Biological changes in babies born during the COVID-19 pandemic have astounded researchers. According to the study published in Allergy, Covid babies have an altered gut microbiome.

Biological changes in babies born during the COVID-19 pandemic have astounded researchers. According to the study published in Allergy, Covid babies have an altered gut microbiome. It means the system of good and bad bacteria in their gut that aids digestion and removes harmful bacteria is slightly distinct in children entering their toddler and early childhood years. The study by the research team from the University of College Cork in Ireland analysed faecal samples of 351 Irish babies born in the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic between March and May 2020. They compared these samples to those from the babies born before the pandemic. The research team found that these gut bacteria alterations meant that these Covid babies have a lower-than-expected rate of allergic conditions than babies born before the pandemic. Only five per cent of the Covid babies developed a food allergy by the age of one, compared to the 22.8 per cent seen in the pre-Covid babies. According to the researchers, the mothers have passed healthy microbes to their babies while pregnant. These babies gained additional microbes from the environment after they were born. The study also revealed that the Covid babies required fewer antibiotics to treat illness. ALSO READ | Webb Telescope reveals how space finally shed its darkness to adorn brightness Liam O'Mahony, the joint senior author and professor of immunology at the University College Cork, called it a "fascinating outcome." Professor Jonathan Hourihane, the consultant paediatrician at Children's Health Ireland Temple Street and joint senior author, said, "This study offers a new perspective on the impact of social isolation in early life on the gut microbiome. Notably, the lower allergy rates among newborns during the lockdown could highlight the impact of lifestyle and environmental factors, such as frequent antibiotic use, on the rise of allergic diseases." Recently, parents were warned to look out for the latest symptoms of COVID-19 in babies. In the United States, scientists conducted research on the children who were diagnosed with the virus, reported Mail Online. They found that a "high proportion" of the children had increased levels of a biomarker linked with vascular trauma, a blood vessel injury. The study, published in the journal Blood Advances, analysed how coronavirus can alter children's cardiovascular health. The research team examined 50 paediatric patients hospitalised with the infection from April and July 2020. Dr David Teachey of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia said, "Although most children with COVID-19 do not have severe disease, our study shows that there may be other effects of SARS-CoV-2 that are worthy of investigation." (With inputs from agencies)

Babies born during COVID-19 pandemic show ‘fascinating’ biological alterations, says study

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), on Monday (September 18), said that humans are driving the loss of entire branches of the “Tree of Life,” warning of the threat of a sixth mass extinction.&nbsp;

What makes this study unique is that it looks beyond just the examination of the loss of a species and rather examines the extinction of entire genera. The genus is essentially a biological classification which lies between the rank of species and that of family.

<h2>What did the study find?</h2>

The study is largely based on the species listed as extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and focuses on vertebrate species (excluding fish), for which more data is available.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/limited-human-activity-amid-lockdown-improved-mediterranean-marine-life-312923/#regaining-lost-space-312919">Limited human activity amid lockdown improved Mediterranean marine life</a> 
 
The researchers found that out of some 5,400 genera – which comprises some 34,600 species – 73 had become extinct in the last 500 years with most of them disappearing in the last two centuries. This was also compared with the extinction rate estimated from the fossil record over the very long term.&nbsp;

Explaining the severity of the situation, the co-author of the study and professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Gerardo Ceballos told news agency AFP, “Based on the extinction rate in the previous million years we would have expected to lose two genera. But we lost 73.”&nbsp;

The study also gave a rough estimate – since not all species are known and the fossil record remains incomplete – that this process should have taken at least 18,000 years, not 500. “What is at stake is the future of mankind,” Ceballos said.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/six-out-of-9-planetary-boundaries-breached-earth-increasingly-becoming-inhabitable-for-humans-scientists-635963">Six out of 9 planetary boundaries breached, Earth increasingly becoming uninhabitable for humans: Scientists</a>

<h2>Impact of human activity</h2>

Scientists have attributed this rapid change and loss to human activities like the destruction of habitats for crops or infrastructure, as well as overfishing, hunting and so on. Ceballos also warned how the loss of one genus can have consequences for an entire ecosystem.&nbsp;

“It is a really significant contribution, I think the first time anyone has attempted to assess modern extinction rates at a level above the species,” Robert Cowie, a biologist at the University of Hawaii who was not involved in the study, told AFP about the research.&nbsp;

“As such it really demonstrates the loss of entire branches of the Tree of Life,” a representation of living things first developed by Charles Darwin.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/explained-what-is-anthropocene-the-new-epoch-marked-by-human-impact-614721">Explained | What is Anthropocene? The new epoch marked by damaging human impact</a> 
 
The study shows that “we aren’t just trimming terminal twigs, but rather are taking a chainsaw to get rid of big branches,” Anthony Barnosky, professor emeritus at the University of California, told AFP.&nbsp;

Scientists broadly define a mass extinction as the loss of 75 per cent of species over a short period of time and by that “arbitrary,” definition a sixth mass extinction has not yet occurred, said Cowie, but warned that if “species continue to go extinct at the current rate (or faster), then it will happen.”&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

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A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), on Monday (September 18), said that humans are driving the loss of entire branches of the “Tree of Life,” warning of the threat of a sixth mass extinction.

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), on Monday (September 18), said that humans are driving the loss of entire branches of the “Tree of Life,” warning of the threat of a sixth mass extinction. What makes this study unique is that it looks beyond just the examination of the loss of a species and rather examines the extinction of entire genera. The genus is essentially a biological classification which lies between the rank of species and that of family. What did the study find? The study is largely based on the species listed as extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and focuses on vertebrate species (excluding fish), for which more data is available. ALSO READ | Limited human activity amid lockdown improved Mediterranean marine life The researchers found that out of some 5,400 genera – which comprises some 34,600 species – 73 had become extinct in the last 500 years with most of them disappearing in the last two centuries. This was also compared with the extinction rate estimated from the fossil record over the very long term. Explaining the severity of the situation, the co-author of the study and professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Gerardo Ceballos told news agency AFP, “Based on the extinction rate in the previous million years we would have expected to lose two genera. But we lost 73.” The study also gave a rough estimate – since not all species are known and the fossil record remains incomplete – that this process should have taken at least 18,000 years, not 500. “What is at stake is the future of mankind,” Ceballos said. ALSO READ | Six out of 9 planetary boundaries breached, Earth increasingly becoming uninhabitable for humans: Scientists Impact of human activity Scientists have attributed this rapid change and loss to human activities like the destruction of habitats for crops or infrastructure, as well as overfishing, hunting and so on. Ceballos also warned how the loss of one genus can have consequences for an entire ecosystem. “It is a really significant contribution, I think the first time anyone has attempted to assess modern extinction rates at a level above the species,” Robert Cowie, a biologist at the University of Hawaii who was not involved in the study, told AFP about the research. “As such it really demonstrates the loss of entire branches of the Tree of Life,” a representation of living things first developed by Charles Darwin. ALSO READ | Explained | What is Anthropocene? The new epoch marked by damaging human impact The study shows that “we aren’t just trimming terminal twigs, but rather are taking a chainsaw to get rid of big branches,” Anthony Barnosky, professor emeritus at the University of California, told AFP. Scientists broadly define a mass extinction as the loss of 75 per cent of species over a short period of time and by that “arbitrary,” definition a sixth mass extinction has not yet occurred, said Cowie, but warned that if “species continue to go extinct at the current rate (or faster), then it will happen.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Humans are driving loss of entire branches of ‘Tree of Life,’ warn scientists

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.&nbsp;

Without citing any evidence, US President Joe Biden claimed on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is looking to use biological and chemical weapons in Ukraine invasion. &nbsp;

The accusations of Russia about Kyiv possessing these are false, said the US leader. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-invasion-triggers-patriotism-wave-in-ukraine-turns-inspiring-tattoos-billboards-popular-464172" hreflang="en">Russian invasion triggers patriotism wave in Ukraine, turns inspiring tattoos, billboards popular</a>

At a Business Roundtable event, Biden said, Putin's "back is against the wall and now he's talking about new false flags he's setting up including, asserting that we in America have biological as well as chemical weapons in Europe, simply not true." &nbsp;

"They are also suggesting that Ukraine has biological and chemical weapons in Ukraine. That's a clear sign he’s considering using both of those," added Biden, according to a Reuters report.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-heavy-bombardment-follows-mariupol-forced-to-bury-dead-on-roadside-in-makeshift-graves-464161" hreflang="en">Russia-Ukraine War: As heavy bombardment follows, Mariupol forced to bury dead on roadside in makeshift graves</a>

Earlier, several officials in Washington and allied countries have also accused Russia of spreading an unproven claim about Ukraine having a biological weapons programme as an excuse to potentially launch its own such attacks. &nbsp;

The defence ministry of Russia has accused Ukraine of looking to hold a chemical attack against its own people to accuse Moscow of using chemical weapons in the invasion. It has not supported its accusation with any evidence. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. Without citing any evidence, US President Joe Biden claimed on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is looking to use biological and chemical weapons in Ukraine invasion. The accusations of Russia about Kyiv possessing these are false, said the US leader. Also Read: Russian invasion triggers patriotism wave in Ukraine, turns inspiring tattoos, billboards popular At a Business Roundtable event, Biden said, Putin's "back is against the wall and now he's talking about new false flags he's setting up including, asserting that we in America have biological as well as chemical weapons in Europe, simply not true." "They are also suggesting that Ukraine has biological and chemical weapons in Ukraine. That's a clear sign he’s considering using both of those," added Biden, according to a Reuters report. Also Read: Russia-Ukraine War: As heavy bombardment follows, Mariupol forced to bury dead on roadside in makeshift graves Earlier, several officials in Washington and allied countries have also accused Russia of spreading an unproven claim about Ukraine having a biological weapons programme as an excuse to potentially launch its own such attacks. The defence ministry of Russia has accused Ukraine of looking to hold a chemical attack against its own people to accuse Moscow of using chemical weapons in the invasion. It has not supported its accusation with any evidence. (With inputs from agencies)

Putin looking to use biological, chemical weapons in Ukraine, Biden claims without proof

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