Category Archives: DNA

The HTC Droid DNA - oh, sorry, the "Droid DNA by HTC" - is Verizon Wireless's new flagship smartphone. It beats every other phone on the market on specs, with an amazing 443-pixel-per-inch 1,920-by-1,080 screen. I got a little time with it today, and I was pleasantly surprised in several different ways.

I've always been a fan of HTC's materials and design, but I'm not a fan of big phones. Here, though, HTC has designed a big phone that doesn't feel like one. While the DNA is definitely a Phone of Size, I found it much easier to cradle in my hand than competing "phablets" like either generation of Samsung's Galaxy Note. A big part of that is the very narrow bezel around the 5-inch screen. That keeps the phone narrow, which is a much bigger component of comfort than a phone's length.

The much-vaunted 1080p Super LCD 3 screen is certainly sharp. In Web pages, it seemed almost too sharp; I could easily call up text that was too small for my eyes to read. But showing a 1080p version of the new James Bond movie (how did Verizon get hold of that?), the sharpness really paid off. No details were lost. I'll be interested to see whether the super-high-res screen is a drag on the Qualcomm S4 Pro processor, the way the Google Nexus 10 tablet's super-duper-high-res screen drags down its Samsung Exynos processor.

Speaking of the quad-core S4 Pro, I was surprised to find this powerful processor in a phone that was slim, light, and appeared to run relatively cool. It makes other S4 Pro phone, the LG Optimus G, feels boxy and plasticky.

The Droid DNA runs Android 4.1 with HTC's Sense 4+ extensions. I saw a colorful contact book widget made of thumbnails of faces, a super-high-res photo gallery widget, and the usual elegant weather and clock widgets. Everything ran very smoothly, but that's what you should expect from an S4 Pro-based device.

Verizon loaded a bunch of bloatware on here, so be warned. There are a few Verizon apps, along with an American Express app, Amazon and Reign of Amira, a new game designed by Qualcomm to show off the S4 Pro. I'd like to see how it performs on Need for Speed: Most Wanted, my current top gaming stress test.

We'll have a full review of the HTC Droid DNA before it hits shelves on November 21. For now, check out our hands on and unboxing slides above, as well as HTC: We're Not Backing Away From Android.

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HTC Droid DNA : Hands On and Unboxing

For the first time, researchers have used DNA sequencing to help bring an infectious disease outbreak in a hospital to a close.

This helped stop the outbreak earlier, saving possible harm to patients. This approach is much more accurate than current methods used to detect hospital outbreaks.

Using this technology, the team revealed that the outbreak had extended into the wider community, a conclusion that could not be reached with available methods. They also used sequencing to link the outbreak to an unsuspecting carrier, who was treated to eradicate MRSA.

We are always seeking ways to improve our patient care and wanted to explore the role that the latest sequencing technologies could play in the control of infections in hospitals, says Dr Nick Brown, author, consultant microbiologist at the Health Protection Agency and infection control doctor at Addenbrookes Hospital Cambridge.

Our aim is to prevent outbreaks, and in the event that they occur to identify these rapidly and accurately and bring them under control. What we have glimpsed through this pioneering study is a future in which new sequencing methods will help us to identify, manage and stop hospital outbreaks and deliver even better patient care.

Over a six month period, the hospital infection control team used standard protocols to identify 12 patients who were carrying MRSA. However, this standard approach alone could not give enough information to confirm or refute whether or not an ongoing outbreak was actually taking place.

In this study, the researchers analysed MRSA isolates from these 12 patients with DNA sequencing technology and demonstrated clearly that all the MRSA bacteria were closely related and that this was an outbreak.

They also revealed that the outbreak was more extensive than previously realised, finding that over twice as many people were carrying or were infected with the same outbreak strain. Many of these additional cases were people who had recent links to the hospital but were otherwise healthy and living in the community when they developed a MRSA infection.

While this sequencing study was underway, the infection control team identified a new case of MRSA carriage in the Special Care Baby Unit, which occurred 64 days after the last MRSA-positive patient had left the same unit.

The team used advanced DNA sequencing to show in real time that this strain was also part of the outbreak, despite the lack of apparent links between this case and previous patients. This raised the possibility that an individual was unknowingly carrying and transmitting the outbreak MRSA strain.

Excerpt from:
DNA sequence maps superbug outbreak

13 November 2012 Last updated at 11:15 ET

Police in Northern Ireland can retain indefinitely DNA samples and fingerprints of convicted offenders, the High Court in Belfast has ruled.

Judges rejected a test case which tried to establish the policy was a breach of privacy rights.

A European ruling had found it was wrong to retain the profiles of people who had been found innocent.

Lawyers for a man convicted of drink-driving had tried to get this extended to those guilty of "lesser offences".

They had predicted that if judges backed their case, it could lead to the destruction of vast amounts of police records throughout Europe.

The retention of data serves the additional purpose of discouraging a convicted offender from re-offending

According to records, there are some 700,000 fingerprints and 123,000 DNA samples on the database in Northern Ireland alone.

Fergus Gaughran provided his fingerprints, a photograph and DNA profiles after being arrested for suspected drink-driving near Camlough, County Armagh in October 2008.

He later pleaded guilty to the offence and was disqualified from driving for a year.

See the rest here:
Judges reject DNA samples appeal

Owners must give consent for the DNA sample to be taken from their pet, but once they are on the database their behaviour can be logged for their entire lifetime.

According to council documents, the council resolved that the dog warden should visit 'fouling hotspots' in the villages to try and catch the offenders, as well as explore the creating a canine DNA database.

The council stated: "(This meeting) was in response to complaints from residents that some dog owners living in the parish were not picking up after their dogs.

"Notices regarding fining owners should be renewed and that the dog warden should make regular visits to the area.

"If this still remains a problem (we will look into the possibility of taking) DNA from the poo and tracing it back to the dog and its owner."

However locals fear the plans represent a 'Big Brother' society.

Margaret Greenway, 54, said: "You wouldn't expect a human being to be forced to give a DNA sample unless they were suspected of something serious.

"To expect a dog to do this for something so small is just too much. "There has been a problem with dog fouling around this area but I don't think this is the way to solve it."

Read the rest here:
DNA database to catch foul dogs

You can't help but feel that there's always a mix of good news and bad news when a new Android phone is launched. The good news is that there's a brand new phone for people to choose. The bad? That a phone you bought yesterday feels utterly outdated.

The new Droid DNA by HTC is that exact mixture of good and bad news. The phone tops all the new Android phones when it comes to raw hardware specs. Yes, it even beats the brand new Nexus 4 by Google and LG, and the Samsung Galaxy Note II, which just launched on T-Mobile and other networks.

WATCH: Droid DNA First Look Video

So what does this phone have that the others don't? A full 1080p screen, to start. The Droid DNA is the first smartphone ever to have a 1920 x 1080-resolution, 5-inch screen. By comparison, the Nexus 4 has a 4.7-inch 1280 x 768-resoution display and the iPhone 5 has a 4-inch, 1136 x 640 screen.

What that resolution translates to is very, very crisp text and images. A 1080p video on the phone looks incredibly crisp, and thanks to the SuperLCD 3 technology the colors are vibrant and realistic. And that's based on some hands-on experience with the phone; not just the company's marketing materials.

Beyond the screen, the Droid DNA is full of other top-of-the line hardware components. It is powered by a quad-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon processor, 2GB of RAM, and runs on Verizon's LTE network. The phone runs Android 4.1, or Jelly Bean, with HTC's own Sense software. Similar to the software it had on its HTC One X, the customizations don't slow down the performance of the phone and add some nice animations and design elements.

HTC seems to have done most of the improvements on the software for the camera. The phone has an 8-megapixel camera with HTC's ImageSense software and hardware, which improves optics and adds some new photo features. The new sightseeing mode, for example, lets you launch the camera just by pressing the lock button; it automatically launches the camera so you don't miss a shot when you are out and about seeing a new place.

The 2.1-megapixel, front-facing camera has also been improved with a wide-angle lens. The Auto Portrait software also counts down before taking a self-portrait so you can prepare your hair or make sure you don't have anything in your teeth.

And even with all that inside, the DNA is just 4mm thick. While the large screen makes it a bit unwieldy to hold and really isn't for anyone with smaller hands, the soft-touch back and the curved edges give it a nice feel. HTC still says it can provide a full day's worth of battery life, but you can't swap out the battery if it doesn't live up to the promise.

It's one well-rounded piece of hardware, but how can we know that the next great Android phone won't come out next week or next month? Has the spec contest finally leveled off?

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Droid DNA : More Android with More Pixels

The HTC Droid DNA, a new smartphone powered by Verizon Wireless, will be equipped with a massive 5-inch, high-resolution display.

We admit to being a little mystified at the rise of the "phablet," a portable device that occupies the awkward middle ground between tablet and smartphone.

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Still, the things are apparently selling pretty well earlier this year, Samsung announced it had sold 3 million Galaxy Note II phablets in just over a month. It was an indicator, TechCrunch argued at the time,of "serious momentum for enormo-phones."

The latest super-sized smart phone to hit the market is the HTC Droid DNA, a slim gadget equipped with a5-inch HD display. By comparison, the screen on the iPhone 5 measures 4-inches corner to corner and that was a size upgrade from the 3.5-inch display on the iPhone 4S. So yes, the Droid DNA has a lot of screen real estate. It's also got a record-setting pixel density of 440 pixels-per-inch.

"That is the highest-pixel density on any mobile screen to ever hit the States," writes Brent Rose of Gizmodo, "by a gigantic margin (HTC announced the J Butterfly last month in Japan which has the same screen). To put that in perspective, the iPhone 5 has 326 PPI, or 114 fewer pixelsper inchthan the Droid DNA. It's also better than any tablet, computer, or TV on the market."

Other niceties: TheAndroid 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system, an 8-megapixel camera, a 1.5 GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor, and 2 gigabytes of RAM. The Droid DNA will be powered by Verizon Wireless, and available on Nov. 21. The price is $199 with a two-year voice and data contract. And already, the DNA is enjoying some seriously glowing notices ("this thing is nuts," notes Rose of Gizmodo).

"On back, the phones soft-touch surface cut from premium polycarbonate reminds me more of the HTC One X and One X+s design language though," writes CNET's Brian Bennet, in a hands-on preview posted today. "Youll need that soft-touch coating too since its rubber feel provides a sure grip. The devices large, yet thin. Its 0.16-inch profile make it thinner than the Samsung Galaxy S III."

More when we know it, including a more comprehensive look at reviews.

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HTC Droid DNA : Better hope you've got big thumbs

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Nov 13, 2012) - The idea of a patient's DNA being routinely tested by a next-generation sequencer to help a doctor make a diagnosis may seem a bit futuristic right now. But Kalorama Information suggests that sequencers are expected to see usage in at least five clinical areas over the next several years. At the same time, the healthcare market research publisher warns that there are unpredictable variables which will affect the timing for each clinical application, including science, regulation and economics, not to mention the strengths and weaknesses of different DNA sequencing technologies. Kalorama recently released a white paper titled, "Next-Generation Sequencing Moves into Clinical Applications," covering some of these perspectives, following the third edition of its full market research report on this industry, DNA Sequencing Equipment and Services Markets.

"There are several clinical areas where next-generation sequencers are likely to see rapid growth, causing the overall segment to become a large fraction of the sequencer market within five years," said Justin Saeks, Kalorama analyst and author of the report.

According to Kalorama Information, these areas include:

Kalorama notes these areas are progressing gradually, due to the regulatory process, the complexity of the science, and the medical community's cautious approach with new tests. Eventually, the technology is expected to gain significant momentum in healthcare, possibly more rapidly in Europe's easier regulatory environment, as the complex issues are addressed and the individual systems become proven in their applications.

Kalorama suggests that different areas can have different requirements in terms of read length, accuracy, coverage, throughput, run time, sample size and other features, which may result in niches. For example, cancer applications might have specific needs for higher accuracy/coverage, longer read length, and/or single cell capability due to the large variety of cancers, the large genetic aberrations, and the heterogeneity of the tissue often involved. Over time, medical discoveries, along with technological advances in hardware, software, and reagents, will continue to change this landscape.

"The continuing drop in DNA sequencer and consumables costs, along with increases in performance, are the primary drivers of adoption into new applications," Saeks said. "But the exponential drop in the cost of sequencing may slow revenue growth in the near term, as the complex factors affecting adoption will likely take some time to shake out."

A range of new challenges and questions are also likely to manifest in unforeseen ways, for example, relating to ethical, legal, and social aspects. Along with the scientific challenges, these may take ten years or more to address before a tipping point is reached. But in the long term, sequencers are eventually expected to become ubiquitous in healthcare, with patients having the DNA in their circulating blood tested regularly. In the meantime, instrument suppliers, diagnostics companies, and clinical labs will need to consider how the various trends will impact these applications in the rapidly changing market.

Kalorama Information's report, DNA Sequencing Equipment and Services Markets, 3rd Edition, contains a deeper discussion of some of these trends, a review of products currently on the market, and competitive positions of players. In addition to analyzing DNA sequencer sales and making forecasts for future sales, it also looks at sequencer consumables and services sales.

About Kalorama Information Kalorama Information, a division of MarketResearch.com, supplies the latest in independent medical market research in diagnostics, biotech, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and healthcare; as well as a full range of custom research services. We routinely assist the media with healthcare topics. Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and our blog.

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Report: Five Clinical Areas Most Likely to Benefit From DNA Sequencing

Verizon's Droid DNA

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[More from Mashable: Why the Smartphone Isnt Mainstream Yet]

The brand-new HTC Droid DNA smartphone for Verizon, which was unveiled on Tuesday in New York City, has a laundry list of cutting-edge specs -- not only is it the most high-definition smartphone yet, it runs lightning fast.

Mashable snagged some hands-on time with the latest HTC smartphone, which runs on Android 4.1 Jellybean, to see if the promised features translated well to the real world. And upon first impression, the answer is yes. Oh, yes.

[More from Mashable: Find YouTube Videos on Android, Play Them on Google TV]

Despite its 5-inch screen, the Droid DNA fits comfortably in your hand, even if they are on the smaller side. At 0.38 of an inch thick and weighing in at about 4.8 ounces, it doesn't feel as bulky as the Samsung Note II. Speaking of design, the black body with a slight red trim nicely echoes the look of the Android brand.

But the real game-changer is its stunning Super LCD3 display, which is the first phone display capable of showing 1080p video at full resolution. Its pixel density (440ppi) blows away the rest of the competition by a long shot -- the iPhone 5 has 326 ppi. When watching movie trailers on the Droid DNA, checking out photos or even surfing the web, the resolution was crisp, bright and colors popped in ways we didn't even know they could on a small device.

The Droid DNA packs a powerful punch, thanks to its quad-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor. Navigating through the hardware and software was intuitive too. It didn't take long to figure out holding the home button down launches Google in a web browser as a short cut.

There are also lots of newly-added camera perks. If you're taking pictures on the go and the lock screen pops up after being temporarily dormant, you don't have to re-enter your password to log back in -- you can bypass the lock screen entirely, so you don't miss the shot you want. Another sweet perk is the countdown timer, which gives you a few seconds to prep before the picture is taken.

The rest is here:
Hands-On: Verizon's Droid DNA Wows With High-Def Display

Autographed Mariano Rivera Jersey - PSA/DNA
This is an authentic jersey autographed by All Star pitcher, Mariano Rivera. You can view more about this product here - http://www.sportsmemorabilia.com The World Series Champ #39;s high quality signature is PSA/DNA certified authentic and backed by our sportsmemorabilia.com lifetime authenticity guarantee. The jersey features New York #39;s classic pin stripe and Yankees logo on the front. This jersey would look great framed and at sportsmemorabilia.com we offer custom quality framing to preserve and protect your memorabilia for years to come. This would make a great addition to your collection or make a perfect gift. This Mariano Rivera jersey ships free and within one business day.From:mrsportsmemViews:1 0ratingsTime:00:51More inSports

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Autographed Mariano Rivera Jersey - PSA/DNA - Video

Starchild, Ancient Astronauts Bigfoot - Lloyd Pye - Coast to Coast AM Classic
http://www.jetnews.us Date: 11-23-06 Host: George Noory Guests: Lloyd Pye Expert in alternative knowledge, Lloyd Pye spoke about ancient astronaut/intervention theory as well as the Starchild Skull and Bigfoot. He #39;ll be featured this Monday night (11/27/06) in the National Geographic Channel series Is it Real, discussing the Starchild Skull and his belief that Earth was visited by ETs. Pye concurs with Sitchin that humans were genetically engineered as a slave race to mine gold, which was likely used on the visitors home world to repair their atmosphere. Pye #39;s new book, now awaiting publication, covers the Starchild Skull and the intriguing story behind bringing the unusual artifact to public attention. He also mentioned his excitement about a new breakthrough in DNA testing that could allow them to identify whether the Starchild #39;s father is human or something other.Once tests are finished on the skull (which has deteriorated) he hopes to have it restored by Bone Clones Inc.. Bigfoot may actually be "Miocene Apes," with long and short arm types, said Pye. There is no particular reason for these creatures to be extinct and we don #39;t encounter them more often because half the globe has never been explored on foot by humans, he added. Biography: Lloyd Pye joined the US Army and became an agent for military intelligence. During this time, he began an independent study of human evolution. His studies led him to conclude humans could not possibly have evolved on Earth according to the ...From:C2CPlanetViews:9 0ratingsTime:01:54:01More inEducation

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Starchild, Ancient Astronauts