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Cher is aging beautifully at 77, and there are certain choices she made for her diet and overall lifestyle that have likely contributed to her longevity. Though, it's important to note that longevity seems to be something that was always in store for Cher, thanks to her genetics. Her mother, Georgia Holt, lived to age 96; and according to a 1991 interview with People Magazine, her grandmother was exercising daily at age 72. "As my grandmother was approaching her 72nd birthday, I asked her, 'Grandma Lynda, what do you want for your birthday?' She said, 'Well, honey, I could really use some new sweat clothes—you know, some nice leotards,'" Cher told the magazine.
Persons: Georgia Holt, Grandma Lynda, Cher Organizations: Cher, People Magazine
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Persons: Dow Jones
CNN —Geneticists have for the first time isolated and decoded RNA molecules from a creature that died out long ago. “This will add significant depth to our understanding of the biology of extinct animals and help us to build much better extinct genomes,” he added. Mármol Sánchez said this study is a proof of concept, and his colleagues now hopes to recover RNA from animals that died out much longer ago, such as the woolly mammoth. Recipe bookThe research team was able to sequence RNA of the skin and skeletal muscle tissues from the specimen and identify thylacine-specific genes. Understanding RNA allows scientists to put together a more complete picture of an animal’s biology, Mármol Sánchez said.
Persons: , Emilio Mármol Sánchez, Benjamin, Mármol Sánchez, Andrew Pask, , Pask, that’s Organizations: CNN, Swedish Museum of, Stockholm —, Genome Research, Palaeogenetics, Beaumaris, University of Melbourne Locations: Stockholm, SciLifeLab, Sweden, Tasmania, Hobart , Tasmania, Australia
But this study marked the first time that RNA - much less stable than DNA - has been recovered from an extinct species. While not the focus of this research, the ability to extract, sequence and analyze old RNA could boost efforts by other scientists toward recreating extinct species. The Tasmanian tiger resembled a wolf, aside from the tiger-like stripes on its back. The last-known Tasmanian tiger succumbed in a Tasmanian zoo in 1936. Private "de-extinction" initiatives have been launched aimed at resurrecting certain extinct species such as the Tasmanian tiger, dodo or woolly mammoth.
Persons: Emilio Marmol Sanchez, Handout, bioinformatician Emilio Mármol Sánchez, Marc Friedländer, Love, Mármol, Will Dunham, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Swedish Museum of, REUTERS Acquire, Tasmanian, Palaeogenetics, Genome Research, Stockholm University, SciLifeLab, Thomson Locations: Stockholm, SciLifeLab, Sweden, Australia, Tasmania, Tasmanian, Washington
Neanderthal genes could be to blame for severe cases of COVID-19, The Wall Street Journal reported. Scientists in Italy found people with Neanderthal gene variants were more likely to be hospitalized. The research suggests the variants are a "major genetic risk factor for severe COVID-19." What they found is that "Neanderthal haplotype," a set of genetic variants associated with the human ancestor, is "the major genetic risk factor for severe COVID-19." The link between health and Neanderthal DNA has been suggested by other studies.
Persons: Mario, cdavis@insider.com Organizations: Street Journal, Street, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research Locations: Italy, Bergamo province, Nature
Neanderthal Genes Are Linked to Severe Covid Risk
  + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Margherita Stancati | ) www.wsj.com   time to read: 1 min
This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/neanderthal-genes-are-linked-to-severe-covid-risk-d992ccad
Persons: Dow Jones
The first known hybrid between a pampas fox and a domestic dog was discovered in Brazil. Her father was a domestic dog of an unspecified breed. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe dog-fox resembles both a dog and a fox and shares characteristics with both animals, scientists said. Other names suggested for the animal were "graxorra" and "dogxim," which reference the Portuguese names for the pampas fox and female dog. This type of hybridization can threaten wildlife conservation due to risks of introgression and disease transmission by the dog, the study said.
Persons: Flávia Ferrari, Ferrari, Bruna Elenara Organizations: Service, British, The Telegraph, Telegraph, Universidade Federal Locations: Brazil, Wall, Silicon, South America, Universidade, Rio Grande do Sul, North America, Europe, Africa, Universidade Federal, Santa Maria
Honestly, in the beginning, it was to just try to help my own brain; my grandfather had dementia, and that worried me. I’ll also explore what happens to our brain when we express gratitude, swipe on a dating app (over and over again) and eat certain (brain) foods. Our executive function can work really well and can help keep us on track. “There are peaks and valleys of focus throughout the day, and this corresponds with the ebb and flow of our attentional resources,” Mark explained. Also, she said, “if you have some really important task to do, take a really good break before you begin it.
Persons: I’ve, Stephen King, Michael Pollan, I’ll, Gloria Mark, , Mark, we’re, ” Mark, Adam Yee, It’s, you’ve, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, , Andrea Kane Organizations: CNN, University of California, CNN Health Locations: Irvine
Elon Musk and Shivon Zilis decided to have children together after he spoke to her about population decline. When Zilis said she was ready to have children, Musk suggested he be the sperm donor, per a new book. AdvertisementAdvertisement"He really wants smart people to have kids, so he encouraged me to," Zilis told Isaacson. When Zilis decided she was ready to have children, Musk suggested that he could be the sperm donor. "When he comes in, they light up and have eyes only for him, which lights him up as well," Zilis told Isaacson.
Persons: Elon Musk, Shivon Zilis, Zilis, Musk, Elon, Walter Isaacson, Isaacson, Grimes, didn't, Strider Sekhar Sirius, Musk's Organizations: Service, Astra Alice, Zilis's Locations: Wall, Silicon, Austin, OpenAI, Neuralink, Silicon Valley
Readers RespondLast week’s question was from a reader who was concerned about an apparently unregistered dog breeding operation run by her neighbors. She wrote: “Our house looks out onto the yard where our neighbors let the dogs out sporadically throughout the day. The dogs don’t appear to be mistreated or malnourished, but there seem to be more than 26 total — exceeding the limit in our state for both owning and selling without a license. … These neighbors are a family who don’t speak much English, and I don’t know what the job prospects would be for the two parents outside of dog breeding. — Baily⬥I agree about the dog breeding operation.
Persons: , Joe ⬥, — Baily ⬥, — Van Organizations: State Department of Agriculture
CNN —Scientists have grown kidneys containing mostly human cells inside pig embryos, an important step toward growing kidneys and potentially other human organs that could be used for transplants in people. “The paper describes pioneering steps in a new approach to organ bioengineering using pigs as incubators for growing and cultivating human organs,” said Dusko Ilic, a professor of stem cell sciences at King’s College London, in a statement. “It is remarkable to see about 60% of the primordial pig kidney contained human cells,” Wu said. What the researchers didTo generate kidneys mostly composed of human cells in pigs, the scientists used cutting-edge techniques harnessing advances in stem cells, gene editing and embryology. “This (new) work is different from existing xenotransplantation approach and aims to generate organs mostly composed of human cells in pigs,” Wu said.
Persons: , Miguel Esteban, ” Esteban, , Dusko Ilic, Jun Wu, Wu, ” Mary Garry, ” Wu, Esteban, ” Joseph A, Vassalotti, ” Vassalotti Organizations: CNN —, Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Procurement, Transplantation Network, King’s College London, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, University of Minnesota’s, Heart Institute, National Kidney Foundation, Icahn School of Medicine Locations: Health, United States, Mount Sinai
Our study suggests that both ADHD and major depressive disorder are risk factors for suicide attempt,” Freuer said in an email. Instead, “the increased risk for anorexia nervosa can be attributed entirely to ADHD,” Freuer said. Researchers looked for a link between ADHD and seven mental health conditions: anorexia nervosa, anxiety, bipolar disorder, major depression, PTSD, schizophrenia and at least one suicide attempt. “Also on the list are Tourette syndrome, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, substance use disorders, eating disorders, learning disabilities and sleep dysfunction,” he added. Both children have the same biological disorder — ADHD — but different environments will uncover different symptoms such as anxiety or depression, Greenblatt said.
Persons: , Dennis Freuer, , ” Freuer, isn’t, ” Mayo, Freuer, “ Impulsivity, James Greenblatt, Greenblatt, ” Greenblatt, ideation Organizations: CNN, University of Augsburg, Mayo Clinic, Walden Behavioral Care, Mental Health Locations: Germany, Waltham , Massachusetts, fizkes
Early human ancestors faced near-extinction between 800,000 and 900,000 years ago, scientists say. An extreme climate event might have caused the evolutionary bottleneck. The population of our ancestors might have been reduced to just 1,280 individuals for about 117,000 years. For a population of that size, you just need one bad climate event, an epidemic, a volcanic eruption and you're gone." This population decline occurred about the same time human ancestors split from Neanderthals and Denisovans.
Persons: Giorgio Manzi, Chris Stringer, Stringer, heidelbergensis, Manzi Organizations: Service, Guardian, Sapienza University of Rome Locations: Wall, Silicon, London, Africa, Eurasia
“About 98.7 percent of human ancestors were lost at the beginning of the bottleneck, thus threatening our ancestors with extinction,” the scientists wrote. But outside experts said they were skeptical of the novel statistical methods that the researchers used for the study. The studies all take advantage of the same basic facts of our biology: every baby is born with dozens of new genetic mutations, and some of those mutations can be handed down over thousands or even millions of years. By comparing genetic variations in DNA, scientists can trace people’s ancestry to ancient populations that lived in different parts of the world, moved around and interbred. They can even infer the size of those populations at different times in history.
Persons: , Stephan Schiffels Organizations: Max Planck Institute Locations: Leipzig, Germany
Opinion | Cats With Bird Flu? The Threat Grows.
  + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Zeynep Tufekci | ) www.nytimes.com   time to read: +2 min
If one animal is infected by both, the viruses can mix genes and give rise to an avian flu that can infect humans. Fur farms in Finland, however, aren’t being closed. Instead the Finnish Wildlife Agency allowed fur breeders to kill wild birds near their farms in large numbers. Meanwhile, officials said a sizable outbreak of H5N1 among pet cats in Poland this summer killed at least 29 animals, though cat owners have compiled lists with as many as 89 sick animals. The affected cats lived in different areas of Poland, yet their viruses had almost identical genetic sequences.
Persons: aren’t, Tom Peacock Organizations: Finnish Food Authority, Finnish Wildlife Agency, Agency, Britain’s Imperial College Locations: Finland, Poland
However, over half of the sequences within the Y chromosome, the smallest and most complicated of the 46 human chromosomes, remained unknown. Now, the same group of researchers has filled in the missing information, publishing a complete Y chromosome sequence Wednesday in the journal Nature. “This new analysis will allow us to better understand the regions of the Y chromosome that have regulatory functions and may encode mRNA and proteins.”Many people begin to lose their Y chromosome in some of their cells as they age, particularly those cells that undergo rapid turnover, such as blood cells. Having a complete Y chromosome genetic reference may help scientists and doctors further explore this potential link. “However, it has been questioned whether loss of the Y chromosome is a biomarker of biological aging or whether loss of the Y chromosome has a direct effect on the health of men,” he said.
Persons: , Monika Cechova, Cechova, Kenneth Walsh, ” Walsh, Walsh, it’s, ” Cechova, Charles Lee Organizations: CNN —, University of California, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Human Genome Research, T2T Consortium, Jackson Laboratory, Genomic Medicine Locations: Santa Cruz
Researchers published two new papers on the human Y chromosome. That's because the Y chromosome is "the most complex, most repetitive chromosome," said Monika Cechova, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Santa Cruz. AdvertisementAdvertisementKaren Miga was one of the researchers involved in fully sequencing the human Y chromosome. The worldwide Y chromosomeFor the single-sequence paper, researchers sequenced the Y chromosome of a single individual of European descent, known as the HG002 genome. Because of all the gaps in the Y chromosome genome reference, researchers haven't fully understood how the chromosome contributes to overall health.
Persons: Karen Miga, Monika Cechova, Carolyn Lagattuta, Pascal Gagneux, wasn't, Gagneaux, Evan Eichler, Cechova, Miga, Gagneux, haven't Organizations: Service, Telomere, University of California, UC Santa Cruz, UC San Diego, Center for Academic Research, Human Genome Research Institute, Jackson Laboratory, Genomic Medicine Locations: Wall, Silicon, Nature, Santa Cruz, Anthropogeny
Males possess one Y and one X chromosome while females have two X chromosomes, with some exceptions. But until now, the Y chromosome part of the human genome had contained big gaps. In addition to identifying some additional Y chromosome genes, the researchers found that some DNA from the chromosome had been mistaken in previous studies as bacterial in nature. The first complete human genome - albeit with the Y chromosome partial - was published last year. Fully sequencing the Y chromosome adds to this.
Persons: Karen Miga, Carolyn Lagattuta, Arang Rhie, Monika Cechova, Cechova, Will Dunham, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: University of California, UC Santa Cruz, REUTERS, Rights, Wednesday, U.S ., Genome Research, of California, UCSC, Thomson Locations: Santa Cruz , California, U.S, Handout, Santa Cruz
But in recent years, DNA analysis has helped scientists uncover the tale behind the "vampire's" remains. An annotated image shows the placement of the "Connecticut vampire" skull and bones in the grave. The "Connecticut vampire" likely died of tuberculosisFor decades, the "Connecticut vampire" was known only as "JB55," after the initial "JB" that had been carved into the brass tacks used to close the coffin. A 3D-scan of Barber's skull was combined with DNA analysis to estimate John Barber's features, shown here in an artist's illustration. Not everybody agrees, however, that this burial site qualifies as a bona fide "vampire" burial site.
Persons: John Barber, , Jolly Roger, I'd, Nick Bellantoni, he'd, Michael Ross, Daniels, Ellen Greytak, John Baker, Baker, It's, Parabon NanoLabs, John Barber's, Parabon, Barber's, sickles, Scott, Matteo Borrini Organizations: Service, Smithsonian, Smithsonian Magazine, Armed Forces DNA, Inc, Liverpool John Moores University Locations: Connecticut, Wall, Silicon, Griswold , Connecticut, Virginia, New England
And after celebrating her 114th birthday last week in Houston with five generations of her family, Francis earned the title of the oldest living person in Texas, according to local ABC station KTRK-TV. "I just thank the good Lord for keeping me," Francis told the news station. Still, her granddaughter, Ethel Harrison, told ABC 13 that she thinks lifestyle has a lot to do with Francis' longevity. She never did that," Harrison told ABC 13. And Dr. Holly Holmes, a geriatric physician, said Francis "has done everything right" for longevity, according to ABC 13.
Persons: Elizabeth Francis, Francis, Ethel Harrison, Harrison, Thomas Perls, who's, Holly Holmes, Holmes, Warren Buffett Organizations: ABC Locations: Houston, Texas
Their experience raises broader questions around other high-cost gene therapies coming to market, sometimes after accelerated regulatory approvals, drug pricing experts said. Gene therapies work by replacing genes – the body's blueprint for its development. The gene Zolgensma delivers instructs the body to make a protein vital for muscle control. If gene therapies do fall short, it becomes harder to justify prices that researchers have argued are already poor value. More recently, the first hemophilia gene therapy approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was priced by CSL Behring at $3.5 million; 26 more gene therapies are in late-stage development, according to IQVIA.
Persons: Elizabeth Kutschke, Ben, Zolgensma, Ben Kutschke, neurologists, Sitra Tauscher, Wisniewski, Ben's, Roger Hajjar, Brigham Gene, Kutschke, Vasant Narasimhan, Stacie Dusetzina, Roche's, Biogen, Roche, Maha Radhakrishnan, Steven Pearson, It's, Sree Chaguturu, Amanda Cook, Weston, Jackson, Cook, Elizabeth, Jerry Mendell, Russell Butterfield, , Biogen's, Mendell, UMR, Spinraza, Eric Cox, Caroline Humer, Sara Ledwith Organizations: Reuters, U.S, Novartis, IQVIA Institute, Human Data, Novartis Gene Therapies, Mass, Cell Therapy, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, CSL Behring, CSL, Nashville's Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Clinical, Economic, CVS Health, Aetna, SMA, Nationwide Children's Hospital, University of Utah Health, Children's, UnitedHealth, Thomson Locations: Oak Park, Berwyn , Illinois, Swiss, U.S, Lebanon , Virginia, United States, Columbus , Ohio, Russia, Kazakhstan, Chicago
The national survey and restrictions on foreign access are part of new regulations on China’s genetic resources, which came into effect in July. The national genetic surveyBiobanking in China – meaning the collection of biological samples – is still “very fragmented,” and in an “embryonic stage,” said Zhang. But these concerns aren’t new – and the national genetic survey seems to be geared more toward scientific research than other purposes, several experts agreed. But China has another motive, too: establishing what some experts call “genomic sovereignty,” meaning full control of the genetic material within their country. While many other countries also have laws regulating the use and transfer of their population’s genetic material, few are as strict as China’s.
Persons: Guang Niu, , Joy Y, Zhang, you’re, Wei Liang, ICHPL, Anna Puglisi, Puglisi, States –, Katherine Wang, ” –, Wang, , Sun, Xi Jinping, Jiankui, Anthony Wallace, ” Zhang Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Central South University, Centre for Global Science, biosciences, Shanxi Province Reproductive Science, Communist Party, Georgetown’s Center for Security, Emerging Technology, Gray, Group, CNN, Ministry of Science, Technology, National Health Service, National Institutes of Health, NIH Locations: Hong Kong, China, Changsha, Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, States, , Wuhan, Xinijang, Xinjiang, Beijing, AFP, Harvard
But further scrutiny revealed distinctive features: legs slightly longer than those of most domestic cats, and a striking black-tipped tail. I explored this question in my book "The Cat's Meow: How Cats Evolved from the Savanna to Your Sofa." But tomb paintings and sculptures show that by 3,500 years ago, domestic cats lived in Egypt. Or you can measure the length of its intestines – longer in domestic cats to digest vegetable-based food provided by or scavenged from humans. The common view that domestic cats are aloof loners couldn't be further from the truth.
Persons: Jonathan Losos, I've, felines, , Sophie Kleeman, loners couldn't, Thomas Winz, who's, William H, Danforth, St . Louis Organizations: North African Wildcat, Service, wildcats, African wildcats, pumas –, Vikings, Arts & Sciences, Washington University Locations: Wall, Silicon, Africa, New Jersey, South Africa, Egypt, Turkey, Syria, Iran, Europe, North America, Asia, St .
I've been a practicing doctor and neurologist for more than seven decades. And at 101 years old, people often ask me how I keep my brain sharp. Some areas of the brain may shrink, communication between neurons may become less effective, and blood flow may decrease. But like any other muscle in the body, our mind needs consistent exercise to thrive. I use three daily rituals to boost my brain health.
Persons: I've
And despite the fact that this ancient plant is one of the fastest-evolving species of moss known to science, it may not survive the climate crisis. The researchers embarked on multiple expeditions in the Himalayas to study Takakia moss. As the local temperature average increased each year, the population of Takakia moss decreased by 1.6% annually, the study authors noted. Takakia may die because of climate change, but the other mosses will survive, even if we humans cannot. Takakia may die because of climate change, but the other mosses will survive, even if we humans cannot.
Persons: , Ralf Reski, Ruoyang Hu, , Takakia, ” Reski, Yikun, ” Hu, don’t Organizations: CNN, University of Freiburg, Capital Normal University, Locations: Tibetan, Japan, United States, Germany, Takakia, China, Tibet
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