by Julien DURY Agence France Presse Paris, France (AFP) — While some may have been surprised that the Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to a paleogeneticist Monday, researchers say understanding our distant ancestors helps explain modern human health — even when it comes to Covid. New Nobel laureate Svante Paabo is considered the father of both paleogenetics and paleogenomics, which aims to reconstruct the genetic information of long extinct human relatives. But the prize […]
Tag: DNA
DNA research uncovers Dead Sea Scrolls mystery
JERUSALEM, Undefined (AFP) — DNA research on the Dead Sea Scrolls has revealed that not all of the ancient manuscripts came from the desert landscape where they were discovered, according to a study published Tuesday. Numbering around 900, the manuscripts were found between 1947 — first by Bedouin shepherds — and 1956 in the Qumran caves above the Dead Sea that are today located in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The parchment and papyrus scrolls contain Hebrew, […]
Remdesivir: The COVID-19 drug helping patients recover faster
by Issam AHMED Agence France Presse Remdesivir has been shown to speed up recovery times for patients with COVID-19 in a major US-led trial, becoming the first drug with proven benefit against the disease. Here is what you need to know. – What is remdesivir? – Remdesivir is an experimental, broad spectrum antiviral made by US pharmaceutical Gilead Sciences that was first developed to treat Ebola, a viral hemorrhagic fever. It showed early promise in […]
PNP: DNA samples from scissors used to kill Silawan match suspect’s
(Eagle News)—The DNA samples taken from the scissors police believe were used to kill Christine Lee Silawan matched that of suspect Renato Llenes, the Philippine National Police said. PNP spokesperson Bernard Banac said the scissors also contained Silawan’s DNA, based on an examination done by the PNP Crime Lab. The findings appear to affirm the narration of events made by Llenes, who said he used the scissors to stab Silawan several times and to skin […]
DNA request made in Cristiano Ronaldo rape case
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Las Vegas police have asked soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo to submit a DNA sample as part of their investigation into rape made against him. The Juventus forward has vehemently denied the accusations — with his lawyer, Peter Christiansen, telling AFP the request was standard procedure. “Mr Ronaldo has always maintained, as he does today, that what occurred in Las Vegas in 2009 was consensual in nature, so it is […]
Dutch police launch biggest-ever DNA hunt for boy’s killer
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AFP) — Dutch police on Friday launched the country’s biggest ever DNA search, asking over 20,000 men to come forward as they seek to resolve the 1998 murder of a young boy. “Some 21,500 men will receive a personal invitation in February to voluntarily give DNA samples,” police said in a statement. “It’s the largest such DNA investigation in search of family ties ever carried out in The Netherlands.” Eleven-year-old Nicky Verstappen […]
FBI confirms Hapilon’s death
(Eagle News) — The Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States has confirmed that the DNA sample from a corpse retrieved from Marawi City matched with that of Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Saturday that the FBI has submitted its official report on this. “This process of verification is also being conducted on the cadavers of the other terrorists that have been recovered so far,” he said. Apart […]
Charlotte protesters keep marching after police release shooting video
(REUTERS) Nearly a week of protests over the police killing of a black man in Charlotte, North Carolina showed no signs of abating on Sunday, after police released videos showing the victim being shot but did not answer the question of whether he had a gun. Hundreds marched through the center of Charlotte on a fifth night of demonstrations that stretched into Sunday morning, including white and black families protesting police violence. One […]
‘Water bear’ protein shields human DNA from X-rays
PARIS, France (AFP) – by Marlowe HOOD A protein unique to a miniscule creature called a water bear, reputedly the most indestructible animal on Earth, protects human DNA from X-ray damage, stunned researchers reported Monday. Human cells cultivated with the newly-discovered protein, dubbed “Dsup” for “damage suppressor”, experienced half as much decay as normal cells when blasted with radiation. “We were really surprised,” said lead author Takuma Hashimoto, a biologist at the University of Tokyo […]
Mexico tests DNA of babies who survived blast in search for parents
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Plunged into chaos just hours after entering this world, nine babies found alive after a gas blast in a Mexican maternity hospital underwent DNA tests on Friday in a bid to reunite them with their parents. Thursday’s blast devastated the hospital on the western edge of Mexico City, sending a fireball into the air and killing a nurse and two infants. But dozens of people, including mothers and newborns, who were […]
Laude family unfazed despite DNA mismatch in murder complaint vs Pemberton
The DNA taken from the two condoms found inside the motel room where Filipino transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude was taken the night of Oct. 11, did not match that of US Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton. This was the result of the DNA tests announced during the preliminary hearing on Nov. 28 of the murder complaint filed against Pemberton. But Laude’s family remained confident that they still have a strong case against the […]
