Tag: dna

Scientists Just Found Human Evolution’s Missing Link in Europe 

Recent fossil evidence challenges the prevailing narrative of human evolution, shifting the focus from Africa to Europe’s westernmost reaches. Conventional beliefs, rooted in the Out of Africa theory, face scrutiny as scientists suggest our last common ancestor may have resided in Europe over two million years ago. The study challenges established timelines linking Neanderthals, Denisovans, and Homo sapiens to a single ancestor, Homo heidelbergensis. The Pit of Bones in Spain, also known as Atapuerca, houses fossils dating back 800,000 years, adds complexity. Genetic analysis hints at an unknown hominin species, a potential missing link connecting Neanderthals and Denisovans.

This discovery prompts a reevaluation of the human evolutionary tree, emphasizing the enigmatic genetic makeup of these fossils. The implications extend beyond challenging preconceptions; they underscore the intricacy of unraveling our evolutionary history. The fossils, with their mysterious genetic traits, defy easy classification, leaving scientists grappling with questions that may reshape our understanding of the common ancestry shared by Neanderthals and Homo sapiens.

Keep reading

Native Americans Share Aboriginal Australian Ancestry

Recent DNA studies on the peopling of the Americas challenge established narratives, revealing a complex ancestry for Native Americans. The research identifies a surprising link between Native Americans and the Australo-Melanesian genetic group, encompassing Australians and Melanesians. This revelation challenges conventional theories, as scientists grapple with the timing and routes of migration.

Two conflicting studies, conducted independently, uncovered traces of Australian and Melanesian DNA in Native American populations. While one posits an early migration, the other suggests a more recent genetic contribution.

The debate centers on the origin of this connection, with theories ranging from an ancient migration to a later gene flow during the postulated Beringian crossing. The findings not only challenge previous notions about paleo-American populations but also shed light on the intricate web of human migration.

Indigenous South American communities, notably in the Amazon and Peru, exhibit Australo-Melanesian ancestry, challenging preconceived notions about their genetic makeup. As scientists continue unraveling the genetic tapestry of Native Americans, these discoveries underscore the need for more extensive genomic analysis to fully comprehend the intricate history of the Americas’ original inhabitants.

FDA approves first use of CRISPR gene editing to treat sickle cell disease

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday approved a new therapy for treating sickle cell disease, with this move also marking the first instance of CRISPR gene editing receiving approval from federal regulators.

The FDA approved two new treatments for sickle cell disease (SCD) on Friday, Casgevy and Lyfgenia.

Casgevy, also known as exa-cel, is developed through a partnership between Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR Therapeutics. The treatment involves taking a sickle cell patient’s own stem cells, editing them to create more fetal hemoglobin and transplanting them back into the individual.

When more fetal hemoglobin is produced, red blood cells don’t become “sickle” shaped, which is what causes the complications and pain associated with SCD. About 100,000 people in the U.S. have SCD, with the disease mostly affecting Black patients.

The FDA has approved the treatment for SCD patients 12 years old and up.

“Sickle cell disease is a rare, debilitating and life-threatening blood disorder with significant unmet need, and we are excited to advance the field especially for individuals whose lives have been severely disrupted by the disease by approving two cell-based gene therapies today,” Nicole Verdun, director of the FDA’s Office of Therapeutic Products, said in a statement.

A bone marrow transplant has long been the only curative treatment for SCD, with an ideal donor usually being a fully related sibling. There is, however, only a 1-in-4 chance that a sibling will be a match and most patients don’t have this option. Casgevy essentially makes a patient their own donor.

Keep reading

Genetic testing company 23andMe admits hackers accessed data of more than 6.9 MILLION people – after claiming about 14,000 profiles had been breached

Genetic testing firm 23andMe has admitted that hackers accessed sensitive data on 6.9 million people – or 50 percent of its users.

The mammoth breach is the result of digital spies using old passwords to break into files belonging to 0.1 percent of customers – some 14,000 profiles – which are linked to millions more through ancestry tracing. 

On Friday, 23andMe admitted in a Securities and Exchange Commission disclosure that overall, a ‘significant number’ of files ‘containing profile information about other users’ ancestry’ had been stolen. 

The California-based company, which is a market-leader in the $17 billion genetic testing industry, later told TechCrunch that this amounted to around half of its 14 million users. 

It highlights how the explosion in popularity of at-home DNA testing kits which have led to hundreds of Americans uncovering shocking family secrets, could come with unexpected consequences. 

Keep reading

Mummified ‘aliens’ found in Peru have 30% DNA of an ‘unknown species,’ new analysis claims

The mystery of Mexico‘s ‘aliens‘ is deepening after an analysis claimed the DNA of tiny corpses is not human but of an ‘unknown species.’ 

The nation’s Congress has been a circus for the past two months as controversial UFO enthusiast and journalist Jaime Maussan has held court several times to prove the mummified remains found in Peru are extraterrestrial life.

In his recent attempt, Maussan ushered in a team of researchers who performed a DNA analysis on the figures that showed 30 percent is ‘not from any known species’ and stated that the figures were ‘authentic,’ comprising a single skeleton.

The other 70 percent has not yet been revealed. 

DailyMail.com revealed that a UFO expert who has handled the tiny bodies suggested humans put them together – and the pair could have been made with now-extinct animals 1,000 years ago.

‘This is the first time extraterrestrial life has been presented in this manner, Maussan said to Congress.

‘We have a clear example of non-human specimens unrelated to any known species on our planet. 

‘The public has the right to know about non-human technology and beings. This reality unites humanity rather than dividing us. We are not alone in this vast universe; we should embrace this truth.’ 

Maussan added that the two corpses have sturdy bones, are toothless, and contain implants made of the soft, slivery-white metal cadmium and the bluish-white metal osmium – rare elements on Earth. 

He revealed in September that 30 percent of the DNA was unknown, but it was not until recently that claims of an unknown species surfaced. 

Keep reading

DNA Contamination In COVID-19 Vaccines May Explain Rise In Cancers, Clots, Autoimmune Diseases: Pathologist

Clinical pathologist Dr. Ryan Cole has said that DNA contamination in some COVID-19 vaccines may be related to an increase in cancers, micro-clotting, and autoimmune diseases.

“My big concern is the fact that billions of people across the earth have received a product that was overtly contaminated with something that should not have been in the product,” Dr. Cole, an anatomic clinical pathologist with postgraduate Ph.D. training in immunology, recently told the “American Thought Leaders” program.

“If I went and bought some meat at the grocery store and they had heavy metal or pesticide toxins, they would pull those from the shelves immediately,” he added.

Recently, researchers found that vaccine vials containing Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines had billions of residual DNA fragments, including molecules derived from Simian Virus 40 (SV40) used as “promoters” or “enhancers” that help produce the mRNA molecules that help human cells make proteins that trigger an immune response inside the body.

Keep reading

Could ‘baby in the post’ mystery finally be solved? 60 years after newborn’s rotting corpse was found in package sent across Australia, detectives have made a major move

One of Australia’s most gruesome unsolved cases dating back almost 60 years is a step closer to being solved. 

The body of a baby boy was found wrapped up in a parcel outside of a Darwin post office, in the Northern Territory, on May 11, 1965. 

The package was sent from Melbourne eight days earlier with staff making the grisly find inside the parcel after noticing a putrid smell emanating from it.

Mystery surrounded the identity of the baby with The Missing podcast making a breakthrough in June revealing the parcel had been addressed to a ‘J Anderson’.

Amelia was listening to the audio series when she immediately recognised the recipient was her father – former Aussie Rules player Jimmy Anderson.

She immediately offered to supply DNA samples to help put the case to bed.

In the latest development, the remains of the baby were exhumed from the cemetery in November – with a DNA test of the corpse set to be undertaken within days.

Ms Anderson said was shocked when she first found out the parcel was addressed to her father.

‘I’m 53 years old and to hear a cold case that…and if that’s got a connection to do with our father, well I want closure for that Detective who’s been on the case for so long,’ she said. 

Jim Anderson was a champion footballer who played for the Darwin Buffaloes in the Northern Territory Football League during the 1950’s and 60’s and won three premierships with the club. 

After Ms Anderson came forward, police and council staff began digging up the baby’s unmarked grave at the Darwin Central Cemetery in Jingili on Wednesday. 

The package, which was posted from a post office on Russel Street in Melbourne on May 3, 1965, emanated a putrid smell which alerted staff. 

The decomposed and naked body of the newborn was found wrapped inside a bunch of newspapers. 

The umbilical cord was still attached while a stocking was tightly wrapped around his neck. 

Police were notified of the shocking discovery and have been unable to close the case ever since.  

The return address claimed the parcel had been sent by a JF Barnes from 2 Woodridge Avenue in Mentone, Melbourne’s south-east.

Detectives quickly learned the address was a fake.  

Police were unable to extract fingerprints from the packaging – further delaying the closure of the case. 

Officials are now hoping the DNA test between Ms Anderson and the body of the baby could finally solve the mystery.

Keep reading

Did A Tribe of Cannibals Interbreed with the Denisovans? 

In the untamed landscapes of Island Southeast Asia, scientists investigating the mysterious a group of hominins called the Denisovans have stumbled upon a revelation that challenges conventional timelines. Deep within the tribal heartland of New Guinea, where traditions of headhunting and elaborate ceremonies once thrived, there are signs that the enigmatic Denisovans may have persisted much later than previously believed. The tale weaves through the narrative of Michael Rockefeller, the adventurous scion whose disappearance in the 1960s fueled legends of encounters with cannibalistic tribes. Yet, beneath the surface of these myths lies a genetic story unveiled by modern research.

The DNA of the indigenous Papuans reveals unexpected complexities in Denisovan ancestry, suggesting multiple populations and interbreeding events, some as recent as 15,000 to 30,000 years ago. This discovery challenges the notion of Denisovans as a homogenous group, portraying them instead as a diverse and enduring lineage that may have mingled with modern humans in the remote mountains of New Guinea. The genetic tapestry hints at adaptability and resilience, echoing the remarkable ability of Homo sapiens to navigate and interweave their existence with even the most secluded corners of our planet.

Keep reading

YOUR baby’s DNA is being stored for DECADES in government labs and can be used in police investigations without your permission – and New Jersey parents are now suing for rights to their infants’ blood

Nearly every US-born baby has blood drawn to check their risk of about 60 rare diseases within hours of coming into the world.

What many parents may not know is that these DNA samples can be stored in a government lab indefinitely, allowing law enforcement access to blood for investigations into a child’s relative.

A 1996 cold case was solved last year after New Jersey police collected a baby’s DNA without a warrant to investigate the child’s father, grabbing the attention of some parents who are now suing state health officials over its storage practices.

Hannah Lovaglio, a resident of Cranbury and plaintiff, told DailyMail.com: ‘This is a true parent right’s issue. This is their body; this is their property taken from them from five years of being a minor, and the state is not required to give any justification.

New Jersey can store samples for up to 23 years, while others like California, Massachusetts and Maine are indefinite. 

Keep reading

Scientific breakthrough as China creates the world’s first living ‘chimeric’ monkey that was grown using stem cells

China announced it birthed the world’s first living ‘chimeric’ monkey – an animal created in a lab using special cells.

Researchers took cells from two embryos of the same monkey species – crab-eating macaques – that were genetically different and fused them together.

The team used cells from seven-day embryos, mixed them with those from a five-day-old embryo and implanted the combination into female macaques, resulting in one live glowing green-eyed infant with yellow fingertips. 

While most animals contain mixed cells from their parents, the chimeric monkey was born with several that are genetically distinct – holding distinct DNA from each biological parent, the two embryos.

The baby monkey’s body had many donor cells detected from both embryos in the brain, heart, kidney, liver, gastrointestinal tract, testes, and the cells that turn into sperm. 

The team in China said the work has vast implications, such as allowing them to increase animal populations that are on the brink of extinction and learning more about IVF.

Keep reading