First Fully Complete Human Genome Has Been Published After 20 Years
The first fully complete human genome with no gaps is now available to view, marking a huge moment for human genetics. Six papers have now been published in the journal Science that describe the painstaking work that goes into sequencing an over 6 billion base pair genome, with 200 million added in this new research. The new genome now includes 99 genes likely to code for proteins and 2,000 candidate genes that were previously unknown.
Most Distant Single Star Ever Seen Revealed By Hubble
The latest Hubble Space Telescope observation is of a single star or a star system whose light is coming from just 900 million years after the Big Bang. That’s the most distant of such observations, which requires the peculiar phenomenon of gravitational lensing to be achieved. The light from the galaxy that hosts the star has been warped by the exceptional gravity of a foreground galaxy cluster. The galaxy appears as a thin strip of light so it gained the nickname the “Sunrise Arc”.
Paternal Use Of Metformin Linked To Birth Defects In Babies
A new study this week suggests that one of the world’s most widely prescribed type 2 diabetes drugs, Metformin, has links to major birth defects in children when taken before conception. The general idea is that the one carrying the foetus would be the one to make any lifestyle sacrifices – but surprisingly, in this study, the results were found in the male parent.
People Are Attempting To Alter Their Consciousness By Streaming Binaural Beats
Getting high with chemicals is old school, according to the results of the most recent Global Drugs Survey. Researchers have revealed that people across the world are attempting to alter their consciousness using binaural beats, which can be streamed from YouTube, Spotify, and other media platforms. The sound-based brain hack requires nothing more than a pair of headphones and an internet connection.
Scientists Taught Stingrays And Cichlids To Add And Subtract
The numerical skills of stingrays and cichlids are detailed in a new paper which reveals that under experimental conditions, zebra mbuna (a type of cichlid) and stingrays could add and subtract in an effort to secure a food reward. The experiment tasked the fishes with swimming through chambers where they’d only receive a food reward if they got their mental math right. The results found both zebra mbuna fish and stingrays to be capable of adding and subtracting.
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LSD, DNA, PCR: The Strange Origins Of A Biology Revolution
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, you may have not known about polymerase chain reaction (PCR) – or the wild story of its origins. To delve into where this revolutionary technique began, we’re traveling back to May 1983, taking a trip in more ways than one.
