It might come as a shock that doppelgängers do not only have similar faces, but their genetics may also be similar.&nbsp;

New research published on Tuesday (August 23) sheds light upon those with striking resemblances. It says they might share many genetic variants, beyond those that shape the appearance of the face and body.&nbsp;

As per the research, the lookalikes may even have similarities in other general aspects of their life and personality traits.&nbsp;

A paper titled "Look-alike humans identified by facial recognition algorithms show genetic similarities" is published in the journal Cell Reports. It mentions that doppelgängers tend to share some of the same genetic variants associated with both physical and behavioural or lifestyle traits.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/dangling-upside-down-some-spiders-may-sleep-and-dream-like-humans-study-suggests-508739">Dangling upside down, some spiders may sleep and dream like humans: Study</a>&nbsp;

A team of researchers characterised in detail a set of "look-alike" humans, who are defined by facial recognition algorithms, for their multi-omics landscape.&nbsp;

And after the analysis, they can report that these individuals share similar genotypes and differ in their DNA methylation and microbiome landscape.&nbsp;

Manel Esteller, a researcher from the Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute in Barcelona, Spain and his colleagues explored their interest to understand the other similarities these pairs might share.&nbsp;

To conduct the research, the team used images of 32 sets of doubles from Canadian artist François Brunelle, who has reportedly been documenting doppelgangers for years. &nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/dugongs-functional-extinction-in-china-due-to-habitat-destruction-a-wakeup-call-to-prioritise-efforts-509745">Dugong’s functional extinction in China due to habitat destruction, ‘a wakeup call’ to prioritise efforts</a>&nbsp;

The genes were then compared by the team. They also compared the behaviours of unrelated twins around the world.&nbsp;

Their images ran through facial recognition software in order to analyse the similarities between each pair.&nbsp;

Out of the total, 16 couples showed uncanny resemblance to each other, so much that they looked like real-life identical twins.&nbsp;

After that, the researcher tested the pairs with similarities using sophisticated DNA tests and lifestyle surveys. They yearned to find similarities other than their appearance. &nbsp;

"These results not only provide insights about the genetics that determine our face but also might have implications for the establishment of other human anthropometric properties and even personality characteristics," a part of the study read.&nbsp;

Esteller said: "This unique set of samples has allowed us to study how genomics, epigenomics, and microbiomics can contribute to human resemblance."&nbsp;

In an email to Gizmodo, Esteller said, "The results were that these lookalike humans had similar genetic sequences and are therefore like virtual twins, while their epigenetic and microorganism flora profiles differentiate them."&nbsp;

Gravitas: Breathtaking photos of Jupiter as captured by James Webb telescope

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-breathtaking-photos-of-jupiter-as-captured-by-james-webb-telescope-509922/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The study mentioned that the doppelgangers were more likely to have similar levels of education, height, weight and even smoking history.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

For 100% accuracy in the results, the researchers also made sure that they check whether or not the doppelgangers were closely related.&nbsp;

The study noted that they might share the same origin, country or ethnic background but they were apparently not related. The team found that only one pair might have had a common ancestor but that too in the last several hundred years.&nbsp;

Esteller said, "We think that the generation of some genetic similarities between these couples occurred by random chance. There are so many people on the planet that the system is repeating itself—the combinations of the genome are no longer infinite."&nbsp;

He added, “Thus, nature is very strong, but nurture tunes up the genome a little bit."&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

It might come as a shock that doppelgängers do not only have similar faces, but their genetics may also be similar. New research published on Tuesday (August 23) sheds light upon those with striking resemblances.

It might come as a shock that doppelgängers do not only have similar faces, but their genetics may also be similar. New research published on Tuesday (August 23) sheds light upon those with striking resemblances. It says they might share many genetic variants, beyond those that shape the appearance of the face and body. As per the research, the lookalikes may even have similarities in other general aspects of their life and personality traits. A paper titled "Look-alike humans identified by facial recognition algorithms show genetic similarities" is published in the journal Cell Reports. It mentions that doppelgängers tend to share some of the same genetic variants associated with both physical and behavioural or lifestyle traits. ALSO READ | Dangling upside down, some spiders may sleep and dream like humans: Study A team of researchers characterised in detail a set of "look-alike" humans, who are defined by facial recognition algorithms, for their multi-omics landscape. And after the analysis, they can report that these individuals share similar genotypes and differ in their DNA methylation and microbiome landscape. Manel Esteller, a researcher from the Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute in Barcelona, Spain and his colleagues explored their interest to understand the other similarities these pairs might share. To conduct the research, the team used images of 32 sets of doubles from Canadian artist François Brunelle, who has reportedly been documenting doppelgangers for years. ALSO READ | Dugong’s functional extinction in China due to habitat destruction, ‘a wakeup call’ to prioritise efforts The genes were then compared by the team. They also compared the behaviours of unrelated twins around the world. Their images ran through facial recognition software in order to analyse the similarities between each pair. Out of the total, 16 couples showed uncanny resemblance to each other, so much that they looked like real-life identical twins. After that, the researcher tested the pairs with similarities using sophisticated DNA tests and lifestyle surveys. They yearned to find similarities other than their appearance. "These results not only provide insights about the genetics that determine our face but also might have implications for the establishment of other human anthropometric properties and even personality characteristics," a part of the study read. Esteller said: "This unique set of samples has allowed us to study how genomics, epigenomics, and microbiomics can contribute to human resemblance." In an email to Gizmodo, Esteller said, "The results were that these lookalike humans had similar genetic sequences and are therefore like virtual twins, while their epigenetic and microorganism flora profiles differentiate them." Gravitas: Breathtaking photos of Jupiter as captured by James Webb telescope × The study mentioned that the doppelgangers were more likely to have similar levels of education, height, weight and even smoking history. For 100% accuracy in the results, the researchers also made sure that they check whether or not the doppelgangers were closely related. The study noted that they might share the same origin, country or ethnic background but they were apparently not related. The team found that only one pair might have had a common ancestor but that too in the last several hundred years. Esteller said, "We think that the generation of some genetic similarities between these couples occurred by random chance. There are so many people on the planet that the system is repeating itself—the combinations of the genome are no longer infinite." He added, “Thus, nature is very strong, but nurture tunes up the genome a little bit." 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.

Just not the face, some doppelgängers might have same DNA also: Study

A U.S. House Intelligence Committee member cautioned that bioweapons using a target's DNA to kill only that individual are being created. US Representative Jason Crow of Colorado spoke on Friday at the Aspen Security Forum and cautioned Americans not to be too careless about sharing their DNA with private firms due to the impending arrival of the new type of weapon. "You can target a biological weapon that will kill that person or take them off the battlefield or make them inoperable," Crow said. "You can take someone's DNA, you know, take their medical profile," he added.

Given the prevalence of DNA testing services, where customers voluntarily share their genetic mapping with companies to learn more about their ancestry and health, the congressman said it is concerning that these weapons are being developed. Although 23andMe has maintained time and time again that it does not sell its customers' private information, it is one of many DNA companies that have done so when asked by the police.&nbsp;

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, US Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa claimed that the US's adversaries may deploy such DNA bioweapons to attack food supply on a large scale. Ernst forewarned that specific animals relied upon by civilians, armies, or towns could be the target of biological weapons, resulting in scarcity and food poverty and weakening populations.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-claims-that-united-states-engaged-in-biological-warfare-in-ukraine-500254">North Korea claims that United States engaged in biological warfare in Ukraine</a>

The Washington Examiner published an article earlier this week detailing how simple it would be to create bioweapons similar to those promoted by Crow using privately owned datasets. The article described how a target's DNA, or the DNA of a target's close relative, might be taken and utilised to create a biological weapon that could only be used against that specific person. Technology like that could enable extremely targeted assassination programmes while simultaneously making it much more difficult to find murderers. By creating weapons that specifically target a certain type of farm animal or produce, similar technology may be used against US agriculture. That might cause starvation and bring down the US in the face of hostile actions from a rival like Russia or China.

(with inputs from agencies)

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

A U.S. House Intelligence Committee member cautioned that bioweapons using a target's DNA to kill only that individual are being created. US Representative Jason Crow of Colorado spoke on Friday at the Aspen Security Forum and cautioned Americans not to be too careless about sharing their DNA with private firms due to the impending arrival of the new type of weapon.

A U.S. House Intelligence Committee member cautioned that bioweapons using a target's DNA to kill only that individual are being created. US Representative Jason Crow of Colorado spoke on Friday at the Aspen Security Forum and cautioned Americans not to be too careless about sharing their DNA with private firms due to the impending arrival of the new type of weapon. "You can target a biological weapon that will kill that person or take them off the battlefield or make them inoperable," Crow said. "You can take someone's DNA, you know, take their medical profile," he added. Given the prevalence of DNA testing services, where customers voluntarily share their genetic mapping with companies to learn more about their ancestry and health, the congressman said it is concerning that these weapons are being developed. Although 23andMe has maintained time and time again that it does not sell its customers' private information, it is one of many DNA companies that have done so when asked by the police. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, US Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa claimed that the US's adversaries may deploy such DNA bioweapons to attack food supply on a large scale. Ernst forewarned that specific animals relied upon by civilians, armies, or towns could be the target of biological weapons, resulting in scarcity and food poverty and weakening populations. Also Read: North Korea claims that United States engaged in biological warfare in Ukraine The Washington Examiner published an article earlier this week detailing how simple it would be to create bioweapons similar to those promoted by Crow using privately owned datasets. The article described how a target's DNA, or the DNA of a target's close relative, might be taken and utilised to create a biological weapon that could only be used against that specific person. Technology like that could enable extremely targeted assassination programmes while simultaneously making it much more difficult to find murderers. By creating weapons that specifically target a certain type of farm animal or produce, similar technology may be used against US agriculture. That might cause starvation and bring down the US in the face of hostile actions from a rival like Russia or China. (with inputs from agencies)

Ever heard about bio-weapons that use DNA to kill specific person? They are reality now

We are literally made of star stuff. Each atom and element in our bodies was forged in huge processes that make stars in the cosmos. We know this for sure. But there are still many opinions about the origin of life on Earth. Some scientists say that it originated on Earth, while others say that life was ‘brought’ to Earth by celestial bodies like meteorites and comets.

Now, a study has put forth an interesting argument that DNA, the very building blocks of life, originated in outer space. The study has been published in the journal Nature Communications. The researchers have found presence of nucleobases, compounds that form the DNA, in meteorites.

The researchers examined material from three meteorites. One of them fell to Earth in the year 1950. It fell near the town of Murray in Kentucky, USA. The second meteorite they studied fell in 1969 near Murchison in Australia’s Victoria State. The third one fell in 2000 in Canada’s British Columbia province.

“There is still much to learn about the chemical steps that led to the origin of life on Earth — the first self-replicating system. This research certainly adds to the list of chemical compounds that would have been present in the early Earth’s prebiotic (existing before the emergence of life) soup,” Danny Glavin of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight and co-author of the study told Reuters.

The findings in this study have&nbsp;reinforced the argument that life’s building blocks are extra-terrestrial in origin.

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

We are literally made of star stuff. Each atom and element in our bodies was forged in huge processes that make stars in the cosmos. We know this for sure. But there are still many opinions about the origin of life on Earth.

We are literally made of star stuff. Each atom and element in our bodies was forged in huge processes that make stars in the cosmos. We know this for sure. But there are still many opinions about the origin of life on Earth. Some scientists say that it originated on Earth, while others say that life was ‘brought’ to Earth by celestial bodies like meteorites and comets. Now, a study has put forth an interesting argument that DNA, the very building blocks of life, originated in outer space. The study has been published in the journal Nature Communications. The researchers have found presence of nucleobases, compounds that form the DNA, in meteorites. The researchers examined material from three meteorites. One of them fell to Earth in the year 1950. It fell near the town of Murray in Kentucky, USA. The second meteorite they studied fell in 1969 near Murchison in Australia’s Victoria State. The third one fell in 2000 in Canada’s British Columbia province. “There is still much to learn about the chemical steps that led to the origin of life on Earth — the first self-replicating system. This research certainly adds to the list of chemical compounds that would have been present in the early Earth’s prebiotic (existing before the emergence of life) soup,” Danny Glavin of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight and co-author of the study told Reuters. The findings in this study have reinforced the argument that life’s building blocks are extra-terrestrial in origin. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Our DNA came from space, says a scientific study

The Black Death was one of history's bloodiest pandemics, but its cause has long been a mystery. The bacteria that started it all could now be discovered in three graves in modern-day Kyrgyzstan, in Central Asia.The Kyrgyzstan grave pathogens appear to be the most recent common ancestor of the other groups when a genomic family tree of plague germs from ancient graves and those infecting people and animals now is set up.&nbsp;

According to Johannes Krause of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, "They are the strains that gave rise to the bulk of the strains that are circulating throughout the world today." "It's like the pandemic exploded in a tremendous explosion."

Excavations of a pair of 14th-century graveyards near the Issyk-Kul lake in Kyrgyzstan uncovered a high number of tombs inscribed with the dates 1338 and 1339 – several years before the siege in Crimea – according to Krause's colleague Philip Slavin of the University of Stirling in the United Kingdom. The reason of death for several of them was "pestilence."

"If you have one or two years of increased mortality, it suggests something strange happened," Slavin explains.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>Over the course of eight years, the Black Death killed up to 60% of the western Eurasian population, having a huge influence on the region's demography and socio-economic elements. Despite much research, the geographical origins of the second plague pandemic are unknown.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Over the course of eight years, the Black Death killed up to 60% of the western Eurasian population, having a huge influence on the region's demography and socio-economic elements. Despite much research, the geographical origins of the second plague pandemic are unknown." target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">×</a></div>
</div>
</div>

Krause and his team were able to retrieve DNA from three of the burials' human bones from the bacteria that causes plague, Yersinia pestis. They were able to create a family tree by sequencing this DNA and comparing it to other historical and present samples of plague bacterium DNA.

In several regions, the bacteria Yersinia pestis infects a variety of rodents. However, plague bacteria found in marmosets in the same Kyrgyzstan location are genetically the most similar to the old samples from the graves.

According to Krause, this shows that the epidemic may have spread from animals to humans in this area.

The disease, which is carried by rats and their fleas, is thought to have arrived at Messina, Sicily, in 1347 on trade ships arriving from the Black Sea. Bubonic plague causes swollen lymph nodes with blood and pus pouring out, with the illness spreading to the blood and lungs. It was untreatable at the time but is now curable with medications.

While the authors admit that the bacterium may possibly have originated elsewhere and moved to Central Asia without dramatically mutating, the evidence indicates that this was unlikely. 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

The Black Death was one of history's bloodiest pandemics, but its cause has long been a mystery. The bacteria that started it all could now be discovered in three graves in modern-day Kyrgyzstan, in Central Asia.

The Black Death was one of history's bloodiest pandemics, but its cause has long been a mystery. The bacteria that started it all could now be discovered in three graves in modern-day Kyrgyzstan, in Central Asia.The Kyrgyzstan grave pathogens appear to be the most recent common ancestor of the other groups when a genomic family tree of plague germs from ancient graves and those infecting people and animals now is set up. According to Johannes Krause of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, "They are the strains that gave rise to the bulk of the strains that are circulating throughout the world today." "It's like the pandemic exploded in a tremendous explosion." Excavations of a pair of 14th-century graveyards near the Issyk-Kul lake in Kyrgyzstan uncovered a high number of tombs inscribed with the dates 1338 and 1339 – several years before the siege in Crimea – according to Krause's colleague Philip Slavin of the University of Stirling in the United Kingdom. The reason of death for several of them was "pestilence." "If you have one or two years of increased mortality, it suggests something strange happened," Slavin explains. Over the course of eight years, the Black Death killed up to 60% of the western Eurasian population, having a huge influence on the region's demography and socio-economic elements. Despite much research, the geographical origins of the second plague pandemic are unknown. × Krause and his team were able to retrieve DNA from three of the burials' human bones from the bacteria that causes plague, Yersinia pestis. They were able to create a family tree by sequencing this DNA and comparing it to other historical and present samples of plague bacterium DNA. In several regions, the bacteria Yersinia pestis infects a variety of rodents. However, plague bacteria found in marmosets in the same Kyrgyzstan location are genetically the most similar to the old samples from the graves. According to Krause, this shows that the epidemic may have spread from animals to humans in this area. The disease, which is carried by rats and their fleas, is thought to have arrived at Messina, Sicily, in 1347 on trade ships arriving from the Black Sea. Bubonic plague causes swollen lymph nodes with blood and pus pouring out, with the illness spreading to the blood and lungs. It was untreatable at the time but is now curable with medications. While the authors admit that the bacterium may possibly have originated elsewhere and moved to Central Asia without dramatically mutating, the evidence indicates that this was unlikely. 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.

'Black death' that killed over 20 million: Researchers find origins of largest pandemic

Research suggests that about one in 500 men could be carrying an extra sex chromosome as previously thought, putting them at greater risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis and thrombosis.

The study further states that men who had an extra X or Y chromosome are less likely to be aware of their affliction.

In the study, published in Genetics in Medicine, the researchers analysed genetic data collected on over 200,000 UK men aged between 40 and 70 from UK Biobank, a biomedical database and research resource containing anonymised genetic, lifestyle and health information from half a million UK participants.

The researchers at the University of Exeter&nbsp;examined DNA from 207,067 men of European ancestry aged from 40 to 70 years old. They identified 231 men with an extra X chromosome and 143 men with an extra Y chromosome.&nbsp;

Sex chromosomes determine our biological sex. Men typically have one X and one Y chromosome. while women have two Xs. However, the study found out that some men also carry an extra X or Y chromosome —XXY or XYY—putting them at increased risk of health issues ranging from type 2 diabetes, blocked blood vessels and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)—a lung condition.

Yajie Zhao, a PhD student at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge, the study's first author, said in a statement, "Even though a significant number of men carry an extra sex chromosome, very few of them are likely to be aware of this. This extra chromosome means that they have substantially higher risks of a number of common metabolic, vascular, and respiratory diseases -- diseases that may be preventable”

Previous studies have found that around one in 1,000 females has an additional X chromosome, which can result in delayed language development and accelerated growth until puberty, as well as lower IQ levels compared to their peers.

"We'd need more research to assess whether there is additional value in wider screening for unusual chromosomes in the general population, but this could potentially lead to early interventions to help them avoid the related diseases,” Professor Ken Ong, also from the MRC Epidemiology Unit at Cambridge and joint senior author,&nbsp;said in a statement.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Research suggests that about one in 500 men could be carrying an extra sex chromosome as previously thought, putting them at greater risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis and thrombosis.

Research suggests that about one in 500 men could be carrying an extra sex chromosome as previously thought, putting them at greater risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis and thrombosis. The study further states that men who had an extra X or Y chromosome are less likely to be aware of their affliction. In the study, published in Genetics in Medicine, the researchers analysed genetic data collected on over 200,000 UK men aged between 40 and 70 from UK Biobank, a biomedical database and research resource containing anonymised genetic, lifestyle and health information from half a million UK participants. The researchers at the University of Exeter examined DNA from 207,067 men of European ancestry aged from 40 to 70 years old. They identified 231 men with an extra X chromosome and 143 men with an extra Y chromosome. Sex chromosomes determine our biological sex. Men typically have one X and one Y chromosome. while women have two Xs. However, the study found out that some men also carry an extra X or Y chromosome —XXY or XYY—putting them at increased risk of health issues ranging from type 2 diabetes, blocked blood vessels and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)—a lung condition. Yajie Zhao, a PhD student at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge, the study's first author, said in a statement, "Even though a significant number of men carry an extra sex chromosome, very few of them are likely to be aware of this. This extra chromosome means that they have substantially higher risks of a number of common metabolic, vascular, and respiratory diseases -- diseases that may be preventable” Previous studies have found that around one in 1,000 females has an additional X chromosome, which can result in delayed language development and accelerated growth until puberty, as well as lower IQ levels compared to their peers. "We'd need more research to assess whether there is additional value in wider screening for unusual chromosomes in the general population, but this could potentially lead to early interventions to help them avoid the related diseases,” Professor Ken Ong, also from the MRC Epidemiology Unit at Cambridge and joint senior author, said in a statement. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

1 in 500 men carry extra sex chromosome, putting them at great risk for diseases: Study

Scientists claimed to have discovered the exact reason how dogs became man’s best friend—the answer lies in the genes.

It has historically been argued that the domestication of dogs was an evolutionary process that started with the wolves about 33,000 years ago somewhere in Southeast Asia.

But a study suggests that dogs have a special gene that lowers their stress, making them more relaxed around people. The research says that this enabled a special relationship to develop between a man and a dog.

The Japanese researchers said that dogs carry two mutations of a gene known as MC2R (melanocortin 2 receptor), Newsweek reported.

This gene produces the hormone cortisol, nature's built-in alarm system which is released during fear or anxiety.

Co-author of the&nbsp;study, Professor Miho Nagasawa of Azabu University, was quoted as saying, "These findings imply MC2R played a role in the domestication of dogs, perhaps by promoting lower levels of stress around humans."

Nagasawa and colleagues investigated the interactions of 624 domestic dogs using two tasks.

In the first, the dog had to decide which bowl had food hidden under it based on cues, such as gazing, pointing and tapping. This experiment tested the animal’s understanding of human gestures and communication.

While the second looked at the social attachment to humans.

The dogs were given a problem-solving test, which involved them attempting to open a container in order to access food. The main of the study was to measure how often and long the dog spent looking at the researchers.

The dogs were separated into two groups depending on their breed – the ancient group (consisting of breeds considered genetically closer to wolves such as the Akita and Siberian Husky) and the general group (all other breeds which are more genetically distant from wolves).

The study found out that the dogs in the ancient group looked at the researchers less often than other dogs during the problem-solving task, suggesting that they were less attached to humans.

The researchers found there were no significant differences between the breeds in the first task.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/now-india-can-safeguard-animals-against-covid-with-its-own-jab-anocovax-read-details-here-486836" hreflang="en">Now, India can safeguard animals against Covid with its own jab, Anocovax. Read details here</a>

They then looked for differences in genes associated with human-related cognitive abilities between the groups.

According to the findings, two changes to the melanocortin 2 receptor (MC2R) gene were associated with both correctly interpreting gestures in the first task and gazing at the scientists more often in the problem-solving task.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/giant-tortoise-believed-to-gone-extinct-century-ago-found-alive-on-galapagos-islands-486788" hreflang="en">Giant tortoise believed to be extinct 100 yrs ago found on Galapagos Islands</a>

The researchers say this suggests the gene may have played a role in the domestication of dogs, perhaps by promoting lower levels of stress around humans.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Scientists claimed to have discovered the exact reason how dogs became man’s best friend—the answer lies in the genes. It has historically been argued that the domestication of dogs was an evolutionary process that started with the wolves about 33,000 years ago somewhere in Southeast Asia.

Scientists claimed to have discovered the exact reason how dogs became man’s best friend—the answer lies in the genes. It has historically been argued that the domestication of dogs was an evolutionary process that started with the wolves about 33,000 years ago somewhere in Southeast Asia. But a study suggests that dogs have a special gene that lowers their stress, making them more relaxed around people. The research says that this enabled a special relationship to develop between a man and a dog. The Japanese researchers said that dogs carry two mutations of a gene known as MC2R (melanocortin 2 receptor), Newsweek reported. This gene produces the hormone cortisol, nature's built-in alarm system which is released during fear or anxiety. Co-author of the study, Professor Miho Nagasawa of Azabu University, was quoted as saying, "These findings imply MC2R played a role in the domestication of dogs, perhaps by promoting lower levels of stress around humans." Nagasawa and colleagues investigated the interactions of 624 domestic dogs using two tasks. In the first, the dog had to decide which bowl had food hidden under it based on cues, such as gazing, pointing and tapping. This experiment tested the animal’s understanding of human gestures and communication. While the second looked at the social attachment to humans. The dogs were given a problem-solving test, which involved them attempting to open a container in order to access food. The main of the study was to measure how often and long the dog spent looking at the researchers. The dogs were separated into two groups depending on their breed – the ancient group (consisting of breeds considered genetically closer to wolves such as the Akita and Siberian Husky) and the general group (all other breeds which are more genetically distant from wolves). The study found out that the dogs in the ancient group looked at the researchers less often than other dogs during the problem-solving task, suggesting that they were less attached to humans. The researchers found there were no significant differences between the breeds in the first task. Also read | Now, India can safeguard animals against Covid with its own jab, Anocovax. Read details here They then looked for differences in genes associated with human-related cognitive abilities between the groups. According to the findings, two changes to the melanocortin 2 receptor (MC2R) gene were associated with both correctly interpreting gestures in the first task and gazing at the scientists more often in the problem-solving task. Also read | Giant tortoise believed to be extinct 100 yrs ago found on Galapagos Islands The researchers say this suggests the gene may have played a role in the domestication of dogs, perhaps by promoting lower levels of stress around humans. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Scientists finally decode how dogs became man’s best friend

In a first, scientists have successfully sequenced the genome of Pompeii's victims from the remains of a man and woman buried who were buried when the Roman city was engulfed in volcanic ash.

The study, which has been published in the journal Scientific Reports, has analysed the first "Pompeian human genome".

Encased in time-hardened ash, the DNA was preserved in bodies that were first discovered in 1933 inside Casa del Fabbro, or 'The Craftsman's House.'

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/archaeologists-discover-2000-year-old-slave-room-at-pompeii-italy-427562/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Almost as though they were having lunch when the eruption occurred on 24 August 79AD, both bodies were slumped in the corner of the dining room.

Now scientists at the University of Copenhagen were only able to sequence the entire genome from the man’s remains due to gaps in the sequences obtained from the woman.

“Being charcoal, fragile and evanescent, which could not last a long time, it is more than likely that it was written in October 79 AD,” said Massimo Osanna, head of the Pompeii site.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/residents-of-pompeii-suffocated-within-15-minutes-after-volcanic-eruption-finds-study-372466">Also read |&nbsp;Residents of Pompeii suffocated within 15 minutes after volcanic eruption, finds study</a>

Gabriele Scorrano, from the Lundbeck GeoGenetics centre in Copenhagen, who led the study, "It was all about the preservation of the skeletons."

"It's the first thing we looked at, and it looked promising, so we decided to give [DNA extraction] a shot."

"New sequencing machines can [read] several whole genomes at the same time," he said.

According to Serena Viva, an anthropologist at the University in Salento who was on the study’s team, “This could have been the reason for which they waited for it all to finish, maybe in the security of their home, compared to other victims who were fleeing and whose remains were found in open spaces.”&nbsp;

“In the future many more genomes from Pompeii can be studied,” said Viva.&nbsp;

“The victims of Pompeii experienced a natural catastrophe, a thermal shock, and it was not known that you could preserve their genetic material. This study provides this confirmation, and that new technology on genetic analysis allows us to sequence genomes also on damaged material.” 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Watch WION's live TV here:

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

In a first, scientists have successfully sequenced the genome of Pompeii's victims from the remains of a man and woman buried who were buried when the Roman city was engulfed in volcanic ash.

In a first, scientists have successfully sequenced the genome of Pompeii's victims from the remains of a man and woman buried who were buried when the Roman city was engulfed in volcanic ash. The study, which has been published in the journal Scientific Reports, has analysed the first "Pompeian human genome". Encased in time-hardened ash, the DNA was preserved in bodies that were first discovered in 1933 inside Casa del Fabbro, or 'The Craftsman's House.' Almost as though they were having lunch when the eruption occurred on 24 August 79AD, both bodies were slumped in the corner of the dining room. Now scientists at the University of Copenhagen were only able to sequence the entire genome from the man’s remains due to gaps in the sequences obtained from the woman. “Being charcoal, fragile and evanescent, which could not last a long time, it is more than likely that it was written in October 79 AD,” said Massimo Osanna, head of the Pompeii site. Also read | Residents of Pompeii suffocated within 15 minutes after volcanic eruption, finds study Gabriele Scorrano, from the Lundbeck GeoGenetics centre in Copenhagen, who led the study, "It was all about the preservation of the skeletons." "It's the first thing we looked at, and it looked promising, so we decided to give [DNA extraction] a shot." "New sequencing machines can [read] several whole genomes at the same time," he said. According to Serena Viva, an anthropologist at the University in Salento who was on the study’s team, “This could have been the reason for which they waited for it all to finish, maybe in the security of their home, compared to other victims who were fleeing and whose remains were found in open spaces.” “In the future many more genomes from Pompeii can be studied,” said Viva. “The victims of Pompeii experienced a natural catastrophe, a thermal shock, and it was not known that you could preserve their genetic material. This study provides this confirmation, and that new technology on genetic analysis allows us to sequence genomes also on damaged material.” (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here:

Scientists successfully sequence genome of Pompeii's victims for the first time

The tropics are a paradise for everyone but a skeleton. Humidity keeps rainforests green but does little to preserve bodies, leading to a dearth of ancient skeletal remains in neotropical regions such as Central America.

But deep in the jungles of Belize, under the dry refuge of two rock shelters, the skeletons of people who died as many as 9,600 years ago have been exceptionally well preserved. Their bones offer a rare glimpse into the region’s ancient genetic history, which is largely unknown.

A group of scientists has extracted these ancient people’s DNA, offering new insight into the genetic history of people in the Maya region. The paper was published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications. The researchers identified a previously unknown mass migration from the south more than 5,600 years ago that preceded the advent of intensive maize farming in the region. This migration of people, who are most closely related to present-day speakers of the Chibchan languages, contributed more than 50% of the ancestry of Mayan-speaking peoples today.

Lisa Lucero, an anthropologist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who specializes in the ancestral Maya and was not involved with the research, said the new results “have the potential to revise and rewrite the early history of the First Americans.”

Xavier Roca-Rada, a doctoral student at the University of Adelaide, said the results “fill a gap between the oldest previously studied individuals from the Maya region and the time before the settling of Mesoamerica.”

The new paper emerged from ongoing excavations led by authors Keith Prufer, an environmental archaeologist at the University of New Mexico, and Douglas Kennett, an archaeologist at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The researchers have been excavating two rock shelters in the Bladen Nature Reserve, a remote and protected area of Belize that kept the sites, which were used as cemeteries, undisturbed for thousands of years. “People just kept going back to them over and over and over again and burying the dead,” Prufer said.

The shelters were also occupied by the living, who made tools and cooked, evidenced by the buried bones of armadillos, deer and a type of rodent called a paca, Prufer said. The bottom of the excavated pit held a piece of a giant sloth, which may have even predated human occupation of the shelter, he said.

The excavations also revealed a secret, formerly slimy layer of protection underground. Around 5,000 to 6,000 years ago, before the classic period of the Maya, people harvested tiny Pachychilus snails for food. “They would boil them and lop off the end of the shell and eat the flesh out of them,” Prufer said. Whoever inhabited these shelters feasted on these snails, and their discarded shells shielded bodies buried below. “This layer of snails actually protected the lower burials from the Maya digging through them,” he said.

Kennett and Prufer study these early burials to understand how the region transitioned from hunting and gathering to the development of intensive agriculture of maize, chili peppers and manioc (also called cassava). In a 2020 paper, they described evidence of maize consumption in the bones of individuals who lived 4,000 to 4,700 years ago.

David Reich, a geneticist at Harvard Medical School, led the extraction of ancient DNA from 20 individuals buried in the shelters over the course of 6,000 years. The analysis revealed several human migrations into the Maya region, in what is now southeastern Mexico and northern Central America.

They found three distinct groups: one living 7,300 to 9,600 years ago, another living between 3,700 and 5,600 years ago and a third group of modern Maya people. The first group appears genetically linked to a southward migration through the Americas during the Pleistocene. But the second group was related genetically to the ancestors of Chibchan speakers living farther south.

The authors hypothesize that this population turnover came from a mass migration from the south. “That was the spectacular result,” Kennett said.

The finding overturns an old assumption that farming technology spread through the Americas by the diffusion of crops and practices — the spread of knowledge as opposed to the spread of people, Reich said. The new results suggest this migration was critical to spreading farming, such as a scenario in which Chibchan speakers migrated northward with varieties of maize, which they then cultivated and spread in local populations, the authors wrote.

“People were actually moving into the region from the south, carrying these domesticated plants and also the systems of knowledge about how to grow them,” Kennett said.

David Mora-Marín, a linguistic anthropologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an author on the paper, conducted an analysis of early Chibchan and Mayan languages. He found that a term for maize had diffused from the Chibchan language into Mayan languages, further supporting the idea of a Chibchan origin of maize.

The field of ancient DNA has been criticized for a lack of ethics or appropriate engagement with communities that may be descended from the ancient humans being studied.

Kennett and Prufer conducted their archaeological research with the Ya’axché Conservation Trust, a Belizean nongovernmental organization that is largely staffed by descendants of Maya communities. The researchers consulted with these communities, presented results from studies and translated summaries of findings into the Mopan and Q’eqchi’ languages at the locals’ request. In the discussions, the communities expressed a desire to learn more about the diets and precolonial family units of the ancient people living in the cave. Because of these conversations, the authors placed a greater emphasis on these topics in the paper, Kennett said.

Krystal Tsosie, a genetics researcher at Vanderbilt University, said she wanted to see a more detailed description of how the community’s feedback influenced the paper. Tsosie added, “The process of proper engagement also means properly and transparently crediting the community members for informing and enriching the research.”

Ripan Malhi, a genetic anthropologist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, noted that the authors uploaded the ancient DNA data to a public database “with no safeguards or limitations on use indicated.” Ancient DNA can offer a shortcut to the DNA of modern communities without their consent. “This may have implications for the present-day Maya in the region,” he said.

Lucero and Roca-Rada said that more data was needed to prove the researchers’ hypothesis that a southern migration had brought maize to the Maya region. To Lucero, the question is whether researchers should acquire that data. “Should we dig up ancestors?” he asked. “Would we want someone to dig up ours to answer interesting yet nonvital research questions?”

Kennett and Prufer last visited Belize in January 2020 to present the preliminary results from the new paper to Maya communities. The pandemic has since prohibited the researchers’ return, but Prufer said they hoped to go back this summer to continue excavating and “keep our promise to return each year that we work and update everybody.”

The tropics are a paradise for everyone but a skeleton. Humidity keeps rainforests green but does little to preserve bodies, leading to a dearth of ancient skeletal remains in neotropical regions such as Central America.

The tropics are a paradise for everyone but a skeleton. Humidity keeps rainforests green but does little to preserve bodies, leading to a dearth of ancient skeletal remains in neotropical regions such as Central America. But deep in the jungles of Belize, under the dry refuge of two rock shelters, the skeletons of people who died as many as 9,600 years ago have been exceptionally well preserved. Their bones offer a rare glimpse into the region’s ancient genetic history, which is largely unknown. A group of scientists has extracted these ancient people’s DNA, offering new insight into the genetic history of people in the Maya region. The paper was published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications. The researchers identified a previously unknown mass migration from the south more than 5,600 years ago that preceded the advent of intensive maize farming in the region. This migration of people, who are most closely related to present-day speakers of the Chibchan languages, contributed more than 50% of the ancestry of Mayan-speaking peoples today. Lisa Lucero, an anthropologist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who specializes in the ancestral Maya and was not involved with the research, said the new results “have the potential to revise and rewrite the early history of the First Americans.” Xavier Roca-Rada, a doctoral student at the University of Adelaide, said the results “fill a gap between the oldest previously studied individuals from the Maya region and the time before the settling of Mesoamerica.” The new paper emerged from ongoing excavations led by authors Keith Prufer, an environmental archaeologist at the University of New Mexico, and Douglas Kennett, an archaeologist at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The researchers have been excavating two rock shelters in the Bladen Nature Reserve, a remote and protected area of Belize that kept the sites, which were used as cemeteries, undisturbed for thousands of years. “People just kept going back to them over and over and over again and burying the dead,” Prufer said. The shelters were also occupied by the living, who made tools and cooked, evidenced by the buried bones of armadillos, deer and a type of rodent called a paca, Prufer said. The bottom of the excavated pit held a piece of a giant sloth, which may have even predated human occupation of the shelter, he said. The excavations also revealed a secret, formerly slimy layer of protection underground. Around 5,000 to 6,000 years ago, before the classic period of the Maya, people harvested tiny Pachychilus snails for food. “They would boil them and lop off the end of the shell and eat the flesh out of them,” Prufer said. Whoever inhabited these shelters feasted on these snails, and their discarded shells shielded bodies buried below. “This layer of snails actually protected the lower burials from the Maya digging through them,” he said. Kennett and Prufer study these early burials to understand how the region transitioned from hunting and gathering to the development of intensive agriculture of maize, chili peppers and manioc (also called cassava). In a 2020 paper, they described evidence of maize consumption in the bones of individuals who lived 4,000 to 4,700 years ago. David Reich, a geneticist at Harvard Medical School, led the extraction of ancient DNA from 20 individuals buried in the shelters over the course of 6,000 years. The analysis revealed several human migrations into the Maya region, in what is now southeastern Mexico and northern Central America. They found three distinct groups: one living 7,300 to 9,600 years ago, another living between 3,700 and 5,600 years ago and a third group of modern Maya people. The first group appears genetically linked to a southward migration through the Americas during the Pleistocene. But the second group was related genetically to the ancestors of Chibchan speakers living farther south. The authors hypothesize that this population turnover came from a mass migration from the south. “That was the spectacular result,” Kennett said. The finding overturns an old assumption that farming technology spread through the Americas by the diffusion of crops and practices — the spread of knowledge as opposed to the spread of people, Reich said. The new results suggest this migration was critical to spreading farming, such as a scenario in which Chibchan speakers migrated northward with varieties of maize, which they then cultivated and spread in local populations, the authors wrote. “People were actually moving into the region from the south, carrying these domesticated plants and also the systems of knowledge about how to grow them,” Kennett said. David Mora-Marín, a linguistic anthropologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an author on the paper, conducted an analysis of early Chibchan and Mayan languages. He found that a term for maize had diffused from the Chibchan language into Mayan languages, further supporting the idea of a Chibchan origin of maize. The field of ancient DNA has been criticized for a lack of ethics or appropriate engagement with communities that may be descended from the ancient humans being studied. Kennett and Prufer conducted their archaeological research with the Ya’axché Conservation Trust, a Belizean nongovernmental organization that is largely staffed by descendants of Maya communities. The researchers consulted with these communities, presented results from studies and translated summaries of findings into the Mopan and Q’eqchi’ languages at the locals’ request. In the discussions, the communities expressed a desire to learn more about the diets and precolonial family units of the ancient people living in the cave. Because of these conversations, the authors placed a greater emphasis on these topics in the paper, Kennett said. Krystal Tsosie, a genetics researcher at Vanderbilt University, said she wanted to see a more detailed description of how the community’s feedback influenced the paper. Tsosie added, “The process of proper engagement also means properly and transparently crediting the community members for informing and enriching the research.” Ripan Malhi, a genetic anthropologist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, noted that the authors uploaded the ancient DNA data to a public database “with no safeguards or limitations on use indicated.” Ancient DNA can offer a shortcut to the DNA of modern communities without their consent. “This may have implications for the present-day Maya in the region,” he said. Lucero and Roca-Rada said that more data was needed to prove the researchers’ hypothesis that a southern migration had brought maize to the Maya region. To Lucero, the question is whether researchers should acquire that data. “Should we dig up ancestors?” he asked. “Would we want someone to dig up ours to answer interesting yet nonvital research questions?” Kennett and Prufer last visited Belize in January 2020 to present the preliminary results from the new paper to Maya communities. The pandemic has since prohibited the researchers’ return, but Prufer said they hoped to go back this summer to continue excavating and “keep our promise to return each year that we work and update everybody.”

Human migration brought maize to Maya region, study finds

A DNA study has revealed that endangered sharks have been found in cat and dog food. Several brands consisted of endangered species. However, they listed only vague ingredients such as “ocean fish."

The study used DNA barcoding. As a part of the analysis, the scientists tested 45 pet food products from 16 brands in Singapore.&nbsp;

Most products used generic terms such as “fish”, “ocean fish”, “whitebait” or “white fish” in the ingredients. Some others specified as they listed tuna or salmon. There were also a few brands that did not indicate fish at all.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-is-undergoing-sixth-mass-extinction-and-things-dont-look-good-for-humans-458842">Also read |&nbsp;World is undergoing sixth mass extinction and things don't look good for humans</a>

Study authors Ben Wainwright and Ian French, of Yale-NUS College, Singapore in a report by The Guardian said, "The majority of pet owners are likely lovers of nature, and we think most would be alarmed to discover that they could be unknowingly contributing to the overfishing of shark populations."

Shark populations are depleted all across the world. There has been a decline of over 70 per cent in the past 50 years.&nbsp;

It was concluded that out of the 144 samples sequenced, 45 contained shark DNA. The most frequently identified species were blue shark, silky shark and whitetip reef shark.

(With inputs from agencies)

A DNA study has revealed that endangered sharks have been found in cat and dog food. Several brands consisted of endangered species. However, they listed only vague ingredients such as “ocean fish.

A DNA study has revealed that endangered sharks have been found in cat and dog food. Several brands consisted of endangered species. However, they listed only vague ingredients such as “ocean fish." The study used DNA barcoding. As a part of the analysis, the scientists tested 45 pet food products from 16 brands in Singapore. Most products used generic terms such as “fish”, “ocean fish”, “whitebait” or “white fish” in the ingredients. Some others specified as they listed tuna or salmon. There were also a few brands that did not indicate fish at all. Also read | World is undergoing sixth mass extinction and things don't look good for humans Study authors Ben Wainwright and Ian French, of Yale-NUS College, Singapore in a report by The Guardian said, "The majority of pet owners are likely lovers of nature, and we think most would be alarmed to discover that they could be unknowingly contributing to the overfishing of shark populations." Shark populations are depleted all across the world. There has been a decline of over 70 per cent in the past 50 years. It was concluded that out of the 144 samples sequenced, 45 contained shark DNA. The most frequently identified species were blue shark, silky shark and whitetip reef shark. (With inputs from agencies)

DNA study shows endangered sharks found in cat and dog food

In the latest revelation, DNA reports have shown that the 500-pound black bear nicknamed Hank the Tank is not one single bear. They are at least three not-so-little bears who have damaged more than 30 properties.&nbsp;

According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), the bear has caused extensive damage at 33 properties and forcefully entered at least 28 homes. The giant bear has eluded capture for more than seven months.

"The incidents primarily occurred during the summer and fall of 2021, when the bear was in hyperphagia, adding calories to survive the winter," said wildlife department spokesperson Peter Tira.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife has said that it would begin to trap bears in the South Lake Tahoe area.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/california-police-is-looking-for-this-500-pound-notorious-bear-for-breaking-into-homes-455771">Also read |&nbsp;California police is looking for this 500-pound notorious bear for breaking into homes</a>

This is being done to tag the animals and collect evidence for genetic analysis. The bears will soon be released in a 'suitable habitat.'

Hank the Tank bear is responsible for more than 150 incident reports in the region straddling Northern California and Nevada.

The bear smashed a window and squeezed into the house on Catalina Drive while the residents were at home. Police responded and banged on the outside of the house until Hank exited out the back door and disappeared into the woods.

Also known as Jake or Yogi or simply Big Guy, the bear is what Tira described as a “severely food habituated bear” that has “lost all fear of people” and thinks of them as a food source.

(With inputs from agencies)

In the latest revelation, DNA reports have shown that the 500-pound black bear nicknamed Hank the Tank is not one single bear. They are at least three not-so-little bears who have damaged more than 30 properties.

In the latest revelation, DNA reports have shown that the 500-pound black bear nicknamed Hank the Tank is not one single bear. They are at least three not-so-little bears who have damaged more than 30 properties. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), the bear has caused extensive damage at 33 properties and forcefully entered at least 28 homes. The giant bear has eluded capture for more than seven months. "The incidents primarily occurred during the summer and fall of 2021, when the bear was in hyperphagia, adding calories to survive the winter," said wildlife department spokesperson Peter Tira. The Department of Fish and Wildlife has said that it would begin to trap bears in the South Lake Tahoe area. Also read | California police is looking for this 500-pound notorious bear for breaking into homes This is being done to tag the animals and collect evidence for genetic analysis. The bears will soon be released in a 'suitable habitat.' Hank the Tank bear is responsible for more than 150 incident reports in the region straddling Northern California and Nevada. The bear smashed a window and squeezed into the house on Catalina Drive while the residents were at home. Police responded and banged on the outside of the house until Hank exited out the back door and disappeared into the woods. Also known as Jake or Yogi or simply Big Guy, the bear is what Tira described as a “severely food habituated bear” that has “lost all fear of people” and thinks of them as a food source. (With inputs from agencies)

DNA reveals that ‘Hank the Tank’ is not a single bear but three bears

In Africa, the population of Elephants has drastically declined due to poaching. They are the main targets of the illegal ivory trade in the country. But now, the DNA in their tusks could map the trafficking network pointing towards the very criminal groups that poached them.

Africa: Researchers tracing tusk DNA of Elephants to reveal trafficking networks

French President Emmanuel&nbsp;Macron&nbsp;refused&nbsp;a Kremlin request to take a&nbsp;Russian Covid test&nbsp;when he arrived to see President Vladimir&nbsp;Putin. There were many speculations as to why this was done. However, a Reuters report has now revealed that this was done to prevent Russia getting hold of&nbsp;Macron's&nbsp;DNA.&nbsp;

This is why Macron was kept at a distance from the&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;leader during the talks on the Ukraine crisis in Moscow.&nbsp;

"We knew very well that meant no handshake and that long table. But we could not accept that they get their hands on the president's&nbsp;DNA," one of the sources told Reuters.

"The&nbsp;Russians told us&nbsp;Putin&nbsp;needed to be kept in a strict health bubble," the second source said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/things-could-go-crazy-ukraine-accuses-russia-of-hybrid-war-amid-naval-drill-452265">Also read |&nbsp;'Things could go crazy': Ukraine accuses Russia of 'hybrid war' amid naval drill</a>

When asked specifically about&nbsp;DNA&nbsp;theft,&nbsp;Macron’s office,&nbsp;"The president has doctors who define with him the rules that are acceptable or not in terms of his own health protocol."

In an attempt to de-escalate the Ukraine standoff, Macron had met Putin in Moscow. &nbsp;

Ever since reports came out that Russia had amassed over 100,000 troops near the Ukraine borders, hectic diplomatic parlays have been taking place to defuse the tense situation. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

French President Emmanuel Macron refused a Kremlin request to take a Russian Covid test when he arrived to see President Vladimir Putin. There were many speculations as to why this was done.

French President Emmanuel Macron refused a Kremlin request to take a Russian Covid test when he arrived to see President Vladimir Putin. There were many speculations as to why this was done. However, a Reuters report has now revealed that this was done to prevent Russia getting hold of Macron's DNA. This is why Macron was kept at a distance from the Russian leader during the talks on the Ukraine crisis in Moscow. "We knew very well that meant no handshake and that long table. But we could not accept that they get their hands on the president's DNA," one of the sources told Reuters. "The Russians told us Putin needed to be kept in a strict health bubble," the second source said. Also read | 'Things could go crazy': Ukraine accuses Russia of 'hybrid war' amid naval drill When asked specifically about DNA theft, Macron’s office, "The president has doctors who define with him the rules that are acceptable or not in terms of his own health protocol." In an attempt to de-escalate the Ukraine standoff, Macron had met Putin in Moscow. Ever since reports came out that Russia had amassed over 100,000 troops near the Ukraine borders, hectic diplomatic parlays have been taking place to defuse the tense situation. (With inputs from agencies)

Macron refused Russian Covid test in Putin trip due to DNA theft fears: Report

United States is marking the 80th anniversary of the Japanese attack on the US naval base in Pearl Harbor today. A memorial ceremony was held at Pearl Harbor on a rainy Monday evening. The Utah ceremony honored the 58 servicemen who died aboard the battleship USS Utah. Members of the U.S. Navy, veterans, friends, and family were present at the site. Several events will be organised by the National Park Service and the U.S. Navy to mark the day.

United States: 80th anniversary of Pearl Harbor attack

Bernard Krutz, holocaust survivor who was hidden as a toddler during the war and was then adopted by a Polish Jewish family after the war, didn’t remember his parents or his family name. However, DNA testing helped him find his cousin. Watch this miraculous story of this holocaust survivor.

Holocaust survivor Bernard Krutz finds lost cousin after 73 years

Using a new method of analysing family lineages with DNA fragments from long-dead people, a group of scientists have figured out that a South Dakotan man was indeed the grandson of the 19th-century Native American leader Sitting Bull.<o:p></o:p>

Researchers took a strand of hair from which was being preserved at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. Through this hair, they were able to establish a familial relationship between the famed Sitting Bull and Ernie LaPoint of South Dakota. <o:p></o:p>

The 73-year-old from Lead, South Dakota, has expressed relief after this revelation. He says this has come as a piece of good news as several people had been questioning his relationship with his ancestors for years.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/archeologists-make-shocking-revelations-after-dna-analysis-of-mummies-in-china-424720">Archeologists make shocking revelations after DNA analysis of mummies in China</a></o:p>

"I feel this DNA research is another way of identifying my lineal relationship to my great-grandfather," said LaPointe. "People have been questioning our relationship to our ancestor as long as I can remember. These people are just a pain in the place you sit - and will probably doubt these findings, also."<o:p></o:p>

This study is not only a milestone for LaPointe but is also a scientific marvel as this was the first time that a familial relationship has been established between a living man and a historical figure with the help of DNA of a long-dead person.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/egyptian-mummies-to-pass-through-cairo-in-ancient-rulers-parade-375153">Egyptian mummies to pass through Cairo in ancient rulers' parade</a></o:p>

The new method was developed by scientists led by Eske Willerslev, director of the Lundbeck Foundation GeoGenetics Centre at the University of Cambridge. It had taken the researchers 14 years to develop this new method of extracting usable DNA from hair.<o:p></o:p>

When Willerslev read about LaPointe handing over hair of Sitting Bull to Smithsonian, he reached out to him to conduct this research. "LaPointe asked me to extract DNA from it and compare it to his DNA to establish relationship," said Willerslev, senior author of the research published in the Science Advances. "I got very little hair and there was very limited DNA in it. It took us a long time developing a method that, based on limited ancient DNA, can by compared to that of living people across multiple generations."<o:p></o:p>

Sitting Bull, whose Lakota name was Tatanka-Iyotanka, was known for leading Native American warrior who then wiped out federal troops of George Custer at the 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn.<o:p></o:p>

Using a new method of analysing family lineages with DNA fragments from long-dead people, a group of scientists have figured out that a South Dakotan man was indeed the grandson of the 19th-century Native American leader Sitting Bull.

Using a new method of analysing family lineages with DNA fragments from long-dead people, a group of scientists have figured out that a South Dakotan man was indeed the grandson of the 19th-century Native American leader Sitting Bull. Researchers took a strand of hair from which was being preserved at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. Through this hair, they were able to establish a familial relationship between the famed Sitting Bull and Ernie LaPoint of South Dakota. The 73-year-old from Lead, South Dakota, has expressed relief after this revelation. He says this has come as a piece of good news as several people had been questioning his relationship with his ancestors for years. Also read | Archeologists make shocking revelations after DNA analysis of mummies in China "I feel this DNA research is another way of identifying my lineal relationship to my great-grandfather," said LaPointe. "People have been questioning our relationship to our ancestor as long as I can remember. These people are just a pain in the place you sit - and will probably doubt these findings, also." This study is not only a milestone for LaPointe but is also a scientific marvel as this was the first time that a familial relationship has been established between a living man and a historical figure with the help of DNA of a long-dead person. Also read | Egyptian mummies to pass through Cairo in ancient rulers' parade The new method was developed by scientists led by Eske Willerslev, director of the Lundbeck Foundation GeoGenetics Centre at the University of Cambridge. It had taken the researchers 14 years to develop this new method of extracting usable DNA from hair. When Willerslev read about LaPointe handing over hair of Sitting Bull to Smithsonian, he reached out to him to conduct this research. "LaPointe asked me to extract DNA from it and compare it to his DNA to establish relationship," said Willerslev, senior author of the research published in the Science Advances. "I got very little hair and there was very limited DNA in it. It took us a long time developing a method that, based on limited ancient DNA, can by compared to that of living people across multiple generations." Sitting Bull, whose Lakota name was Tatanka-Iyotanka, was known for leading Native American warrior who then wiped out federal troops of George Custer at the 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn.

DNA testing proves South Dakota man is grandson of famed Native American Sitting Bull

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, said that India developed the world's first DNA vaccine for Covid that can be given to everyone above 12 years of age.&nbsp;

He also revealed that MrNA vaccine development in the country is at final stage.

Speaking of vaccine development, PM Modi also said that India is engaged in developing a nasal vaccine.&nbsp;"Come, make vaccine in India," PM Modi exhorted the world, during his address.&nbsp;

Modi began his speech by paying respects to those who succumbed to the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that the world faced its worst pandemic in the last 100 years.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> LIVE | PM Narendra Modi addresses the 76th Session of UN General Assembly <a href="https://t.co/koZWTKjzOG">https://t.co/koZWTKjzOG</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1441753593338490889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Speaking about COVID-19, PM Modi said that no matter which country the doctors, innovators of Indian origin live in, our democratic values inspire them to continue serving mankind. This is the spirit that we have seen amid COVID-19.

“Mr President, for the last one and a half years, the world has been grappling with the worst pandemic it has seen in 100 years. I pay tribute to all those who have lost their lives in this deadly pandemic and I express my condolences to their families,” Modi said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/global-covid-19-summit-indian-pm-modi-bats-for-mutual-recognition-of-vaccine-certificates-amid-uk-row-414998">Also read |&nbsp;Global COVID-19 summit: Indian PM Modi bats for mutual recognition of vaccine certificates amid UK row</a>

"COVID-19 taught world that global economy should be more diversified," he said.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Come, Make Vaccine in India. <a href="https://t.co/jjTifPTVK0">pic.twitter.com/jjTifPTVK0</a>
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/1441753701807317000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Earlier, during the&nbsp;Global COVID-19 Summit, PM Modi had said,&nbsp;"India is now running the world’s largest vaccination campaign. Recently, we vaccinated about 25 million people in a single day. Our grassroots-level healthcare system has delivered over 800 million vaccine doses so far. Over 200 million Indians are now fully vaccinated."

"Earlier this year, we shared our vaccine production with 95 other countries, and with UN peacekeepers. And, like a family, the world also stood with India when we were going through a second wave. For the solidarity and support extended to India, I thank you all, "&nbsp; Modi added.

"India has always seen humanity as one family. India’s pharmaceutical industry has produced cost-effective diagnostic kits, drugs, medical devices and PPE kits. These provide affordable options to many developing countries, " he said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, said that India developed the world's first DNA vaccine for Covid that can be given to everyone above 12 years of age.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, said that India developed the world's first DNA vaccine for Covid that can be given to everyone above 12 years of age. He also revealed that MrNA vaccine development in the country is at final stage. Speaking of vaccine development, PM Modi also said that India is engaged in developing a nasal vaccine. "Come, make vaccine in India," PM Modi exhorted the world, during his address. Modi began his speech by paying respects to those who succumbed to the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that the world faced its worst pandemic in the last 100 years. #WATCH LIVE | PM Narendra Modi addresses the 76th Session of UN General Assembly https://t.co/koZWTKjzOG — ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2021 × Speaking about COVID-19, PM Modi said that no matter which country the doctors, innovators of Indian origin live in, our democratic values inspire them to continue serving mankind. This is the spirit that we have seen amid COVID-19. “Mr President, for the last one and a half years, the world has been grappling with the worst pandemic it has seen in 100 years. I pay tribute to all those who have lost their lives in this deadly pandemic and I express my condolences to their families,” Modi said. Also read | Global COVID-19 summit: Indian PM Modi bats for mutual recognition of vaccine certificates amid UK row "COVID-19 taught world that global economy should be more diversified," he said. Come, Make Vaccine in India. pic.twitter.com/jjTifPTVK0 — PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 25, 2021 × Earlier, during the Global COVID-19 Summit, PM Modi had said, "India is now running the world’s largest vaccination campaign. Recently, we vaccinated about 25 million people in a single day. Our grassroots-level healthcare system has delivered over 800 million vaccine doses so far. Over 200 million Indians are now fully vaccinated." "Earlier this year, we shared our vaccine production with 95 other countries, and with UN peacekeepers. And, like a family, the world also stood with India when we were going through a second wave. For the solidarity and support extended to India, I thank you all, " Modi added. "India has always seen humanity as one family. India’s pharmaceutical industry has produced cost-effective diagnostic kits, drugs, medical devices and PPE kits. These provide affordable options to many developing countries, " he said.

India first in world to develop DNA vaccine for Covid: PM Modi tells UNGA

A 19-year-old has sued a health trust after a DNA test revealed she had no relation to her&nbsp;presumed mother and father.

She was born in a maternity ward in the La Rioja region of Spain in 2002.

The Spanish teenager is demanding a compensation worth almost $3 million after getting swapped at birth and being handed to the wrong parents.

According to Spanish doctors of the hospital, the 'human error' occurred after two underweight babies were placed on incubators and got swapped while being handed over.

The parents of the other woman were&nbsp;also a part of the fiasco have been informed about it as well.

"The systems back then were different and weren't as computerised as they are now," said Sara Alba, the health chief of Spain's northern La Rioja region.

In 1994, two French women that were mistakenly switched at birth received an award worth $351,450 each.

Although both of them had questioned about the identity of the infants, the nurse that handed them insisted she had made no mistake.

However, the devastating truth was revealed after both questioned their identity and took a DNA test.

A 19-year-old has sued a health trust after a DNA test revealed she had no relation to her presumed mother and father. She was born in a maternity ward in the La Rioja region of Spain in 2002.

A 19-year-old has sued a health trust after a DNA test revealed she had no relation to her presumed mother and father. She was born in a maternity ward in the La Rioja region of Spain in 2002. The Spanish teenager is demanding a compensation worth almost $3 million after getting swapped at birth and being handed to the wrong parents. According to Spanish doctors of the hospital, the 'human error' occurred after two underweight babies were placed on incubators and got swapped while being handed over. The parents of the other woman were also a part of the fiasco have been informed about it as well. "The systems back then were different and weren't as computerised as they are now," said Sara Alba, the health chief of Spain's northern La Rioja region. In 1994, two French women that were mistakenly switched at birth received an award worth $351,450 each. Although both of them had questioned about the identity of the infants, the nurse that handed them insisted she had made no mistake. However, the devastating truth was revealed after both questioned their identity and took a DNA test.

Spanish teenager sues health trust for almost $3 million after getting swapped at birth

Subway, the global sandwich shop chain, is famous for their delicious ‘subs’. But it turned out that there might be a foul play of ingredients in their food.

A lab test, commissioned by the New York Times, found no trace of tuna DNA in a few samples of Subway’s tuna sandwiches.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/colombia-is-home-to-20-of-all-butterfly-species-in-the-world-study-finds-393385" hreflang="en">Colombia is home to 20% of all butterfly species in the world, study finds</a>

To investigate the ingredients of the famous sandwich, a reporter from the New York Times got "more than 60in worth of Subway tuna sandwiches" from three stores in Los Angeles and put them to a specialised fish-testing lab for a DNA test.

Interestingly, researchers in the lab were unable to identify traces of any species in the sandwiches.

"There’s two conclusions, one, it's so heavily processed that whatever we could pull out, we couldn’t make an identification," a lab spokesperson was quoted by the Times. "Or we got some and there's just nothing there that’s tuna."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/how-nasas-plans-to-send-detergent-to-iss-could-change-space-exploration-393320" hreflang="en">How NASA's plans to send detergent to ISS could change space exploration</a>

The matter came to light when two customers filed a lawsuit in California alleging that Subway’s tuna sandwiches are made from "anything but tuna”. They claimed the sandwiches are "made from a mixture of various concoctions”, ingredients "blended together … to imitate the appearance of tuna".

After the accusation, Subway started advertising their sandwiches as "100% real wild-caught tuna" on its website and even offered a 15 per cent discount with promo code "ITSREAL".

Subway has not yet commented on the&nbsp;issue yet.

Subway, the global sandwich shop chain, is famous for their delicious ‘subs’. But it turned out that there might be a foul play of ingredients in their food. A lab test, commissioned by the New York Times, found no trace of tuna DNA in a few samples of Subway’s tuna sandwiches.

Subway, the global sandwich shop chain, is famous for their delicious ‘subs’. But it turned out that there might be a foul play of ingredients in their food. A lab test, commissioned by the New York Times, found no trace of tuna DNA in a few samples of Subway’s tuna sandwiches. Also read | Colombia is home to 20% of all butterfly species in the world, study finds To investigate the ingredients of the famous sandwich, a reporter from the New York Times got "more than 60in worth of Subway tuna sandwiches" from three stores in Los Angeles and put them to a specialised fish-testing lab for a DNA test. Interestingly, researchers in the lab were unable to identify traces of any species in the sandwiches. "There’s two conclusions, one, it's so heavily processed that whatever we could pull out, we couldn’t make an identification," a lab spokesperson was quoted by the Times. "Or we got some and there's just nothing there that’s tuna." Also read | How NASA's plans to send detergent to ISS could change space exploration The matter came to light when two customers filed a lawsuit in California alleging that Subway’s tuna sandwiches are made from "anything but tuna”. They claimed the sandwiches are "made from a mixture of various concoctions”, ingredients "blended together … to imitate the appearance of tuna". After the accusation, Subway started advertising their sandwiches as "100% real wild-caught tuna" on its website and even offered a 15 per cent discount with promo code "ITSREAL". Subway has not yet commented on the issue yet.

Where's the tuna? Investigation reveals important ingredient missing in Subway's sandwich

<article>
On July 9, 1845, two months after departing from Greenhithe, England, Warrant Officer John Gregory wrote a letter to his wife from Greenland in which he described seeing whales and icebergs for the first time.

Gregory, who had never been to sea before, was aboard the HMS Erebus, one of two ships to sail in Sir John Franklin’s 1845 expedition to find the fabled Northwest Passage, a sea route through the Canadian Arctic that would serve as a trade route to Asia.

Disaster struck. The Erebus and the HMS Terror became stuck in ice in Victoria Strait, off King William Island in what is now the Canadian territory of Nunavut. In April 1848, the survivors — Franklin and nearly two dozen others had already died — set out on foot for a trading post on the Canadian mainland.

All 129 explorers ultimately perished, succumbing to brutal blizzard conditions and subzero temperatures. The doomed expedition endured in the public imagination — inspiring fiction by Mark Twain and Jules Verne, and, more recently, the 2018 AMC series “The Terror” — driven in part by rumours that the crew resorted to cannibalism. The wreckage lay quiet until 2014, when a remotely controlled underwater vehicle picked up the silhouette of the Erebus near King William Island. Two years later, a tip from a local Inuit hunter led to the discovery of the Terror in the ice-cold water of Terror Bay.

John Gregory’s descendants would not learn about his fate until more than 175 years after he sent the letter home from Greenland. Some sailors had been identified after being found in marked graves. But recently, Gregory’s DNA and a sample from a descendant born in 1982 were matched, making him the first explorer from the trip whose remains have been positively identified through DNA and genealogical analyses — a process similar to that used in recent years to identify murder suspects and victims in cold cases.

Jonathan Gregory, 38, who lives in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, got an email from researchers in Canada confirming that the cheek swab he had sent to them confirmed that he was a direct descendant of John Gregory.

He had heard about his family’s connection to the expedition, but until the DNA match, “it was really theory.” (Although he goes by Joe, the similarity between their names “all makes sense,” Gregory said.)

A relative living in British Columbia, whom Gregory had never met, sent him a Facebook message in 2019 after she had seen a request from researchers asking descendants of sailors from the expedition to send in DNA samples.

“I took the plunge,” Gregory said in a phone interview. “For us, this is history.”

Douglas Stenton, a professor at the University of Waterloo and a researcher on the project, said the team, which included researchers from Lakehead University and Trent University, started in 2008, focusing on documenting sites and recovering new information about the expedition. But in 2013, they became interested in the human remains, seeking to “identify some of these men who had effectively become anonymous in death.”

“It’s really a story of human endeavour in one of the world’s most challenging environments,” Stenton said, “resulting in a catastrophic loss of life, for reasons that we still don’t understand.”

The circumstances that led to the demise of the crews are still unclear. Researchers have continued to piece together clues about the expedition’s failure as artefacts have been found throughout the years.

Gregory’s remains were excavated in 2013 on King William Island, about 50 miles south of the site where the ships had been deserted. He most likely died within a month after leaving the ships, Stenton said — a journey that “wasn’t necessarily an enjoyable trip in any sense of the word.” Gregory was between 43 and 47 years old when he died.

Stenton said it was a relief to finally put a name to one of the sailors — and a face, as researchers were able to create a facial reconstruction of what Gregory may have looked like — because details about the expedition have “remained elusive for, you know, 175 years.”

For the past eight years, Stenton said, researchers on the team were “very hopeful” that they would be able to match a sample from a living descendant to a sailor from the pool of DNA they had collected from remains. The first 16 samples they received failed to produce a match, making the Gregory pairing “very gratifying,” he said.

Although the identification has not changed the narrative of the expedition, Stenton said that “the more individuals we can identify, there might be some useful information that could come up that might help us better understand” what happened to the explorers.

He said he was grateful for the families who had sent in DNA, whether they were matched or not, adding that he was pleased to be able to provide Gregory’s family with details about the sailor’s final years. He informed them that Gregory was not alone when he died, as the remains of two other sailors were found at the same site.

“There’s an eerie feeling about it all,” Gregory said, “but at the end of the day, I suppose it’s closure.”
</article>

On July 9, 1845, two months after departing from Greenhithe, England, Warrant Officer John Gregory wrote a letter to his wife from Greenland in which he described seeing whales and icebergs for the first time.

On July 9, 1845, two months after departing from Greenhithe, England, Warrant Officer John Gregory wrote a letter to his wife from Greenland in which he described seeing whales and icebergs for the first time. Gregory, who had never been to sea before, was aboard the HMS Erebus, one of two ships to sail in Sir John Franklin’s 1845 expedition to find the fabled Northwest Passage, a sea route through the Canadian Arctic that would serve as a trade route to Asia. Disaster struck. The Erebus and the HMS Terror became stuck in ice in Victoria Strait, off King William Island in what is now the Canadian territory of Nunavut. In April 1848, the survivors — Franklin and nearly two dozen others had already died — set out on foot for a trading post on the Canadian mainland. All 129 explorers ultimately perished, succumbing to brutal blizzard conditions and subzero temperatures. The doomed expedition endured in the public imagination — inspiring fiction by Mark Twain and Jules Verne, and, more recently, the 2018 AMC series “The Terror” — driven in part by rumours that the crew resorted to cannibalism. The wreckage lay quiet until 2014, when a remotely controlled underwater vehicle picked up the silhouette of the Erebus near King William Island. Two years later, a tip from a local Inuit hunter led to the discovery of the Terror in the ice-cold water of Terror Bay. John Gregory’s descendants would not learn about his fate until more than 175 years after he sent the letter home from Greenland. Some sailors had been identified after being found in marked graves. But recently, Gregory’s DNA and a sample from a descendant born in 1982 were matched, making him the first explorer from the trip whose remains have been positively identified through DNA and genealogical analyses — a process similar to that used in recent years to identify murder suspects and victims in cold cases. Jonathan Gregory, 38, who lives in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, got an email from researchers in Canada confirming that the cheek swab he had sent to them confirmed that he was a direct descendant of John Gregory. He had heard about his family’s connection to the expedition, but until the DNA match, “it was really theory.” (Although he goes by Joe, the similarity between their names “all makes sense,” Gregory said.) A relative living in British Columbia, whom Gregory had never met, sent him a Facebook message in 2019 after she had seen a request from researchers asking descendants of sailors from the expedition to send in DNA samples. “I took the plunge,” Gregory said in a phone interview. “For us, this is history.” Douglas Stenton, a professor at the University of Waterloo and a researcher on the project, said the team, which included researchers from Lakehead University and Trent University, started in 2008, focusing on documenting sites and recovering new information about the expedition. But in 2013, they became interested in the human remains, seeking to “identify some of these men who had effectively become anonymous in death.” “It’s really a story of human endeavour in one of the world’s most challenging environments,” Stenton said, “resulting in a catastrophic loss of life, for reasons that we still don’t understand.” The circumstances that led to the demise of the crews are still unclear. Researchers have continued to piece together clues about the expedition’s failure as artefacts have been found throughout the years. Gregory’s remains were excavated in 2013 on King William Island, about 50 miles south of the site where the ships had been deserted. He most likely died within a month after leaving the ships, Stenton said — a journey that “wasn’t necessarily an enjoyable trip in any sense of the word.” Gregory was between 43 and 47 years old when he died. Stenton said it was a relief to finally put a name to one of the sailors — and a face, as researchers were able to create a facial reconstruction of what Gregory may have looked like — because details about the expedition have “remained elusive for, you know, 175 years.” For the past eight years, Stenton said, researchers on the team were “very hopeful” that they would be able to match a sample from a living descendant to a sailor from the pool of DNA they had collected from remains. The first 16 samples they received failed to produce a match, making the Gregory pairing “very gratifying,” he said. Although the identification has not changed the narrative of the expedition, Stenton said that “the more individuals we can identify, there might be some useful information that could come up that might help us better understand” what happened to the explorers. He said he was grateful for the families who had sent in DNA, whether they were matched or not, adding that he was pleased to be able to provide Gregory’s family with details about the sailor’s final years. He informed them that Gregory was not alone when he died, as the remains of two other sailors were found at the same site. “There’s an eerie feeling about it all,” Gregory said, “but at the end of the day, I suppose it’s closure.”

His ship vanished in the Arctic 176 years ago. DNA has offered a clue.

Thanks to another astounding scientific feat, researchers may soon be able to capture DNA from surfaces. A team from the Queen Mary University were recently able to collect “environmental DNA” (eDNA) from the air, as reported by Science Focus.

This could make the job of scientists easier in a variety of ways especially in the near future. To collect DNA from air, scientists used a peristaltic pump to collect samples of a naked mole rat’s DNA.&nbsp;

They combined the pump with pressure filters for 20 minutes and then used common DNA kits to identify sequence genes in the samples that followed.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/genetic-disease-delaying-kids-brain-development-discovered-375198" hreflang="en">Genetic disease delaying kids' brain development discovered</a>

Turns out, they were able to capture the DNA of mole rats - all over the room, and in addition were also able to catch some amount of human DNA at the same time.

According to lead author Dr Elizabeth Claire, the experiment was originally created to study biological environments. But it could be used for a lot more, for instance - in forensic investigations.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-develop-synthetic-cell-that-grows-and-divides-uniformly-374918" hreflang="en">Scientists develop synthetic cell that grows and divides uniformly</a>

Professionals could scoop up DNA from air to ascertain whether a suspect was at the crime scene. Currently, the COVID-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc across the globe. The scientists who developed this tech believe that it could also assist scientists in understanding airborne diseases and how they spread.

Even though practical uses of this tech are still faraway, the team is working with numerous companies to imbibe its usage.

Thanks to another astounding scientific feat, researchers may soon be able to capture DNA from surfaces. A team from the Queen Mary University were recently able to collect “environmental DNA” (eDNA) from the air, as reported by Science Focus.

Thanks to another astounding scientific feat, researchers may soon be able to capture DNA from surfaces. A team from the Queen Mary University were recently able to collect “environmental DNA” (eDNA) from the air, as reported by Science Focus. This could make the job of scientists easier in a variety of ways especially in the near future. To collect DNA from air, scientists used a peristaltic pump to collect samples of a naked mole rat’s DNA. They combined the pump with pressure filters for 20 minutes and then used common DNA kits to identify sequence genes in the samples that followed. Also read: Genetic disease delaying kids' brain development discovered Turns out, they were able to capture the DNA of mole rats - all over the room, and in addition were also able to catch some amount of human DNA at the same time. According to lead author Dr Elizabeth Claire, the experiment was originally created to study biological environments. But it could be used for a lot more, for instance - in forensic investigations. Also read: Scientists develop synthetic cell that grows and divides uniformly Professionals could scoop up DNA from air to ascertain whether a suspect was at the crime scene. Currently, the COVID-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc across the globe. The scientists who developed this tech believe that it could also assist scientists in understanding airborne diseases and how they spread. Even though practical uses of this tech are still faraway, the team is working with numerous companies to imbibe its usage.

Scientists recently collected DNA from air. How did they do it?

BTS is at it again.&nbsp;

The Korean pop band has done it again with their song as ‘DNA’, the title track from their mini-album titled ‘Love Yourself: Her’ has achieved 1.2 billion views on YouTube. This also makes them the first K-Pop boy group to achieve this incredible feat.&nbsp;

The only other Korean artists in the billion views club are BLACKPINK (DDU-DU DDU-DU and Kill This Love) and solo artist PSY (Gangnam Style and Gentleman).

For those unversed, ‘DNA’ is an EDM and pop song. The lyrics of the song are all about fate and love at first sight.

The song’s music video was released in 2017 and has been a hit since then. DNA had previously ranked on Billboard's Hot 100 for four consecutive weeks.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Army can stay excited as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/bts">BTS </a>is all set to release ‘BE: Essential Edition’ on February 19, 2021. The Korean pop band will also be performing in an hour-long <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bts-to-feature-on-mtv-unplugged-concert-scheduled-to-air-in-february-362579">special show for MTV Unplugged</a>.&nbsp;It will be aired on February 24, 2021.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-nicki-minaj-to-halsey-best-of-bts-collabs-that-you-have-to-add-to-your-playlist-362840" hreflang="en">From Nicki Minaj to Halsey: Best of BTS collabs that you have to add to your playlist</a>

BTS is at it again. The Korean pop band has done it again with their song as ‘DNA’, the title track from their mini-album titled ‘Love Yourself: Her’ has achieved 1.

BTS is at it again. The Korean pop band has done it again with their song as ‘DNA’, the title track from their mini-album titled ‘Love Yourself: Her’ has achieved 1.2 billion views on YouTube. This also makes them the first K-Pop boy group to achieve this incredible feat. The only other Korean artists in the billion views club are BLACKPINK (DDU-DU DDU-DU and Kill This Love) and solo artist PSY (Gangnam Style and Gentleman). For those unversed, ‘DNA’ is an EDM and pop song. The lyrics of the song are all about fate and love at first sight. The song’s music video was released in 2017 and has been a hit since then. DNA had previously ranked on Billboard's Hot 100 for four consecutive weeks. Meanwhile, Army can stay excited as BTS is all set to release ‘BE: Essential Edition’ on February 19, 2021. The Korean pop band will also be performing in an hour-long special show for MTV Unplugged. It will be aired on February 24, 2021. From Nicki Minaj to Halsey: Best of BTS collabs that you have to add to your playlist

BTS achieves an incredible feat with 2017 release DNA as it crosses 1.2 billion views on YouTube

In 1492, Christopher Columbus touched land for the first time in the Americas, reaching the Bahamas, Hispaniola (present-day Dominican Republic and Haiti) and eastern Cuba. After he returned to Spain he reported that he had encountered islands rich in gold. A few years later his brother Bartholomew, who also traveled to the Americas, reported that Hispaniola had a large population whose labor and land could be put to the advantage of the Spanish crown. He estimated the population at 1.1 million people.

Was this figure accurate? It soon was a matter of dispute. Bartolomé de las Casas, a Spanish monk and colonist who became the first chronicler of the human disaster that unfolded in the Americas after the arrival of Europeans, estimated a far larger number: three million to four million.

The population size of “pre-contact” Hispaniola would continue to be a contested issue until the present day, not least because of its profound emotional and moral resonance in light of the destruction of that world. Modern scholars have generally estimated the population at 250,000 to a million people.

Some of the arguments for large population numbers in the pre-contact Americas have been motivated by an attempt to counter a myth, perpetuated by apologists for colonialism like the philosopher John Locke, that the Americas were a vast “vacuum domicilium,” or empty dwelling, populated by a handful of Indigenous groups whose displacement could be readily justified. In a similar vein, some of the arguments for large population sizes have been motivated by a desire to underscore how disastrous the arrival of Europeans was for Indigenous people.

By any measure, the arrival of Europeans was catastrophic for Indigenous Americans. This is true whether the numbers of people were in the hundreds of thousands or millions — or for that matter, the tens of thousands. It is questionable to pin our judgments of human atrocities to a specific number. To learn from the past, it is crucial to be willing to accept new and compelling data when they become available.

In the case of the pre-contact population of Hispaniola, such data have arrived. By analyzing the DNA of ancient Indigenous Caribbean people, a study published in Nature on Wednesday by one of us (Professor Reich) makes clear that the population of Hispaniola was no more than a few tens of thousands of people. Almost all prior estimates have been at least tenfold too large.

This research involved sequencing genetic material taken from skeletal remains. Together with another study of ancient Caribbean DNA published recently by a different lab, scientists now have data concerning the entire genomes of more than 260 people of the ancient Caribbean. (This work was done in collaboration with Caribbean scholars, with permission from Caribbean governments and institutions and in consultation with Caribbean people of Indigenous descent.)

In recent years, researchers studying ancient DNA have accumulated more than 5,000 ancient human genomes (up from none a decade ago), making it possible to use this methodology to ask and answer questions about how past people related to one another and to people living today. The Caribbean is now the first place in the Americas where we have this kind of high-resolution data set for understanding the past, previously available only in Western Eurasia.

The finding about the pre-contact population size in Hispaniola was made possible by a new scientific advance: We are now able to detect “DNA cousins” in ancient genomes — taking two people and determining whether they share large segments of DNA inherited from a recent ancestor. This is similar to what personal ancestry companies like 23andMe and Ancestry do with living people.

When the Reich team applied this method to 91 ancient individuals for whom it had sequenced enough of the genome to carry out this analysis, it found 19 pairs of DNA cousins living on different large islands or island groups in the Caribbean: for example, an individual in Hispaniola with a cousin in the Bahamas, and another individual in Hispaniola with a cousin in Puerto Rico. This meant that the entire population had to be very small; you wouldn’t find that random pairs of people had such a high probability of being closely related if the entire population was large. (To put this in perspective, if you did the same analysis on random pairs of people across China today, DNA cousins would be detected many thousands of times less often.)

The rate of close relationships that the Reich team found is what would be expected for about 3,000 people — at most 8,000 people — in their childbearing years in Hispaniola. The true numbers of people could have been threefold to tenfold larger because at any given time only a fraction of a population is in its childbearing years. Still, we can confidently conclude that the pre-contact population size of Hispaniola was no more than a few tens of thousands of people.

This is a classic ancient DNA surprise — the kind of unexpected finding this new technology has shown repeatedly that it can deliver. For example, the sequencing of a finger bone from Siberia thought to be from a modern human turned out to be from an archaic population not previously known to archaeologists, or even hypothesized by them. Such results emphasize how much we still have to learn about the past.

How should the new findings change the way we think about the fate of Indigenous people in the pre-contact Caribbean? In some ways, not at all. Whatever the starting population, what happened to Indigenous Americans after Europeans arrived amounted to genocide: the systematic obliteration not just of individuals but also of their culture and community — what the philosopher Claudia Card called the “social death” at “the center of genocide.”

Even if you focus more narrowly on statistics, the numbers of deaths in both absolute and relative terms are horrific. According to a 1540 census, the number of Indigenous people in Hispaniola had dropped to 250 people. It dropped to zero in later counts.

In other ways, however, ancient DNA research significantly changes how we think about Indigenous people in the pre-contact Caribbean. Another surprising finding, for instance, is that the genetic legacy of pre-contact Caribbean people did not disappear: They contributed an estimated 14 percent of the DNA of living people from Puerto Rico, 6 percent of that in the Dominican Republic and 4 percent of that in Cuba. In addition, by illuminating the highly mobile lifestyle of pre-contact Caribbean people with many DNA cousins across different islands, the research underscores the degree to which they were connected — a relative unity later fractured by centuries of division into colonial spheres by European powers.

Colonization resulted in such immense destruction that the rich cultures of the pre-contact Caribbean can be reconstructed only through a blend of oral traditions and scientific study, including the new insights provided by ancient DNA analysis. It is a blessing to be able to get closer to this heritage. And it is the loss of the people and cultures that produced this heritage that most provokes our outrage.

In 1492, Christopher Columbus touched land for the first time in the Americas, reaching the Bahamas, Hispaniola (present-day Dominican Republic and Haiti) and eastern Cuba.

In 1492, Christopher Columbus touched land for the first time in the Americas, reaching the Bahamas, Hispaniola (present-day Dominican Republic and Haiti) and eastern Cuba. After he returned to Spain he reported that he had encountered islands rich in gold. A few years later his brother Bartholomew, who also traveled to the Americas, reported that Hispaniola had a large population whose labor and land could be put to the advantage of the Spanish crown. He estimated the population at 1.1 million people. Was this figure accurate? It soon was a matter of dispute. Bartolomé de las Casas, a Spanish monk and colonist who became the first chronicler of the human disaster that unfolded in the Americas after the arrival of Europeans, estimated a far larger number: three million to four million. The population size of “pre-contact” Hispaniola would continue to be a contested issue until the present day, not least because of its profound emotional and moral resonance in light of the destruction of that world. Modern scholars have generally estimated the population at 250,000 to a million people. Some of the arguments for large population numbers in the pre-contact Americas have been motivated by an attempt to counter a myth, perpetuated by apologists for colonialism like the philosopher John Locke, that the Americas were a vast “vacuum domicilium,” or empty dwelling, populated by a handful of Indigenous groups whose displacement could be readily justified. In a similar vein, some of the arguments for large population sizes have been motivated by a desire to underscore how disastrous the arrival of Europeans was for Indigenous people. By any measure, the arrival of Europeans was catastrophic for Indigenous Americans. This is true whether the numbers of people were in the hundreds of thousands or millions — or for that matter, the tens of thousands. It is questionable to pin our judgments of human atrocities to a specific number. To learn from the past, it is crucial to be willing to accept new and compelling data when they become available. In the case of the pre-contact population of Hispaniola, such data have arrived. By analyzing the DNA of ancient Indigenous Caribbean people, a study published in Nature on Wednesday by one of us (Professor Reich) makes clear that the population of Hispaniola was no more than a few tens of thousands of people. Almost all prior estimates have been at least tenfold too large. This research involved sequencing genetic material taken from skeletal remains. Together with another study of ancient Caribbean DNA published recently by a different lab, scientists now have data concerning the entire genomes of more than 260 people of the ancient Caribbean. (This work was done in collaboration with Caribbean scholars, with permission from Caribbean governments and institutions and in consultation with Caribbean people of Indigenous descent.) In recent years, researchers studying ancient DNA have accumulated more than 5,000 ancient human genomes (up from none a decade ago), making it possible to use this methodology to ask and answer questions about how past people related to one another and to people living today. The Caribbean is now the first place in the Americas where we have this kind of high-resolution data set for understanding the past, previously available only in Western Eurasia. The finding about the pre-contact population size in Hispaniola was made possible by a new scientific advance: We are now able to detect “DNA cousins” in ancient genomes — taking two people and determining whether they share large segments of DNA inherited from a recent ancestor. This is similar to what personal ancestry companies like 23andMe and Ancestry do with living people. When the Reich team applied this method to 91 ancient individuals for whom it had sequenced enough of the genome to carry out this analysis, it found 19 pairs of DNA cousins living on different large islands or island groups in the Caribbean: for example, an individual in Hispaniola with a cousin in the Bahamas, and another individual in Hispaniola with a cousin in Puerto Rico. This meant that the entire population had to be very small; you wouldn’t find that random pairs of people had such a high probability of being closely related if the entire population was large. (To put this in perspective, if you did the same analysis on random pairs of people across China today, DNA cousins would be detected many thousands of times less often.) The rate of close relationships that the Reich team found is what would be expected for about 3,000 people — at most 8,000 people — in their childbearing years in Hispaniola. The true numbers of people could have been threefold to tenfold larger because at any given time only a fraction of a population is in its childbearing years. Still, we can confidently conclude that the pre-contact population size of Hispaniola was no more than a few tens of thousands of people. This is a classic ancient DNA surprise — the kind of unexpected finding this new technology has shown repeatedly that it can deliver. For example, the sequencing of a finger bone from Siberia thought to be from a modern human turned out to be from an archaic population not previously known to archaeologists, or even hypothesized by them. Such results emphasize how much we still have to learn about the past. How should the new findings change the way we think about the fate of Indigenous people in the pre-contact Caribbean? In some ways, not at all. Whatever the starting population, what happened to Indigenous Americans after Europeans arrived amounted to genocide: the systematic obliteration not just of individuals but also of their culture and community — what the philosopher Claudia Card called the “social death” at “the center of genocide.” Even if you focus more narrowly on statistics, the numbers of deaths in both absolute and relative terms are horrific. According to a 1540 census, the number of Indigenous people in Hispaniola had dropped to 250 people. It dropped to zero in later counts. In other ways, however, ancient DNA research significantly changes how we think about Indigenous people in the pre-contact Caribbean. Another surprising finding, for instance, is that the genetic legacy of pre-contact Caribbean people did not disappear: They contributed an estimated 14 percent of the DNA of living people from Puerto Rico, 6 percent of that in the Dominican Republic and 4 percent of that in Cuba. In addition, by illuminating the highly mobile lifestyle of pre-contact Caribbean people with many DNA cousins across different islands, the research underscores the degree to which they were connected — a relative unity later fractured by centuries of division into colonial spheres by European powers. Colonization resulted in such immense destruction that the rich cultures of the pre-contact Caribbean can be reconstructed only through a blend of oral traditions and scientific study, including the new insights provided by ancient DNA analysis. It is a blessing to be able to get closer to this heritage. And it is the loss of the people and cultures that produced this heritage that most provokes our outrage.

Ancient DNA is changing how we think about the Caribbean

At a time when a number of companies are working on to develop a vaccine for the deadly coronavirus,&nbsp;the threat posed by biological warfare and bioterrorism is substantial.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-scientists-now-claim-coronavirus-originated-in-india-in-summer-2019-346039">Also read | Chinese scientists now claim coronavirus originated in India in summer 2019</a> 
 
Small amounts of deadly biotic agents can be effortlessly cloaked, transported, and discharged into vulnerable populations. 
 
A team of researchers have found that biologists could be tricked into creating dangerous toxins in their labs. 
 
The cyber-biological attack has been discovered by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) cyber researchers. A focus on cyber-biosecurity – the convergence of biosecurity and cybersecurity – is needed to stay one step ahead of criminals and hostile actors as laboratories become ever more automated. 
 
According to the scientists, bioterrorists can infect an 'unwitting' biologist's computer with malware and easily replace a short sub-string of the DNA in the code with a new sequence. 
 
The researchers found that weakness in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) guidance for DNA providers allows screening protocols to be circumvented using a generic obfuscation procedure which makes it difficult for the screening software to detect the toxin-producing DNA.

Rami Puzis, head of the Ben-Gurion University (BGU) Complex Networks Analysis Lab, said: 'To regulate both intentional and unintentional generation of dangerous substances, most synthetic gene providers screen DNA orders, which is currently the most effective line of defence against such attacks.' 
 
Bioterrorism is the use of bacteria, viruses, or germs to purposely harm large quantities of people or communities. These “weapons” are spread through air, water, or food sources. Bioterrorism is rare and is used to threaten people, governments, and countries.

(With inputs from agencies)

At a time when a number of companies are working on to develop a vaccine for the deadly coronavirus, the threat posed by biological warfare and bioterrorism is substantial.

At a time when a number of companies are working on to develop a vaccine for the deadly coronavirus, the threat posed by biological warfare and bioterrorism is substantial. Also read | Chinese scientists now claim coronavirus originated in India in summer 2019 Small amounts of deadly biotic agents can be effortlessly cloaked, transported, and discharged into vulnerable populations. A team of researchers have found that biologists could be tricked into creating dangerous toxins in their labs. The cyber-biological attack has been discovered by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) cyber researchers. A focus on cyber-biosecurity – the convergence of biosecurity and cybersecurity – is needed to stay one step ahead of criminals and hostile actors as laboratories become ever more automated. According to the scientists, bioterrorists can infect an 'unwitting' biologist's computer with malware and easily replace a short sub-string of the DNA in the code with a new sequence. The researchers found that weakness in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) guidance for DNA providers allows screening protocols to be circumvented using a generic obfuscation procedure which makes it difficult for the screening software to detect the toxin-producing DNA. Rami Puzis, head of the Ben-Gurion University (BGU) Complex Networks Analysis Lab, said: 'To regulate both intentional and unintentional generation of dangerous substances, most synthetic gene providers screen DNA orders, which is currently the most effective line of defence against such attacks.' Bioterrorism is the use of bacteria, viruses, or germs to purposely harm large quantities of people or communities. These “weapons” are spread through air, water, or food sources. Bioterrorism is rare and is used to threaten people, governments, and countries. (With inputs from agencies)

Bioterrorists can trick scientists into making deadly viruses

A powerful gene-editing tool called CRISPR-Cas9, which this month nabbed the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for two female scientists, can cause serious side effects in the cells of human embryos, prompting them to discard large chunks of their genetic material, a new study has found.

Administered to cells to repair a mutation that can cause hereditary blindness, the CRISPR-Cas9 technology appeared to wreak genetic havoc in about half the specimens that the researchers examined, according to a study published in the journal Cell on Thursday.

The consequences of these errors can be quite serious in some cases, said Dieter Egli, a geneticist at Columbia University and an author of the study. Some cells were so flummoxed by the alterations that they simply gave up on trying to fix them, jettisoning entire chromosomes, the units into which human DNA is packaged, Egli said.

The new paper’s findings further underscore that “it’s really too soon to be applying CRISPR to reproductive genetics,” said Nita Farahany, a bioethicist at Duke University who was not involved in the study.

Scientists can use CRISPR-Cas9 to home in on a specific region of the genome and snip it in two. Sensing trouble, the cell rushes to heal its genetic wound, sometimes using a similar-looking stretch of nearby, intact DNA as a template as it stitches the pieces back together. This gives researchers an opportunity to splice in a tailor-made template of their own, in the hopes that the cell will incorporate the intended change.

In 2017, a team of researchers led by Shoukhrat Mitalipov, a geneticist at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, reported that human embryos carrying a mutation could be coaxed into this process without a synthetic template. The researchers generated embryos from a union between two cells: a sperm carrying a mutation that can make it harder for the heart to pump blood, and an egg with a healthy version of the gene. Mitalipov and his team used CRISPR-Cas9 to cut the broken copy of the gene to see if the intact version would guide its repair. They reported the experiment a success and published it in the journal Nature.

The new findings could cast some doubt on the 2017 work, Egli said.

A powerful gene-editing tool called CRISPR-Cas9, which this month nabbed the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for two female scientists, can cause serious side effects in the cells of human embryos, prompting them to discard large chunks of their genetic material, a new study has found.

A powerful gene-editing tool called CRISPR-Cas9, which this month nabbed the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for two female scientists, can cause serious side effects in the cells of human embryos, prompting them to discard large chunks of their genetic material, a new study has found. Administered to cells to repair a mutation that can cause hereditary blindness, the CRISPR-Cas9 technology appeared to wreak genetic havoc in about half the specimens that the researchers examined, according to a study published in the journal Cell on Thursday. The consequences of these errors can be quite serious in some cases, said Dieter Egli, a geneticist at Columbia University and an author of the study. Some cells were so flummoxed by the alterations that they simply gave up on trying to fix them, jettisoning entire chromosomes, the units into which human DNA is packaged, Egli said. The new paper’s findings further underscore that “it’s really too soon to be applying CRISPR to reproductive genetics,” said Nita Farahany, a bioethicist at Duke University who was not involved in the study. Scientists can use CRISPR-Cas9 to home in on a specific region of the genome and snip it in two. Sensing trouble, the cell rushes to heal its genetic wound, sometimes using a similar-looking stretch of nearby, intact DNA as a template as it stitches the pieces back together. This gives researchers an opportunity to splice in a tailor-made template of their own, in the hopes that the cell will incorporate the intended change. In 2017, a team of researchers led by Shoukhrat Mitalipov, a geneticist at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, reported that human embryos carrying a mutation could be coaxed into this process without a synthetic template. The researchers generated embryos from a union between two cells: a sperm carrying a mutation that can make it harder for the heart to pump blood, and an egg with a healthy version of the gene. Mitalipov and his team used CRISPR-Cas9 to cut the broken copy of the gene to see if the intact version would guide its repair. They reported the experiment a success and published it in the journal Nature. The new findings could cast some doubt on the 2017 work, Egli said.

CRISPR gene editing can cause unwanted changes in human embryos, study finds

Llatest IVF scandal&nbsp;- Dutch Fertility Doctor &nbsp; A deceased gynaecologist has fathered at least 17 children with women, who thought they were receiving sperm from anonymous donors.

Jan Wildschut worked from 1981 to 1993 at the fertility clinic of the former Sophia hospital.

"A total of 17 donor children are currently known, in addition to the legal children of this former gynaecologist," Isala hospital in the eastern Dutch city of Zwolle said in a statement, describing Wildschut's actions as "morally unacceptable".

At the time he was involved in the hospital's artificial insemination programme with donor sperm, called KID in Dutch. It was unknown whether he sired more children, the hospital said.

Learning of the news in 2019, the hospital decided to make it public together with the doctor's family and donor children to "contribute to greater transparency" in the issue of sperm donation.

Dutch fertility doctor :&nbsp;latest IVF scandal 

De Stentor newspaper said the matter was first discovered when a donor child discovered a DNA match via a commercial database with a niece of Wildschut, who had died in 2009.

The Dutch Health and Youth Inspectorate has declined to open a probe, as "this case took place at a time when there were no laws or regulations governing fertility treatments," the hospital said.

This is the latest IVF scandal to hit the country. Last year, the Netherlands was rocked by another scandal after it came out that another Dutch doctor in Rotterdam fathered at least 49 children while inseminating women seeking treatment.

Llatest IVF scandal - Dutch Fertility Doctor A deceased gynaecologist has fathered at least 17 children with women, who thought they were receiving sperm from anonymous donors.

Llatest IVF scandal - Dutch Fertility Doctor A deceased gynaecologist has fathered at least 17 children with women, who thought they were receiving sperm from anonymous donors. Jan Wildschut worked from 1981 to 1993 at the fertility clinic of the former Sophia hospital. "A total of 17 donor children are currently known, in addition to the legal children of this former gynaecologist," Isala hospital in the eastern Dutch city of Zwolle said in a statement, describing Wildschut's actions as "morally unacceptable". At the time he was involved in the hospital's artificial insemination programme with donor sperm, called KID in Dutch. It was unknown whether he sired more children, the hospital said. Learning of the news in 2019, the hospital decided to make it public together with the doctor's family and donor children to "contribute to greater transparency" in the issue of sperm donation. Dutch fertility doctor : latest IVF scandal De Stentor newspaper said the matter was first discovered when a donor child discovered a DNA match via a commercial database with a niece of Wildschut, who had died in 2009. The Dutch Health and Youth Inspectorate has declined to open a probe, as "this case took place at a time when there were no laws or regulations governing fertility treatments," the hospital said. This is the latest IVF scandal to hit the country. Last year, the Netherlands was rocked by another scandal after it came out that another Dutch doctor in Rotterdam fathered at least 49 children while inseminating women seeking treatment.

Scandalous Dutch fertility doctor fathered 17 children

Junk food lovers may want to control their cravings as a recent study has found out that their eating habits may exhibit a change in their chromosomes that is linked to ageing.

According to a research presented at&nbsp;an online medical conference, European and International Conference on Obesity, on Tuesday, it has been revealed that consuming the "ultra-processed food" more than twice or thrice in a day may double the chances of shorter&nbsp;strands of DNA and proteins called telomeres, found on the end of chromosomes.

Short telomeres is a sign of biological ageing at the cellular level. The study has revealed that consumption of junk food leads to ageing of these cells at a faster rate, in comparison to the bodies of the people who consume less or no junk food.

However, the researchers have added that considering that every human body has 23 pairs of chromosomes that have genetic code,&nbsp;Telomeres&nbsp;does not carry any genetic information, but is important&nbsp;for preserving the stability and integrity of chromosomes and, by extension, the DNA that all the cells in our body relies on to function.

<a href="Glacier lakes have increased 50% in last 30 years: Study">Also read|&nbsp;Glacier lakes have increased 50% in last 30 years: Study</a>

The study was based on data received by almost 900 people aged 55 or older who had provided&nbsp;DNA samples in 2008 and provided detailed data about their eating habits every two years thereafter.

The 900 people included&nbsp;645 men and 241 women. Depending&nbsp;on their consumption of ultra-processed foods, the participants were divided into four groups. The high in-take group of people are more likely to have a family history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and abnormal blood fats.

Compared to the group who ate the fewest ultra-processed foods, the other three showed an increased likelihood -- 29, 40 and 82 percent, respectively -- of having shortened telomeres.

Earlier studies had revealed that there are possible links between sugar-sweetened drinks, processed meats and other foods loaded with saturated fats and sugar, but the findings were inconclusive.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/asteroid-bigger-than-great-pyramid-of-giza-to-hit-earths-orbit-this-week-324461">Also read|&nbsp;Asteroid bigger than Great Pyramid of Giza to hit Earth's orbit this week</a>

Researchers have described the junk food as food that is filled with&nbsp;artificial flavourings, colourings, emulsifiers, preservatives and other additives. The scientists have warned people that these ultra-processed food are&nbsp;nutritionally poor compared to less processed alternatives.

Earlier studies have shown strong correlations between ultra-processed foods and hypertension, obesity, depression, type 2 diabetes and some forms of cancer.

These conditions are often age-related in so far as they are linked to oxidative stress and inflammation known to influence telomere length.

The latest study has been published in&nbsp;American Journal of Clinical Nutritio and has been peer-reviewed.

Junk food lovers may want to control their cravings as a recent study has found out that their eating habits may exhibit a change in their chromosomes that is linked to ageing.

Junk food lovers may want to control their cravings as a recent study has found out that their eating habits may exhibit a change in their chromosomes that is linked to ageing. According to a research presented at an online medical conference, European and International Conference on Obesity, on Tuesday, it has been revealed that consuming the "ultra-processed food" more than twice or thrice in a day may double the chances of shorter strands of DNA and proteins called telomeres, found on the end of chromosomes. Short telomeres is a sign of biological ageing at the cellular level. The study has revealed that consumption of junk food leads to ageing of these cells at a faster rate, in comparison to the bodies of the people who consume less or no junk food. However, the researchers have added that considering that every human body has 23 pairs of chromosomes that have genetic code, Telomeres does not carry any genetic information, but is important for preserving the stability and integrity of chromosomes and, by extension, the DNA that all the cells in our body relies on to function. Also read| Glacier lakes have increased 50% in last 30 years: Study The study was based on data received by almost 900 people aged 55 or older who had provided DNA samples in 2008 and provided detailed data about their eating habits every two years thereafter. The 900 people included 645 men and 241 women. Depending on their consumption of ultra-processed foods, the participants were divided into four groups. The high in-take group of people are more likely to have a family history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and abnormal blood fats. Compared to the group who ate the fewest ultra-processed foods, the other three showed an increased likelihood -- 29, 40 and 82 percent, respectively -- of having shortened telomeres. Earlier studies had revealed that there are possible links between sugar-sweetened drinks, processed meats and other foods loaded with saturated fats and sugar, but the findings were inconclusive. Also read| Asteroid bigger than Great Pyramid of Giza to hit Earth's orbit this week Researchers have described the junk food as food that is filled with artificial flavourings, colourings, emulsifiers, preservatives and other additives. The scientists have warned people that these ultra-processed food are nutritionally poor compared to less processed alternatives. Earlier studies have shown strong correlations between ultra-processed foods and hypertension, obesity, depression, type 2 diabetes and some forms of cancer. These conditions are often age-related in so far as they are linked to oxidative stress and inflammation known to influence telomere length. The latest study has been published in American Journal of Clinical Nutritio and has been peer-reviewed.

Regular intake of junk food can affect chromosomes related to ageing: Study

China says it is helping the world by providing COVID-19 test kits. But, is it a smokescreen to gather genetic data across the globe? What does China plan on doing with the data? WION's Palki Sharma brings you the story of China's genetics-based surveillance.

Gravitas: Is China creating a Global DNA Database?

Police in the US state of Florida recently arrested a man for murder 35 years after the crime was committed.&nbsp;

Interestingly, DNA evidence from a discarded cigarette solved the cold case, the BBC reported.

Earlier this week, 57-year-old Daniel Wells was arrested in Pensacola for murdering Tonya McKinley.

McKinley was sexually assaulted and strangled on New Year’s Day in 1985. She has a son. The case remained unsolved for over three decades. According to the local police, DNA from a database linked Wells to the murder.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://wionews.com/world/man-sentenced-to-death-for-murder-of-19-people-at-a-caring-home-for-disabled-286671" hreflang="en">Man sentenced to death for murder of 19 people at a caring home for disabled</a>

"I didn't really think this would happen in my lifetime, not after 35 years." the victim’s sister, Renee, told NBC News.&nbsp;

The statement released by Pensacola police clearly states that they had interrogated her friends and family, while also talking to people at the local restaurant where the 23-year-old was seen.

The police were able to trace Wells by using open-source genealogy databases and combining them with DNA evidence which was found near the victim’s body 35 years ago.

"Despite having a good bit of physical evidence and dozens of interviews, over time, the trail went cold," police said. "In the meantime, a baby boy grew up without a mother, parents buried their daughter without knowing justice, and a killer was walking around free", the police statement added.

<h6><img alt="iii" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5639a385-098f-43d5-a854-1053926f46ab" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/ETxX5GAWsAAAG9w.jpeg" /> 
Daniel Wells | Source: CTV news 
&nbsp;</h6>

Based on the information derived from this process, the police reached the relatives and cousins of Wells. After a link was established, the police charted out a family tree and finally zeroed in on Wells.

Media reports suggest that the police tracked him for a long time, and collected DNA evidence from a cigarette butt that he had thrown out of the car.

After the link was established and verified by the police, Wells was charged for committing first-degree murder and first-degree sexual battery. He is currently being held at Escambia Country Jail.

McKinley’s 35-year-old son, Timothy Davidson expressed happiness at the discovery.

“It’s still kind of unbelievable, like I’m dreaming,” he told The Daily Beast.

Police in the US state of Florida recently arrested a man for murder 35 years after the crime was committed. Interestingly, DNA evidence from a discarded cigarette solved the cold case, the BBC reported.

Police in the US state of Florida recently arrested a man for murder 35 years after the crime was committed. Interestingly, DNA evidence from a discarded cigarette solved the cold case, the BBC reported. Earlier this week, 57-year-old Daniel Wells was arrested in Pensacola for murdering Tonya McKinley. McKinley was sexually assaulted and strangled on New Year’s Day in 1985. She has a son. The case remained unsolved for over three decades. According to the local police, DNA from a database linked Wells to the murder. Also read: Man sentenced to death for murder of 19 people at a caring home for disabled "I didn't really think this would happen in my lifetime, not after 35 years." the victim’s sister, Renee, told NBC News. The statement released by Pensacola police clearly states that they had interrogated her friends and family, while also talking to people at the local restaurant where the 23-year-old was seen. The police were able to trace Wells by using open-source genealogy databases and combining them with DNA evidence which was found near the victim’s body 35 years ago. "Despite having a good bit of physical evidence and dozens of interviews, over time, the trail went cold," police said. "In the meantime, a baby boy grew up without a mother, parents buried their daughter without knowing justice, and a killer was walking around free", the police statement added. Daniel Wells | Source: CTV news Based on the information derived from this process, the police reached the relatives and cousins of Wells. After a link was established, the police charted out a family tree and finally zeroed in on Wells. Media reports suggest that the police tracked him for a long time, and collected DNA evidence from a cigarette butt that he had thrown out of the car. After the link was established and verified by the police, Wells was charged for committing first-degree murder and first-degree sexual battery. He is currently being held at Escambia Country Jail. McKinley’s 35-year-old son, Timothy Davidson expressed happiness at the discovery. “It’s still kind of unbelievable, like I’m dreaming,” he told The Daily Beast.

Cold case of murder solved after 35 years using DNA evidence from a cigarette butt

ZEE group's international news channel WION swept big honours at the 12th edition of the News Broadcasting Awards (ENBA) on Saturday.

The glittering award ceremony was held in Noida and witnessed WION receiving 7 top awards.

WION clinched the award for the 'Best News Channel of the Year (English) - special jury mention'&nbsp;along with 'Best International News Channel (English)'.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-wins-best-news-coverage-international-award-for-unga-282162/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

WION's primetime show 'Gravitas', hosted by channel's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay, won the 'Best International News Show (English)'&nbsp;award.

<img alt="WION at ENBA" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1480db57-3535-4964-af0e-384c7b3714b6" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pictures.jpg" />

The channel was honoured for its coverage on the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

WION's tech, auto and travel shows - 'Tech It Out', 'Pitstop' and 'Traveller' bagged the top awards in their respective categories.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Well done team ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WIONews</a>⁩ 🥳👏 <a href="https://t.co/CtbRDtXNCS">pic.twitter.com/CtbRDtXNCS</a>
— Palki Sharma (@palkisu) <a href="https://twitter.com/palkisu/status/1231271802904571907?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Here's the complete list of winners:

World Is One News (WION) at ENBA, 2020

Best News Channel of the Year (English) - Special jury mention

Best News Coverage: UN General Assembly&nbsp;

Best International News Channel (English)

Best International News Show (English): Gravitas&nbsp;

Best Gadget: Tech It Out &nbsp;&nbsp;

Best Auto: Pitstop &nbsp;&nbsp;

Best Travel: Traveller &nbsp;

ZEE group's international news channel WION swept big honours at the 12th edition of the News Broadcasting Awards (ENBA) on Saturday. The glittering award ceremony was held in Noida and witnessed WION receiving 7 top awards.

ZEE group's international news channel WION swept big honours at the 12th edition of the News Broadcasting Awards (ENBA) on Saturday. The glittering award ceremony was held in Noida and witnessed WION receiving 7 top awards. WION clinched the award for the 'Best News Channel of the Year (English) - special jury mention' along with 'Best International News Channel (English)'. × WION's primetime show 'Gravitas', hosted by channel's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay, won the 'Best International News Show (English)' award. The channel was honoured for its coverage on the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). WION's tech, auto and travel shows - 'Tech It Out', 'Pitstop' and 'Traveller' bagged the top awards in their respective categories. Well done team ⁦@WIONews⁩ 🥳👏 pic.twitter.com/CtbRDtXNCS — Palki Sharma (@palkisu) February 22, 2020 × Here's the complete list of winners: World Is One News (WION) at ENBA, 2020 Best News Channel of the Year (English) - Special jury mention Best News Coverage: UN General Assembly Best International News Channel (English) Best International News Show (English): Gravitas Best Gadget: Tech It Out Best Auto: Pitstop Best Travel: Traveller

WION wins big at News Broadcasting Awards (ENBA), gets honoured for unparalleled UNGA coverage

The ZEE Media group bagged big honours at the 12th edition of the News Broadcasting Awards (ENBA). The glittering award ceremony was held in Noida.&nbsp;

ZEE group's international news channel WION received seven awards across verticles at the ceremony.&nbsp;

WION received the award for the Best News Channel of the Year (English) along with Best International News Channel.&nbsp;

WION's primetime show 'Gravitas', hosted by channel's executive editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay, won the Best International Program award.&nbsp;

The channel was honoured for its coverage on the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

WION's tech, auto and travel shows - 'Tech It Out', 'Pitstop' and 'Traveller' bagged the top awards in their respective categories.

Here's the complete list of winners:

&nbsp;

World Is One News (WION)&nbsp;

Best News Channel of the Year (English)

Best News Coverage: UN General Assembly &nbsp;

Best International News Channel

Best International Program: Gravitas &nbsp;

Best Gadget: Tech It Out &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Best Auto: Pitstop &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Best Travel: Traveller &nbsp; &nbsp;

&nbsp;

The ZEE Media group bagged big honours at the 12th edition of the News Broadcasting Awards (ENBA). The glittering award ceremony was held in Noida. ZEE group's international news channel WION received seven awards across verticles at the ceremony.

The ZEE Media group bagged big honours at the 12th edition of the News Broadcasting Awards (ENBA). The glittering award ceremony was held in Noida. ZEE group's international news channel WION received seven awards across verticles at the ceremony. WION received the award for the Best News Channel of the Year (English) along with Best International News Channel. WION's primetime show 'Gravitas', hosted by channel's executive editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay, won the Best International Program award. The channel was honoured for its coverage on the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). WION's tech, auto and travel shows - 'Tech It Out', 'Pitstop' and 'Traveller' bagged the top awards in their respective categories. Here's the complete list of winners: World Is One News (WION) Best News Channel of the Year (English) Best News Coverage: UN General Assembly Best International News Channel Best International Program: Gravitas Best Gadget: Tech It Out Best Auto: Pitstop Best Travel: Traveller

As it turns out, we all have a bit of Neanderthal in our DNA, CNN reported.

According to a new study, even Africans, who were perceived as having no links to our extinct human relative.

In 2010, evidence proved that our ancestors copulated with Neanderthals. This was done based on data from the bones of the Stone Age, dating back to 40,000 years.

The research found that modern Asians, Europeans, and Americans inherited about 2 per cent of Neanderthal genes. This did not include Africans.&nbsp;

As research becomes more detailed, more information continues to drop in. Researchers at Princeton University claim that Africans indeed have Neanderthal DNA.

"This is the first time we can detect the actual signal of Neanderthal ancestry in Africans," said Lu Chen, a postdoctoral research associate at Princeton's Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics (LSI) to CNN.&nbsp;

<h6><img alt="pppp" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d6ad2d3a-e378-460c-a401-749a33fcee81" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%283%29_41.jpg" /> 
A picture taken on March 26, 2018 shows a moulding of a Neanderthal man face displayed for the Neanderthal exhibition at the Musee de l'Homme in Paris | AFP 
&nbsp;</h6>

Joshua Akey, another professor at LSI, challenged the idea of a single dispersal originating from Africa 60,000-80,000 years ago.

"Our results show this history was much more interesting and there were many waves of dispersal out of Africa, some of which led to admixture between modern humans and Neanderthals that we see in the genomes of all living individuals today", Akey told CNN.

According to them, modern humans left Africa about 200,000 years ago and bred with the Neanderthals.

Over time, this group then moved back to Africa, introducing the Neanderthal ancestry to Africa.

The researchers claim that the assumption that Neanderthals and ancient African populations lived in isolation from each other had created roadblocks in the field.

Based on the findings of the team, humans&nbsp;on different continents possessed Neanderthal ancestry ''surprisingly similar to each other''. 
&nbsp;

As it turns out, we all have a bit of Neanderthal in our DNA, CNN reported. According to a new study, even Africans, who were perceived as having no links to our extinct human relative.

As it turns out, we all have a bit of Neanderthal in our DNA, CNN reported. According to a new study, even Africans, who were perceived as having no links to our extinct human relative. In 2010, evidence proved that our ancestors copulated with Neanderthals. This was done based on data from the bones of the Stone Age, dating back to 40,000 years. The research found that modern Asians, Europeans, and Americans inherited about 2 per cent of Neanderthal genes. This did not include Africans. As research becomes more detailed, more information continues to drop in. Researchers at Princeton University claim that Africans indeed have Neanderthal DNA. "This is the first time we can detect the actual signal of Neanderthal ancestry in Africans," said Lu Chen, a postdoctoral research associate at Princeton's Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics (LSI) to CNN. A picture taken on March 26, 2018 shows a moulding of a Neanderthal man face displayed for the Neanderthal exhibition at the Musee de l'Homme in Paris | AFP Joshua Akey, another professor at LSI, challenged the idea of a single dispersal originating from Africa 60,000-80,000 years ago. "Our results show this history was much more interesting and there were many waves of dispersal out of Africa, some of which led to admixture between modern humans and Neanderthals that we see in the genomes of all living individuals today", Akey told CNN. According to them, modern humans left Africa about 200,000 years ago and bred with the Neanderthals. Over time, this group then moved back to Africa, introducing the Neanderthal ancestry to Africa. The researchers claim that the assumption that Neanderthals and ancient African populations lived in isolation from each other had created roadblocks in the field. Based on the findings of the team, humans on different continents possessed Neanderthal ancestry ''surprisingly similar to each other''.

All modern humans possess Neanderthal DNA: Study

Dna, News on Dna, stories on Dna, articles on Dna, Dna stories at Wion, Dna news, Dna latest news