Page 843«..1020..842843844845..850860..»

Category Archives: Transhuman News

New Law Would Make Every New Car Verify That You’re Sober – Futurism

Posted: August 6, 2021 at 10:24 pm

Down the road, your car might be able to determine when you've had enough.Engine Lock

In the near future, you may need to prove to your car that youre sober before youre allowed to take the wheel.

Buried on page 1,066 of the newest version of the infrastructure bill currently being debated by Congress is a provision, spotted by Motherboard, that says every new car built from 2027 onward would need to include some sort of monitoring system to catch anyone trying to drive with alcohol in their system. Its an interesting idea for how the automotive industry could take a more active role in preventing drunk driving, but as Motherboard notes, theres some reason to be skeptical of alcohol-detecting tech currently under development.

Right now, the breathalyzers that can be attached to drunk driving offenders cars have a low but non-zero error rate, Motherboard notes. If everyone in the country had to blow into one to start their vehicle, the publications back-of-the-envelope math suggests that there would be millions of false positives keeping people from where they need to go per day.

But that doesnt seem to be what the infrastructure bill is calling for. The draft legislation doesnt refer to any program or tech by name, but Motherboard notes that it does seem to imply future adoption of technology thats currently under development by the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety Program (DADSS), an amalgam of various government and industry agencies collaborating on the problem.

DADSS is working on two passive systems meant to catch drunk drivers in the act. One monitors the air inside a car for whiffs of alcohol, and the other measures blood alcohol levels through the drivers skin when they press the cars engine button.

Right now, DADSS breath sensor seems to operate on an all-or-nothing basis it detects the presence or absence of alcohol rather than being able to accurately determine whether the drivers blood alcohol concentration is above the specific legal limit. But the organization says its working on upgrades that will make the tech both more accurate and less intrusive, so hopefully it will be ready by the potential 2027 rollout date.

READ MORE: Every Car Made After 2027 May Have Drunk Driving Monitoring System [Motherboard]

More on drunk driving: Too Drunk to Drive? You Might Also Be Too Drunk to Ride in an Uber

See the original post here:
New Law Would Make Every New Car Verify That You're Sober - Futurism

Posted in Futurism | Comments Off on New Law Would Make Every New Car Verify That You’re Sober – Futurism

Electric Cars Have One Problem: They Keep Lighting People’s Houses on Fire – Futurism

Posted: at 10:24 pm

"If we had lived upstairs in this house, wed be dead."Burning Batteries

Numerous carmakers have recalled their electric vehicles over the risk of them spontaneously catching fire while charging inside owners garages, The Washington Post reports.

Its a troubling development for a technology thats meant to banish gas-guzzling internal combustion engines from public roadways once and for all though, to be clear, electric cars are still largely safe and much better for the environment.

Charging electric cars parked in personal and public parking garages occasionally catch fire, even once fully charged. Chevrolet had to recall more than 60,000 of its Bolt EVs last month the second recall of its kind advising its customers that the cars could spontaneously combust.

When EVs do catch fire, the flames can be extremely challenging to put out, as several high-profile crashes involving Teslas have vividly demonstrated.

But how widespread the problem is remains to be seen. Theres still no evidence that EVs catch fire at higher rates than gas-powered vehicles, the Post points out though it didnt track down comprehensive data on the phenomenon.

But the potential for disaster is there. After all, a car battery is one massive store of potential energy ready to be unleashed.

In one particularly violent instance, a charging Tesla Model S parked inside a garage burned so brightthat it caused a neighboring vehicle to catch fire as well.

If we had lived upstairs in this house, wed be dead, owner Yogi Vindum, a retired mechanical engineer, told the Post. The fire burned so hot, firemen couldnt walk up the driveway.

Its a concerning trend that underlines the importance of regulation, even in green industries.

READ MORE: While they were asleep, their Teslas burned in the garage. Its a risk many automakers are taking seriously. [The Washington Post]

More on Tesla fires: Fire Chief: Reports of Fiery Tesla Crash Grossly Exaggerated

See the original post:
Electric Cars Have One Problem: They Keep Lighting People's Houses on Fire - Futurism

Posted in Futurism | Comments Off on Electric Cars Have One Problem: They Keep Lighting People’s Houses on Fire – Futurism

Build Your IT and Ethical Hacking Career With These Training Packages – Futurism

Posted: at 10:24 pm

IT careers are taking off, and even careers outside IT are demanding new computer skills, so what better way to jumpstart or boost your career than by earning an IT certification? For a limited time, you can save 60% off these ten courses designed to boost your IT career. Be sure to enter ANNUAL60 at checkout for your Semi-Annual Sale discount!

Created by ECUBA, one of the top skill-based education teams, this bundle explores everything you need to know about Oracle in the workplace. It explores data recovery, flashback, cloning, and more across 17 courses. And it comes complete with a certificate of completion.

Get the Complete Oracle Master Class Bundle for $12 (reg. $399) with code ANNUAL60.

Whizlabs walks you through everything you need to know about the Google Cloud in this seven-course bundle. It uses code-along projects to teach you security, data engineering, cloud development, and other skills. Youll even take practice exams so you can get the certification the first time.

Get the Google Cloud Certifications Practice Tests + Courses Bundle for $12 (reg. $639) with code ANNUAL60.

Presented by Integrity Training and Total Seminars, these 22 courses contain everything you need to know to get a broad range of IT certifications. Whether youre just starting out, or exploring a new platform, each course details what you most need to know to pass the exam and get certified. And even better, youll learn how these different networking and cloud disciplines connect.

Get the 2021 All-In-One AWS, Cisco & CompTIA Super Certification Bundle for $39.60 (reg. $4,378) with code ANNUAL60.

Scott Duffy and Anand Nednur start with the basics of Microsofts cloud, at AZ-104, and take you right up to advanced certifications. Each course digs deep into important aspects of Azure you may not learn about studying for the exam, as well. By the time you finish, youll have a broad grounding in how this cloud platform functions in a business environment.

Get the 2021 Complete Microsoft Azure Certification Prep Bundle for $14 (reg. $1,194) with code ANNUAL60.

Learn white-hat hacking from the ethical hackers themselves. This bundle goes through standard network testing tools, penetration testing, social engineering, and much more. Along the way, youll learn how networks are breached and how to head off black hats at the pass.

Get the All-In-One 2021 Super-Sized Ethical Hacking Bundle for $17.20 (reg. $3,284) with code ANNUAL60.

Taught by the iCollege team, this bundle starts with the very basics of CompTIA certifications and then blossoms out to fifteen more certifications touching a wide range of IT career paths. Whether you want to go into cybersecurity, networking, or get a CIO job, this has the tools you need to get certified. Each course goes in-depth, so you can build your career as you progress through the bundle

Get the 2021 Complete CompTIA Certification Prep Super Bundle for $27.60 (reg. $4,400) with code ANNUAL60.

The iCollege team shows you the latest in cybersecurity, in 24 comprehensive courses. Each course gets into the nitty-gritty of an important topic, from protecting Linux systems to securing CompTIA certifications. Youll also learn how to stay in compliance with changing cybersecurity laws.

Get the Complete 2021 CyberSecurity Super Bundle for $28 (reg. $7,080) with code ANNUAL60.

Amazon offers much more than eCommerce. This DevOps bundle is taught by expert Amazon Web Services developers who get you hands-on with the code to learn how to build pipelines, automate tasks, and much more in the AWS cloud. The bundle closes with a complete overview of the certification exams you need to launch an AWS DevOps career.

Get the 2021 Complete AWS DevOps Engineer Certification Bundle for $16 (reg. $2,200) with code ANNUAL60.

ITU Online breaks down Ciscos two key networking certifications in these two courses. The first course spends 46 hours looking at every detail of the CCNA exam and what it takes to become certified. The second builds on the first to secure the CCNP credential.

Get the 2021 Cisco CCNA & CCNP Certification Training Bundle for $20 (reg. $198) with code ANNUAL60.

Working in cybersecurity means youre constantly learning. Infosec4TC makes it easy to stay current with lifetime access to detailed courses on the latest topics. Furthermore, it has some of the highest pass rates of any certification authority, so staying current on your resume is easy as well.

Get an Infosec4TC Platinum Membership: Cyber Security Training Lifetime Access for $27.60 (reg. $999) with code ANNUAL60.

Read more:
Build Your IT and Ethical Hacking Career With These Training Packages - Futurism

Posted in Futurism | Comments Off on Build Your IT and Ethical Hacking Career With These Training Packages – Futurism

Vevo and Doja Cat Release Exclusive Performance Of Need To Know – Broadway World

Posted: at 10:24 pm

Vevo announces the release of Doja Cat's Official Live Performance of "Need To Know" from her new album Planet Her, out now via Kemosabe/RCA Records. Vevo's Official Live Performances are the result of close creative collaboration with artists and their teams, resulting in a series of very special exclusive performances. "Need To Know" follows Doja's previous Official Live Performance of "Ain't s."

"It was such a privilege to be able to capture this new creative with Doja Cat after working with her on her Vevo LIFT campaign last year," says JP Evangelista, Vevo's SVP of Content, Programming & Marketing. "We really enjoyed being able to build off her new Planet Her aesthetic, creating a world perfectly suited for the album and her new era and sound. As always, collaboration is the key to success with these performances and that is truly evident with these videos. Doja's input was absolutely invaluable, and we're so proud of the finished product. We look forward to continuing to support Doja and being part of her artist story with this and upcoming releases."

Doja Cat previously worked with Vevo when she was named a Vevo LIFT artist in 2020, releasing exclusive performances of "Say So" and "Streets," as well as a short film, "The Tale of Becoming Doja Cat." For Doja Cat's Official Live Performances, Vevo and Doja worked closely together to build upon the themes on Planet Her: futurism, femininity and surrealism, all while showcasing her power and strength as a performer. Shot in California, " Need To Know" sees Doja Cat clad in all black, emerging from the side of a cliff while covered in shadow. Slinking out into the dusk as she sings, she commands shining golden orbs with her every move, in complete control of all things surrounding Planet Her.

Read more:
Vevo and Doja Cat Release Exclusive Performance Of Need To Know - Broadway World

Posted in Futurism | Comments Off on Vevo and Doja Cat Release Exclusive Performance Of Need To Know – Broadway World

Videos of Turkish Wildfires Are Like a Vision of Hell – Futurism

Posted: at 10:24 pm

This is seriously terrifying.Fire Beach

New videos show how the devastating wildfires in southern Turkey are turning sandy beach resorts into a scene straight out of an apocalyptic movie.

One video shows residents evacuating a beach while a massive wall of fire shoots gargantuan clouds of dark smoke high into the sky.

Worldwide, wildfires have been devastating this year and these videos could be a grim foreshadowing of whats in store for us, as climate change leads toward drier and hotter conditions, year after year.

Regions across the entire globe are currently on fire, from the Bootleg Fire in Oregon to remote regions of Siberia that are spreading smoke all the way to the North Pole.

Some of the fires are large enough to create their own weather patterns, triggering freak lightning storms and allowing fire clouds to form.

Turkish authorities are now trying to gain control over a series of forest fires along the countrys Mediterranean coast and southern Aegean regions. Dozens of people were sent to hospitals, according to the Associated Press, and at least three people have been killed.

Its a scary new normal and should come as a stern warning.

More on wildfires: A Forest Fire in Oregon Is So Huge That Its Generating Freak Lightning Storms

See original here:
Videos of Turkish Wildfires Are Like a Vision of Hell - Futurism

Posted in Futurism | Comments Off on Videos of Turkish Wildfires Are Like a Vision of Hell – Futurism

These Totally Wireless Earbuds Are On Sale For Way Less Than Apple AirPods – Futurism

Posted: at 10:24 pm

Whether youre a podcast fan or need new earbuds for your workout, weve got all the audio you need. With this Semi-Annual Sale, you can save an extra 15% off these already discounted earbuds using code ANNUAL15. But act fast: These deals are only available for a limited time.

Pictured above, the xS2 from xFyro is designed to go literally anywhere, even the pool. The IP67 waterproofing and Bluetooth 4.2 ensures youll have your audio no matter what.

Get the xFyro xS2 Waterproof Wireless Earphones for $67.99 (reg. $249) with code ANNUAL15.

For the moments where you need something discreet and stylish, these 1More buds match with anything. And they sound great too, with Qualcomm aptX Audio Technology and an AAC hi-res transmission pushing audio to 7mm dynamic drivers.

Get the 1More Stylish True Wireless In-Ear Headphones for $84.99 (reg. $119) with code ANNUAL15.

Rated 4.2 out of 5 stars on Amazon, the HyperSonic Lite features LinearFlux DL02 Immersive Sound Engine, which is carefully tuned to get the best results from your streaming music. Theyre IPX6 water-resistant and designed to limit ear fatigue, so you can listen all day.

Get the HyperSonic Lite True Wireless Earphones for $42.49 (reg. $79) with code ANNUAL15.

With a 33 foot range, you can put your phone down and just listen with the Veho STIX. Theyre also splashproof and have Smart Touch controls, so youre never stuck listening to a bad track.

Get the Veho STIX True Wireless Earphones for $89.95 (reg. $249) with code VEHO160.

The X5 offers 35 hours of listening before you have to recharge, thanks to its case. The Bluetooth 5.0 keeps you connected, and the soft, expanding silicon tips give you an audio space all your own.

Get the TREBLAB X5 True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds for $42.49 (reg. $99) with code ANNUAL15.

The X3 Pros ear hooks ensure your buds always stay in. The 11mm drivers and 9 hours of battery life ensure youre always listening.

Get the TREBLAB X3 Pro: True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds with Earhooks for $54.39 (reg. $99) with code ANNUAL15.

These headphones combine noise-canceling technologies for maximum quiet. But you wont feel plugged up, as theyre designed to prevent that stethoscope feeling as well.

Get the PaMu Quiet Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds for $84.99 (reg. $119) with code ANNUAL15.

Use the LUNEs active noise cancelling to give yourself a little quiet space. And when you need to hear the world around you, flip on transparent mode.

Get the LUNE Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds for $76.46 (reg. $99) with code ANNUAL15.

With the charging case, you get up to 150 hours of listening time with these Nokia earbuds. Paired with the graphene drivers and Bluetooth 5.0, its perfect for the road.

Get the Nokia Power Earbuds for $84.15 (reg. $149) with code ANNUAL15.

The Raycon E50 is built for daily life, with passive noise cancellation, water resistance, and Bluetooth 5.0. Theyre the perfect earbuds for a commute, a workout, and unwinding after a long day.

Get the Raycon E50 Wireless Bluetooth 5.0 Earbuds for $55.24 (reg. $119) with code ANNUAL15.

The xFyro Active Noise Cancelling headphones dont just use a chip to block out unwanted sound. They use onboard AI and a four-microphone array to dynamically adjust sound cancellation for your environment.

Get the xFyro Active Noise Cancelling AI-Powered Wireless Earbuds for $40 (reg. $250) with code XFYRO5.

The Beacon doesnt just look good in your ears. Compatible with voice assistants and built with automatic pairing, its the perfect set of earbuds for getting work done.

Get the Beacon 2.0 True Wireless Earbuds for $84.99 (reg. $129) with code ANNUAL15.

With 90 hours of listening time, thanks to the case, the Palladium earbuds are ideal for your next trip. And with Bluetooth 5.0, youll never have a dropped call or skipped beat.

Get the Palladium Wireless Earbuds for $67.99 (reg. $99) with code ANNUAL15.

These rugged buds have IPX67 waterproofing and comfortable ear hooks to stay in no matter how rocky the trail or bumpy the ride. And the touch controls make it easy to stay focused or take a call as you hustle.

Get the Culture Wireless Waterproof SportBuds for $55.24 (reg. $94) with code ANNUAL15.

Unwind anywhere with 1MOREs QuietMax technology. It combines hybrid ANC technology, precise audio tuning, dual-band ANC and wind noise reduction to create a perfect audio space to just listen to what you want away from the world.

Get the ComfoBuds Pro True Wireless Headphones for $76.49 (reg. $105) with code ANNUAL15.

Visit link:
These Totally Wireless Earbuds Are On Sale For Way Less Than Apple AirPods - Futurism

Posted in Futurism | Comments Off on These Totally Wireless Earbuds Are On Sale For Way Less Than Apple AirPods – Futurism

Steuben County Sheriff explains the importance of DNA analysis in Lake James murder – Fort Wayne’s NBC

Posted: at 10:20 pm

STEUBEN COUNTY, Ind. (Fort Wayne's NBC) - Court documents sayDNA evidenceat the scene of the murder of 82-year-old Wilma Ballled to the charging of 29-year-old Matthew Hoover.

Steuben County Chief Deputy Michael Meeks says without the advanced technologyused to match the DNA found inside the Lake James home, hesnot sure a suspect would have been charged this soon.

Meeks says DNA analysis has revolutionized criminal investigations like this one.

"Its a game changer when it comes to identifying suspects, Meeks said."The chances of a case being solved now is greatly elevated compared to 30 or 40 years ago.

He saysits almost impossiblefor a perpetratornot to leaveDNAevidencebehind.

"Somethings always taken from the crime scene, and somethings always left, he said.

Court documents sayHoover left behind two beer cansand investigators sent them to theIndianaStatePolice lab forthe DNAanalysis.

Matching a suspect profile to something from the scene, its this person and the chances of it being another person is like 1 in 8 trillion, Meeks said. Theyre pretty certain its this person.

Meeks says todays technology can even analyze microscopic DNA.

"It all started back in the late 80susing DNA fora criminal case, and back then it was only blood DNA, he said.Now,fast forward to today, you can trace with pretty much any bodily fluid.

Meeks says its important that they continue to develop betterDNAtracingto bring justice to more families.

"Unfortunately,theres nothing we can do to bring the victim back, but we can do everything we can to bring justice, he said.

Meeks says at their Steuben County jail they take DNA samples from every person who is arrested for their DNA tracing database.

Matthew Hoovers trial date is set for November 29th.

Read more:
Steuben County Sheriff explains the importance of DNA analysis in Lake James murder - Fort Wayne's NBC

Posted in DNA | Comments Off on Steuben County Sheriff explains the importance of DNA analysis in Lake James murder – Fort Wayne’s NBC

How Your DNA May Affect Whether You Get COVID-19 or Become Gravely Ill – Cleveland Scene

Posted: at 10:20 pm

A study of more than 45,000 people with COVID-19 has uncovered 13 genetic variants linked to an increased risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 or a higher chance of developing severe illness, researchers report July 8 in Nature. The team includes more than 3,300 researchers in 25 countries.

Some of the variants had been uncovered in previous studies. For instance, researchers again confirmed a genetic link between blood type and the likelihood of getting infected, but dont know why people with type O blood may be slightly protected. The study also verified that a variant that disables the TYK2 gene raises the risk of critical illness and hospitalization. That variant is known to protect against autoimmune disease, but leaves people more vulnerable to tuberculosis.

But at least one association was unknown: A variant in a gene called FOXP4 is associated with more severe COVID-19, the team found. That variant boosts the genes activity and has been previously linked to lung cancer and interstitial lung disease, a group of diseases that cause scarring and stiffness of the lungs. Yet-to-be-developed drugs that inhibit activity of FOXP4s protein might help people recover from COVID-19 or prevent them from becoming very ill.

The disease-associated version of the gene is more common among Asians and Latino populations in the Americas, geneticist Mark Daly said July 7 during a news briefing. This link might never have been discovered if people of diverse ancestries from around the world hadnt been included in the study, said Daly, of the Institute of Molecular Medicine Finland in Helsinki (SN: 3/4/21). Only 2 percent to 3 percent of people with European ancestry carry the variant, compared with 7 percent of people in the Middle East, 20 percent of Latinos in the Americas and 32 percent of East Asians.

Originally published by Science News, a nonprofit newsroom. Republished here with permission.

Continue reading here:
How Your DNA May Affect Whether You Get COVID-19 or Become Gravely Ill - Cleveland Scene

Posted in DNA | Comments Off on How Your DNA May Affect Whether You Get COVID-19 or Become Gravely Ill – Cleveland Scene

DNA My Dog gives you the full 411 on your canines genetic makeup – The Next Web

Posted: at 10:20 pm

TLDR: The DNA My Dog Breed Identification Test can give you all the inside scoop on your dogs insides, the genetics and health tips that can keep them happy and healthy for years.

You may be married. You may have a significant other. You may have a child. You may have several children. Your life may be packed to the rafters with family, friends, co-workers, and others to help fill your days.

But admit it there are times when your favorite living thing on the planet isnt a human. Its that buoyant, energetic bundle of fur and enthusiasm who hates when you leave, cant wait for you to get home, and would gladly spend every minute of the day with you if youd let them.

But considering a quarter of the dogs living in U.S. households today were shelter adoptions, theres a good chance you know precious little about whats inside the creature who cares so much about you. With a DNA My Dog Breed Identification Test ($50, 36 percent off, from TNW Deals), you can correct that error.

If youve ever taken a DNA test yourself, then you know the procedure. Just swab the DNA My Dog applicator inside your dogs cheek, bag it, and send it in for your results. About two weeks later, youll get back a detailed breakdown on your dog, a canine biography that uncovers everything you didnt know about the exact genetic makeup of your pooch.

And this isnt just for idle curiosity either. Knowing about your dogs background can offer all kinds of vital information about your pals potential genetic health concerns, the diseases the breed could be susceptible to, and all the personality and behavioral traits that breed is known for.

Armed with your dogs DNA, youll have an inside track on doing what you could never do before: help combat health problems before they become problems. You can tailor your dogs diet to help supplement deficiencies or be on the lookout for illnesses or medical conditions that could lead to long-term issues.

A winner of 2020 DogWellNet.com and GHP Biotechnology awards, the DNA My Dog Breed Identification Test is now available at over 35 percent off the regular price, offering a roadmap to your dogs future health and happiness for just $50.

Prices are subject to change

Go here to read the rest:
DNA My Dog gives you the full 411 on your canines genetic makeup - The Next Web

Posted in DNA | Comments Off on DNA My Dog gives you the full 411 on your canines genetic makeup – The Next Web

Study of Middle East DNA Reveals Complex Human History in the Region – Gizmodo

Posted: at 10:20 pm

The 2,600-year-old rock-cut tombs of Al-Khuraiba, in Saudi Arabia.Image: FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP (Getty Images)

A team of geneticists has sequenced 137 modern human genomes from the Middle East, shedding new light on how humans arrived in the region and how those populations changed as areas dried up.

The research goes a long way in a region where precious little is left of a fossil record. The recent aridification of the Arabian peninsula, especially, means that bones can get so brittle they can simply disintegrate when archaeologists pick them up, as Mathew Stewart, a zooarchaeologist at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Human History, recently told Gizmodo. Genetic evidence is easily lost to time. The teams results draw on modern samples from eight different groups in the Levant, Iraq, and Arabia. Ancient genomes that had previously been constructed were also included in their analysis, which is published this week in the journal Cell.

The Middle East is an important region to understand human history, migrations, and evolution: it is where modern humans first expanded out of Africa, where hunter-gatherers first settled and transitioned into farmers, where the first writing systems developed, and where the first major known civilizations emerged, said Mohamed Almarri, a geneticist at the Sanger Institute in England and lead author of the study, in a Cell press release. However, despite this importance, the region has been historically understudied in genomic studies.

Expansions out of Africa, agricultural developments, and even climatological events can be interpreted from the genomic data, Almarris team said. Looking at ancient genomes from past Middle Eastern populations, the team determined that populations were able to grow as people began to settle down and started farming.

A Palestinian farmer on the West Bank in June 2020.Photo: HAZEM BADER/AFP (Getty Images)

G/O Media may get a commission

The researchers used a relatively new sequencing approach, called linked-read sequencing, that allowed them to reconstruct population histories as far back as 100,000 years ago. Geneticists can use the approach to analyze more of the genome, in this case identifying millions of genetic variants unique to Middle Eastern populations.

The researchers found that Middle Easterners descend from a population that left Africa between 50,000 and 60,000 years ago. That makes a mini-mystery of the 88,000-year-old human finger bone found at a prehistoric lake site in Saudi Arabia; it may be that bone belonged to a human group that dispersed early and did not contribute to the modern gene pool in the region. Many anatomically modern humans left Africa earlier, but these genetics suggest that modern Middle Eastern populations descended from the group that left Africa around 50,000 years ago.

Our study fills a major gap in international genomic projects by cataloguing genetic variation in the Middle East, said co-author Chris Tyler-Smith, also a geneticist at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, in the Cell release. The millions of new variants we found in our study will improve future medical association studies in the region. Our results explain how the genetics of Middle Easterners formed over time, providing new insights, which complement knowledge from archaeology, anthropology, and linguistics.

A satellite image of Saudi Arabia and environs in June 2007.Photo: NOAA (Getty Images)

Almarri and his co-author Marc Haber, a geneticist at the University of Birmingham in England, said in an email that a benefit of the research is being able to connect archaeological and ancient climate data with shifts in local population genetics. Population bottlenecks in Arabia 6,000 years ago and in the Levant 4,200 years ago point to moments when the verdant east began to dry up, the study authors said, with rapid aridification causing decreases in population sizes.

Based on when different groups mixed thousands of years ago, the team also evaluated how Semitic languages might have spread beyond the Levant, specifically pointing to the Bronze Age as a major point of intermixing, based on coincident timing between some of the genetic variations and previously determined dates for language divergence and evolution. The researchers also noted that Arabian populations have a much lower amount of Neanderthal ancestry than other Eurasians, indicating there was less admixture between our extinct close relatives and Arabian humans.

It is exciting to see so much new genomic data from a crucial part of the world. It is interesting to see the genetic coherence of recent social groups, and, as the authors say, for things like understanding modern health, it is important to have good sampling of people around the world, Huw Groucutt, a paleoanthropologist at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History who wasnt involved with the recent study, said in an email. He added, however,that there are limitations to genomic studies and that the recent teams interpretations should be considered just that.

The team intends to follow up the research with a look at adaptation signals in the dataset, which could indicate how populations in the Middle East learned to survive in their environments when the region dried up. The recent discovery of a trove of animal bones, including human remains, in a Saudi lava tube will likely help in efforts flesh out this genetic portrait of the Middle East.

More: Hyenas Left a Massive Pile of Bones in a Saudi Arabian Lava Tube

View post:
Study of Middle East DNA Reveals Complex Human History in the Region - Gizmodo

Posted in DNA | Comments Off on Study of Middle East DNA Reveals Complex Human History in the Region – Gizmodo

Page 843«..1020..842843844845..850860..»