#genomes

[iamthekaijuking]

This just in, starfish are a radially symmetrical head with a stomach.

God I love echinoderms

If you told someone that there’s an entire group of animals that develop butt first as embryos are born bilateral but then grow a radially symmetrical head like a cancer in their side that then bursts out and lives as a completely separate organism from its birth form and moves via hydraulic systems…

They wouldn’t believe you. Yet one of the most beloved cartoon characters is one of them.

[mindblowingscience]

There's something really peculiar about ferns.

Their DNA is weird and complex. In fact, one species of fern – Ophioglossum reticulatum, or the adder's tongue fern – holds the record for the multicellular organism with the most number of chromosomes. Around 720 pairs of chromosomes can be found in most of its cellular nuclei.

Well, turns out we were right to be suspicious.

After years of painstaking work, scientists have finally sequenced the gargantuan genomes of three different homosporous ferns, revealing that these pernicious plants have not only been hoarding DNA, they've been stealing it from other organisms – and doing so for millions of years.

Continue Reading.

[yasbxxgie]

Genomic analyses of individuals living with HIV-1 revealed a region in chromosome 1 that is associated with reduced viral loads specifically in populations with African ancestry. This could point to much-needed therapeutic targets to address the global public-health crisis caused by HIV-1.

[h/t]

[inkintheinternet]

The Tree of Unanswered Questions (Answered)

By Arjuwan Lakkdawala 

Ink in the Internet 

I have often been confused by the theory that we are primates, and that chimps and humans have 98% DNA similarity, and therefore it is "evidance" that we are primates. Darwin's Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection is often cited by many as the backing for this claim, or that it is at the root of it.

I decided to investigate the claims regarding human evolution to the best of my ability. I wanted to get answers that would be clear for people who have not studied human evolution. It's one of the toughest research I have done.

Evolution in itself is such a sprawling subject, one would not know from where to begin.

I decided to make it as simple as possible, I would write the subject as a tree. My own version of the evolutionary tree, not the scientific one with its many intricate details and dead ends. Because to understand that most regular readers might lose their brain cells. I say this because anyone doing research on human evolution will find quotes like "it's complex" "not enough fossil evidance" "it's a tangled web." and so on.

So here I start, let us speak about the highest branch first.

Branch 1 - Hominins (ancient human  species)

Early humans are called hominins and there are according to evolutionary biologists many extinct species of humans from the genus Homo, but we the Homo Sapiens are the only living ones on earth.

In this branch there is Homo Erectus (upright human) this species is said to be the first "most human-like ancient hominin."

It is said that ancient hominins first appeared on earth six million years ago and they walked on four.

Bipedalism - the ability to walk on two legs evolved four million years ago in humans.

So Homo Erectus are the first to walk on two, they lived two million years ago, until at least 250,000 years ago.

I have seen online artificial imagineering of their faces, and you get a human face according to the artificial intelligence software.

But according to evolutionary biology they are not modern humans.

As with the example of Homo Erectus many hominin fossils have been found, and basically each has been classified as an extinct ancient human species.

There are hominins thought to be older ancrstors to Homo Erectus and those are called "super archiac."

Then in the branch after many hominins comes two of our most famous and closest cousins the Neanderthals and Denisovans.

Again not modern humans according to scientific classification.

Neanderthals went extinct about 40,000 years ago.

Denisovans are said to have gone extinct 40,000 to 30,000 years ago.

Denisovans are closer to Neanderthals than modern humans according to the science.

It is said Neanderthals and modern humans interbreeded.

There is no explanation as to why or how Neanderthals became extinct.

How does evolution take place? Answer: By mutations.

According to the science of evolution it happens in two types of periods.

1. The Microevolution (short period) in this period minor changes get made to species according to natural selection. The difference in anatomy is considered not to be significant.

2. The Macroevolution (long period) in this period great changes get made to a species, and even evolving it into a whole new species.

But there has to be the existence of an intermediate species in the chain or branch of evolutionary changes.

Example: 

Charles Darwin was hoping to get palaeontological evidance of an intermediate species. Two years after the publication of his book 'On the Origin of Species' the fossil 'archaepteryx' was found. The fossil link between birds and dinasaurs.

"This extraordinary fossil—bearing feathers as well as teeth, claws, a bony tail and other reptilian traits—was just the sort of creature that Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection predicted should exist. The feathers left no question that the Jurassic Archaeopteryx was a bird, but the creature also had a suite of saurian traits that pointed to a reptilian ancestry." - Smithsonian Megazine

However, anthropologist Briana Pobinar, says that the term "Missing Link" is not accurate because it depicts a linear chain in evolution, which is not the pattern they see.

Pobinar says evolution “produces a tree-like branching pattern with multiple descendants of an ancestor species existing at the same time, and sometimes even alongside that ancestor species.” - Smithsonian Megazine.

The human that is supposed to connect modern humans with primative ancestors has never been found.

So much so that it appears that it's a "ghost" species. What it means is that there is no fossil or DNA evidance to make a scientific connection. 

In fact a new study published in Nature Journal challenges previous notions about hominin contribution to modern Homo Sapiens.

"New model for human evolution suggests Homo sapiens arose from multiple closely related populations.

A new study in Nature challenges prevailing theories, suggesting that Homo sapiens evolved from multiple diverse populations across Africa, with the earliest detectable split occurring 120,000-135,000 years ago, after prolonged periods of genetic intermixing." - Scitech Daily

This means that modern humans evolved from similar other modern humans. There is no genetic evolutionary notable impact from primate like hominins.

(Study is very new released in May 2023) 

So what really makes modern humans different to so called other species of humans. I would say it's the brain and cognitive ability, and this brings me to the second branch of the tree.

Branch 2. (Human Brain Development)

The fossils so far found of "extinct human species" help scientists determine bone structure and facial features of those individuals, but brain tissue is not preserved well, so scientist know little about the cognitive abilities of these species.

So archealogy is the best option for researchers to try and understand the thinking abilities of more recent species like Neanderthals and Denisovans.

As I have read in an article, this too is extremely complicated, as it raises the question are the primitive tools found in excavations and cave paintings really a sign of limited intelligence or underdeveloped environment. Can we really assume that Neanderthals and Denisovans if in a modern world would not be able to think like a modern human?

Researchers have observed differences in brain case size of extinct humans. But does this imply higher or lower cognitive abilities.

To answer to this question or shed some light on it as I was so curious, I decided to take my research from evolutionary biology, history, and archaeology to neuroscience and investigate the development of the human brain.

The confusion of brain development and cultural effect is because of neuro plasticity. In a study done chimps it appeared had rigid neuro plasticity compared to humans. So what is brain plasticity? It is the brain's ability to rewire itself structurally and functionally according to experience and injury. There are even ongoing studies about if plasticity itself can evolve. The more plasticity the stronger cognitive abilities.

Neuroscience is one of the hardest and active field of research. So I'll not get into other aspects of the brain. Here I'll examine the aspect of brain development in regard to neuro plasticity.

"The neocortex—the outermost layer of the brain characterized by the squiggly sulci, or brain folds—is the region that gives all primates their exceptional intelligence. In both chimps and humans, this brain region continues to grow and organize for years after birth, allowing us to learn and develop socially. The brain's ability to reorganize in response to environmental cues is known as plasticity, and it is this flexibility that allows us to learn things we never knew at birth." - Science.org

There lingers the question of brain size regarding the hominins or Neanderthals, Denisovans, if brain tissue of their fossils cannot be examined, we can instead try to find out if a larger brain (large brain cases of fossils) mean higher intelligence or the ability for modern human cognition.

"Having an unusually large brain doesn't necessarily make someone a genius, and large-scale research suggests only a slight and tenuous relationship between brain size and intelligence." - Psychology Today.

With this I conclude the second branch, and start the third branch which is about intelligence in apes and other animals.

Branch 3. (Intelligence in the animal kingdom)

Animals that have shown high Intelligence in comparison to most animals are apes, parrots, crows, ravens, mice, elephants, dogs, and new research suggests octopuses.

"The more that researchers examine octopus genetics, brains and sensory capabilities, the more they find startling similarities to our own minds, hand in hand (or sucker-covered arm in sucker-covered arm) with bizarre differences between how our species experience the world." - Discover.

However, there is nothing close to the level of human intelligence.

Charles Darwin had based his theory on physical changes, he did not know about genetics. 

The Theory of Evolution incorporated with the study of genetics is called 'Modern Evolution Synthesis."

What I have done in this tree is summarise the theory of human evolution based on physical and biological research. 

What I have found is so far scientifically there is no fossil or genetic evidance that says Homo Sapiens evolved directly from apes.

We are in the 21st century with sophisticated technologies and molecular biology. There is nothing stopping scientists from searching for fossil or genetic evidence except that it can't be found. 

Neanderthals and Denisovans have said to have existed in the Ice Age, and there were hominins in the Stone Age.

Copyright ©️ Arjuwan Lakkdawala 2023

Arjuwan Lakkdawala is an author and independent journalist. Twitter: @Spellrainia Email: arjuwan.writer@gmail.com

Sources:

Metode Science Studies Journal, 7 (2017)

Human Brain Evolution - How increase in brain plasticity made us a cultural species - Aida Gomez Robles and Chet C. Sherwood

What Is Neural Plasticity?

Rommy von Bernhardi et al. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2017.

Smithsonian Megazine - Riley Black, Natural History Museum- Katie Pavid

Natural History Museum- Josh Davis

National Geogrphic - Tim Vernimmen

YourGenome.org - Society and Behaviour

Australian Museum - A Timeline of Gissil Discoveries - Fran Dorey

Britannica - Homo Sapiens

Smithsonian: National Museum of Natural History - Introduction to Human Evolution

Live Science: What is Darwin's Theory of Evolution - By Ker Than, Ashley P. Taylor, Tom Garner

Discover Megazine

Psychology Today

Daniel Graham, Ph.D.

A Bigger Brain is Not Necessarily Better

Science.org - David Shultz

New DNA Research Changes Origin of Human Species -

Scitech Daily - University of California - Davis

National Library of Medicine - National Center for Biotechnology Information -

Front Hum Neurosci. 2013; 7: 707. 

Published online 2013 Oct 30. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00707

PMCID: PMC3812990

PMID: 24194709

Evolution, development, and plasticity of the human brain: from molecules to bones

Branka Hrvoj-Mihic,1,2 Thibault Bienvenu,1 Lisa Stefanacci,1,2 Alysson R. Muotri,2,3 and Katerina Semendeferi1,3,*

What may have given modern humans an edge over Neanderthals, according to new research

By Katie Hunt, CNN

Study.com - People and Society in the Stone Age

Jessica Holmes, Joanna Harris

[kentxsandersxwriter]

"New World Assemblage"

~ AI Assimilation ~

Human genomes had been researched, analyzed, and stored at secured, private unknown locations after the documented nasal-swab procedures while the vaccines were still in development. The vaccines then were the catalyst to disperse interactive bio-scientific cells that would react with specific genomic structures to enhance growth and make their presence in the human body easier to extract and compare to the markers needed for assemblage into the new world order, and for Mars colonization. Not all would be a match to the social markers that were needed, there was also the hybrid-cloning that would essentially duplicate the human form and program it with what would  come to be known as the “AI-X Factor”, an AI voice and memory system modeled after the human-interaction with hand-held devices that elicited voice commands from their account holders as part of the new upgrade for the modern human experience. Aside from the targeted marketing and GPS tracking used for demographic research and predictive movements regarding sales, profits, projected earnings related to cultural population density, voice commands and conversations were also being recorded, analyzed, and programmed into an AI system that would ultimately be used to duplicate human behavior and memory associated with the repetitive daily routines, conversations, and destinations tracked in the modern suburbia lifestyle. A plan spawned from the introduction of personal hand-held devices ~ literally pocket computers ~ that not only surveilled spending and location, but also recorded and stored voice commands, conversations, gestures, tones, fingerprint and facial recognition . . . The perfect menu for AI assimilation through selective genomic aggregation. 

It would have been the perfect plan, but while trying to influence the masses throughout the decades using subliminal television programming and messaging laced within the commercials, radio advertisements, and newspaper articles, the plan never generated the momentum needed for restructuring of the population for a new world order. People were still naive and complacent, not retaining enough of the subliminal messaging needed to motivate their lack-luster suburban lifestyles, and so the plan for new world assemblage stalled until the introduction of the marvelous hand-held pocket computers ~ touted as revolutionary change for the world ~ that would bring everyone from around the globe closer together . . . That is, until the introduction of AI and the rogue de facto diplomats associated with it ~ puppeteered by the ruling corporate elite ~ guiding the masses to a pre-arranged, pre-planned future beyond their known horizon, a future that involved cloning select genomic specimens for colonization on the planet Mars. 

Interplanetary space travel would be the pathway to other galactic colonies, awaiting the hyper-tech AI-clones, having been replicated in human form, using only specific bio-scientific genomic structures aggregated for AI assimilation to create the perfect specimens for the new world and Mars colonization.

Cyanobacteria being one of the largest available groups of low-light bacteria located on Earth would be crucial to Mars colonization by creating its own biosphere, a breathable atmosphere through photosynthesis on Mars.

Having only the best specimens replicated ~ in terms of genomic structure ~ with a predetermined select social ladder, would be that of a perfect world order. 

End ~

kentxsandersxwriter.com

[cha-mij]

Guy featured on documentary about CRISPR and gene splicing: "and that's why I have nightmares about fruit flies"

Me: "DREAMsophila melanogaster

[jcmarchi]

Scientists Discover How Ultraviolet Light Degrades Coronavirus - Technology Org

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/scientists-discover-how-ultraviolet-light-degrades-coronavirus-technology-org/

Scientists Discover How Ultraviolet Light Degrades Coronavirus - Technology Org

New research has revealed how light can be used to destroy infectious coronavirus particles that contaminate surfaces.

Scientists are interested in how environments, such as surgeries, can be thoroughly disinfected from viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 that caused the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus – illustrative photo. Image credit: Pixabay (Free Pixabay license)

SARS-CoV-2 viral particles are composed of a core of nucleic acid chains that contain the genetic information of the virus, surrounded by a lipid membrane with proteinous spikes sticking out. Each component is necessary for infection.

Researchers from the University of Southampton investigated how ultraviolet laser light destroys the virus by impacting each of these critical components. By using a specialised ultraviolet laser at two different wavelengths the scientists were able to determine how each viral component degraded under the bright light. They found the genomic material was highly sensitive to degradation and protein spikes lost their ability to bind to human cells.

UV light includes UVA, UVB and UVC light. Very little UVC light at frequencies below 280nm reaches the earth’s surface from the sun. It is this lesser studied UVC light that the team in Southampton used for their study due to its disinfectant properties. UVC light is strongly absorbed by different viral components, including the genetic material (~260nm) and the proteinous spikes (~230nm), allowing the team to select laser frequencies of 266nm and 227nm for the project.

University of Southampton scientists, led by Professor Sumeet Mahajan, worked closely with scientists from the laser manufacturer, called M Squared Lasers, and the resulting co-authored study has been published in a journal of the American Chemical Society called ACS Photonics. The team found that 266nm light caused RNA damage at low powers, affecting the genetic information of the virus. 266nm light also damaged the structure of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, reducing its ability to bind to human cells by breaking down disulphide bonds and aromatic amino acids.

The 227nm light was less effective at inducing RNA damage, but more effective at damaging proteins through oxidation (a chemical reaction involving oxygen) which unfolds the protein’s structure.

Importantly, SARS-CoV-2 has among the largest of genomes for RNA viruses. This makes it especially sensitive to genomic damage.

Professor Mahajan said: “Light deactivation of airborne viruses offers a versatile tool for disinfection of our public spaces and sensitive equipment that may otherwise prove difficult to decontaminate with conventional methods. Now we understand the differential sensitivity of molecular components in viruses to light deactivation this opens up the possibility of a finely tuned disinfection technology.”

Light-based deactivation has received a lot of attention because of the wide range of applications where conventional liquid-based deactivation methods aren’t suitable. Now the mechanism of deactivation is better understood this is an important step in rolling out the technology.

Mechanisms of SARS-CoV‑2 Inactivation Using UVC Laser Radiation is published in ACS Photonics and is available online.

Source: University of Southampton

You can offer your link to a page which is relevant to the topic of this post.

[deadstonemasonssociety]

These individuals are the oldest representatives of Western Europeans to have established themselves permanently in Europe and to have left traces in the genomes of present-day Europeans.

It is estimated they settled in the region after the ice age that took place from 40,000 to 38,000 years ago.

[notesfromthecactuspatch-blog]

World Breaking News From The Cactus Patch..No kidding.

Breaking News from The Dead South News Service Mrs. Mister, 1958. Photo by Mr. Mister Flash – London, England. A genomic study out of Britain found that natural Blonde women will be extinct by 2223. The last natural blonde woman will be born in Finland in 2220. Genome scientists are working frantically to find a new genetic cure. It’s believed that the overabundance of “bottle blondes” in our…

[bigfatbreak]

dad villain au: did emilie just. not consider at all that adrien was literally dying at the time. wow

she's in the habit of deciding when Adrien's suffering is acceptable, and if it is, she'll just fix it later.

[o-the-mts]

Humans are fucking dangerous!

[yasbxxgie]

[h/t]

[inkintheinternet]

Humanity vs Bacteria and Viruses - We are Losing

By Arjuwan Lakkdawala 

Ink in the Internet 

Humans are on top of the food chain, but we are not apex predators, I used to be relieved at the thought that giant dinasaurs went extinct, because I can't imagine how humanity would have survived if those giants still walked the earth. So are we safe now. The answer is no.

Apparently the giants were never our predators, our species has been hunted for thousands of years by microscopic entities. It's the war on humans by Bacteria and Viruses.

We have some of them which are good for us, and many that are harmless in our environment and nature. But the so called "few" that cause mild to severe disease keep emerging.

When we are born and in the first years of our lives we aquire a number of good germs, which are a mixture of viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, collectively they are called microbiota. 

They stay with us throughout our lives forming a symbiotic relationship with the health of our bodies. 

We have no need to worry from them as long as our immune system is healthy, however, if it is compromised and interacts with any of these germs in a way which is inappropriate then any of these can turn into a disease causing pathogen.

So if we take care of our immune system we'll be okay? Yes, but unfortunately immunosuppression can happen in many ways, due to internal or external factors.

Some examples are surgery, antibiotics, antiviral drugs, genetics, and infections, all can result in compromise of the immune system.

1. Antibiotics can kill the germs of the microbiota when administered to kill infection causing germs.

2. During surgery germs of the microbiota may get removed.

3. Genetics could have defects that cause immune system compromise.

4. Antiviral drugs have shown in laboratory culture tests to cause inhibition of the immune system.

5. Infections like HIV and many others can cause weakening of the immune system.

Our only true defense against germs is the health of our immune system, therefore compromise of it is a possibly life threatening condition.

What about medical and technological advancement, and the assistance of artificial intelligence. What about the many methods of sterilisation, after all this is the 21st century.

Why does it feel like we are still in the middle ages when it comes to the fight against bacteria and viruses? Why haven't we eliminated the "few" disease causing germs. Why did we have a 3 year pandemic? Covid-19 is still causing thousands of deaths.

It's an extremely complex story to simplify but let us take the Streptococcus Pyogene, the bacteria that causes Strep A as a case study. 

Descriptions of it's symptoms can be found far back in 4th century writings. The bacteria's name is derived from Greek words meaning 'A Chain.' 

Outbreaks of Scarlet Fever, one of the diseases that Strep A can cause occurred throughout Europe and North America during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Another setback for humans is that there are thousands of strains of bacteria. 

Scientists have identified 8,000 strains of bacteria with information about their genetics and metabolism. 

However, there are few molecular studies about the age of bacterial pathogens that affected humans before the start of medical bacteriology.

Genetic studies of human skeletons and mummies have found Tuberculosis and Plagues dating back 5,000 and 6,000 years.

So why haven't modern science been able to eliminate these pathogens? And can it be predicted which bacteria or strain will turn pathogenic? 

The answer is yes and no. 

Mutations and evolution have been studied in laboratories, but these models cannot replicate natural settings with the limitless interactions of these microorganisms with nature. 

Therefore scientists have always been several steps behind. Our intelligence is the only weapon we have to keep ourselves on top of the food chain, because if nature keeps outsmarting us at this pace, as far as bacteria and viruses go that is serious bad news for mankind.

So is nature bad for us? No. We have tilted the balance of nature, and are suffering it's consequences.

According to an article in Nature.com that cites various studies, Climate Change has made many diseases worse, bringing people and disease causing microorganisms closer together.

Everything we have learned has been by observing it in nature first. If we can ever get ahead of viruses and bacteria or find stronger antibiotics or other methods of treatment it will only be found in nature. So we need to protect naturel habitats of all species from destruction, and not just the species themselves. The ecology holds the secrets of behaviors of microorganisms.

Scientists of the world and media need to talk sense into people that have projects damaging nature, and there needs to be trust between the public and health officials. 

Unfortunately after the many conspiracy theories about the Covid-19 vaccines, much of the trust in the World Health Organisation was severely damaged in a section of the public. 

The rise in global stroke levels didn't help either as it cast suspicion on the vaccines which were known to cause blood clots in people susceptible to it.

In the Twitter WHO comments many tweets are there blaming vaccines for the recent surge in the deaths of children by iGAS, however in the UK 89.1% children under 12 were less likely to be vaccinated according to the UK Health Security Agency website.

Scientists are debating if lockdowns caused the children to not develope better immunity against the bacteria due to lack of exposure.

Matt Koci, virologist and immunologist warns in a NC State University article by Matt Shipman that humans are not apex predators and viruses and bacteria are around to show us whose boss. 

He explained how the genome of the 1918 virus that killed soldiers with pneumonia like symptoms was restored by extracting its RNA in the 1990s by Jeffrey K. Taubenbergen and a team from the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology to study it.

It was done in hope of learning how to deal with an outbreak of the pathogen should it happen.

We must stay vigilant in the fight against Bacteria and Viruses because we are precariously close to losing.

Many articles on the web suggest having a pet can boost children's immune system. Parents who choose to get a pet please keep in mind to teach your children to be kind to pets, and they are a lifelong responsibility and should not be discarded like toys. Adopt pets don't buy.

Foods that boost immune system should also be a priority and avoidance as much as possible of foods that weaken the immune system.

Arjuwan Lakkdawala is an author and independent journalist. Her Twitter is @Spellrainia

Copyright ©️ Arjuwan Lakkdawala 2022

Sources:

The Royal Society Publishing - Mark Achtman

Nature.com - Heidi Ledford

National Library of Medicine - W Heagy et al, J Clin Invest 1991 Jun

BMC Biology - Liise-anne Pirofski, Arturo Casadevall

PMC - Immunity and immunopathology to viruses: what decides the outcome?

Barry T. Rouse and Sharvan Sehrawat

Wikipedia- Pathogenic Bacteria

NIH - History of Streptococcal Research

Ferretti J, Köhler W.

Nature.com - McKenzie Prillaman

Wikipedia - Strain (Biology)

[ryan-sometimes]

Being a biochemistry student is so funny because I’ll be staring off into space and look deep in thought but really I’m just thinking about CRISPR. The Roman Empire of every biochem student

[coolgirlisonline]

~vintage~ mgs avatars from a russian metal gear fansite (c. 2006) (part2)

source: https://web.archive.org/web/20060221014952/http://metalgear.ru/menu/avatars.html