequence to the doctor, who would then read it and prescribe the right treatments on the spot, is a goal that well always be working toward. Still, I expect well see big changes in the next five to 10 years given the current rate of progress.

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Grammar of the Genome: Reading the Influence of DNA on Disease - Baylor University

Aim small, miss small.

The application of that phrase originally applied to aiming a muzzle-loader rifle. The concept being that instead of aiming broadly at your target, aim at something very small on your target so that should you miss, you still hit your target. While I have no muzzle-loader experience, I still find the phrase applies to my draft preparation.

Ive always been fond of player scouting dating back to the late 1990s, and Ive been a fan of statistical modeling for long before that. Combining these two passions has made for a great foundation for success at fantasy football, where leveraging my objectivity and available data has allowed me to gain an edge over my competition. Look around the fantasy multiverse and youll see a broad array of data points, metrics and applications bandied about as the secret sauce to winning.

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Dynasty draft DNA: Identifying the traits that make up the future elite fantasy football stars - The Athletic

Raynald Aeschlimann believes that young customers are interested in new watches with some vintage appeal, and that stores should be non-intimidating spaces

April 18, 2021 / 10:24 AM IST

Akshay Sawai

Online availability and watches with history are two key drivers to attract young customers, Omega CEO Raynald Aeschlimann believes.

We are finding young people are interested in new watches that have some sort of vintage appeal. We are not talking about simple reissues of classic watches: we are talking about modern watches that might reference the 1950s and 60s in their design, Aeschlimann said in an interview in the April issue of Monocle.

Man stepping on the moon was a giant leap for Omega. It was the official watch of NASA missions, including Apollo XI, when Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins flew to the silver disc in our sky. That was 1969. Half a century later, Omega still possesses the cachet of being the first watch ever worn on the moon, of being on the hands of Armstrong and Aldrin as they registered one of mankinds greatest achievements.

Our new Speedmaster watches are inspiring for people who werent even born when astronauts were wearing them on the NASA moon-landing missions, but they love the story and the history and the look, Aeschlimann said. Luxury is about roots and DNA and young people respect this.

Coming to the present, Aeschlimann said that having a digital presence helped when the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to close their stores.

We had the difficulty of dealing with 460 shops that were closed temporarily, he said. But we were ready with a digital offering because wed listened to what our customers had wanted in the past. You cant prepare for these things overnight; you cant just wake up in the morning and become creative or flexible it has to be in your DNA.

Nonetheless, Omega has invested in a flagship store in Zurich. It is a departure from luxury stores of the past, which were snobbish and where the product was in enclosures. The brand has emulated the Apple concept of letting customers touch and feel watches.

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Luxury is about roots and DNA: Omega CEO - Moneycontrol

News Release

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

NIH study results bolster previous studies finding no growth, development differences with IVF.

Compared to newborns conceived traditionally, newborns conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF) are more likely to have certain chemical modifications to their DNA, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health. The changes involve DNA methylation the binding of compounds known as methyl groups to DNA which can alter gene activity. Only one of the modifications was seen by the time the children were 9 years old.

The study was conducted by Edwina Yeung, Ph.D., and colleagues in NIHs Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Previous studies by the research team found no differences in growth and development for this group.

Our study found only small differences in DNA methylation at birth and these were not seen in early childhood, Dr. Yeung said. When considered along with our previous studies finding no differences in childrens growth and development, our current study should be reassuring to couples who have conceived with fertility treatments and to those considering these methods.

IVF consists of collecting eggs and sperm, fertilizing the eggs in a lab, and then transferring the resulting embryo or embryos into the uterus. Another technique, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), consists of injecting a sperm cell directly into the egg before placing the resulting embryo into the uterus.

Methylation changes were not associated with two other fertility treatments, ovulation induction (drug treatment to release the egg from the ovary) and intrauterine insemination (insertion of semen directly into the uterus).

According to a national report in 2018, almost 75,000 IVF-conceived infants (2.0% of all infants) were born in the United States. Of these, approximately 76% were conceived with ICSI. Another study found that 3 to 7% of births resulted from ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination.

When methyl groups are added to a gene, the gene is switched off and does not produce a protein. Methyl groups are added and removed from DNA throughout life, as genes are alternately switched on and off. Changes in methylation may occur in any step of IVF. These include exposure to hormones needed to bring the eggs to maturity so they can be collected or exposure to the culture medium in which the eggs are fertilized and embryos develop.

Previous studies have found associations between IVF and certain rare disorders. However, many of these studies were small and their results inconsistent. Also, many of the studies were conducted before ICSI was in widespread use.

For the current study, researchers evaluated data on DNA methylation differences in children beginning at birth and when they were 8 to 10 years old. The children were born in New York State from 2008 to 2010 and more than 70% of IVF birth were with ICSI.

Of the newborns, 157 were conceived with fertility treatments and 520 were conceived without treatments. Newborns conceived with IVF were more likely to have lower methylation levels in some parts of their DNA. The researchers did not find any methylation changes for newborns conceived by ovulation induction or intrauterine insemination.

Among the 152 children who provided DNA samples at 8 to 10 years old, 23 were conceived with IVF and 34 with ovulation induction or intrauterine insemination. For children conceived with IVF, lower methylation levels were seen for only one region, in the GNAS gene, which has been found in some previous studies but not others.

The study authors called for more research on how variations in fertility treatments could contribute to methylation differences in children, such as variations in the medium used to culture embryos.

About the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): NICHD leads research and training to understand human development, improve reproductive health, enhance the lives of children and adolescents, and optimize abilities for all. For more information, visit https://www.nichd.nih.gov.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH):NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.

NIHTurning Discovery Into Health

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Most differences in DNA binding compounds found at birth in children conceived by IVF not seen in early childhood - National Institutes of Health

DANVILLE, Ind. Danville Police credit DNA for connecting a suspect to a smash and grab crime spree.

Back in October, a husband and wife were out walking near Twin Bridges Trails. When the couple returned to their car, they found the car window busted and the womans purse was gone.

Its not like we forget about the case. We are still going to come after you, said Nate Lien, detective with Danville Police Department.

Now months later, Danville Police believe Donald Cates is the man behind the crime.

We know in our case its solid, said Detective Lien.

Lien tells FOX 59 that when Cates busted the car window, he cut himself, leaving behind his DNA. Investigators waited for the lab results to come back and got a match.

Theres no fighting that your blood is on their broken window and their stuff is stolen there. So, its one of the pieces to the puzzle that is vital to solving this case, said Detective Lien.

Police are confident the smash and grab that happened in the Danville parking lot wasnt the first for Cates. So far, hes under investigation for possibly doing the same thing at other trails in several surrounding counties. The DNR is looking into him too.

He was specifically targeting trailheads and parks, where cars are left unattendedand people are out walking and away from their cars, said Detective Lien.

Detective Lien says investigators from Hamilton County, Pendleton, and New Castle have all been working together and comparing surveillance pictures from when the suspect used stolen credit cards from vehicles.

This was the suspect in every one of the cases. Basically, weve caught him at once, said Detective Lien.

Detectives are warning criminals, no matter how much time goes by cases remain open and clues, even the ones they unknowingly left behind are helping investigators close in on them.

Theres DNA on everything. Theres DNA in saliva, hair, people dropping cigarettes. We use DNA all the time it might take a awhile but eventually youre going to get caught, said Detectives Lien.

Cates has been charged with theft, felony theft due to prior convictions, fraud, criminal mischief among other charges.

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Police say DNA connects suspect to a string of smash and grabs in Danville - Fox 59

The COVID-19 vaccine wont change your DNA.

None of the three vaccines between Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson actually enter the nuclei in a persons cell, according to the CDC, meaning none of them actually interact with DNA or a genome.

The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are mRNA vaccines, which teach our cells how to make a protein that triggers an immune response, according to the CDC. The mRNA from a COVID-19 vaccine never enters the nucleus of the cell, which is where our DNA is kept. This means the mRNA cannot affect or interact with our DNA in any way.

Regarding the Johnson & Johnson shot, the material it delivers to a persons cells does not integrate into a persons DNA, the CDC states. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was temporarily halted in Michigan following guidance from federal regulators after six people nationwide reported rare, but serious blood clots.

Infectious disease and biology experts however said none of the vaccines access or change DNA, refuting a series of conspiracy theories circling around social media.

The concern over DNA alteration was perhaps most prominently voiced in an April 8 article in The Defender, a publication run by the anti-vaccination group Childrens Health Defense. The post cited a preprinted research paper from Harvard and MIT scientists that asserts that mRNA from the virus can very rarely persist in an individuals body tissue even after infection.

Richard Young, a co-author on the paper and an MIT professor of biology, told MLive its terrible his teams research is being used in anti-vax circles, since his teams findings only address the COVID-19 virus and not any of the vaccines.

It is possible that the (COVID-19) virus might integrate on a rare instance into a human genome into tissue culture itself, Young said. But the vaccine is just a tiny piece of spike protein in an mRNA molecule. So when the vaccine mRNA goes into the cell, it only goes into the cytoplasm where it can be made into proteins by ribosomes. So it doesnt even go into the nucleus.

Spike proteins, according to the CDC, trigger our immune system cells to recognize the COVID-19 virus and begin producing antibodies to fight the infection.

Young said he and his colleagues research should be seen as more reason to avoid natural COVID-19 infection, not to avoid the vaccine. Compared to the virus, the vaccine carries less than 1% of the molecules used to replicate viral mRNA that can lead to very rare genetic alteration, Young said.

If you were weighing a concern, Id be very concerned about being infected with the virus, he said, because the virus is giving some people long COVID, whereas the vaccine doesnt seem to be hurting anyone.

Read more: Long Covid continues to stump doctors and exhaust those fighting months-long battles

While the Johnson and Johnson vaccine works differently than its counterparts, it accomplishes the same goal of creating proteins to catalyze the creation of antibodies, said Dr. Anthony Ognjan, infection disease doctor with MacLaren Macomb hospital.

Its called a viral vector vaccine, he said. Similar to AstraZeneca, what it does is it takes the virus and creates a kind of infection in people, but not really...it attaches spike proteins to the virus, the viruses are naturally taken up by the cells and then the cells process automatically an immune reaction.

The bottom-line: the COVID-19 vaccines does not get incorporated into human DNA, Ognjan said. Vaccines that treat herpes are examples of ones that can alter DNA, but the COVID-19 shots dont follow the same method.

The genetic alteration concern picks up on a fear some people have about how changed DNA leaves some individuals susceptible to cancer down the road, Ognjan said. While altered DNA does carry those risks, that fear is being conflated with the COVID-19 vaccine in a frustrating way, he said.

People who dont understand the science, anti-vaxxers and pseudoscientists are taking advantage of peoples naivety and not understanding the basic science of whats going on, he said. You see that stuff get scattered over the internet, and it drives me crazy.

Read more from MLive:

As Michigans coronavirus cases surge, experts say its hard to pinpoint an exact cause

Whitmer on CNN: Michigan could shed COVID-19 restrictions, fully reopen this summer

Michigan hospital to study COVID-19 vaccine in people with severe allergies

COVID-19 risk from touching contaminated surface is less than 1 in 10,000, new CDC study says

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No, the COVID-19 vaccine will not change your DNA - MLive.com

Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), or clamped homogeneous electrical field electrophoresis (CHEF), is a novel gel electrophoresis type for the separation of DNA macromolecules.

This is accomplished by alternating anode and cathode at specific intervals, which means that the DNA molecules have to realign themselves in the electrical field before they can continue to progress in the matrix.

Smaller molecules orient themselves much faster than larger ones, which means that they cover a larger distance in a predetermined amount of time. The separation of the DNA molecules relies on a series of various factors: voltage, runtime, buffer concentration, temperature and how fast anode and cathode are changing.

Due to the extended runtimes of PFGE protocols and the occasional high voltage, a constant and low buffer temperature is key for the success of the method. These low temperatures and long runtimes present a unique challenge for the tubes used in a PFGE setup for the transmission of the buffer solution.

Often, standard silicone tubes are employed when running a PFGE setup, as illustrated in Fig. 1. A pump (Heidolph Hei-FLOW Value 01 peristaltic pump with SP quick 1,6 pump head; B) is affixed to the running chamber (A; Fig. 2) with about 10 m of tube material fed into a cooling unit (C).

Figure 1. Setup of the PFGE apparatus. (A) shows the gel chamber in which the running buffer is located. This buffer is continuously circulated by a pump (B). About 10 meters of silicone tubing are placed in a cooling unit (C) to keep the buffer constant at low temperature. Image Credit: Heidolph North America

Figure 2. Top view on the gel chamber, the flow direction of the buffer solution is indicated by the red arrow. Image Credit: Heidolph North America

Since the apparatus is continually used with cold buffer for up to 260 hours, it is critical to choose the appropriate tubing to avoid any complications (tearing, formation of air bubbles and loss of pumping power).

Silicone tubes wear out very fast. Therefore this test will show if they can be replaced with a more robust one.

Comparison of three tubes for peristaltic pumps will be carried out with regards to their applicability in the field of PFGE. Those tested were Heidolphs Tygon Standard, Tygon 2001 and PharMed tubes with an inner diameter of 6,4 mm and a wall thickness of 1,6 mm.

The following tests have been conducted at the laboratory of Dr. Marlis Dahl, Department of Biology, Division of Biochemistry at the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg.

The tubing was tested in the assembly as exhibited in figures 3 and 4, in line with the protocols shown in Table 1: Protocol A was selected due to it being the most commonly used protocol in the laboratory; Protocol B was used because it has the greatest requirement regarding the runtime.

Figure 3. Experimental setup of the PFGE apparatus, showing in which direction the buffer flows (red arrow) inside of the chamber and which tubes transport the buffer to (blue arrow) and from the cooling system (yellow arrow). Image Credit: Heidolph North America

Figure 4. The connected pump with the PharMed tubing. Also shown is the flow or pump direction of the running buffer. Image Credit: Heidolph North America

Table 1. Test protocols for the examination of the tubes. Source: Heidolph North America

After the protocols, the tubing was evaluatedand it was decided if any changes were necessary.

The Tygon 2001 tubing turned out unsuitable for the intended purpose due to it being too rigid.

Already demonstrating undesirable effects in the shorter test following Protocol A: although bubble accumulation was mitigated during the day, the next morning, numerous large bubbles were found to impede pumping (that is, insufficient cooling of the gel).

Moreover, the tube appeared to be rather brittle in the area inside the pump head. The Tygon Standard tubing facilitated good buffer circulation for a slightly longer period of time, but after some use, it cracked.

This could be a result of the low temperature of the buffer, which makes the tubing less flexible and eventually leads to breakage. The PharMed tubing performed best.

Although the part of the tubing inside the pump head stretched after an extended period of use, demonstrating that the material was thinning, it still lasts much longer than a common silicone tubing.

The latter can be fitted in the same way, but wear is significantly greater, which means that the part of the tube inside the pump head must regularly move. Otherwise, tearing will occur.

These tests demonstrated that replacing conventional silicone tubing can be achieved with the longer lasting PharMed tubing for a pulsed-field gel electrophoresis assembly using the Hei-FLOW Value 01 peristaltic pump with the SP quick 1.6 pump head.

The Tygon 2001 and Tygon Standard tubing were proven to be inappropriate for the PFGE process.

Image Credit: Heidolph North America

This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Heidolph North America.

For more information on this source, please visit Heidolph North America.

Read more:
Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) for the Separation of DNA Macromolecules - AZoM

LOS ANGELES, April 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global DNA Methylation Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 13.2 % from 2020 to 2027 and reach the market value of over US$ 2,726.2 Mn by 2027.

North America holds the largest market share for the global DNA methylation market

The rapid developments in healthcare infrastructure, the presence of prominent players in this region, and massive R&D investments, North America dominates the DNA methylation market. With increased investment in product and industry R&D, demand for protein expression systems is expected to raise, as many mammalian proteins, including growth hormone, insulin, antibodies, and vaccines, are produced on a large scale. Biopharmaceutical sales have recently surpassed 30% of all new pharmaceutical sales in the country. The United States is the world's largest spender on healthcare research. All of these factors contribute to the expansion of the global DNA methylation market.

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Market Dynamics

DNA methylation in metabolic diseases, oncology, and immunology flourish the growth of global market

Oncology is one of the fields in which DNA methylation technology is widely used to develop therapeutic strategies aimed at reversing the transcriptional abnormalities inherent in the cancer epigenome. This disruption of epigenetic modifications, which include DNA methylation and histone modification, leads to changes in gene function or expression as well as cellular transformation, which leads to cancer. DNA methylation aids in the development of inhibitors of DNA methyltransferases and histone deacetylases (HDACs), which have been shown to be clinically effective in cancer treatment, demonstrating the importance of DNA methylation technology in oncology.

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Segmental Outlook

The global DNA methylation market is segmented based on product, application, technology, and end-user. By product, the market is segmented as enzymes, instruments and consumables, kits, reagents, and bioinformatics tools. Enzymes are further sub segmented into DNA-modifying enzymes, protein-modifying enzymes, and RNA-modifying enzymes. Further, instruments and consumables are sub segmented as next-generation sequencers, qPCR, mass spectrometers, sonicators, and others. Kits is further sub segmented as bisulfite conversion kits, ChIP-sequencing kits, RNA sequencing kits, whole genomic amplification kits, 5-hmC and 5-mC analysis kits, and others. Reagents are further sub segmented as antibodies, buffers, histones, magnetic beads, primers, and among others.

By application, the market is segmented as oncology, metabolic diseases, developmental biology, immunology, cardiovascular diseases, and others. Based on application, the market is segmented as oncology, metabolic diseases, immunology, and others. Based on technology, the market is segregated as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and others. By end-user, the market is segmented as academic and research institutes, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and contract research organizations (CROs)

Competitive Landscape

Key companies profiled in this report involve Illumina, Inc., Merck Millipore, Abcam plc, Active Motif, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., New England Biolabs, Agilent Technologies, Inc., QIAGEN, Zymo Research, PerkinElmer, Inc., Diagenode, and among others.

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Some of the key observations regarding DNA methylation industry include:

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DNA Methylation Market Value Anticipated To Reach US$ 2,726.2 Million By 2027: Acumen Research and Consulting - GlobeNewswire

New Delhi: The COVID-19 pandemic situation has become very serious in the country. It has taken many lives, destroyed many families. Due to sheer negligence, thousands of people are at the risk of facing death.

One who has conquered destiny is called Muqaddar Ka Sikandar. Today, those who manage to keep themselves alive in these trying times can be certainly called that.

Zee News Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary on Wednesday (April 14) discussed the deteriorating situation in the country due to COVID-19 surge which has forced even the dead to wait in line.

It is said that life is fleeting and that it ends in an instant. Death is the absolute truth. No human can escape that fate. But the pandemic has made life look really cheap.

An average Indian spends about 10 years of their life standing in queue. The first queue begins right at birth to obtain a certificate for the same. Then comes the numerous queues such as that for school admission, jobs, rations, bank etc. Now even death has forced humans to wait in the queue.

The number of patients getting infected with the coronavirus in India is increasing rapidly. In the last 24 hours 1.84 lakh cases have been registered. There have been 1027 deaths in the same period.

This surge is quite worrying and in many cities across the country, the crematoriums are running out of capacity.

In Bhopal, so many corpses are coming in every day that now there is a shortage of wood to carry out cremation of the dead.

In Rajkot, people have to wait for over 30 hours for the last rites. Similar reports have come in from Surat, where the cremation ghats are running out of space to store the dead bodies that are waiting to be cremated.

In Bharuch, several bodies were cremated together and in many cases, people werent able to attend the last rites of their loved ones.

In Ranchi, 12 bodies had to wait for over a day to be cremated.

Similar scenes were observed in Lucknow, Rajkot, Delhi, Nanded, Durg and other places, where the dead had to wait in a long queue just get cremated.

In Hinduism, Antim Sanskar is the final ritual of the 16 sanskars and it is said that it should be performed after sunset. But coronavirus has forced to change these traditions as pyres are burning every hour at the crematoriums.

The situation is so bad that a person would be considered fortunate to be cremated within hours of their death.

In general, no one likes to talk about death. But the coronavirus has made it a usual discussion among people. Such is the crisis the country is facing today.

Live TV

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DNA Exclusive: COVID-19 surge, waiting list, and the eternal reality of death - Zee News

Wednesday's major news is that in view of the worsening situation due to coronavirus, the Central Government has cancelled the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 10 board examination and postponed the class 12 examination. And this is a comforting news for crores of students of the country and their parents.

A meeting was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in which the suggestions of parents and state governments were discussed apart from the students.

In the meeting, the officials had suggested that Class 12th and Class 10th examinations should be postponed, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the well-being of the students is the most important and their health is also the first priority. He said that the government will take care of their health and will not let their education be affected. The Prime Minister also said that these students have already suffered losses and problems due to COVID-19, therefore, the exams for Class 10 should be cancelled and the exams for Class 12 should be postponed, so that the year is not wasted.

First of all, let us tell you what this cancellation of the 10th class board exams means. Because many students are asking today that if they do not take the exam then how will marks be decided?

It was also discussed in the meeting on Wednesday and the government came to the conclusion that it will give marks to the students on the basis of internal assessment and they will be promoted in the 11th grade. However, on what basis this evaluation of students will be done? There has been no decision on this. The government has given instructions to CBSE and the board will decide how the whole process will be conducted.

It is being said that in the coming one or two days, this blueprint will be prepared and the marks of internal exams can be made the basis for promoting the students. That is, students can be promoted on the basis of the marks that students scored in the examinations before the board exams. The government can promote most students in class 11.

An important point here is that if a student is not satisfied with the formula made by CBSE and feels that it is unfair to him, then he or she will be eligible to take the exam. That is, this window has also been opened for students of 10th standard to be able to take the exam.

Now, two things are understood by this decision - the government has cancelled the Class 10 examination, but it has also given two options to the students. The first option is that they do not take the exam and accept the marks they get on their previous exams. Another option is that students can take the exam even if it is cancelled.

The second option is very important for those students who have prepared for these exams throughout the year and expect to score 100 out of 100 in all subjects. Such students do not have to be disheartened by the decision of the government. They can take the exam if they want and can set an example that tests are given at the time of crisis and they are topped.

After the 10th class examination, now let us tell you about the 12th exam. The government has not cancelled the Class 12th examinations. These exams are postponed. And now what will be the new date for the examinations? The decision will be taken on June 1. Apart from this, CBSE will also inform the students of the 12th standard by issuing a notice 15 days before the examination.

Here we want to tell you one important thing that the decision of the government will be applicable only to the CBSE examinations. Whether or not there will be 10th and 12th class exams of the state boards, the decision is to be taken by the state governments.

Earlier on Wednesday, the State Education Boards of Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan have cancelled these examinations. While Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh have postponed the state board examinations. But there are reports that after the central government's decision, now all the states can cancel the class 10 examination and the class 12 examination can be conducted in the coming months.

Today we also want to ask a question that when the examinations are being cancelled, restrictions are imposed, curfews are imposed and lockdowns are being imposed in the country, then why are political rallies taking place in such a situation? Why are religious events being held? And why are IPL matches happening?

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DNA Special: Education going through 'tests' in times of coronavirus - DNA India