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Category Archives: Transhuman News

Embark Dog DNA Test: Most Accurate & Highest Reviewed Dog …

Posted: September 24, 2021 at 10:52 am

Embark Dog DNA Test: Most Accurate & Highest Reviewed Dog DNA Test

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Getting her from a shelter and not knowing anything about her history always bothered me. We were always getting asked what she was and could never say for sure. Knowing what she is now is a great feeling. The results were so surprising and blew us all away.

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Embark provided amazingly thorough detail, not only on my dog's breed, but health risks to watch for and matching with other relatives in the database with similar DNA matches which was cool to see. Embark is the real deal!

It satisfied my curiosity about my dog's background and it has been informative for my vet - now knowing potential health risks due to my dog's breed and genes. This enables us to be proactive about her health vs reactive should she ever face disease or other health issues.

You were able to find a genetic abnormality in her liver. Knowing this could have saved her life in the future. With this knowledge we are working with her vet to find what her normal liver value is so we are prepared for any change. We cant thank you enough.

Animated Block Will I shed like crazy? Am I a high flyer? Are doggie bladder stones in my future? Decoded: The MC5R gene Decoded: The ACSL4 gene Decoded: The MC1R gene Why do I look like Batman? Your pups facial fur can look like a black mask or widows peak depending on this result. Decoded: The EPAS1 gene Decoded: The SLC2A9 gene Will I make serious gains? Find out if your dog is likely to be a heavy, seasonal, or light shedder. You might have a body builder on your hands. Find out if your pup is likely to bulk up. Your pup can climb the highest heights with you if theyre tolerant of low oxygen levels. Common in certain breeds, doggie bladder stones can be easily prevented if you know to look for them. Decoded: The KRT71 gene Where did I get my waves from? You might be jealous of your pups luscious locks, depending on this result.

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Absolutely a future where everyone’s DNA sequenced at birth: 23andMe CEO – Yahoo Finance

Posted: at 10:52 am

The number of Americans who self-identify as multiracial leapt a staggering 276% on last year's Census, as compared with the results 10 years prior a trend that NPR reports could stem in part from the rise of at-home DNA testing.

Still, a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center two years ago found that just 16% of people had taken a mail-in DNA test from the likes of MyHeritage or 23andMe (ME), suggesting that the user base has room to grow.

In fact, 23andMe Co-founder CEO Anne Wojcicki told Yahoo Finance that she "absolutely" anticipates a future in which everyone receives DNA sequencing at the outset of their lives.

The widespread adoption of DNA testing will enable a new model of personalized healthcare that determines the treatment we get and the drugs we take based on our specific genetic code, said Wojcicki, whose company went public through a SPAC merger in June.

"If you ask any medical professional, everyone says there's absolutely a world where everyone is sequenced at birth," she says.

"But the path to get from today to that moment in time is undefined," she adds. "And frankly, that's one of the things that 23andMe is doing is we are actually the ones defining that path."

A boom in at-home DNA test sales from 2015 to 2018 culminated with as many customers purchasing such tests in 2018 as did in all previous years, according to an analysis from the MIT Technology Review. But sales of the tests slumped over the ensuing years, causing layoffs at 23andMe in early 2020.

The company has since seen a recovery in the market as COVID-19 "reignited" consumer interest in healthcare, Wojcicki said.

More than 80% of 23andMe customers consent to the use of their DNA information for research, giving the company a vast database that has facilitated its entry into drug development.

This illustration picture shows a saliva collection kit for DNA testing displayed in Washington DC on December 19, 2018. RIC BARADAT/AFP via Getty Images

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In 2018, 23andMe established a $300 million partnership with British pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) for the discovery of drugs using DNA research.

23andMe sees the expansion into therapeutics as part of a broader shift toward healthcare that will consider the genetic makeup of each patient, Wojcicki says.

"There's a huge opportunity to say, 'I'm going to deliver true personalized care,'" she says. "'I'm going to help you understand what your risks are, and then potentially help you manage how to prevent."

"Then there's this opportunity for us to all come together, and crowdsource: What does the human genome actually mean?" she adds.

Wojcicki, who has led 23dandMe since its founding in 2006, spent nearly a decade on Wall Street as a healthcare analyst. Her scientific background dates back at least as far as her college education at Yale University, where she earned a degree in biology.

Speaking to Yahoo Finance, Wojcicki said that as DNA becomes a more prominent part of the way people understand themselves, it can help them see past other differences.

"DNA is the ultimate connector of humanity," she says. "We all have a common root."

"I look at it, and I look at [how] each mutation tells a phenomenal story of our survival," she adds. "We're all unique and different and optimized to survive in different types of environments."

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Absolutely a future where everyone's DNA sequenced at birth: 23andMe CEO - Yahoo Finance

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The impact Viking and Norman DNA had on the Irish – IrishCentral

Posted: at 10:52 am

Viking invasions made a lasting impression on the DNA map of Ireland according to a massive study carried out by Trinity College Dublin.

Researchers at Trinity College Dublin reported in 2018 that they believe the Viking and Norman invasions of Ireland may have made a more striking impression on the DNA makeup of the country than previously thought.

In January 2018, they also discovered 23 new genetic clusters in Ireland not previously identified, leading to the belief that we may have far more Viking and Norman ancestry than previously evidenced.

The long and complex history of population dynamics in Ireland has left an indelible mark on the genomes of modern inhabitants of the island co-author of the study Professor Russell McLaughlin told the MailOnline.

We have shown that using only genetic data, we can accurately reconstruct elements of this past and demonstrate a striking correlation between geographical provenance and genetic affinity.

By comparing 1,000 Irish genomes with over 6,000 genomes from Britain and mainland Europe, genetic clusters within the west of Ireland, in particular, were discovered for the first time, leading the researchers to investigate if invasions from the Vikings and Normans to the east may have influenced genetics in that part of the country.

The Vikings made a lasting impact on Ireland (iStock)

The genetics of the worlds estimated 80 million people who claim Irish heritage may now be more complicated than originally believed but research such as this could go some way to identifying if there are any specific traits or illnesses that are linked to these genetic clusters.

This subtle genetic structure within such a small country has implications for medical genetic association studies, said Trinity College Dublin geneticist Dr. Ross Byrne.

As it stands current corrections for population structure in study designs may not adequately account for this within-country variation, which may potentially lead to false-positive results emerging."

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We feel this will be particularly important in the analysis of rare variants as these are expected to be less uniformly distributed throughout a country."

We intend to explore this further and identify if this structure should be accounted for in corrections.

The research from Trinity came just weeks after the Royal College of Surgeons and the Genealogical Society of Ireland in Dublin released their own research to suggest a strong influence of the Vikings on the DNA makeup of Ireland.

This team discovered genetic evidence of the Vikings in Ireland for the first time, although they only identified ten different genetic clusters across the country. These clusters were more in line with the ancient kingdoms and provinces in Ireland.

* Originally published in 2018. Updated in 2021.

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Criminal Identified in Jewelry Store Theft Using Synthetic DNA – Loss Prevention Magazine

Posted: at 10:52 am

SelectDNAs synthetic forensic technology was used to identify a criminal in a jewelry store heist in Albany, N.Y. Systems integrator Shepherd Communication & Security and SelectaDNA distributor CSI Protect said that this is the first successful use of synthetic forensic technology as a crime fighting tool in the Northeastern United States.

During the incident, a suspect made off with approximately $4,000 in merchandise. Unbeknownst to him, he was misted by a forensic criminal tagging system that had been installed at the store by Shepherd Communication & Security as part of a pilot crime suppression initiative.

The forensic marking, or synthetic DNA, is applied covertly using a water-based, non-toxic solution that is invisible and remains on a suspects skin or clothing for months after being misted, enabling authorities to scientifically and irrefutably identify them long after a crime is committed. In this case, after the alleged perpetrator was apprehended by Albany Police, forensic mist was detected on him using a special frequency UV light. That evidence is now available to prosecutors as the case proceeds through the legal system.

This pilot project was designed to demonstrate the value of forensic marking technology in combatting and deterring crime, and assisting with the apprehension of criminals, said Patrick Phelan, executive director, New York State Association of Chiefs of Police. Today, we can say definitively that it works. This case is testament to the power of cutting-edge technology, such as SelectaDNA, and the important role it is playing in preventing and fighting crime.

SelectaDNA forensic marking technology has been used in more than 30 countries over the past decade, but has only recently made its way to the United States. The system at Truman Jewelers is the first in the Northeast, but is expected to be joined in short order by entities ranging from retailers to financial institutions seeking to elevate their safety and security protocols.

Each unit of SelectaDNA contains a unique forensic code associated with a specific location, which can scientifically connect a criminal to a particular crime scene. The criminal tagging system can be activated in numerous ways, including a panic button, money clip, remote video monitoring, intrusion and access control systems, and sensors.

The crime at Truman Jewelers helps demonstrate the capabilities and effectiveness of SelectaDNA technology as we continue introducing this proven crime fighting tool to the United States, said Joe Maltese, executive vice president of CSI Protect, the exclusive distributor of SelectaDNA technology in North America. We are excited to provide businesses and law enforcement with enhanced abilities to prevent and reduce crime, as well as identify, apprehend and prosecute offenders when a crime is committed.

The primary focus of the technology is crime prevention, with a documented reduction in robbery, burglary, and theft by an average of 40 to 86 percent where its deployed, according to the company.

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A Broken Frame, and DNA Traces, Led to Arrest in van Gogh Theft – The New York Times

Posted: at 10:52 am

Nils M. was no rookie art thief. But prosecutors say he left behind DNA evidence on a broken picture frame at one museum and on a heavy-duty strap at another that helped Dutch investigators identify him as the man who stole paintings by van Gogh and Frans Hals in two daring heists.

A match in their database led them to the 59-year-old defendant who had previously served a five-year prison sentence for stealing a 17th century gilded silver monstrance, or church vessel, from a museum in Gouda in 2012.

During that theft, Nils M. who is being identified without his full surname because of Dutch privacy laws used explosives to blow open the museum door.

In the more recent thefts, prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of eight years for what they described as exceptional crimes that were committed with an as yet unidentified partner. The paintings the van Gogh had an insured value of 2.5 million euros, or about $2.9 million, and the Hals was valued at between 10 and 15 million euros, or between $11.7 million and $17.6 million have not been recovered.

A three-judge panel is expected to rule on the case on Friday.

Breaking into a museum and taking paintings by artists who are world famous, pieces that belong to our cultural heritage, that are irreplaceable, was totally unacceptable, the prosecutor in the case, Gabrille Hoppenbrouwers, said in court earlier this month, according to a copy of the indictment.

In the court hearing, in Lelystad, the defendant denied the charges. He said that he didnt steal those paintings and he had nothing to do with it, his lawyer, Renske van Zanden, said in an interview.

But public prosecutors for the Central Netherlands region said that the DNA evidence from the picture frame and the strap, which was likely used in the getaway, points to him.

The van Gogh painting, The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring, from 1884, was part of a temporary exhibition at the Singer Laren Museum, on loan from the Groninger Museum in Groningen.

Security camera footage of the robbery last year showed a man using a sledgehammer to smash two glass doors to break into the museum. He left with the painting under his arm.

Prosecutors said the paintings frame was left behind in pieces in the parking lot. Some of those pieces bore traces of the suspects DNA, they said.

The Hals painting, Two Laughing Boys with a Mug of Beer, from the 17th century, was stolen five months later, in August 2020, from a tiny museum, Museum Hofje van Mevrouw van Aerden, in Leerdam. That robbery drew special notice because it was the third time that the painting had been stolen from the same small museum. (It was previously stolen in 2011 and 1988, but recovered both times.)

The back door had been broken open and police found an orange tension strap tied to a flagpole in the garden outside the museum that prosecutors believe was likely used to lower the Hals or the thief down a nearby 10-foot wall to a waiting scooter. A security camera showed two people driving away on the scooter. The passenger was carrying something square that looked like a small painting.

Also discovered two weeks before the robbery in Leerdam was an extendable ladder, submerged in a stretch of water near the base of the museums garden wall that prosecutors suspect could have been hidden there by the burglars to scale the wall. A passer-by, however, noticed the ladder and moved it, possibly thwarting part of their plan, investigators said.

Prosecutors emphasized the strength of the DNA evidence at each of the scenes. But they said there were other compelling reasons to suggest the two thefts were carried out by the same man. Both thefts occurred sometime shortly after 3 a.m., involved heavy force to break into the museums, and involved an accomplice who helped the thief get away on a scooter, they said. Investigators have not identified an accomplice.

The museum in Leerdam is part of an almshouse for unmarried women that also showcases the collection of its 18th-century founder. It is largely run by volunteers who maintain the Hofje and its garden. Prosecutors said a trampled zucchini plant had helped investigators work out where the thief had climbed over the wall into the garden.

The defendant, Nils M., was arrested in April at his home in Baarn, a small town close to Laren. A firearm and ammunition were found in a search of his home, as were more than 10,000 ecstasy pills, prosecutors said.

Answering the charges in court earlier this month, Nils M., who works in a garage where he fixes cars, said that he sometimes used the kind of strap found in Leerdam when he carried out repairs, which could explain the presence of his DNA on the strap. But he did not know how the strap got to Leerdam, his lawyer, Ms. van Zanden, said.

He said that he often uses straps, for instance when he picks up car parts, she elaborated in an email. He also said that the straps were sometimes left behind.

Ms. van Zanden maintained that the DNA evidence from Laren was inconclusive, partly because there were matches to other people on the picture frame. She said that her client is taller than the man shown on the Laren footage, and said that the way the thief handled the hammer on the video suggested he was left-handed, while her client is right-handed.

The theft of the artworks by the two major Dutch artists within the period of a few months spawned numerous theories about why they had been stolen. In court, Ms. Hoppenbrouwers said prosecutors believed that the defendant had sold or given the paintings away, and they were now in the criminal underworld.

In the indictment, she suggested some reasons famous artworks remain popular among thieves even though they cannot be easily sold or displayed publicly. Such masterworks can have currency in the underworld, investigators believe, because they can be used to demand ransoms from the insurance companies that insure them and, in some cases, can be used in negotiations to obtain reduced prison sentences.

The works might also be used as collateral in drug deals, she said.

Arthur Brand, a private art detective who has been following both cases, said that he believes there is demand in the Dutch underworld for artworks. People accused of drug crimes think that a stolen artwork could potentially be surrendered to the authorities in exchange for a lesser sentence, he said.

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DNA sensor quickly determines whether viruses are infectious – University of Illinois News

Posted: at 10:52 am

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. A new sensor can detect not only whether a virus is present, but whether its infectious an important distinction for containing viral spread.

Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and collaborators developed the sensor, which integrates specially designed DNA fragments and nanopore sensing, to target and detect infectious viruses in minutes without the need to pre-treat samples. They demonstrated the sensors power with two key viruses that cause infections worldwide: the human adenovirus and the virus that causes COVID-19.

Yi Lu, a professor emeritus of chemistry, and Benito Marinas, a professor of civil and environmental engineering, co-led the work with University of Illinois Chicago professor Lijun Rong; professor Omar Azzaroni, of the National University of La Plata in Argentina; and Mara Eugenia Toimil-Molares, of the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research in Germany. They reported their findings in the journal Science Advances.

DNA aptamers bind selectively to infectious viruses. In addition to the nanopore sensor, they could be integrated into other platforms such as color-changing dipsticks.

Image courtesy of Ana Peinetti

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The infectivity status is very important information that can tell us if patients are contagious or if an environmental disinfection method works, said Ana Peinetti, the first author of the study, who performed the work while a postdoctoral researcher at Illinois. She now leads a research group at the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina. Our sensor combines two key components: highly specific DNA molecules and highly sensitive nanopore technology. We developed these highly specific DNA molecules, named aptamers, that not only recognize viruses but also can differentiate the infectivity status of the virus.

The gold standard of viral detection, PCR tests detect viral genetic material but cannot distinguish whether a sample is infectious or determine whether a person is contagious. This can make it more difficult to track and contain viral outbreaks, the researchers said.

With the virus that causes COVID-19, it has been shown that the level of viral RNA has minimal correlation with the viruss infectivity. In the early stage when a person is infected, the viral RNA is low and difficult to detect, but the person is highly contagious, Lu said. When a person is recovered and not infectious, the viral RNA level can be very high. Antigen tests follow a similar pattern, though even later than viral RNA. Therefore, viral RNA and antigen tests are both poor in informing whether a virus is infectious or not. It may result in delayed treatment or quarantine, or premature release of those who may still be contagious.

Tests that detect infectious viruses, called plaque assays, exist but require special preparation and days of incubation to render results. The new sensing method can yield results in 30 minutes to two hours, the researchers report, and since it requires no pre-treatment of the sample, it can be used on viruses that will not grow in the lab.

Being able to distinguish infectious from noninfectious viruses and to detect small amounts from untreated samples that may contain other contaminants is important not only for rapid diagnosis of patients who are in the early stage of infection or who are still contagious after treatment, but for environmental monitoring as well, Marinas said.

We chose human adenovirus to demonstrate our sensor because it is an emerging waterborne viral pathogen of concern in the United States and throughout the world, Marinas said. The capability to detect infectious adenovirus in the presence of viruses rendered noninfectious by water disinfectants, and other potentially interfering background substances in wastewaters and contaminated natural waters, provides an unprecedented novel approach. We see potential for such technology to provide more robust protection of environmental and public health.

The sensing technique could be applied to other viruses, the researchers say, by tweaking the DNA to target different pathogens. The DNA aptamers used in the sensor can be readily produced with widely available DNA synthesizers, similarly to the RNA probes produced for PCR tests. Nanopore sensors are also commercially available, making the sensing technique readily scalable, said Lu, now a professor at the University of Texas, Austin.

The researchers are working to further improve the sensors sensitivity and selectivity, and are integrating their DNA aptamers with other detection methods, such as color-changing dipsticks or sensors to work with smartphones, to eliminate the need for special equipment. With the ability to distinguish noninfectious from infectious viruses, the researchers said they hope their technology could also aid in understanding mechanisms of infection.

In addition, the aptamer technology could be further developed into multichannel platforms for detecting other emerging waterborne viral pathogens of public and environmental health concern, such as norovirus and enteroviruses, or for variants of the virus that causes COVID-19, Marinas said.

This work was supported by a RAPID grant from the National Science Foundation and a seed grant from the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment at Illinois and the Illinois-JITRI Institute. Peinetti was supported by the PEW Latin American Fellowship.

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Zymo Research Receives CE IVD Mark for its EZ DNA Methylation-Lightning Kit – PRNewswire

Posted: at 10:52 am

The established, proven bisulfite-treatment chemistry from Zymo Research has been highly successful with clinical samples due to its robust and efficient (C)ytosine to (U)rasil conversion chemistry that also minimizes DNA fragmentation and degradation during the process. Desulphonation and cleanup of "converted DNA" are performed using a unique spin technology, allowing ultra-low elution (10 l) volumes. The kit achieves the highest conversion efficiencies for the most accurate downstream methylation analysis. The EZ DNA Methylation-Lightning Kit features a ready-to-use conversion reagent, which streamlines the workflow for completion in a little over an hour. The kit is available in spin-column and high-throughput 96-well formats.

"The scientists at Zymo Research are always working to streamline and simplify workflows for our customers. The EZ DNA Methylation-Lightning Kit is one example of this philosophy," said Marc Van Eden, Zymo Research's Vice President of Business Development. "The kit consolidates many of the labor-intensive steps required for precise, complete bisulfite conversion of DNA making an otherwise cumbersome workflow user-friendly and consistent time after time. This is particularly critical for assay reproducibility in sensitive analytical processes such as Next-Gen sequencing."

For more information about the EZ DNA Methylation-Lightning Kit, visit Zymo Research's website.

About Zymo Research Corp.Zymo Research is a privately owned company that has been serving the scientific and diagnostics community with state-of-the-art molecular biology tools since 1994. The company's vision "The Beauty of Science is to Make Things Simple" is reflected in all of their products, from epigenetics to DNA/RNA purification technologies. Historically recognized as the leader in epigenetics, Zymo Research is breaking boundaries with novel solutions for sample collection, microbiomic measurements, diagnostic devices, and NGS technologies that are high quality and simple to use. Follow Zymo Research on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Major Sports Injuries Can Possibly Be Predicted and Avoided Through DNA Testing, According to AxGen Research – SportTechie

Posted: at 10:52 am

Concussions, ACL tears and Achilles ruptures are all debilitating injuries that can derail athletic careers. Stress fractures and plantar fasciitis can linger and recur. These ailments often seem like bad luck, suffered by happenstance, but what if new research suggests that some athletes were born more susceptible to these injuriesand that maybe they can be prevented?

The Palo Alto-based startup AxGen, led by a respected former Stanford University geneticist, is pioneering peer-reviewed DNA tests that indicate key genomic markers of specific injury risk. AxGen, named as shorthand for actionable genetics, offers tests for 13 sports injuries and counting, as well as 15 biomarkers that can prompt users to take action through preventative exercises or nutrition.

It's scientifically rigorous, and it addresses the idea that all athletes are not created equal, and some of them are going to be at more risk for a knee injury at birth and more at risk for shoulder injury, says Stuart Kim, a co-founder and the CEO of AxGen. We could know that, and we could alert an educated team.

Kim studied and trained at Dartmouth, CalTech and MIT before joining the faculty at Stanford, where he was a professor for 27 years, earning numerous awards for genetics research. Back in 2008, he had lunch with Jim Kovacha former San Francisco 49ers linebacker who later earned medical and law degrees and, at the time, was president of the Buck Institute for Age Researchwhen they ruminated on this idea of using genetics to test for injury risk.

The idea kept gnawing at Kim. When some significant advances in the field a few years ago made the prospect of implementing these tests realistic, he left his tenured position at the Farm. For me, it became such a compelling idea that I just had to do it, Kim says, who started the company with Andrew Roos, a sports genetics research scientist working in Kims lab. AxGens 11-member advisory board includes Kovach, Pro Football Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott and six Stanford professors in genetics and sports medicine.

It's scientifically rigorous, and it addresses the idea that all athletes are not created equal, and some of them are going to be at more risk for a knee injury at birth and more at risk for shoulder injury. We could know that, and we could alert an educated team.

One of the breakthroughs for researchers was the availability of two giant genomic databases: the UK Biobank and the Research Program On Genes, Environment and Health. Between them, that encompassed the genotypes of nearly 600,000 people and, crucially, their medical histories. Machine-learning algorithms are deployed to identify the genetic differences among those who suffered a specific injury and those who didnt --producing research with strong statistical significance.

Our rule is, we want something that's called genome-wide significant, which means that it's the strongest marker in the genome and its association is enough to raise it above the noise, Kim says. That's the filter we use. That filter is about basically 10 to the minus-8 [for p-value], and you get to think it's real. This test I wrote up yesterday, the p-values are 10 to the minus-90 in the genetic markers. So all of those genetic markers, I feel confident, are very likely to reproduce. But then there's another level of power where you dont use just one, you start to combine them into an algorithm.

Earlier attempts in this field focused on what were called candidate genes, pre-selected genes presumed to be involved in a certain condition. Kovach, who did early genetics work on the Human Genome Project while leading an entrepreneurship program at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, praises Kims rigor. "He's such a well-developed researcher, which is really what the field needs, someone just like Stuart to give credence to the statements that one would like to make about the product, says Kovach, who is now the executive director of translational entrepreneurship at the U.C. Davis School of Medicine.

The biggest hurdle is actually convincing teams of the reliability of the genetic tests, one, because there are a lot of snake oil companies out there selling genetics, who are essentially selling genetic markers based on studies that we don't think are very legitimate, says AxGen director of business development Madison Hayden. So there is that. There's also the fact that genetics are pretty new in the world of sports. And there's not a lot of, I would say, genetic literacy amongst athletic trainers and sports medicine doctors and the people that oversee sports medicine for professional teams. So we run into both of those problems.

The first major pro sports team client to sign on is Sheffield United FC, which is competing in the second-division Championship League of English soccer after spending the past two seasons in the Premier League. Sheffield United physiotherapist Ruth Titterton describes it as helpful additional input in designing fitness programs for the players. If we can use it as a tool along with everything else to help us provide more information...then I think that's where the money and the interest and the statistics can help, Titterton says.

The AxGen tests were compulsory for players at Sheffield United, with the team making clear that the results will only be used to design prehabilitation programs in hopes of staving off possible injuries. We make clear to them, it's not going to affect contracts, Titterton says, adding: It's really purely for the medical department to make sure that we're doing the best for you to go forward. So there wasn't really an issue there.

Collective bargaining agreements in several North American sports leagues explicitly prohibit genetic testing, and AxGen is beginning to reach U.S.-based athletes through private training facilities that are clients, such as the Chicago Sports Institute and Rehab-U. We are an athlete-centric company, and we want to do this for the benefit of athletes, says Hayden, who was an All-American and captain of Stanfords volleyball team before suffering a career-ending rotator cuff injury playing professionally in Europe.

Hayden adds that team deals are structured to explicitly bar management from accessing the results. But on top of that, we try to basically educate teams to not over interpret the data, he says. The case we make is that it's much better to use this as a training tool than to actually cut players because of their red flags. Because if you do preventative training for injuries players are at risk for, they're much more likely to be healthy.

AxGen really emphasizes the ability for users to take action. A strength and conditioning coach has been retained to provide a library of materials for AxGen users to target areas that are identified as being susceptible to injurystrengthening the muscular sheath around the Achilles tendon, for instance.

That's one of the big pillars of whether we choose to include a test or not on our platform is, are there actionable recommendations that we can get to the athlete? Hayden says. And if there's not, if theres nothing you can do about an injury, well, then, maybe the athletes better off not knowing that they are at risk for it.

The pace of genetic research remains rapid, and AxGens inventory of tests continues to evolve. A persons DNA is static, so new results will periodically populate the personal dashboards of existing usersmore information without any additional action. In addition to the genetic flags for injury, AxGen tests for an athletes susceptibility to such substances as ibuprofen or caffeine in order to provide guidance on how much and how often those should be used.

Of the 600,000 entries in the genetic databases, the majority of those people inherently are not elite athletes. Because some of the injuries tested for by AxGen require an active lifestylesomeone prone to an ACL rupture wont suffer one if they dont get off the couch muchso Kim speculates that the injury-risk in athletes is much higher than what those databases suggest. He is leading follow-up experiments to suss this out, including one with the Stanford and UCLA cross country teams.

Exactly what the increased risk isand how much AxGen can reduce or eliminate the injuriesremains an open question. When the teams ask this, here's what I tell them -- that I don't know, Kim says. With cross country, everybody's the same age, basically the same body shape, they all run the same 100 miles, and who breaks and who doesn't break during the season then, I think, it's much more due to inherent differences. So I wouldn't be surprised if these genetic differences play out larger in athletes, where they're all kind of similar.

But Kim also tells the coaches that the serious research hell need to conduct to find a definitive answer may take five years. Or else they can use AxGen and try to reduce their number of injuries in the interim. This excess [prehabilitation] training, it's going to work a little or a lot, Kim says. I think that's the only thing we don't really know.

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Major Sports Injuries Can Possibly Be Predicted and Avoided Through DNA Testing, According to AxGen Research - SportTechie

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Uncover your pups DNA and access training with this valuable bundle – New York Post

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Our beloved pups are like family members. But if you rescued your four-legged friend, there might be a lot you dont know about them.

Get to know the breed and genetic makeup of your fur baby with help from the DNA My Dog NextGen: Canine Breed Identification and Genetic Age Test, helping you make better decisions for their future. And right now this innovative test is available alongside seven dog training courses for just $77.

DNA My Dog NextGen gives you special insight into your pup like youve never had before. If you have a mystery mutt, youll find out all of the breeds in your dog through a very simple, at-home cheek swab that takes less than two minutes. Youll receive a report with all of the breeds found in your dogs DNA by percentage (which has 99.97% accuracy!) and even get a custom results certificate. This report provides not only the dominant breeds, but also sheds more light on your pups personality traits and possible health concerns.

The test goes one step further than most DNA tests, also providing the biological age of your dog. This can give you more information even on purebred pups, as their genetic or biological age is actually different from their chronological or actual age. Youll find out about your best buds predicted longevity from a cellular level.

Aside from learning more about your dogs history, you will also get access to seven online courses to help you train your pup. Top dog behavior expert, Sharon Bolt, who has worked with a number of celebrities, will walk you through courses like Dog Training Course: How to Stop Dog Attacks. It helps you tame your pups aggressiveness and ensure you can go on walks feeling calm and confident that you can rein the dog in. This 4.5-star-rated course is a hit with students, with former student Maggie raving, I love the step-by-step video demonstrations in this course. I didnt realize the different aspects that cause dogs to be aggressive but Sharon explains this very clearly and how to rectify it.

Learn more about your pup and how to train him with My Dog NextGen: Canine Breed Identification and Genetic Age Test + 7 Dog Training Courses, available now for just $77.

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Uncover your pups DNA and access training with this valuable bundle - New York Post

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Art Industry News: DNA Evidence Leads Dutch Police to a 59-Year-Old Man Accused of Serial Art Thefts Worth $20 Million + Other Stories – artnet News

Posted: at 10:52 am

Art Industry News is a daily digest of the most consequential developments coming out of the art world and art market. Heres what you need to know on this Wednesday, September 22.

Sales of Latin American Cultural Heritage Draws Opposition Diplomatic cables have been abuzz with back-and-forths over disputed sales of Mexican and pre-Colombian artifacts. In Germany, one auction went ahead yesterday despite opposition from eight Latin American countries; almost half the works failed to sell. Meanwhile, the Mexican government successfully negotiated the cancellation of a smaller sale of what it called stolen cultural patrimony at Romes Casa Bertolami Fine Arts. (The Art Newspaper,Press release)

Protesters Storm MoMA With Palestinian Flags Protesters from the activist coalition Strike MoMA returned to the museum last Friday bearing Palestinian flags and banners that read Globalize the Intifada and This Is Class War. They marched to various locations around Manhattan including Columbus Circle, Rockefeller Center, the Ford Foundation, BlackRock, and the City University of New York, splashing red paint at some sites. Protesters carried spoons, a symbol of resistance, and a marching band followed closely behind. (Hyperallergic)

How Police Caught a Serial Art Thief Suspect How does an art thief get caught? According to Dutch police, a suspect by the name of Nils M. left behind DNA evidence on a broken picture frame and a heavy-duty strap that linked him to the brazen theft of paintings by Van Gogh and Frans Hals. Their DNA database led them to Nils M., who had previously served a five-year sentence for stealing a gilded silver church vessel. The paintings, estimated to be worth as much as a combined $20 million, have not been recovered. The suspect has denied the charges. (New York Times)

France Launches Islamic Art Shows to Combat Islamophobia The French government is organizing exhibitions devoted to Islamic art in 18 cities across the nation to combat Islamophobia. The Louvre is lending 60 works, which will be presented alongside objects from national and local museums in November.The idea is to show that Islam has been part of French cultural heritage since the Middle Ages, said Yannick Lintz, the head of the Louvres Islamic department.(The Art Newspaper)

Architects Withdraw From the Chicago Architecture Biennial Three Black female architects have withdrawn from the 2021 edition of the Chicago Architecture Biennial, citing a lack of honest investment and patterns of entitlement to Black womens labor on opening day of the events fourth edition. In an open letter titled Available to Who?, the signers, who are members of the group In Care of Black Women, condemn organizers for over-promising and under-delivering. (Hyperallergic)

Walker Art Center Names Board President Seena Hodges has been elected to serve as the next president of the board of trustees at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. Hodges, who runs a DEI consulting firm called Woke Coach, is the first African American and the first person of color ever to fill the role.(ARTnews)

Colchester Gallery Firstsite Wins Museum of the Year The Essex art gallery has won the coveted award, which comes with a 100,000 ($136,360) purse from the Art Fund. Judges praised the 10-year-old museum for its community work, which has included distributing free meals to children and displaying art in public parks.(BBC)

TeamLab Is Coming to Germany Immersive art enthusiasts rejoice. The wildly popular exhibition teamLab: Borderless is coming to Hamburgs brand new Digital Art Museum in 2024 with more than 7,000 square meters of exhibition space under soaring 33-foot-high ceilings. The Tokyo-based immersive installation welcomed 2.3 million visitors in a single year, and was named one of TIMEs greatest places in the world to visit. (Press release)

teamLab, Borderless: Hamburg is coming to the city in 2024. Courtesy of teamLab.

teamLab, Borderless: Hamburg is coming to the city in 2024. Courtesy of teamLab.

teamLab, Borderless: Hamburg is coming to the city in 2024. Courtesy of teamLab.

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Art Industry News: DNA Evidence Leads Dutch Police to a 59-Year-Old Man Accused of Serial Art Thefts Worth $20 Million + Other Stories - artnet News

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