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Category Archives: Transhuman News

Novel DNA vaccine design improves chances of inducing anti-tumor … – Science Daily

Posted: February 26, 2017 at 10:49 pm


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Novel DNA vaccine design improves chances of inducing anti-tumor ...
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Scientists have devised a novel DNA vaccine approach through molecular design to improve the immune responses elicited against one of the most important ...
New DNA Vaccine Designed To Boost Immunity And Fight Off ...Tech Times

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Scientists Zero In On DNA In Hair Samples With Extraordinary … – CBS Local

Posted: at 10:49 pm

February 26, 2017 12:39 AM By Andria Borba

LIVERMORE (KPIX 5) On the crime show NCIS, one hair leads to a killer. That was once the stuff of fantasy, but no more.

Hair is your crowning glory and soon, thanks to scientists from Lawrence Livermore National Lab, it will provide the evidence necessary to tie you definitively to a crime.

Weve leveraged the fact that protein in your body is essentially an echo of your DNA, says Brad Hart, director of the labs Forensic Science Center. Your DNA is a blueprint for the proteins produced by your body.

In the past, hair evidence was collected at crime scenes but could only be used to identify a suspect with a microscope and an expert opinion comparing samples.

Instead of relying on someones opinion about whether something matches, you can make a measurement, says chemist Deon Anex.

Using only an inch of hair, Hart and Anex can identify the amino acids and peptides that make up your hair. So far, the degree of accuracy is one in a million after the hair is broken down into its parts.

We hope in the future of course, to make that even better, says Anex. If we had a hundred of these identification markers in say an identification panel you might say for hair identification, this would be sufficient to get a unique pattern for a person out of the entire worlds population.

The data that comes out when we do the analysis of a particular hair sample you get peaks and valleys that are displayed here that focuses on each individual peptide that comes out of the mass spectrometer, he says.

The advantage of hair over DNA is how robust it is. Think of the hair balls that live under your bed.

DNA in comparison is very fragile and easily mixed up at a messy crime scene.

You come across a crime scene, you may have a pool of blood, but it may not just be one persons blood the more contributors to that mixture of DNA, the more difficult to figure out whos DNA it was. The nice thing about hair, is that if you find a hair, it only came from one person, says Hart.

Scientists at the lab have been able to test a piece of hair for its markers that is over 250 years old.

Breaking the hair down and getting a profile is almost as quick as Abby on NCIS just 24 to 48 hours with about the same cost as DNA.

It comes into play with connecting suspects to a crime scene, but it would also be very, very important in exonerating people, says Anex.

Up next at the lab will be finding out what treating your hair to the Clairol color wheel means for its genetic breakdown.

Is blonde hair different from brunette hair? If someone had dyed their hair or permed their hair, how do those things affect our abilities to recover these profiles? says Hart.

Andria Borba joined KPIX 5 in October 2013. Born in Modesto, raised in the Central Valley city of Gustine, Andria has a large extended family that stretches from Tomales Bay to the Monterey Bay and all over the San Francisco Bay Area.Andrias last...

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Demi Lovato Reveals Details of Her Ancestry DNA Test: ‘I’m 1 Percent African!’ – PEOPLE.com

Posted: at 10:49 pm

Demi Lovatohas always been one of thosepop stars who is not afraidto share her most personal details with her fans whether it be herhistory of addiction,hermental health, or even her struggles with her weight.

So when the 24-year-oldConfident singer recently received the resultsof an ancestry DNA test, it only made sense that she would share her genetic makeup on social media.

I did a DNA test and found out Im mainly Spanish, with Native American, SCANDINAVIAN (which I had NO idea), Irish, BRITISH. Lovato wrote on Twitter Friday. And Im 1% African!!!!

Lovato then shared a photo of the full test results, explaining in a tweet that she hadnt done a DNA test before and only found out about her ancestry from certain places after speaking with her uncle.

Of course, this being social media, some of her followers were quick to criticize the singer. But not one to let Internet trolls win, Lovato saidthat she didnt mean to offend anyone.

Just thought it was cool and totally random, she wrote. Some of yall are mean af. Twitter sucks.

RELATED VIDEO:Demi Lovato and Boyfriend Guilherme Vasconcelos Share Their Love Fest On Insta!

In addition to her ancestry results, Lovato has a lot to celebrate lately includingnew boyfriendGuilherme Bomba Vasconcelos.

Sheand the Brazilian welterweight, 30,were first linked back in Julywhen aninsider told PEOPLE they had a quick fling that ended shortly after. But the couplerecently rekindled their romance, evenringing in the New Year together.

Vasconcelos posted a touching black and white photo with his girlfriend on Wednesday, holding her tight and smiling at the camera.

The caption read, Baby, along with a red heart emoji.

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Demi Lovato Reveals Details of Her Ancestry DNA Test: 'I'm 1 Percent African!' - PEOPLE.com

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DNA of rape victim’s child lands suspect – The Blade – Toledo Blade

Posted: at 10:49 pm

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Members of the Toledo Police Cold Case Sexual Assault Task Force say they could find no new evidence to solve a 2000 stranger rape until the victim offered one possibility: her son born from the rape.

On Friday, a Lucas County grand jury indicted Harland Hersey, 33, of Toledo on one count of rape for an April 9, 2000, attack on a teenage girl.

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Charles McDonald, an assistant county prosecutor assigned to the task force, said the indictment came after the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation conducted a reverse paternity test on the victims son a test that identified his biological father through DNA.

Its a first for our unit, he said of the reverse paternity test.

Due to the creative and exhaustive techniques used by the investigating officers, a DNA profile was developed sufficient to identify a suspect, Mr. McDonald said.

The 16-year-old victim told police at the time that she and her younger brother had walked to the store and were returning home on Waverly Avenue near Avondale Avenue about 2 p.m. when three young men on a porch called them up and coerced them inside.

Mr. McDonald said that while one of the men allegedly kept the victims brother downstairs, the other two men forced the victim upstairs where she was raped.

After she and her brother were able to flee, they ran home where she called police. The young woman was taken to the hospital where a rape kit was done.

Still, no suspects were ever identified or arrests made.

Nothing ever came of the original investigation, Mr. McDonald said.

An arrest warrant for Mr. Hersey would be issued, police said Friday.

Toledo police Detective Vince Mauro, another member of the task force, said an agent from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation worked the case and ultimately got a hit from the suspects DNA on the FBIs nationwide database known as the Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS.

For the past few years, the task force has been re-examining some 1,700 unsolved rape cases that date back two decades.

Contact Jennifer Feehan at:jfeehan@theblade.comor 419-213-2134.

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Average life expectancy set to increase by 2030 – Science Daily

Posted: at 10:47 pm


Science Daily
Average life expectancy set to increase by 2030
Science Daily
Scientists once thought an average life expectancy of over 90 was impossible, explained Professor Majid Ezzati, lead researcher from the School of Public Health at Imperial: "We repeatedly hear that improvements in human longevity are about to come to ...
Average Life Expectancy Is Expected to Pass 90 for the First Time EverScienceAlert
Average life expectancy on the rise but the US lags behindNew Atlas
Life expectancy will jump over the next two decades in much of the world but not the USNational Post

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Patterns of protein synthesis associated with increased longevity discovered – Science Daily

Posted: at 10:47 pm

Patterns of protein synthesis associated with increased longevity discovered
Science Daily
The study, which appears in the journal Cell Reports, could help identify new therapeutic targets for potential interventions for human diseases associated with old age, such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders and cardiovascular ...

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How to cope with Psoriasis – Jamaica Observer

Posted: at 10:46 pm

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition that causes the rapid build-up of skin cells. This build-up of cells causes scaling on the skins surface.

Inflammation and redness around the scales is fairly common. Typical psoriatic scales are whitish-silver and develop in thick patches. Sometimes, these patches will crack and bleed.

People with psoriasis may find living with the condition challenging.

Here are four tips on how to cope with psoriasis:

1. UPDATING MAKE-UP

Daily cosmetic products could be worsening skin irritation and redness. Clients should look for fragrance-free, hypoallergenic and non-clogging moisturisers to support skin with an extra layer of protection.

Primers will give users a smoother skin surface to work with, and liquid foundation can be easily controlled with any skin type.

As for removing make-up, petroleum-based make-up removers loosen make-up prior to taking it off and can help avoid aggravating sensitive spots.

2. EATING HEALTHY

Controlling diet can be beneficial for individuals with psoriasis as some foods can cause redness and swelling of the skin. An anti-inflammatory diet has proven to help individuals manage plaque psoriasis.

Psoriasis sufferers should eat: Fish, nuts, oils, and colourful fruits and vegetables. Foods to avoid include: Nightshade vegetables, dairy, refined sugar, and red meat.

3. TAKING VITAMINS

Many people with psoriasis find that including vitamins and supplements in their diet help their skin clear.

Omega 3 helps decrease inflammation and powers the immune system through fish oil, vegetable oil, soy, nuts, and seeds.

Vitamin D can be found in salmon, Swiss cheese and sunshine, which helps slow the growth of skin cells.

4. LOWERING STRESS LEVELS

Psychodermatology is a term doctors created, linking emotional stress to skin. Bodies reacting to a mental state can trigger certain hormones to be released, which can cause skin to have negative side effects.

The brain and skin are connected because they are derived from the same cells. When people experience stress in life, quite frequently their skin becomes a reflection of the stresses.

The following can help reduce stress levels: Acupuncture, massage therapy, behavioural therapy, talk therapy, and relaxation training.

Michelle Vernon is a licensed aesthetician who operates the Body Studio Skincare located at 23 Central Plaza, Kingston 10, and Fairview Shopping Centre, Montego Bay. She may be reached at telephone 908-0438 or 684-9800; IG@bodystudioskincare; E-mail: bodystudioskincare@gmail.com; Website: http://www.bodystudioskincare.com.

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Neanderthal DNA contributes to human gene expression – Science Daily

Posted: at 10:45 pm

The last Neanderthal died 40,000 years ago, but much of their genome lives on, in bits and pieces, through modern humans. The impact of Neanderthals' genetic contribution has been uncertain: Do these snippets affect our genome's function, or are they just silent passengers along for the ride? In Cell on February 23, researchers report evidence that Neanderthal DNA sequences still influence how genes are turned on or off in modern humans. Neanderthal genes' effects on gene expression likely contribute to traits such as height and susceptibility to schizophrenia or lupus, the researchers found.

"Even 50,000 years after the last human-Neanderthal mating, we can still see measurable impacts on gene expression," says geneticist and study co-author Joshua Akey of the University of Washington School of Medicine. "And those variations in gene expression contribute to human phenotypic variation and disease susceptibility."

Previous studies have found correlations between Neanderthal genes and traits such as fat metabolism, depression, and lupus risk. However, figuring out the mechanism behind the correlations has proved difficult. DNA can be extracted from fossils and sequenced, but RNA cannot. Without this source of information, scientists can't be sure exactly if Neanderthal genes functioned differently than their modern human counterparts. They can, however, look to gene expression in modern humans who possess Neanderthal ancestry.

In this study, researchers analyzed RNA sequences in a dataset called the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) Project, looking for people who carried both Neanderthal and modern human versions of any given gene -- one version from each parent. For each such gene, the investigators then compared expression of the two alleles head-to-head in 52 different tissues.

"We find that for about 25% of all those sites that we tested, we can detect a difference in expression between the Neanderthal allele and the modern human allele," says the study's first author, UW postdoctoral researcher Rajiv McCoy.

Expression of Neanderthal alleles tended to be especially low in the brain and the testes, suggesting that those tissues may have experienced more rapid evolution since we diverged from Neanderthals approximately 700,000 years ago. "We can infer that maybe the greatest differences in gene regulation exist in the brain and testes between modern humans and Neanderthals," says Akey.

One example uncovered by this study is a Neanderthal allele of a gene called ADAMTSL3 that decreases risk of schizophrenia, while also influencing height. "Previous work by others had already suggested that this allele affects alternative splicing. Our results support this molecular model, while also revealing that the causal mutation was inherited from Neanderthals," says McCoy. Alternative splicing refers to a process in which mRNAs are modified before they leave the cell's nucleus. When the Neanderthal mutation is present, the cell's machinery removes a segment of the mRNA that is expressed in the modern human version. The cell ends up making a modified protein because of a single mutation from a Neanderthal ancestor.

The connection between that modified protein, height, and schizophrenia still requires more investigation, but it's an example of how small differences between modern humans and Neanderthals can contribute to variation in people.

"Hybridization between modern humans and Neanderthals increased genomic complexity," explains Akey. "Hybridization wasn't just something that happened 50,000 years ago that we don't have to worry about anymore. Those little bits and pieces, our Neanderthal relics, are influencing gene expression in pervasive and important ways."

Next steps may include investigating whether Denisovans -- another species of hominins that crossbred with modern humans -- are contributing to gene expression, as well as applying the side-by-side method of expression analysis more broadly. For this study, McCoy and his colleagues had to develop a new statistical approach to sift through the immense amount of RNA data, but the same technique could be used to compare gene expression differences between modern human alleles.

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Censorship concerns as European Parliament introduces ‘kill switch’ to cut racist speeches – Telegraph.co.uk

Posted: at 10:44 pm

The EuropeanParliamentis often the stage for political and sometimes nationalist theater.

Beyond routine shouting matches, members occasionally wear T-shirts splashed with slogans or unfurl banners. Flags adorn some lawmakers' desks.

But some MEPs say nationalist rhetoric has recently crossed the line of what is acceptable.

"There have been a growing number of cases of politicians saying things that are beyond the pale of normal parliamentary discussion and debate," said Richard Corbett, a British MEP who backedthe new rule.

"What if this became not isolated incidents, but specific, where people could say: 'Hey, this is a fantastic platform. It's broad, it's live-streamed. It can be recorded and repeated. Let's use it for something more vociferous, more spectacular,'" he told The Associated Press.

Rule 165 of the parliament's rules of procedure allows the chair of debates to halt the live broadcast "in the case of defamatory, racist or xenophobic language or behavior by a member." The maximum fine for offenders would be around 9,000 euros ($9,500).

The new rule, which was not made public by the assemble until it was reported by Spain's La Vanguardia newspaper, offending material could be "deleted from the audiovisual record of proceedings," meaning citizens would never know it happened unless reporters were in the room.

Mr Weingaertner said the IPA was never consulted on that.

A technical note seen by the AP outlines a procedure for manually cutting off the video feed, stopping transmission on in-house TV monitors and breaking the satellite link to halt broadcast to the outside world.

A videotape in four languages would be kept running to serve as a legal record during the blackout. A more effective and permanent system was being sought.

It is also technically possible to introduce a safe-guard time delay so broadcasts appear a few seconds later. This means they could be interrupted before offending material is aired.

Critics say the system would be unwieldy and possibly ineffective.

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Rioting bill about censorship – Arizona Daily Sun

Posted: at 10:44 pm

Once again our elected state representatives are attempting to nail a lid on the constitutional right to protest, assemble, and express contrasting ideas. The recent bill passed by the state Senate to ostensibly protect businesses from property damage perpetrated by so-called professional anarchists is a thinly veiled attempt to intimidate and punish citizens who get off the couch and activate their right to protest.

Laws that punish violence and mob rule are already on the books and have been so for generations. I suggest that these elected officials see themselves as police rather than representatives of the people. Controls and censorship seem to be the prevailing philosophies driving many folks in the Arizona government and feeding on peoples fear of the what ifs is their tactic to nail down the commonweal to a prescribed set of behaviors they deem acceptable.

No responsible citizen supports violence or mob rule, but this bill assumes that there is a demon lurking in every shadow and every living room and so will punish citizens for even discussing the possibility of expressing their right to protest. What are they afraid of a broken window or an open society?

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