Archive for the ‘Female Genetics’ Category

Earlier this week, the stand-up comedy star, 58, appeared on Sky Arts series Portrait Artist of the Year in which the shows host Stephen Mangan and contestants referred to Izzard as she and her.

Izzards fans, who were catching up with the show at the weekend, have posted supportive messages on social media.

The show is the first televised appearance in which Izzard has been referred to with her chosen pronouns.

Speaking about her decision, the British Comedy Guide reports Izzard as saying: " This is the first programme I've asked if I can be 'she' and 'her' this is a little transition period."

She said it feels very positive, adding: I just want to be based in girl mode from now on.

Many used the opportunity to highlight how much they love the comedian and political activist.

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I cant tell you what she means to me as a comic, Shappi Khorsandi wrote.

Rocked my comedy world when I was a teen and beyond. Changed everything, made room. I love her and this morning Im very happy for her.

Writer Shon Faye added: Good for Eddie Izzard asking for the pronouns she/her to be used so publicly. As far as I can gather, she isn't a trans woman she's gender fluid but prefers the feminine pronoun. Good for her

Eddie Izzard on Sky Arts show Portrait Artist of the Year

(Sky Arts)

I love Eddie Izzard and hope she gets everything she wants in this life, another Twitter fan wrote.

In 2017, Izzard told The Hollywood Reporter: "I am essentially transgender. I have boy mode and girl mode. I do feel I have boy genetics and girl genetics."

Izzard appeared on the series seven finale of Portrait Artist of the Year, which saw contestants attempt to capture her likeness.

During her appearance, she tells them: I think everyone should and must make life an adventure.

Read the original:
Eddie Izzard praised after fans notice use of she/her pronouns in latest TV appearance - The Independent

In the second year of Endpoints Newsbudding tradition of highlighting women blazing trails in biopharma R&D, weve seen a number of firsts.

For the first time, the biggest story in R&D is also top of mind for a world anxious to end the most devastating health crisis in decades. With its sweeping effects, the Covid-19 pandemic is turning the daily routines for many working women upside down, taking a toll on not just their physical and mental health, but also their career prospects. At the same time, the biotech industry is doing some serious soul searching with a new scorecard and plan for diversity and inclusion.

It is more important than ever to shine light on the growing number of women who have scaled the heights of drug discovery and development even though the odds are stacked against them, breaking open paths in labs and C-suites that can be followed by future generations, some of whom they are also actively nurturing and mentoring.

We set out this year with a dual goal: to celebrate women at the forefront of subduing Covid-19 either with diagnostics, vaccines or treatments and to honor those working day in and day out to address other equally pressing medical needs.

Profiles are, by definition, snapshots. Some of the women recognized in our 2019 special report have since become household names: Jennifer Doudna became a Nobel laureate for her pioneering work in CRISPR gene editing and zlem Treci helped create the worlds first vaccine proven effective against Covid-19. Even in the short period since we interviewed this years honorees, weve seen them mark new milestones, from taking a biotech public to scoring historic clinical data and regulatory authorizations.

We hope our profiles capture a unique moment in history as these highly accomplished figures take us with them down memory lane to illustrate what brought them to this moment and how they are helping other women do the same if not even more.

We hosted an online live event to introduce this years top women in biopharma R&D, followed by a panel discussion on what it will take to truly achieve gender diversity in the industry. You can watch the full event here.

Carolyn Bertozzi wasnt exactly looking to start a company when she tweeted about a preprint her group posted on ChemRxiv last November. The paper described LYTACs molecules that can tag extracellular proteins for degradation.

She was heading out to the American Chemical Society Conference in Orlando to talk about the project, led by a postdoc in her Stanford lab named Steve Banik.

(Steve) was about to go on the academic job market, so its a good time for me to go and sort of talk about his work publicly and drop his name and get him some name recognition, she recalled.

Within 24 hours, though, she got a dozen phone calls from venture capital groups who picked up on the preprint. There was a proliferation of startups utilizing and improving on PROTACs a targeted degradation technology born out of Craig Crews academic work at Yale but that magic was limited to intracellular proteins. Bertozzi was a self-described jealous fan of Crews work because glycoproteins, the subject of her own research, reside exclusively on cell surfaces; it turned out VCs had also been wishing there were ways to target secreted and membrane proteins.

In the end, she found Versant Ventures to be the best fit for the science. Now, Lycia Therapeutics, which unveiled a $50 million Series A just a few months ago, has been taking off like a rocket ship, she said.

The enthusiasm from investors might be expected for a scientist and entrepreneur whose last biotech creation, Palleon Pharmaceuticals, recently reeled in $100 million in fresh financing. Redwood, the one that came before, recently reported Phase I data as a subsidiary of the CRO giant Catalent. Then there are the handful of diagnostics players that she created with researchers under her wing.

But for Bertozzi, its all about timing.

Her first experience with entrepreneurship a biotech startup she co-founded in the late 1990s after completing a postdoc with Steve Rosen at UCSF actually ended in failure. Thios Pharmaceuticals, as it was known, had zeroed in on a target for sickle cell acute vaso-occlusive crisis and in-licensed a molecule that worked in a similar way as two therapies approved by the FDA late last year.

They raised $10 million for it, a respectable amount for a Series A at that time, but it wasnt enough to sustain the 30-person company when investors decided not to continue funding it. The drug was shelved as Thios closed up shop.

It was always very heartbreaking to us that we couldnt have brought that to those patients 15 years earlier, Bertozzi said. But thats how it goes in this business, and every company has a story like that.

In her day job as an academic, Bertozzi is known for spearheading a glycorevolution: developing chemical tools and technologies to elucidate the roles that complex sugar structures play in biological systems. Glycans, as she learned during her doctorate, are an order of magnitude more technically complex than polypeptides and oligonucleotides because of their structural diversity. But papers dating as far back as the 1950s have suggested they do play a role in diseases such as cancer, and spectacular breakthroughs in chemical synthesis the challenge that drew her to the space initially have helped scientists make inroads in their study.

Her biggest breakthrough which won her a MacArthur genius grant at age 33 came in what she coined bioorthogonal chemistry, a way for chemical reactions to take place within biological systems.

Both the tools and her deep knowledge of glycobiology provided the foundation for the subsequent technologies her group would later develop. Site-specific chemical modification of recombinant proteins promised to make better antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) than the very sloppy molecules that characterized the first generation of ADCs; digging deeper into new findings on how cancer cells sprouts sugars on their surfaces to evade the immune system led them to bispecific antibody-enzyme constructs that target the siglec-sialic acid pathway, billed as the next big I/O checkpoint; and utilization of lysosomal trafficking shuttles one of the first things you learn when you study glycobiology gave birth to chimeras that send unwanted extracellular proteins to the lysosome for targeted degradation.

More so than any particular technology, though, she considers the young scientists who trained with her and are now standing on their own feet her most important achievement.

Carolyns genius is not only in the research she leads, but also in those she recruits, Mireille Kamariza, a former PhD student, said. Now a junior fellow at Harvard University, she co-founded with Bertozzi a public benefit corporation to advance a point-of-care diagnostic device for tuberculosis.

She has an uncanny ability to bring out the best in people, Kamariza added. She leads by example and gives unyielding support to her students interests and pursuits.

Now 54, Bertozzi recently found herself reflecting on her career after the death of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Harvard, after all, had only integrated with Radcliffe a few years before shed start undergraduate studies there.

I consider myself to be in sort of the first generation where you see a critical mass of women who made it through the academic pipeline and into industry, she said. There arent many of us, but you can count us. Were visible.

Having seen every shade of gender discrimination and bias (show me a woman who hasnt), Bertozzi is leveraging her influence as the co-director of Stanford ChEM-H to bring in more voices from outside the usual suspects reaching out and forging relationships with public universities and institutions serving underrepresented communities to find talent that is hiding in plain sight.

In previous interviews, shes noted that part of what got her hooked in those first organic chemistry classes was how molecules have personalities like people. So I couldnt help but ask: What molecule would she be?

The answer was surprisingly simple. She aspires to be a monoclonal antibody.

They multitask all over the place, she said. In fact, all of the next-generation biologics out of her lab have had antibodies as their backbones.

I have gotten so much mileage out of antibodies, she said. And so I would like to think maybe my students could get the mileage out of me that same way. That would be my aspiration.

Thats not all: Oh, and they are glycosylated. Amber Tong

Kathy Bowdish was sitting down at a San Diego restaurant after her first pitch meeting in 1997 when one of the potential investors turned and asked her a question: Does your husband know youre doing this?

Taken aback, Bowdish, 39 at the time, said yes, and that part of this was his idea. Of the 12 angel investors at the table that day, the concerned citizen was the only one who didnt decide to back her first startup. And he was the only one who didnt get a cut of the profits three years later, when Bowdish sold the startup to Alexion for 10 times their investment.

When the press release for the buyout hit the wire, her phone rang. It was the lone investor.

If you do this again, I want to be on speed dial, the investor told her. Bowdish looks back on that moment with victory-tinged humor: Clearly, his question had been troubling him.

The seed investor had made two mistakes. One shouldve been obvious at the time: plain misogyny. But the other would only become fully apparent over the ensuing 23 years as the young scientist-executive enmeshed herself in a series of top biotechs and eventually was handpicked by Elias Zerhouni to lead a unique and under her direction fruitful venture in Sanofis upper ranks.

He had underestimated Kathy Bowdish.

Bowdish would prove over the years a rare triple-threat in biotech: a brilliant scientist who could handle the business side but also had the poise and emotional IQ to massage needed personal relationships and wheedle folks who could get things done. After nearly two decades in biotech, she used those skills to build powerful new companies at Sanofi. And when the winds changed there, she pivoted mid-career to what she first learned to do in San Diego: build a company with cutting-edge science from the ground up.

Kathy impressed me because she had been CSO, she was a very good scientist, Zerhouni told me. But she had this very special natural calm A very thoughtful calm, a resilience. She had this analytical mind.

Bowdish is now working from her home in Cambridge, trying to get a three-person,RNA-based startup off the ground with $5 million in seed cash. Its a significant departure from her Sanofi perch, but its a position she knows and a place shes thrived before.

The daughter of an engineer and an artist, Bowdish was seduced by the cerebral yet creative challenge that scientific problems posed. After studying biology at William & Mary, she moved to the West Coast, where she was quickly recruited for a position at Scripps Research and worked with Richard Lerner on the then-pioneering field of catalytic antibodies.

She was clever and ambitious, devising new ways of sequencing antibodies in an era before you could simply plug them into RNA-Seq. She left to get a PhD at Columbia University, and picked a yeast lab because yeast multiplies like microbial rabbits, which meant you could do a lot of genetics work in a single program.

A postdoc followed, but she soon grew impatient. These were still early days for antibodies. She pitched Lerner on the idea of building a company around the work they did on combinatorial antibody libraries basically discovery engines in a test tube.

His immediate question to me was can you live without a salary for 6 months? Cause thats what its going to take in order to raise the money. And I said yes, she said. I was pretty naive maybe the naivet was a good thing.

The investors (but one) came on board, Bowdish finagled her way into some cheap equipment, hired another scientist a woman and for a year the pair worked at the bench to discover antibodies that would activate, rather than inactivate, receptors. She shifted over to a full CEO role after year one, and after year three Alexion bought the company for $41 million, betting that it could serve as their discovery engine.

She stayed at Alexion until 2007, by which time she was a sought-after name for biotechs with big ideas. Investors recruited her to relaunch Anaphore, a Danish biotech trying to develop antibody-like alternatives that were more selective or more potent. They struggled for years, which worried Bowdish until she realized every company in the space was struggling. It taught her a valuable lesson about what makes for good translational science.

You just cant beat evolution, she said.

Then ARCH and Flagship came calling. They had funded a bold Bob Langer idea for delivering proteins inside cells. Quickly, she realized they had to start testing this in animals to have any idea if it worked. And quickly they learned that it didnt everything went to the liver. So she leveraged their tech into antibody-drug conjugates.

It looked really good in vitro, she said. In vivo, not so much.

By then it was 2013. and Bowdish had been in the league for 16 years, helping run five biotechs on both coasts. She knew the game, but she was curious: about pharma, that behemoth in the background, and about investment, a general-esque perch from which she could ponder and evaluate. At the same time, Zerhouni was conceiving a new initiative at Sanofi: Sunrise, a way of giving biotechs the resources and expertise of pharma while allowing them to flourish on their own. It married the two.

Bowdish got the job, beating out such biotech titans as Michael Gilman. Inside, she learned how pharma worked and she built new companies. She was, Zerhouni said, singlehandedly responsible for MyoKardia, the cardiovascular upstart that Bristol Myers Squibb recently purchased for $13 billion. She found them, he said, designed a deal to get them the best resources and convinced Sanofi leadership to get on board.

Shes able to move the needle from a pretty established sort of approach to an innovative one, Zerhouni said. Shes a change agent.

Then Paul Hudson came in, reshuffled Sanofi, and Bowdish found herself on the outs (Sanofi also pulled out of her MyoKardia deal, a blunder that cost them a cool $1 billion). She went home, relaxed and did what she always does dove back into the literature: papers on immunology, diabetes, biomolecular condensates, whatever fascinated her.

Eventually, a recruiter called. She realized it was time to get moving. She mentioned to Gilman they had stayed in touch after a conference that she was on a hunt, and Gilman put her in touch with Genzyme Ventures vet Alan Waltz, who was looking for a CEO for a company that would develop small molecules that target structures on mRNA in an effort to block multiple oncogenes. She liked the science and the potential impact.

It was back to some of my earlier learnings, in terms of the right constellation of people around the table and the science that was ready for this very directed effort, she said.

So now she works from home, poring over the literature, directing CROs and her team of three, preparing for a fundraising round and building a whole team. Its a smaller company than she had led since she was just out of grad school, ignoring the pretensions of a sexist investor, and she couldnt be happier.

Its actually a lot of fun, she said. Jason Mast

Diana Brainard was studying abroad in France when she realized something just didnt quite feel right.

Intending to become a comparative literature professor while attending Brown, Brainard enrolled at a French university as part of her major and fully immersed herself for the first time in literature and lit theory classes. Brainard had mainly taken a balanced diet of courses stateside everything from math and science to English and the Study Abroad program was a necessary part of her program. She went into it head-on as her literature seminars were her favorite undergrad classes, with passionate professors seemingly putting on a production every class.

But after diving in, Brainard felt her studies had lost their attachments to the real world.

All of a sudden there was this realization of Wow, what Im really being assessed on in these classes, and how my career will be assessed in this field, is coming up with a theory and making that theory sexy, Brainard said. But that theory doesnt have to be true. It just has to be sexy and interesting and I can do all of that, but there is no truth here.

Since then, Brainard has moved past the days of Thomas Manns The Magic Mountain, though she hasnt lost her love of literature. Now, shes a senior executive at Gilead and has been a major part of the team that developed remdesivir, recently approved by the FDA as the first Covid-19 treatment for hospitalized patients.

The path from France to Gilead wasnt a straight line, however. Brainard notes that after Brown, she eventually went to med school expecting to become a physician. But that didnt end up being the right fit either, especially after Brainard fell in love with infectious diseases. She ended up as a researcher at Harvard focused on HIV, content to work off NIH-backed grants for the rest of her career.

Then biopharma came calling.

Leaving academics was really hard because I was happy doing what I was doing, and I hadnt envisioned in the future that I would be going to industry, Brainard said. There werent a lot of people at Harvard who had done that before, and so I felt like I was taking a big risk, I was leaving behind NIH funding, we were leaving Boston where wed been for a long time, and I didnt know if I would wind up regretting all of the things that I was letting go of.

Brainard jumped aboard first at Merck, then joined Gilead in 2010. Shes spent her entire career, in academia and otherwise, working in infectious diseases and immunology, and much of her time at Gilead has centered on hepatitis C treatments. When she was first alerted to remdesivirs potential benefits for a new coronavirus strain out of China almost a year ago, Brainard moved to get it into the lab as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Remdesivir was a team effort, Brainard said, and shes reluctant to take credit for spearheading the drugs pivot to Covid-19. Originally tested in hepatitis C and then Ebola, remdesivir showed early signs of in vitro activity in SARS and MERS. Brainard pushed for Gilead to begin a compassionate use program for the drug, and it received partial emergency authorization in May for severe Covid-19 cases.

That EUA was expanded in August to include moderate cases, and the FDA handed down a full approval in October for patients who have been hospitalized with the disease.

Its been exhilarating to do [this] for Covid because of the acute, unprecedented medical need, and because scientifically its fascinating to have a disease, as an infectious disease expert, to learn about a disease at the same time youre trying to figure out if a therapy for a disease works, Brainard said a few weeks before the approval. Its a really difficult problem, and one that doesnt come around very often.

The drug has received some pushback, as a study backed by the WHO found in mid-October that remdesivir had little to no effect in reducing mortality rates or the need for ventilators.

Though Brainard was originally hesitant to move from academia, shes happy to have found a home at Gilead and not have to deal with what she says are liabilities in that arena. She never really enjoyed the structure of how academic careers are traditionally judged, where the main goal is to work your way up the authorship ranks and get a couple of papers under your belt.

Brainard much prefers the collaborative environment in industry. And at Gilead, she thinks that collaboration helps her be a better role model for younger women rising through the field.

The impact that I have, a lot of it is the drugs, Brainard said, but a lot of it is the people. The people who I work with, a lot of the people who come to Gilead, for example, come right out of training and they make that transition in the same way that I did. Helping them learn how to think in this new environment and thrive, and flourish in a new environment, thats really meaningful to me. Max Gelman

Janice Chen is all about democratizing diagnostics.

The Mammoth Biosciences co-founder has made that her mission over the last three and a half years, working alongside newly-minted Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna to develop diagnostic tools centered around CRISPRs gene editing techniques. But what might that look like in practice? Chen theorized some potential uses in a TEDx CERN Talk two years ago.

What if you could directly and accurately test for the flu at home? Chen said. What if you receive the prescription and treatment plan without having to step foot into a clinic? And what if the same principle could be applied to other dangerous diseases such as Ebola?

Chen kicked off her scientific career as an undergrad at Johns Hopkins, where she took a course in which students built the yeast genome from scratch. She credits that class with getting her the technical skills needed to apply to research and lab assistant positions, as well as explore how synthetic biology could lead to a swath of applications.

It also served as a jumping-off point for Chens ambitions, where she said she was able to get her hands wet in something with real-world applications rather than reading lines from a textbook. After a yearlong stint as a research technician at Harvard, where her work focused on Ralstonia eutropha bacteria, Chen moved on to her doctorate at UC Berkeley and joined Doudnas lab.

Its there where she first hooked on to CRISPR research.

Myself and colleagues in the lab, including co-founder Lucas Harrington, came across this unexpected finding that some of these Cas proteins were able to detect DNA, Chen told Endpoints News. A lot of it was serendipitous in terms discovering this activity, and being able to demonstrate it on real patient samples I think was really an exciting moment for me in thinking about OK, can we actually take this outside the academic lab and try to do something with it?

Though CRISPR has largely settled in the mainstream consciousness as a way to potentially cure a range of severe diseases along with the occasional headline that scientists are out to create gene-edited embryos in a lab Chen and the Mammoth team are looking at ways these tools can be used for disease detection. Instead of using the scissors normally associated with CRISPR to edit genes, Chen programs the tech to find a defined gene sequence and sends out a signal once its been located.

With the Covid-19 pandemic in full swing, Mammoth has also steered its research toward creating accessible and easy-to-use tests for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. In that instance, the platform is programmed with a guide RNA, and Chen hopes by working on tests that can function outside of the typical lab setting, this can be one of the ways to democratize the technology.

Its been successful because its programmable, Chen said. Theres a whole world of testing thats just starting to be closer to reality that has never quite been able to be done because of the limitations of infrastructure needs, the accuracy to actually be a viable solution. With CRISPR now on the scene, were really excited about the potential to address these point-of-need environments that dont rely on your traditional clinical laboratory.

Chen credits her doctoral advisors from Berkeley, Doudna included, with keeping her focused and transitioning from academia to becoming an entrepreneur at Mammoth. Ultimately, that led Chen to her north star of not just engineering new uses for CRISPR, but being able to create impactful technology in general.

(Doudna) herself is a serial entrepreneur, and so its been really important to have her mentorship, and seeing her as a role model being very successful in both the academic world as well as the startup world, Chen said, a few weeks before Doudna won the Nobel Prize.

As someone whos still in the early stages of her career, Chen recognizes the opportunity she has to make an impact on the women who follow in her footsteps. Shes already been named to Forbes 30 under 30 healthcare list from 2018 for being among the most influential millennials in the sector. By coincidence, all of her major research experiences from Johns Hopkins through Berkeley were led by women principal investigators.

And while Chen says theres not going to be one magic bullet that fixes everything in the industry, the best place to get started is by recruiting talent from all sorts of different backgrounds.

Once you have that talent and have them in the company its really important to ensure that they have the support systems and mentorship internally to help them grow, Chen said. Its important to recognize that there are really great leaders in companies that might not fit the traditional mold, and I think that there are a lot of companies that are starting to figure that out. Max Gelman

In a cramped, windowless lab basement beside Cambridges Blue Room bar, Ann Cheung stuck her head in the freezer and, with a vial of cells in one hand, used the other to phone a world-famous professor across town and a tech entrepreneur in San Francisco.

Cheung was 34. She had the academic pedigree: Brown, MIT, a postdoc at CalTech where she built nanoparticles and studied immunotherapy with a Nobel laureate. But it had been over four years since she worked with flasks and centrifuges. Her last job was at MIT but as an administrator and communicator. It involved a lot of tweeting.

Then a call came from Tyler Jacks, the renowned head of the MIT Center for Cancer Research (now called the Koch Institute) and her old doctoral advisor. Along with an old college friend, the Silicon Valley inventor Bill Haney, they wanted to bootstrap this new idea out of Jacks lab, a jackknife way of getting the immune system to turn on cancer. And Jacks knew Cheung was itching to get back to the bench.

Soon she found herself in the basement of a Kendall Square bar, in a lab no bigger than a university office, growing antibodies and natural killer cells with a single other employee and hearing the sounds of eating and loud talking whenever they went in the hall. She was the gritty and brilliant, if unlikely, CSO of Dragonfly Therapeutics, and her work there and in the shiny offices theyve since moved to would prove and develop ideas that eventually landed collaborations with Celgene, AbbVie and Bristol Myers Squibb. Last year, it entered patients for the first time.

Her growth has never stopped and this has been true for her entire career, Jacks told me. Theres no challenge that discourages her. Shes kind of fearless.

Cheung didnt arrive as a graduate student at Jacks MIT lab wanting to study immuno-oncology. This was 2002. Checkpoint inhibitors were still a fringe idea in the head of a wild-haired Berkeley professor. No one studied immuno-oncology in Jacks lab.

One evening, though, Bob Schreiber came in for a lecture. Schreibers mice work was just beginning to resurrect the idea of using T cells to attack tumors, and Cheung was captivated. On the walk back that night, she turned to Jacks with an epiphany. Of course the immune system can fight cancer, Cheung said. Cancer is something that is foreign to the body even though it comes from the body, so it absolutely makes sense.

Read more:
Special report: Twenty extraordinary women blazing trails in biopharma R&D Covid-19 and beyond - Endpoints News

Liz Tenety: I am Liz Tenety and I want to welcome you to The Motherly Podcast.

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Liz Tenety: So, as regular podcast listeners might know, I have four children and with three of those pregnancies, I experienced a condition called hyperemesis gravidarum, HG, which is horrible morning sickness. It's debilitating. It's just simply put like the hardest thing that I've ever gone through in my entire life.

And it's terrifying. I really never want to go through it again. For me, thankfully, it tends to let up around 20 weeks, but the first part of my pregnancy is unbelievably hard. I cannot get out of bed. I am vomiting constantly, even on medication. I can't do anything. I can't take care of my kids. I can barely work and I've had it with my first, my third and my fourth children.

Having HG is part of my story and it is one that has been incredibly humbling and scary, and almost every woman I know who has had a baby has some really hard thing that she's gone through, whether it's secondary infertility or HG or a genetic condition that gets diagnosed when she's pregnant. Finding out her baby is breech, having an unexpected C-section, postpartum depression We go through incredible hardships to bring babies into the world. And I don't think we talk about that enough. I don't think women get enough credit for being the heroes, the heroines that they are to endure this, to bring the next generation.

Liz Tenety: Hey mama. Welcome to the motherly podcast, honest conversations about modern motherhood. My name is Liz Tenety. I am the Co-founder of Motherly and I'm a mom of four myself. Today's interview is with Dr. Marlena Fejzo, a geneticist and the leading researcher on hyperemesis gravidarum. HG, as it's called for short, affects about 6 million women globally each year during pregnancy.

And it's characterized by severe nausea, vomiting, weight loss, dehydration, even sometimes organ failure. And in severe cases, it can lead to the death of mothers and babies. After experiencing HG herself and losing her baby to the condition Dr. Fejzo decided to devote her life to studying it. She's discovered two genes associated with hyperemesis gravidarum that has helped to shed a light on this little understood illness. In fact, her work has really changed the paradigm about what causes HG and this really debilitating condition for pregnant women. I actually experienced HG in three of my four pregnancies. So, I am so grateful for Dr. Fejzo's work.

Currently, Dr. Fejzo is a science advisor for the Hyperemesis Education and Fesearch Foundation called the HER Foundation for short. And that's the global voice for HG awareness research and support. Today it receives 200,000 visitors each year from around the world and they manage a global volunteer network with over 900 participants, all built to help women suffering from HG, find the resources and support they need.

I talked to Dr. Fejzo about her own experience with HG and how going through HG as a geneticist inspired her to do this kind of research and really lead the charge on understanding what the actual underlying causes of this debilitating condition. And we also talked about funding of women's health and how there is so little still understood about pregnancy and the changes that women go through biologically through their lives.

There are a lot of reasons why women's health has been historically underfunded and we get into it. Her work is incredible. I'm excited to share this conversation with you.

Dr. Marlena Fejzo, welcome to The Motherly Podcast.

Dr. Marlena Fejzo: Thank you for having me.

Liz Tenety: So, I know we just met, but you are one of my favorite people on the planet. I have been diving into your incredible research, your work on hyperemesis gravidarum known as HG and as a woman who has suffered from HG three times, like I cannot get enough of learning about what you are discovering.

And I can't wait to talk about all of that. So, can you actually define what hyperemesis gravidarum is and what are the symptoms that women should be looking out for?

Dr. Marlena Fejzo: So, hyperemesis gravidarum is nausea and vomiting. That's severe enough to affect your daily routine and to affect your intake so that you're not able to eat or drink properly. And that leads to weight loss. Usually it's diagnosed when you have more than 5% of body weight loss and electrolyte disturbances for not being able to drink or eat properly.

Liz Tenety: So, can you tell our listeners a bit about your own personal story and why you decided to devote your life to not only studying HG, but a lot of critical topics in women's health?

Dr. Marlena Fejzo: I did my PhD in genetics and women's health. My PhD was from Harvard on uterine fibroid tumors, which are also a big problem for women. And, you know, there's not as many female scientists as male scientists. And so, for me, it was very important to focus on women's problems. You know, there's plenty of scientists working on male problems and not very many working on female problems.

And then I went on then I had HG during my post-doc and then had it again. In my second pregnancy, I had a really, really, very severe HG pregnancy. My second pregnancy, the baby died in the second trimester because I was so ill. I didn't keep anything down for 10 weeks and I couldn't move without vomiting. I got so weak. I couldn't speak. I had to have a buzzer to signal when I needed a bed pan change or a medication change. I basically could not move for weeks and weeks. And finally, the baby died. And I decided to look into what was known about HG and there was so little known that I decided, I'm a scientist and I've got to devote my life to figuring this out.

Liz Tenety: There's so much you've already said that is so powerful. And I know our listeners can't see us, but I'm tearing up hearing it because there aren't words to describe what you go through with HG. That was part of this conversation as I was imagining it, I can't tell you what it's like to go through that, but you described in your particular case, you literally could not move your body. It was the most dark time of my life to go through those three pregnancies.

And yet, you have led a body of research into the evidence of what is actually happening inside women's bodies. When they experience HG, what was believed about the cause of HG before, you know, there was this new wave of research and understanding.

Dr. Marlena Fejzo: Yeah. So, that's the terrible thing, since it's a women's problem. And on top of that, a women's problem during pregnancy, and there's sort of always, you know, you see it still in the movies and on TV that there's this idea that pregnant women are hysterical or irrational. And so, that perpetuates this idea that it was all in a woman's head and over time, there were theories that really got picked up that it was a subconscious rejection of their pregnancy that they didn't want to be pregnant and all kinds of irrational theories that are just not scientific and not true.

Liz Tenety: So, what is the difference between morning sickness as we know it and what do we believe morning sickness like what is the purpose of morning sickness and what is the difference between that and HG?

Dr. Marlena Fejzo: No one really knows for sure, but we can guess that morning sickness has evolved as a way to avoid foodst hat would be dangerous. When the fetus is developing, when all the organs are developing and you don't want to ingest anything that could affect that.

And so, what comes with morning sickness is this increased sense of smell and taste. And so, those are generally thought as a way that has evolved to protect the fetus. With HG, it's just morning sickness out of control.

Liz Tenety: I kind of had heard from my doctor when I first had HG with my first child, she seemed to think it was in my stomach, that the problem was happening in my stomach. And it was about eating crackers and always having something in my belly. These were the ideas that I was being told to start to remedy it. But your research is showing that it's actually happening in the brain, or it's at least this cycle of feedback that is neurological.

Dr. Marlena Fejzo: Exactly. So, since I'm a geneticist, I decided to look first into seeing whether it was genetic. I don't have it in my family, but I decided to look into it. And what I found was that. There was a lot of evidence that it's genetic, there's a 17-fold, increased risk of having it if your sister has it. And twin studies where they compare the genes and the chance of getting hyperemesis in identical twins versus fraternal twins have shown that it is highly heritable.

So, there's a lot of evidence that it's genetic. There's 70% heritability. What I then did was to embark on a genetic study and I partnered with the personal genetics company, 23andme and we scanned over 15 million genetic variance in over 50,000 women that did not have HG compared to 1300 women that were hospitalized with HG.

And so, we compare their DNA at these variants and we found very significant differences in their DNA around this hormone called GDF 15. And that hormone is turned on in the placenta. It's expressed very highly in pregnancy. A lot of doctors thought that it was caused by a pregnancy hormone, if they didn't believe the psychological theory, but we found no evidence to support GDF 15 as being the causal hormone. We found very strong evidence for it being this hormone, GDF 15.

Then I went on to see, okay, so it's genetically associated, but what about the actual hormone itself and confirmed that there are significantly higher levels of this hormone in the blood in women with HG compared to women without HG. And then, recently the receptor for this hormone was found by other groups and the receptor, which is what the hormone binds in the brain that causes this nausea and vomiting and loss of appetite and change in taste, it goes up travels through the bloodstream. It goes into the brain, binds this receptor, and then causes this nausea and vomiting. And that can get out of control because if you already have this predisposition to have higher levels, you're going to vomit more than normal. You're going to have nutrient deficiencies, which lead to another further increase in the levels of GDF 15 and you get this downward spiral to hyperemesis gravidarum.

Liz Tenety: And those nutritional deficiencies that mothers get when they have HG, lead to, you know, negative impacts on the fetus, including much higher rates of autism.

Dr. Marlena Fejzo: Yeah. So, there is, I wouldn't say much higher I don't want to scare women, but there is an increased risk for neurodevelopmental delay.

There's an increased risk for autism, you know, speech, delay, language disorders, different kinds of neurodevelopmental disorders. And, you know, long-term outcomes in the mother, as well as the child. So, it used to always be thought that, you know, don't worry about what you get. The baby's getting everything it needs from mom, but in the case of HG, that is just not true.

Liz Tenety: That is literally what my doctor told me. And that child, that first pregnancy we have had diagnoses along those lines. So, you know, I can't say for sure, but I am living your research every day. I wonder when you're doing your work, you brought up how women's health and maternal health for a number of reasons has not been as much of a focus of the scientific community as the health and wellness of men.

Do you feel excited about being a pioneer in this field, or do you feel frustrated that we've had women as long as we've had human beings and we still don't know some of the basic things of how our bodies work, because we haven't invested in this kind of research?

Dr. Marlena Fejzo: That's a good question. I would say I have days of both there's days where I'm really excited and so happy that we're making progress, but the progress is so slow. We need other people following my path. The fact that I am a world-renowned researcher in this field is not really because I'm so great. It's because there's barely anybody else. It does definitely bother me that there's so little research out there and that it's going so slowly and that, you know, I still hear stories of women being mistreated with this disease.

And I've been out there publishing for 20 years to try to change that. So, I definitely do feel frustration often, but yes, I'm very excited that we finally made some progress and hopefully we can change things. And a lot of people don't know about my research. And so, it's really important to get the word out and spread the word

Liz Tenety: As a result of your research, finding that there is DNA in certain women, that you will have particular genetics that lead to this cycle, and you have HGit will lead to a different kind of treatment. Is that right? Where are you in that process of now that we understand HG, what do we do about it?

Dr. Marlena Fejzo: Yeah. So, it's a pretty new finding and the fact that this is a hormone and the identification of the receptor for it are pretty new. So, we have a ways to go to understand how this all works, but we are hopeful that there will be medications that will be used to block this pathway so that we can actually have something that works to treat HG. The interesting thing about this hormone is that it also is involved in cancer.

Cachexia is basically when you can no longer eat, when you have cancer. And it kills about 20% of cancer patients. And just like GDF 15 is overexpressed by the placenta, it's also overexpressed in some cancers. And so, those patients that have high levels of GDF 15 turned on in their cancers also have this appetite loss muscle wasting and they ended up many of them dying from it.

When women say they feel like they're dying from HG, often people do not believe them. They say they're exaggerating. But the actual levels of GDF 15 in women that are pregnant and have HG is the same, or sometimes even higher than people that are dying from cachexia.

Liz Tenety: I'm getting choked up again because that's what it feels like. But I think people may not realize too, when you have HG, it doesn't just affect you when you're pregnant. I mean, it affects, of course, the experience. But many women decide to terminate these wanted pregnancies because they cannot endure what they're going through. Some women have PTSD. And even though it's a small segment of women, it is very traumatic and some very prominent women, Amy Schumer, Kate Middleton have gone through it. But like you said, we're just starting to wrap our heads around how overwhelming and how misunderstood this condition has been.

Dr. Marlena Fejzo: Yes, it is overwhelming, misunderstood, and it has long-term effects for the mom and it can have long-term effects for the child.

Liz Tenety: There are other considerations when it comes to reasons why this kind of research hasn't has not happened. One of them is that there was a medication in the 20th century that negatively affected a lot of women and children. There are other ethical considerations with pregnancy. So, how do you navigate that in your own research and understanding.

Dr. Marlena Fejzo: Yeah. So, there was a drug that was given in the fifties to women for HG in Europe. And it ended up causing birth defects, limb deformities. And so, unfortunately, that has caused pharmaceutical companies and doctors and patients themselves to be scared to develop, to treat patients and to take medications in pregnancy.

I think that the tide is starting to change. With that, as you know, we're starting to understand that some medications can be safe in pregnancy and, you know, we have to go slowly to make sure that I don't know if a GDF 15 inhibitor is going to be safe in pregnancy, but we're going to have to try.

And the fact that there can be long-term outcomes to the child if they don't take medication, has to be weighed against the possible risks.

Liz Tenety: Thrilled to hear that the tide is turning. If a woman is experiencing this and she's going to go to her doctor or her midwife, and just say, I am, I'm just so sick. How does she know how to flag that this is not normal morning sickness? That this is a severe condition that requires a different level of intervention.

Dr. Marlena Fejzo: Exactly. So that's why we developed our HG care app so that women could know, because especially in their first pregnancy, a lot of women don't know, and they haven't seen a doctor yet when the symptoms start.

And so, they can be missed before it's too late. There was actually a woman that died just in August. She was only nine weeks pregnant, so it's very important for women to know what the symptoms are and what is normal. And I feel like every woman should be screened immediately when they're first pregnant for this, because right now, a lot of women only go to the doctor and have had their first appointment pretty late after symptoms of HG can already get severe.

So, our app has alerts to tell you when you need to talk to your doctor, but generally if you're getting dehydrated, then it's time to see your doctor. If you're not able to eat, if you're not able to drink, you're not able to do your normal daily routine and you're losing weight, you're actively losing weight. Then you need to talk to your doctor about possibly having HG. There is a test where you can pull up your skin on the back of your hand, and normally it should bounce right back. If it goes back slowly, then that means you're dehydrated. And you need to get hydrated.

Liz Tenety: I want to talk a bit about the foundation. Can you tell me about it?

Dr. Marlena Fejzo: So, basically the way it happened was after my HG nightmare, I realized there was so little known and I put out a survey with my brother. He helped me. He's a statistician. And we put out a survey on the internet about HG and put in questions about it that I wanted to know the answers to. And one of the women that answered that survey faxed back her answers and that was Kimber McGiven and she was a nurse who was going through HG and she said, I'm so sick now, but I was so happy to find your survey. She wrote on her survey, as soon as I'm done with this pregnancy, I'm going to make a website. And so, she made a website on HG and she's amazing.

She's been working for years on this, only recently giving her itself a tiny salary, but she's just devoted all her time with no pay to do this. And she has an amazing website. And then she got joined by another couple that had gone through a horrible HG pregnancy and they then created the foundation: The HER Foundation. And so the webpage is hyperemesis.org and I'm a science advisor for them. And I'm on the board.

Liz Tenety: What is the current best evidence-based treatment for HG? And what can those around a woman going through HG do, if anything, to relieve any of her suffering?

Dr. Marlena Fejzo: So, we did research on what women found to be the most effective treatment. So, I'm basing my answer on that, which is that on Dantron or Zofran was the most effective treatment for women in our study for helping to lessen the, the vomiting. It doesn't necessarily help that much with the nausea in all women, but it does lessen the vomiting in more women than any other medication reported except for possibly steroids.

But doctors often do not give steroids to women because there are some possible safety concerns. So, that's from our study. But unfortunately, even on Zofran, it's reportedly only effective in maybe 50% of women. So, we definitely still need something better.

To answer your second question, what can we tell the families, women with HG need a lot of support? They need an advocate. When you're feeling nauseous, you cannot advocate for yourself. So, they need someone to go with them. To doctor's appointments and and to speak for how ill they are. When a woman is ill and feeling like they're about to throw up, they're not going to speak out to their doctor when their doctor says something that they don't agree with.

Like, oh, just take crackers. So, women need to have either a family member or friend go to the doctor and explain.

Liz Tenety: And yet, like you said, I mean, I literally heard from my doctors, the baby's a parasite and the baby will take everything that the baby needs, but your research has shown that that's just, that's just not true.

Why is it that there's so much conventional wisdom that isn't evidence-based that is still out there in modern medicine, especially as a relates to women?

Dr. Marlena Fejzo: I think it's really hard to get the word out and that these ideas are passed on then medical books and the medical schools. They're teaching the next generation of doctors, the same things that they learned and not updating it.

So, I've heard of this year, a doctor teaching her medical students. (One of them had HG. So, she's the one who told us about this.) She was teaching her medical students, that women, they're sometimes hospitalized, and they just don't want to get better. That's what she told this next generation of doctors in a class. Women just don't want to get better.

This was a female doctor teacher teaching her next generation of students. So, if they're learning that from someone that they trust to teach them the facts, then that's what's happening. And so somehow that has to change and we have to just get the word out the best we can.

Liz Tenety: What are the other big topics in women's health and maternal health that we don't know enough about?

Dr. Marlena Fejzo: There's menopause, lupus that occurs more in women, many, many women's issues. And just having your period and the medications to help with cramps, you know.

Liz Tenety: Well, it seems like being a woman is the qualifying factor, because if its periods to menopause, that covers a lot of our lives that we may not know as much about as we should.

Dr. Marlena Fejzo: One thing you asked me before about, you know, am I excited or am I I don't mean to be only negative because we are making progress and things are slowly changing. But one of the things that I was really upset about that really got me riled up was that the national Institute of health funded a genome-wide association study, which is the same type of study that I did with 23andMe, because I couldn't get funding from the NIH.

They funded a study on erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction, first of all, is not nearly as heritable. There's not as much genetic evidence to support that it is genetic compared to hyperemesis and other women's issues.

And yet they funded that. In addition, with erectile dysfunction, there are millions of dollars, billions of dollars spent on it by drug companies by the government. That was really frustrating to me. Erectile dysfunction is bad too, but when you compare it to HG, that's affecting the mother and the child. I don't think you can compare it. And so, it's just an example of money being spent on male issues and not female issues.

Liz Tenety: After you lost your baby at 15 weeks through that experience you had with HG, you did go on to have other children. How did you navigate the decision to have more children? And I know you ended up working with a surrogate. So, what was that like? Tell us about that.

Dr. Marlena Fejzo: Yeah, so having a surrogate was never something that was on my radar, especially back then. There were very few people that did that.

Liz Tenety: What year was that?

Dr. Marlena Fejzo: That was back in 1999. It was something that my OB suggested to me that I was a good candidate for. And after I lost the baby, you know, I had one child and I come from a big family. I have two brothers and a sister, and I always wanted a big family too. So, it was going to be either surrogacy or adoption for me. I was not going to go through HG again.

Liz Tenety: Do you see those experiences as different motherhood's or is there a theme in how you've bonded with those children in the same way or in a different way? How do you see that?

Dr. Marlena Fejzo: I think it was the same as far as, you know, giving birth and having the surrogate. I was able to watch her give birth to my babies, and I really consider her my angel for doing that for me. And both ways are miracles, you know, giving birth to a child is a miracle, but having someone else do that for you is also such an amazing miracle.

Liz Tenety: Do you feel that the loss of your child that you did experience is a source of motivation or meaning in your ongoing research and advocacy for HG?

Dr. Marlena Fejzo: Definitely. I mean, that is what keeps me going. I don't want that to happen to anybody else. I know it's still happening to women and it's very sad for me when I, you know, women write me and tell me they've gone through that. It's very sad and frustrating to me because I've been working on this for 20 years and to see that women are still going through this and I hope that it's going to change. And I hope that we're going to find a medication that works and stops that. But yeah, definitely. And I don't want to see my daughters go through it either, of course. So, that will be devastating to me if they have to go through that.

Liz Tenety: Okay. So, at Motherly, we believe that motherhood brings out our superpowers and to me, a superpower is something unique, a strength perhaps within you that maybe you didn't even know was there before you became a mom. So, I wonder what you think is your superpower.

Dr. Marlena Fejzo: Patience. I would say patience is really important as a mother and as a scientist. Patience and trudging slowly on. There have been many, many setbacks in my research and just getting up and go forward again. Being patient. We're getting there. But yeah, with kids too. You need patience.

Liz Tenety: I love that. Well, Dr. Marlena Fejzo, thank you so much for sharing your story and your research with baths on The Motherly Podcast.

Dr. Marlena Fejzo: Thank you for having me.

Liz Tenety: Now for a quick word, from this episode's sponsor ThirdLove. Motherhood is one of the most amazing and transformational experiences a woman can have. It's about feeling the joy of bringing this new little person into the worlds and learning how to be comfortable in our own skin, finding a new routine and owning our new confidence.

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Liz Tenety: When I'm pregnant, do you remember what happens to me at the beginning of most of my pregnancies? What happens when I get really sick?

Henry: You start to throwing up like three times, each day, three to 10 times each day.

Liz Tenety: Yeah. It's like 10 to 15 times a day. Yes, you're totally right. If you remember, I just basically stayed in bed for three months. Do you remember that part?

Grant: How'd you eat?

Liz Tenety: I couldn't eat

Grant: But then you wouldn't be able to survive.

Liz Tenety: I just get the tiniest amounts of food and water. And sometimes they put the IVs in my arms to get me fluid. But you know, I was like that with you, Henry. But with Grant, I didn't get really sick, but so with three of the kids pregnancies, I got super, super sick, but one kid and I'm looking at him, he did not make me throw up 10 times a day. Good job, Grant!

Grant: Because I'm so disgusting.

Liz Tenety: Oh, is that it? Because you are so disgusting, that's why I didn't throw up?

Grant: Hmmhmmm.

Liz Tenety: Well, that's it for our show this week. I can't thank you enough, Dr. Fejzo for your time and for your work.

And I also want to thank our listeners for listening to our podcast. This season, we have an incredible lineup coming in 2021. I can't wait for you to listen. And as always, we would love it if you spread the word about The Motherly Podcast.

So, if you can leave us a review on Apple podcasts, it takes 30 seconds max, and it really helps other mamas discover our show.

The Motherly Podcast is produced by Jennifer Bassett with editing from Seaplane Armada. Our music is from the blue dot sessions and I am your host, Liz Tenety. Thank you so much for listening.

Read more from the original source:
Hyperemesis Gravidarum researcher Dr. Marlena Fejzo is on a mission to understand women's health - Motherly Inc.

The Telegraph

Australia has cancelled the production of a locally made Covid-19 vaccine after trial volunteers falsely tested positive for HIV, meaning the drug could interfere with diagnosis of that virus. Antibodies generated by the jabs developed by the University of Queensland (UQ) and biotech firm CSL led to trial subjects wrongly testing positive for the virus that causes AIDS. Further trials have been stopped. Scientists said the results were a blow to Australia's vaccine development and was likely to force the country to buy more doses of imported shots. "While this is a tough decision to take, the urgent need for a vaccine has to be everyone's priority," said UQ professor Paul Young. Australia has ordered a total of 140 million shots from different suppliers, to inoculate its 25 million people, making it one of the most highly stocked countries in the world. "We want to ensure that Australians ... have full confidence, absolute full confidence that when it gets the tick, they can get the jab, and they can make that decision for themselves and for their families, confidently, said Scott Morrison, prime minister. Prof Sarah Palmer, from the faculty of medicine at the University of Sydney, said: Sadly, this is a set-back for the development of Covid-19 vaccines. Generating a false positive for HIV is entirely unexpected for this vaccine, but underscores the critical necessity of testing the safety of newly-developed vaccines in large numbers of volunteers. She said the Australian government, which was a major backer of the UQ vaccine effort, would have to consider funding other alternatives, including imported vaccine from firms such as Pfizer and Moderna. Australia's strict quarantine regime has seen the country quash earlier outbreaks and its tally of 28,000 infections is far fewer than in many other developed countries Its success in keeping a lid on infections has meant the country is not racing to start vaccinations like countries in Europe and jabs are not scheduled to begin until March. CSL, had been under a contract to produce 51 million doses of the UQ vaccine, and will instead produce an extra 20 million doses of the Oxford vaccine being developed with Britain's AstraZeneca.

See the original post:
Loeffler claims she is the candidate who will create jobs - Yahoo News

Since 1901, Nobel Prizes have honored the worlds best and brightest and showcased the work of brilliant and creative minds, thanks to Swedish businessman Alfred Nobel, who made his fortune with the invention of dynamite.

The Prize in Physiology or Medicine often honors those whose discoveries led to medical breakthroughs, new drug treatments, or a better understanding of the human body that benefit us all.

The Prize in Literature celebrates those skilled in telling stories, creating poetry, and translating the human experience into words. The Prizes in Chemistry and Physics remind most of us how little we understand of genetics, atomic structures, or the universe around us, celebrating the scientists who further knowledge. A later addition to the award roster, the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences is not an original Prize, but was established by the Central Bank of Sweden in 1968 as a memorial to Alfred Nobel. It applauds those who can unravel the mysteries of markets, trade, and money.

The Peace Prize celebrates, in Nobels words, the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses, sometimes risking their lives to do so.

So precious are the awards that the medals of German physicists Max von Laue and James Franck, stored away for safekeeping in Copenhagen during World War II, were dissolved in acid to keep them away from approaching Nazi troops. After the war, the gold was reconstituted from the acid and recast into new medals.

But Nobel history has not been entirely noble. In 1939, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, known for his policy of appeasement toward Nazi Germany, was nominated for the Peace Prize. In an act of irony and protest, members of the Swedish Parliament nominated Adolf Hitler. That nomination was withdrawn. Some recipients have ordered oppressive crackdowns on their own people or ignored genocides, either before or after receiving the Prize. The 1918 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was given to Germanys Fritz Haber, who invented a method of producing ammonia on a large scale, which was helpful in making fertilizer. But the same chemist helped develop the chlorine gas that was used as a chemical weapon in World War I.

Stacker looked at facts and events related to the Nobel Prizes each year from 1931 to 2020, drawing from the Nobel Committees recollections and announcements, news stories, and historical accounts.

Take a look, and see what was happening with the Nobel Prizes the year you were born.

You may also like: 100 years of military history

Follow this link:
Nobel Prize history from the year you were born - Albany Democrat Herald

Since 1901, Nobel Prizes have honored the worlds best and brightest and showcased the work of brilliant and creative minds, thanks to Swedish businessman Alfred Nobel, who made his fortune with the invention of dynamite.

The Prize in Physiology or Medicine often honors those whose discoveries led to medical breakthroughs, new drug treatments, or a better understanding of the human body that benefit us all.

The Prize in Literature celebrates those skilled in telling stories, creating poetry, and translating the human experience into words. The Prizes in Chemistry and Physics remind most of us how little we understand of genetics, atomic structures, or the universe around us, celebrating the scientists who further knowledge. A later addition to the award roster, the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences is not an original Prize, but was established by the Central Bank of Sweden in 1968 as a memorial to Alfred Nobel. It applauds those who can unravel the mysteries of markets, trade, and money.

The Peace Prize celebrates, in Nobels words, the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses, sometimes risking their lives to do so.

So precious are the awards that the medals of German physicists Max von Laue and James Franck, stored away for safekeeping in Copenhagen during World War II, were dissolved in acid to keep them away from approaching Nazi troops. After the war, the gold was reconstituted from the acid and recast into new medals.

But Nobel history has not been entirely noble. In 1939, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, known for his policy of appeasement toward Nazi Germany, was nominated for the Peace Prize. In an act of irony and protest, members of the Swedish Parliament nominated Adolf Hitler. That nomination was withdrawn. Some recipients have ordered oppressive crackdowns on their own people or ignored genocides, either before or after receiving the Prize. The 1918 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was given to Germanys Fritz Haber, who invented a method of producing ammonia on a large scale, which was helpful in making fertilizer. But the same chemist helped develop the chlorine gas that was used as a chemical weapon in World War I.

Stacker looked at facts and events related to the Nobel Prizes each year from 1931 to 2020, drawing from the Nobel Committees recollections and announcements, news stories, and historical accounts.

Take a look, and see what was happening with the Nobel Prizes the year you were born.

You may also like: 100 years of military history

Originally posted here:
Nobel Prize history from the year you were born - Kenosha News

Aquaculture the farming of fish and shellfish, is the worlds fastest growing primary industry. It provides a healthy source of protein, oil and minerals for our rapidy expanding human population.

But viral and parasitic diseases remain a key challenge for aquaculture industries around the world.

Our global experience this year with COVID-19 has highlighted that biosecurity is expensive and often limited in its protection against the spread of contagious disease.

Developing effective treatments like vaccines can be challenging, take many years and can be difficult to manufacture and deploy in order to effectively protect large populations.

The same is true for disease in aquaculture.

We know, however, that there is natural genetic variation in resistance for aquacultures most problematic viral and parasitic diseases.

Read more

So our research, some of which is published in the journal Scientific Reports, explores how this knowledge could be used in combination with the latest DNA technology advances, like genomic selection and CRISPR, to protect animals against disease.

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a contagious and lethal disease in penaeid prawns that causes billions of dollars of losses globally. It can decimate whole prawn farms within a few days of infection and preventative measures have proven ineffective.

In late 2016, biosecurity efforts failed and WSSV disease was detected for the first time in Australia. The disease spread quickly from the initial farm to other farms and neighbouring wild populations in Queensland.

The outbreak prompted the largest aquatic animal disease emergency response ever undertaken in Queensland, costing $A4.4 million and depleting Australias supply of chlorine around 3.8 million litres was used to clean ponds and water channels. It also resulted in temporary closure of the entire prawn farm industry, costing around $A400 million.

In April this year the disease resurfaced, re-infecting two farms. Like the rest of the world, Australia needs solutions that will help prawn farmers live with this virus.

Prawns and other crustaceans lack immunological memory, so vaccination for boosting the immune response has limited potential for protection against the virus.

Read more

Some animals are inherently better able to resist or tolerate the virus than others however, we dont really understand the specific mechanisms underlying these differences.

It is possible to breed animals with higher resistance to WSSV through conventional family selection, but progress has been slow. The industry desperately needs better, quicker solutions.

Our team of breeding and genetic scientists at the Norwegian Institute of Food, Fisheries and Aquaculture Research (Nofima) are working with a commercial partner, Benchmark Genetics, with funding from the Research Council of Norway, to boost the resistance of whiteleg shrimp (L. vannamei) against WSSV using genomic selection.

Instead of relying on pedigree relationships (family trees) to estimate the breeding value of individuals, our GenomResist project uses DNA sequence data to estimate the genomic relationships between individuals at tens-of-thousands of positions throughout the genome.

Some of the animals that are sequenced are challenged with WSSV, and response of these animals to infection, along with the genomic relationship data, can then be used to give us a much more precise way of predicting the disease resistance of potential breeding stock.

This is known as genomic selection.

A major advantage of genomic selection over traditional selective breeding for a trait like viral disease resistance is that it allows us to more accurately predict which breeders have the best overall resistance genotype without exposing the candidate breeders themselves to the disease.

Read more

In an experiment using two shrimp populations developed by Benchmark Genetics Colombia, animals were randomly separated into two groups, one a test population which was challenged with the virus and the other a breeding population that was kept under high biosecurity.

By analysing variation across the genome in both populations, we could predict the genetic value of potential breeders.

We then selected and mated broodstock to produce two different populations of shrimp one with high and the other with low genomic estimated breeding values. The survival of these two populations, and offspring from randomly mated parent stock, was compared in a virus challenge test.

We found that the average survival of shrimp families increased from 38 percent to 51 percent after only one generation of genomic selection for high white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) resistance.

Like the effect of vaccinating members of a population, high levels of immunity in the best populations can have a herd immunity effect because these highly resistant animals will no longer infect other animals.

Benchmark Genetics now uses this tool to offer shrimp populations that can survive and produce in the presence of WSSV.

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Sea lice pose one of the biggest challenges facing the aquaculture industry worldwide. Sea lice wound and stress the fish. On top of this, the most effective methods of treatment (such as mechanical de-lousing) are also very stressful for the fish.

The cost to the Norwegian industry alone is more than US$550 million each year. Atlantic salmon are particularly susceptible to sea lice, while some species of Pacific salmon have very low susceptibility.

In a world-first project funded by the Norwegian Seafood Research Fund, our team from the University of Melbourne and Nofima, in collaboration with scientists from the UK, Canada and the USA, will work with large salmon breeding and production companies in Norway, using gene editing to find out which genes make salmon attractive as a host.

We are using the process for gene editing called CRISPR/Cas9 genetic scissors that won Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna this years Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

If we can find the differences in the genetic code that cause lice to be attracted to Atlantic salmon, or that makes the skin of Pacific salmon unpleasant for sea lice to settle and develop, then we may be able to use that information to make Atlantic salmon resistant to sea lice.

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Professor Tim Dempster and Associate Professor Ben Phillips at the University of Melbourne are also investigating the risk of sea lice adapting to the changes in the salmon, and how this would be best prevented.

The project will not make genetically edited fish available to the industry, but provide a thorough assessment of the potential for using this technology to improve the genetics of the fish, including possible effects on wild salmon populations.

Advances in our genetic knowledge and technologies are greatly increasing the accuracy and power of genetic improvement. But these new technologies also pose ethical issues for society that need to be openly debated and discussed.

Through these and other projects our team is working closely with industry and other researchers around the world to assess the potential for applying the latest sequencing and gene editing technologies to improve sustainability and welfare in aquaculture globally.

Banner: Getty Images

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Genomics, gene-editing and the Blue Revolution - Pursuit

Different families of lumpfish show marked differences in lice grazing, cataract prevalence and size, pointing to the possibility of breeding fish that are more effective at the removal of sea lice from farmed salmon, according to the results of a new study.

GIFAS

A study with 10 different half-sib lumpfish was performed in the small-scale R&D facilities at the Gildeskl Forskningsstasjon (GIFAS) in Norway to explore the potential genetic influence on the performance of key traits affecting lumpfish stocked in salmon farms.

This trial was part of a series of studies under a research programme on the selective breeding of lumpfish. Each study further explores the potential paternal influence and provides key information on specific behavioural, growth and health traits of great interest for the breeding programme.

Increasing resistance to chemotherapeutic agents by sea lice is driving the search for alternative approaches that can effectively minimise the impact caused by this group of ectoparasites. One of the most promising alternatives is the use of cleanerfish. In fact, the use of lumpfish as biological delousing agent has seen a remarkable growth in the past few years, with studies reporting up to 97 percent fewer adult female sea lice in salmon pens, found in a recent study between GIFAS and Akvaplan-Niva, where a link between lice-grazing preference and genetic composition was found. Parental influence on lumpfish behaviour regarding preference for natural food-sources such as sea lice has also been documented in previous studies.

Concerns over lumpfish welfare in salmon farms have been widely reported, as this species undergoes several stressful events during its life in aquaculture operations. Strategies such as supplementary health-boosting feeds, production of robust fish and optimised handling procedures can help to improve the welfare of lumpfish.

Expanding knowledge on the influence of genetics on the preference of lumpfish for sea lice and their health status opens the potential to design strategies such as breeding programmes that maximise the full sea lice grazing potential in salmon pens while safeguarding health.

The main objective of this study was to assess the grazing of different lumpfish families on sea lice found on Atlantic salmon in cages and investigate possible differences in growth, cataract prevalence and health of lumpfish with different parental backgrounds.

GIFAS

Ten different lumpfish families with a 54.8g mean weight were distributed among ten sea cages (5 5 5 m), stocked with 400 Atlantic salmon each (621.4g mean weight). Each of the ten cages was stocked with 48 lumpfish a 12 percent stocking density.

During the study, growth performance, health score, behaviour and stomach contents were recorded, as well as the sea lice infestation levels on the salmon stocked in each of the ten cages.

At the start of the trial, families 2; 6 and 10 were the smallest. These differences were only due to genetic influence, as hatching occurred in the same period for all the families, and the rearing conditions were equal for all families.

Growth performance trended positively and was similar for all lumpfish families, though families 2; 6 and 10 remained the smallest groups, while families 4 and 7 had the highest mean weights, both at the start and the end of the trial (figure 1).

Previous studies have shown that smaller lumpfish exhibit a greater inclination for natural food sources, including sea lice therefore a smaller average size is a desirable trait for selective breeding programmes.

Figure 1: mean weight calculated for each of the ten families at day 1, 14, 28, 42, 55 and 69. Values represent means S.D.

In this study, the incidence of cataracts increased throughout the study, with differences between families. Families 2; 6; 7 and 10 had the lowest prevalence (10 percent), while lumpfish from family 3 had the highest levels (21 percent; figure 2). Severity of cataracts was also different, being lowest in families 6 and 7. This gives a solid signal of genetic influence on cataract development of farmed lumpfish. This allows for the selection of lumpfish for breeding programmes with potentially lower cataract incidence.

Figure 2: occurrence of lumpfish with cataracts (percentage prevalence) calculated for each of the ten families at day 1, 14, 28, 42 and 69. Values represent means S.D.

The results of the gastric lavages performed during the study have shown that lumpfish from families 2, 6 and 10 showed a continual consumption of pre-adult and adult L. salmonis sea lice, where family 10 had the highest consumption levels (figure 3A). This indicates that sea lice grazing preference may be genetically influenced to a certain degree.

Gastric lavages showed a high consumption of Caligus elongatus throughout the study, with 56 percent of the family 10 member having been found with ingested C. elongatus (figure 3B). This may indicate that consumption of this sea louse species can be genetically influenced, and the breeding of lumpfish with higher grazing preference of this particular species could be of interest for deployment in farms historically affected by it.

Figure 3 (A): percentage values of L. salmonisconsumption of lumpfish of the ten lumpfish families sampled at each sampling time point and (B) percentage values of C. elongatus consumption for lumpfish of the ten lumpfish families sampled at each sampling time point. Values are presented as means S.D. A: sea lice (L. salmonis).

Operational welfare indicators were developed for the fish used in this study, to follow the health status during the study, for all the ten families.

There was a general trend towards a slight deterioration in health as the study progressed. Fish from family 2 displayed the best health conditions by the end of the trial, indicating a potential genetic influence on health status.

The potential for a breeding programme with this particular species was shown by the clear differences found in terms of mean weight, cataract prevalence, feeding preferences and lice grazing between the ten families, indicating genetic influences.

Lumpfish from families 2, 6 and 10 had the lowest mean weights, higher sea lice grazing and exhibited natural feeding behaviour more frequently. In addition, the members of these three families revealed significantly lower levels of cataract prevalence compared to the other remaining families.

The study results point to a strong potential genetic influence on key desirable traits, with evident aquaculture applications that can benefit salmon farmers as well as safeguarding the health and welfare of these animals on salmon farms.

Tiago Lopes is a marine biologist from Portugal, working in Gildeskal Forskningstasjon (GIFAS), Norway. There he will begin his industrial PhD involving Skretting, Akvaplan Niva and Nord University, with the ultimate goal of improving lumpfish welfare through nutrition.

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How breeding can improve lice-eating efficacy of lumpfish in salmon farms - The Fish Site

5G Makes the World Safe for Consumerism

There seems to be no questioning the technological imperative. 5G will, when it is fully operative, increase download speeds such that general mobile phone internet activity will be 20 to 100 times faster, thus, for example, greatly enhancing watching Series TV on the go. 5G will also, its promoters claim, fulfill the promise of both Artificial Intelligence and the internet of things: interconnected smart homes, smart cars, and consumers served by smart farms and operated on by smart machines. Likewise, in genetics, the cracking of DNA and RNA codeswhich may enable current COVID-19 stimulators to allow the body to suppress the virus without a dangerous ingestion of COVIDmay eventually lead to promoting a generalized immunity from many diseases.

What could go wrong? Plenty, say 5G critics in France. Likewise, in the realm of genetic algorithms, the German series Biohackers equally sounds the alarm.

In the U.S. and across Asia, in particular, in China and South Korea, the answer to what can go wrong is Nothing. In the U.S. the debate over 5G is only about how fast and efficient the service is. The criticism is that the Verizon-Apple iPhone 12 and the AT&T-Galaxy 5G rollout, even in the large cities, is only partial, four times rather than 20 times faster. China, meanwhile, leads the world in 5G patents and sees the technology as its way to climb out of the stigma of the worlds low-end manufacturer, throwing off the Made in China labeling to be replaced by the Huawei branding of assembled technology, this time Made in Vietnam. In South Korea, the debate is on how soon 6G will arrive.

Europe is behind in the race to 5G, though one of its two telecom companies, Ericsson, has now announced its ready for a rollout. But not so fast. Across the continent questions are being raised about the safety, the consumerist changes, planned obsolescence and inequality the technology will effectuate, and about how 5G is part of the capitalist profit-driven productivist imperative that has so ravaged the planet. In Germany and Britain, angry citizens have pulled down towers. In France, especially with the rise of a progressive Green Party called EELV, the entire ethos of 5G is being questioned.

The opening salvo against the technology was fired by the Green Party Mayor of Grenoble, Eric Piolle, who questioned its supposed benefits. With 5G I can watch porn in HD in my elevator and know if I still have yogurt in the refrigerator is the way he described the new promised land that proponents claim the network will usher in. In return, the Rothschild banker-turned-President Emmanuel Macron, a prime promoter of neoliberal technology as the savior of French society, labeled the Greens Amish who wanted to return to the era of the oil lamp. His fellow right-wing confrres warned of a Green Peril, using the Cold War overlay of Red Peril, and branded those questioning this imperative as Khmer Green, likening them in the digital realm to Cambodias murderous Khmer Rouge.

There is little doubt that the primary reason 5G, the star of the Christmas consumer push, is being so thoroughly trumpeted is the profits it will reap, forecast to account for 668 billion dollars globally in six years and predicted, with the gain in the sale of mobile phones, with an enhanced gaming experience and with more widespread virtual reality headsets, to account for 5 percent of global GDP this year.

Elements of the French left, though, including Franois Ruffin, a legislator and director of the film Merci, Patron, or Thanks, Boss, a kind of French Roger and Me about Frances richest bosses mercilessly closing factories, have suggested that this technological bounty is being asked to fill the void in lives that are increasingly despairing. Ruffin notes also how this techno-totalitarianism, what media critic Evgeny Morozov calls solutionism, will amplify already existing inequalities. The technology may widen the gaps between the increasingly more plugged-in cities with 5G, the periphery around those cities with 4G, and the countrys rural areas with no G, thus in France exacerbating what is termed the territorial fracture and what in the U.S. might be called the Red/Blue dichotomy.

Echoing Morozov, Ruffin points out this kind of thinking leads not to, for example, regulating agribusiness to produce healthier and more eco-friendly food, but to supplying more intelligent forks. In Catholic France 5G is breathlessly talked about, Ruffin says, as the second coming of the Holy Spirit, illuminating our smartphones in the way the first coming descended on the apostles at Pentecost. In the holy light of such a miracle, the telecom industry shakes off the shackles of any sense of being a public good, and instead regulation becomes only about how market competition can be promoted.

France has always been suspicious of consumer miracles which its leading thinkers have often seen as foisted on it by American capitalism in its drive for global hegemony. Witness Godards Two or Three Things I Know About Her and Weekend and the films of Jacques Tati (Playtime, Mr. Hulots Holiday) in their unfolding of a critique of a French society being remade from without.

The debate here is raising important questions that are given short shrift in the rest of the world. Europe is simply being asked to conform and told that if it does not it will be left out of a mainspring of the global economy, with its devices unable to catch up or be plugged into the global flow.

Studies indicate that the digital economy emits 4 percent of greenhouse gas, a number that is predicted to double in five years and which 5 and 6G will accelerate. The Green Party labels 5G an enevore, that is, energy gorging, noting that mobile phone use already accounts for 2 percent of electric use in France.

The introduction of this speedier technology is designed to increase costs, not only of a monthly mobile bill as more data is accessed and downloaded, but also necessitating replacing existing mobile phones with 5G-ready equipment, phones which are now already on the average replaced every 18 months to 2 years. Eventually, the technology with increased pixilation for faster and clearer viewing will be a part of computers and televisions and, like the changeover in television sets from analog to digital, will require a wholescale worldwide replacement.

The ecological question also involves not only the global waste in disposing of the used devices which is estimated to reach 2 million tons, but also in their creation with 70 kilos or 154 pounds of raw materials, including rare metals, necessary for the assembling of one of these super devices. These rare metals, which emit radiation, are strip-mined in the south of China where production is still largely private and loosely regulated. Elsewhere, 80 percent of the cobalt and tantalum needed for assembly comes from the east of the Republic of Congo, a war-torn area where 40,000 children work in the mining zones.

Consumer enhancement, of course, with the tech companies goes hand in hand with consumer surveillance, and 5G increases the drive to a global data center where billions of data packages will be available to publicity and advertising agencies for use in instantaneously molding and soliciting user taste depending on the content of individual cell phones and the store any consumer passes or, more creepily, any impulses they have. By 2025 it is predicted that 75 billion objects will be interconnected, all transmitting user data so that the refrigerator that is telling you to buy more yogurt is also spying on you. The internet highway becomes a spy way.

The implementation of 5G is also wasteful. Huawei is clearly the global leader in cheap and efficient 5G construction. A mobile phone is made up of a complex of 250,000 inventions and patents. In 2020 the Chinese lead the world with 34 cell phone patents, followed by South Korea and Europe with the U.S. a distant fourth. Yet, in labeling the Chinese company a security riskwhen in fact the real threat is that it is a more skillful competitorand forcing its allies to boycott the company as well, installation of 5G will be more costly with companies required to duplicate already established efforts.

Finally, there is the question of safety. There has been no comprehensive government study on the effects of the increased sonic waves on the human body. Private corporate studies, which are not required to be made public, all negate this possibility, while public studies suggest there may be some danger. The U.S. National Toxicology Program found evidence of cancer tumors in rats exposed to high frequencies, and in Italy, the Ramazzini Institute warned there were potential carcinogens in radio frequencies. The French government has commissioned a thoroughgoing study, the results to be reported in Spring 2021. The newspaper of record Le Monde and 70 legislators have asked for a moratorium until the findings are revealed, but Macrons Minister of Finance Bruno Le Maire wants to hasten 5G installation, warning that a delay would contribute to France losing its digital sovereignty.

The corporate sector sees 5G as simply an economic issue with the question being when and how, not why. The Greens and the French left see 5G, in the way it will change French life, perhaps increasing what the French philosopher Gilles Deleuze called societies of control, as a social and ecological issue and a place where the overwhelming drive to more and faster which has so devastated the planet must be questioned. On the continental, national and individual level, to not have 5G means to drop out of the digital flow, with capital arguing, as Theodor Adorno warned in the mid-20th century, that the worst of all conditions is to be left behind. What a bleak future indeed without porn on our elevators and without knowing if we need another yogurt in our refrigerator!

Are you ready for more genetic engineering?

A series which similarly questions how technological prowess is being implemented and controlled, this time in the area of genomes and the human body, is the German show Biohackers. The series is financed by German government and Bavarian Television funds and shot in the same studio as another German series, Dark, both available on Netflix. The simplicity of Biohackers, which begins with a highly dramatic bio attack on a train and then flashes back to explain how the young female student Mia got there and why she is not susceptible to the attack, works in its favor, as opposed to the labored three-era, almost impenetrable flashbacks of Dark.

The action takes place on the Bavarian campus of the University of Freiburg, the German center of all kinds of genetic engineering experimentation. The students at the school, a band of renegades working on their own socially uplifting mutations, are part of a do-it-yourself biology known as the biotechnological social movement or as bio- or wetware hacking, similar to the early rough and tumble cyberpunks of the internet. Mias roommatesbotanist Chen Lu, monied beauty queen Lotta, and nerd seed experimenter Oleform an international group of scientific Scooby Doos who comes to her rescue as she is first taken under the wing of the universitys star biologist Dr. Tanya Lorenz and then threatened by her, as Mia and her friends expose the ruthlessness of their professors experiments to perfect a subject immune to disease.

Mias futon and her rumpled student quarters are contrasted to the corporate-funded Dr. Lorenzs elaborate multi-storied, impeccably furnished and ordered home in the Bavarian forest, complete with a lab in the basement. As with 5G, Dr. Lorenz issues a warning that Germany, which has lost out and is behind in digital mastery, must conquer the realm of biotechnology to compensate.

Dr. Lorenz, though, is revealed to be experimenting on human subjects, leaving a murderous trail behind her and recalling earlier experiments by the Nazis who also claimed to be benefiting humanity. She is Dr. Mengele in a pants suit. This contemporary version of the former ethos features Lorenz, as Mia points out, marking her subjects with a bar code, as the Nazis burnt prison numbers into their subjects flesh.

We are reminded that the Bavarian countryside and its dark forests hatched Hitler in his first coup attempt and that Freiburg University was the place the philosopher Martin Heidegger, in his moment of embracing National Socialism, accepted an appointment as head of the university until his gradual disgust with the movement resulted in his resignation.

Biohackers, renewed for a second season when the conspiracy to hide the experimentation reaches a national level, does not shy away from the subject of chemical and biological warfare. However, instead of the hackneyed usual and usually insane terrorist, the terror here is far better organized and financed not by rogue fanatics but by a corporate-medical ethos which values profit above human life.

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5G and 'Biohackers': Technology rules! (Is that a good thing?) - People's World

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aspira Womens Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: AWH), a bioanalytical-based womens health company, today announced it has entered into a collaborative research agreement with Baylor Genetics (Houston, TX) to co-develop a novel Ovarian Cancer early-detection test. Ovarian cancer accounts for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system and is the only gender specific cancer with an over 50 percent mortality rate impacting women of all ages and ethnicities.

Aspira has over 10 years of research and experience in early stage detection of ovarian cancer in women, and we are thrilled to accelerate our innovation and product development platform by entering into this collaborative agreement with Baylor Genetics. We look forward to combining the strengths from each respective research team, and working together on our OVA360 clinical study, specifically in our mutual goal of characterizing an Ovarian Cancer molecular profile, said Lesley Northrop, Ph.D., FACMG, Chief Scientific Officer at Aspira Womens Health. Baylor Genetics is one of the founding institutions of genomic research, collaborating on proteogenomic technology in the development of a cell-free DNA-based Ovarian Cancer risk detection test.

Dr. Brian Merritt, Medical Director at Baylor Genetics, said,Ovarian cancer is a particular cancer type in need of better early detection methods, and advances in genetic testing technologies now enable us to develop such a test for clinical use. Aligning with Aspira to co-develop this novel test will advance precision medicine for women with ovarian cancer and potentially lead to earlier intervention, more targeted treatments, and improved outcomes.

Baylor Genetics has been a leading pioneer in genetic testing, providing unmatched knowledge and experience in hereditary genetics, clinical genomics, and translational technology. Aspira is uniquely positioned to co-develop and recruit patient samples for the development of this new test. With over 10 years of experience in ovarian cancer risk assessment testing and developing multiple FDA-cleared products that are instrumental in helping providers and patients detect risk in women with pelvic masses, Aspira provides both clinical and commercialization expertise for bringing this novel test to market.

About Aspira Womens Health Inc.Aspira Womens Health, Inc. (formerly known as, Vermillion inc.,Nasdaq:VRML) is transforming womens health with the discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative testing options and bio-analytical solutions that help physicians assess risk, optimize patient management and improve gynecologic health outcomes for women. ASPIRA is particularly focused on closing the ethnic disparity gap in ovarian cancer risk assessment and developing solutions for pelvic diseases such as pelvic mass risk assessment and endometriosis.OVA1plus includes our FDA-cleared products, OVA1, and OVERAto detect risk of ovarian malignancy in women with adnexal masses. ASPIRA GenetiXTMtesting offers both targeted and comprehensive genetic testing options with a gynecologic focus. With over 10 years of expertise in ovarian cancer risk assessment, ASPIRA is delivering a portfolio of pelvic mass products over a patients lifetime with our cutting-edge research. The next generation of products in development are OVANEXTMand EndoCheckTM.Visit our website for more information at http://www.aspirawh.com.

About Baylor Genetics Baylor Genetics is a joint venture of H.U. Group Holdings, Inc. andBaylor College of Medicine, including the #1 NIH-funded Department of Molecular and Human Genetics. Located inHouston'sTexas Medical Center,Baylor Geneticsserves clients in 50 states and 16 countries.

Investor Relations Contact:Ashley R. Robinson LifeSci Advisors, LLC Tel 617-430-7577Arr@lifesciadvisors.com

Media Contact:Jaime AbrusciRX Medical DynamicsTel 646-599-8606 jabrusci@rxmedyn.com

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Aspira Women's Health, Inc. Announces a Collaborative Agreement with Baylor Genetics for the Co-Development of an Ovarian Cancer Early-Detection Test...

At research pens in Chile researchers develop strains of farmed Atlantic salmon with improved traits such as growth and health.

By Erik StokstadNov. 19, 2020 , 2:00 PM

Two years ago, off the coast of Norway, the blue-hulled Ro Fjell pulled alongside Ocean Farm 1, a steel-netted pen the size of a city block. Attaching a heavy vacuum hose to the pen, the ships crew began to pump brawny adult salmon out of the water and into a tank below deck. Later, they offloaded the fish at a shore-based processing facility owned by SalMar, a major salmon aquaculture company.

The 2018 harvest marked the debut of the worlds largest offshore fish pen, 110 meters wide. SalMars landmark facility, which dwarfs the typical pens kept in calmer, coastal waters, can hold 1.5 million fishwith 22,000 sensors monitoring their environment and behaviorthat are ultimately shipped all over the world. The fish from Ocean Farm 1 were 10% larger than average, thanks to stable, favorable temperatures. And the deep water and strong currents meant they were free of parasitic sea lice.

Just a half-century ago, the trade in Atlantic salmon was a largely regional affair that relied solely on fish caught in the wild. Now, salmon farming has become a global business that generates $18 billion in annual sales. Breeding has been key to the aquaculture boom. Ocean Farm 1s silvery inhabitants grow roughly twice as fast as their wild ancestors and have been bred for disease resistance and other traits that make them well suited for farm life. Those improvements in salmon are just a start: Advances in genomics are poised to dramatically reshape aquaculture by helping improve a multitude of species and traits.

Genetic engineering has been slow to take hold in aquaculture; only one genetically modified species, a transgenic salmon, has been commercialized. But companies and research institutions are bolstering traditional breeding with genomic insights and tools such as gene chips, which speed the identification of fish and shellfish carrying desired traits. Top targets include increasing growth rates and resistance to disease and parasites. Breeders are also improving the hardiness of some species, which could help farmers adapt to a shifting climate. And many hope to enhance traits that please consumers, by breeding fish for higher quality fillets, eye-catching colors, or increased levels of nutrients. There is a paradigm shift in taking up new technologies that can more effectively improve complex traits, says Morten Rye, director of genetics at Benchmark Genetics, an aquaculture breeding company.

After years of breeding, Atlantic salmon grow faster and larger than their wild relatives.

Aquaculture breeders can tap a rich trove of genetic material; most fish and shellfish have seen little systematic genetic improvement for farming, compared with the selective breeding that chickens, cattle, and other domesticated animals have undergone. Theres a huge amount of genetic potential out there in aquaculture species thats yet to be realized, says geneticist Ross Houston of the Roslin Institute.

Amid the enthusiasm about aquacultures future, however, there are concerns. Its not clear, for example, whether consumers will accept fish and shellfish that have been altered using technologies that rewrite genes or move them between species. And some observers worry genomic breeding efforts are neglecting species important to feeding people in the developing world. Still, expectations are high. The technology is amazing, its advancing very quickly, the costs are coming down, says Ximing Guo, a geneticist at Rutgers University, New Brunswick. Everybody in the field is excited.

Fish farmingmay not have roots as old as agriculture, but it dates back millennia. By about 3500 years ago, Egyptians were raising gilt-head sea bream in a large lagoon. The Romans cultivated oysters. And carp have been grown and selectively bred in China for thousands of years. Few aquaculture species, however, saw systematic, scientific improvement until the 20th century.

One species that has received ample attention from breeders is Atlantic salmon, which commands relatively high prices. Farming began in the late 1960s, in Norway. Within 10 years, breeding had helped boost growth rates and harvest weight. Each new generation of fishit takes salmon 3 to 4 years to maturegrows 10% to 15% faster than its forebears. My colleagues in poultry can only dream of these kinds of percentages, says Robbert Blonk, director of aquaculture R&D at Hendrix Genetics, an animal breeding firm. During the 1990s, breeders also began to select for improved disease resistance, fillet quality, delayed sexual maturation (which boosts yields), and other traits.

Another success story involves tilapia, a large group of freshwater species that doesnt typically bring high prices but plays a key role in the developing world. An international research center in Malaysia, now known as WorldFish, began a breeding program in the 1980s that quickly doubled the growth rate of one commonly raised species, Nile tilapia. Breeders also improved its disease resistance, a task that continues because of the emergence of new pathogens, such as tilapia lake virus.

Genetically improved farmed tilapia was a revolution in terms of tilapia production, says Alexandre Hilsdorf, a fish geneticist at the University of Mogi das Cruzes in Brazil. China, a global leader in aquaculture production, has capitalized on the strain, building the worlds largest tilapia hatchery. It raises billions of young fish annually.

Now, aquaculture supplies nearly half of the fish and shellfish eaten worldwide (see chart, below), and production has been growing by nearly 4.5% annually over the past decadefaster than most sectors of the farmed food sector. That expansion has come with some collateral damage, including pollution from farm waste, heavy catches of wild fish to feed to penned salmon and other species, and the destruction of coastal wetlands to build shrimp ponds. Nevertheless, aquaculture is now poised for further acceleration, thanks in large part to genomics.

Aquaculture is rivaling catches from wild fisheries and is projected to increase. Much of the growth comes from freshwater fish in Asia, such as grass carp, yet most research has focused on Atlantic salmon and other high-value species. Genomic technology is now spreading to shrimp and tilapia.

(GRAPHIC) N. DESAI/SCIENCE; (DATA, TOP TO BOTTOM) FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF HE UNITED NATIONS; HOUSTON et al., NATURE REVIEWS GENETICS 21, 389 (2020)

Breeders are most excited about a technique called genomic selection. To grasp why, it helps to understand how breeders normally improve aquaculture species. They start by crossing two parents and then, out of hundreds or thousands of their offspring, select individuals to test for traits they want to improve. Advanced programs make hundreds of crosses in each generation and choose from the best performing families for breeding. But some tests mean the animal cant later be used for breeding; measuring fillet quality is lethal, for instance, and screening for disease resistance means the infected individual must remain quarantined. As a result, when researchers identify a promising animal, they must pick a sibling to use for breedingand hope that it performs just as well. You dont know whether theyre the best of the family or the worst,says Dean Jerry, an aquaculture geneticist at James Cook University, Townsville, who works with breeders of shrimp, oysters, and fish.

With genomic selection, researchers can identify siblings with high-performance traits based on genetic markers. All they need is a small tissue samplesuch a clipping from a finthat can be pureed and analyzed. DNA arrays, which detect base-pair changes called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), allow breeders to thoroughly evaluate many siblings for multiple traits. If the pattern of SNPs suggests that an individual carries optimal alleles, it can be selected for further breeding even if it hasnt been tested. Genomic analyses also allow breeders to minimize inbreeding.

Cattle breeders pioneered genomic selection. Salmon breeders adopted it a few years ago, followed by those working with shrimp and tilapia. There is a big race from industry to implement this technology, says geneticist Jos Yez of the University of Chile, who adds that even small-scale producers are now interested in genetic improvement. As a rough average, the technique increases selection accuracy and the amount of genetic improvement by about 25%, Houston says. It and other tools are helping researchers pursue goals such as:

This trait improves the bottom line, allowing growers to produce more frequent and bigger hauls. Growth is highly heritable and easy to measure, so traditional breeding works well. But breeders have other tactics for boosting growth, including providing farmers with fish of a single sex. Male tilapia, for example, can grow significantly faster than females. Another strategy is to hybridize species. The dominant farmed catfish in the United States, a hybrid of a female channel catfish and a male blue catfish, grows faster and is hardier.

Inducing sterility stimulates growth, too, and has helped raise yields in shellfish, particularly oysters. In the 1990s, Guo and Standish Allen, now at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, figured out a new way to create triploid oysters, which are infertile because they have an extra copy of each chromosome. These oysters dont devote much energy to reproduction, so they reach harvest size sooner, reducing exposure to disease. (When oysters reproduce, more than half their body consists of sperm or eggs, which no one wants to eat.)

Looking ahead, researchers are exploring gene transfer or gene editing to further enhance gains. And one U.S. company, AquaBounty, is just beginning to sell the worlds first transgenic food animal, an Atlantic salmon, that it claims is 70% more productive than standard farmed salmon. But the fish is controversial and has faced consumer resistance and regulatory hurdles.

Disease is often the biggest worry and expense for aquaculture operations. In shrimp, outbreaks can slash overall yield by up to 40% annually and can wipe out entire operations. Vaccines can prevent some diseases in fish, but not invertebrates, because their adaptive immune systems are less developed. So, for all species, resistant strains are highly desirable.

To improve disease resistance, researchers need a rigorous way to test animals. Thanks to a collaboration with fish pathologists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Benchmark Genetics was able to screen tilapia for susceptibility to two major bacterial diseases by delivering a precise dose of the pathogen and then measuring the response. They identified genetic markers correlated with infection and used genomic selection to help develop a more resistant strain. USDA scientists have also worked with Hendrix Genetics to increase the survival of trout exposed to a different bacterial pathogen from 30% to 80% in just three generations.

The fecundity of most aquatic species, like this trout (left), helps breeding efforts. Salmon eggs, 0.7 millimeters wide (right), are robust and easy for molecular biologists to work with.

Perhaps the most celebrated success has been in salmon. After researchers discovered a genetic marker for resistance to infectious pancreatic necrosis, companies quickly bred strains that can survive this deadly disease. Oyster breeders, meanwhile, have had success in developing strains resistant to a strain of herpes that devastated the industry in France, Australia, and New Zealand.

A big problem for Atlantic salmon growers is the sea louse. The tiny parasite clings to the salmons skin, inflicting wounds that damage or kill fish and make their flesh worthless. Between fish losses and the expense of controlling the parasites, lice cost growers more than $500 million a year in Norway alone. Lice are attracted to fish pens and can jump to wild salmon that pass by.

For years farmers have relied on pesticides to fight lice, but the parasite has become resistant to many chemicals. Other techniques, such as pumping salmon into heated water, which causes the lice to drop off, can stress the fish.

Researchers have found that some Atlantic salmon are better than others at resisting lice, and breeders have been trying to improve this trait. So far, theyve had modest success. Better understanding why several species of Pacific salmon are immune to certain lice could lead to progress. Scientists are exploring whether sea lice are attracted to certain chemicals released by Atlantic salmon; if so, its possible these could be modified with gene editing.

No sex on the farm. Thats a goal with many aquaculture species, because reproduction diverts energy from growth. Moreover, fertile fish that escape from aquaculture operations can cause problems for wild relatives. When wild fish breed with their domesticated cousins, for instance, the offspring are often less successful at reproducing.

Salmon can be sterilized by making them triploid, typically by pressurizing newly fertilized embryos in a steel tank when the chromosomes are replicating. But this can have side effects, such as greater susceptibility to disease. Anna Wargelius, a molecular physiologist at Norways Institute of Marine Research, and colleagues have instead altered the genes of Atlantic salmon to make them sterile, using the genome editor CRISPR to knock out a gene calleddeadend. In 2016, they showed that these fish, though healthy, lack germ cells and dont sexually mature. Now, theyre working on developing fertile broodstock that produce these sterile offspring for hatcheries. Embryos with the knocked-out genes should develop into fertile adults if injected with messenger RNA, according to a paper the group published last month inScientific Reports. When these fish mature later in December, they will try to breed them. It looks very promising, Wargelius says.

Another approach would not involve genetic modifications. Fish reproductive physiologists Yonathan Zohar and Ten-Tsao Wong of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, are using small molecule drugs to disrupt early reproductive development so that fish mature without sperm or eggs.

Cooks and diners hate bones. Nearly half of the top species in aquaculture are species of carp or their relatives, which are notorious for the small bones that pack their flesh. These bones cant be easily removed during processing, so you cant just get a nice, clean fillet, says Benjamin Reading, a reproductive physiologist at North Carolina State University.

Researchers are studying the biology of these fillet bones to see whether they might one day be removed through breeding or genetic engineering. A few years ago, Hilsdorf heard that a Brazilian hatchery had discovered mutant brood stock of a giant Amazonian fish, the widely farmed tambaqui, that lacked these fillet bones. After trying and failing to breed a boneless strain, hes studying tissue samples from the mutants for clues to their genetics.

Geneticist Ze-Xia Gao of Huazhong Agricultural University is focusing on blunt snout bream, a carp that is farmed in China. Guided by five genetic markers, she and colleagues are breeding the bream to have few fillet bones. It could take 8 to 10 years to achieve, she says. They have also had some success with gene editingtheyve identified and knocked out two genes that control the presence of fillet bonesand they plan to try the approach in other carp species. I think it will be feasible, Gao says.

Aquaculture projects worldwide are hustling to domesticate new speciesa kind of gold rush rare in terrestrial farming. In New Zealand, researchers are domesticating native species because they are already adapted to local conditions. The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research began to breed the Australasian snapper in 2004. Early work concentrated on simply getting the fish to survive and reproduce in a tank. One decade later, researchers started to breed for improved growth, and theyve since increased juvenile growth rates by 20% to 40%.

Genomic techniques have proved critical. Snapper are mass spawners, so it was hard for breeders to identify the parents of promising offspring, which is crucial for optimizing selection and avoiding inbreeding. DNA screening solved that problem, because the markers reveal ancestry. The institute is also breeding another local fish, the silver trevally, aiming for a strain that will reproduce in captivity without hormone implants. Its a long-term effort to breed a wild species to make it suitable for aquaculture, says Maren Wellenreuther, an evolutionary geneticist at the New Zealand institute and the University of Auckland.

These breeding effortsrequire money. Despite the growth of aquaculture, the fields research funding lags the amounts invested in livestock, although some governments are boosting investments.

Looking globally, geneticist Dennis Hedgecock of Pacific Hybreed, a small U.S. company that is developing hybrid oysters, sees a huge disparity between breeding investment in developed countrieswhich produce a fraction of total harvests but have the biggest research budgetsand the rest of the world. Simply applying classical breeding techniques could rapidly improve production, especially in the developing world, he says. Yet the hundreds of species now farmed could overwhelm breeding programs, especially those aimed at enhancing disease resistance, Hedgecock adds. The growth and the production is outstripping the scientific capability of dealing with the diseases, he says, adding that a focus on fewer species would be beneficial.

For genomics to help, experts say costs must continue to come down. One promising development in SNP arrays, they note, is a technique called imputation, in which cheaper arrays that search for fewer genetic changes are combined with a handful of higher cost chips that probe the genome in more detail. Such developments suggest genomic technology is at a pivot point where youre going to see it used broadly in aquaculture, says John Buchanan, president of the Center for Aquaculture Technologies, a contract research organization.

Many companies are already planning for larger harvests. SalMar will decide next year whether it will order a companion to Ocean Farm 1. It has already drawn up plans for a successor that can operate in the open ocean and would be more than twice the size, big enough to hold 3 million to 5 million salmon at a time.

Read more:
New genetic tools will deliver improved farmed fish, oysters, and shrimp. Here's what to expect - Science Magazine

McBride came to the U of O for their undergraduate degree. Image: Trent Dilkie/Provided

Former University of Ottawa student Rachel McBride has been a professional triathlete for 10 years and has already established themselves as a force in the sports world.

A three time Ironman 70.3 champion, they won their first half Ironman triathlon at 32, they are a two time Ironman bike course record holder, a Canadian national champion and the seventh female over the age of 42 who qualified for KONA.

In 2019, they came in first at the Cascade Gravel Grinder and the Fort Langley 1K. In 2020, McBride came second in the Burnt Bridge Gravel Classic, losing by only 24 seconds. They came in third in the Canadian Tri Pro Championship earlier this year. They also hold two university degrees and are an accomplished cellist.

Growing up, McBride moved around a lot: from Tacoma, Wash. to Germany before they came to the U of O for their undergraduate degree.

I was a shy kid but was quite physically active even at a young age, said McBride in an email statement.

It was at the U of O where they discovered their love of biology and research. McBride ended up working for a research lab in Germany before deciding to pursue their masters in developmental genetics. They eventually found their way to their dream career as a genetic counsellor.

While they were physically active as a child, McBride dropped most sports to focus more on their creative and artistic side instead.

I got more and more into punk, goth and riot grrrl music and began expressing myself creatively through clothing, hairstyles and other art mediums like music, photos, poetry and paintings, they said.

After moving to Toronto, McBride began getting heavily involved in the music and arts scene in the city which resulted in them partying a lot and never getting more than [four to five] hours of sleep a night. Before their shift to a healthier lifestyle, McBride struggled with an eating disorder, as well as being a drinker and smoker. It wasnt until they turned 27 that they decided something had to change.

They ran their first marathon in 2005 and recognized the need to start prioritizing their health and wellbeing.

I did really well in that race so well that I qualified for the Boston Marathon and my mentor at the time suggested I could be an elite triathlete. Even though I was bordering on too old, I realized if I wanted to pursue this professionally, I would need to start taking my body, health and athletic career more seriously, they said.

A major lifestyle change McBride made was adapting a predominantly plant-based lifestyle, which has had a substantial impact on their physical and mental well-being.

Over the past decade Ive learned so much about my body becoming plant-based has had profound impacts on my wellbeing and I would say its been a prominent factor in my success as an athlete.

Turning towards a plant-based lifestyle has allowed McBride to solve digestion issues that they were not able to tackle before, saying growing up I didnt have a good handle on what my body needed to thrive.

McBride is also identifies as non-binary, a gender identity in which an individual does not identify exclusively as male or female.

Identity and authenticity are topics that are incredibly important to me and Im proud that Ive been able to be involved in modernizing the world of sport whether through having a voice in the conversation around gender in sport, or even around dietary practices as a plant-based athlete, said McBride.

McBride continues to share their story and is grateful for the fact that they have this platform and are able to inspire others. They are passionate about sports becoming more inclusive and inspiring others to be true to who they are and be proud of it.

Be yourself and be proud. Be confident that you, too, have a right to be recognized and celebrated in whatever endeavors you commit yourself to, they said.

At 42, Im fitter and faster than ever. Age is truly just a number.

Visit link:
Fitter and Faster: U of O alum Rachel McBride is breaking through barriers and championships - The Fulcrum

INNOVATIVE livestock farmers in Easter Ross are setting the scene for their first online breeding cattle sale in January 2021.

The Scott family at Fearn Farm, in Easter Ross, aim to follow the success of their yourbid ram sale in August, which proved an ideal solution given the current uncertainties regarding Covid-19 restrictions.

John Scott explained: At Fearn, we strive to produce high health top quality stock from forage-based diets. Our new online sale allows us to sell stock direct from farm, putting minimal stress on the animals and our staff. It will also allow buyers across the UK and further afield the opportunity to purchase stock from their farm office, tractor seat, or in person on-farm subject to government guidelines, and where social distancing measures will be adhered to."

The yourbid system was developed by David and George Giddings of Meadowslea Genetics, New Zealand. They integrated an online bidding option for their stud Angus female sale earlier this year while New Zealand was in lockdown. After seeing the success of the sale, Fearn Farm teamed up with the McGowan family of Incheoch, Blairgowrie to bring the Helmsman style online auction system to the UK for the first time in summer.

We first used yourbid earlier this year for our on-farm ram sale and found it worked really well for our system. Like a silent auction, all lots are offered for sale at the same time, said Mr Scott.The main difference is the online sale will only come to an end when there are no further bids on any lot.

Forty-two animals will be offered for sale with videos of the cattle and a detailed catalogue including performance figures, genetics and weights available from next month.

Mr Scott said: This is an exciting time for us as a business, we believe in our product and are delighted that we can use this platform once again in the UK, giving farmers and crofters the opportunity to buy the genetics they need to drive their herds forward in uncertain times.

The family currently run 100 pedigree Shorthorn cows under the Fearn prefix which was founded in 1995. John explains how the upcoming sale will give buyers the chance to purchase stock with genetics linking to some highly sought bloodlines.

Added Mr Scott: We have several bull and heifer lots sired by Fearn Godfather, who was originally sold for 10,000gns, then bought back three years later at auction for 20,000gns.

He is one of the highest performance recorded animals in the breed and is a trait leader for calving ease; 200, 400- and 600-day weights; carcass weight and rib fat.

Other sires include Fearn Elmer - who needs no introduction - with sons selling privately to 10,000gns, averaging over 5,000 for 25 sold to date and his daughters are breeding extremely well within the herd.

He is possibly the easiest fleshing bull that we have bred at Fearn, with one of his sons likely to be retained for our own use next year.

The Luing offering will see bulls and bulling heifers available from the 50-cow Scotsburn herd which is managed by the Scott family through a contract farming agreement, as well as progeny from the 50-cow Sutherland herd which is run by Scott Farming Co. Both these herds have been founded on the Cadzow Bros Luing genetics.

Mr Scott said: All of the cattle for sale have been produced on grass and forage-based diets. Stock are part of Johnes level 1 and BVD accredited herds and have been double vaccinated for BVD, with the heifers also vaccinated for Lepto. All bulls forward will be semen tested prior to the sale.

The sale will go live on January 12 and run until January 22.Potential buyers can visit the farm to view stock by arranging an appointment.

Prospective buyers can also pre-register to visit the farm on the final day of bidding and will be able to view a large screen where they can bid, using either a smart phone or bidding slips.

Mr Scott added: Bidding will be up and running online for ten days before the sale, but things should get interesting in the last hour or so on sale day.We expect that Covid-19 will encourage most bidders to operate from home but wanted to make it possible for those who want to be here to do so.

Related: Online sale hits the spot in Easter Ross with bids from Cornwall to Shetland

Fearn Farm hooks up with New Zealand firm to trailblaze new bidding system during Covid-19 crisis

Get a digital copy of the Northern Times delivered straight to your inbox every week and read the full newspaper on your desktop, phone or laptop.

Read more:
Fearn farming family to run first online breeding cattle sale at turn of year - Northern Times

A long-standing puzzle in evolution is why new genes ones that seem to arise out of nowhere can quickly take over functions essential for an organisms survival.

A new study in fruit flies may help solve that puzzle. It shows that some new genes quickly become crucial because they regulate a type of DNA called heterochromatin. Once considered junk DNA, heterochromatin actually performs many important jobs, including acting like a tightly guarded prison: It locks up bad actor genes, preventing them from turning on and doing damage.

Heterochromatin is also one of the fastest-changing bits of DNA in the body, so the genes that regulate it have to adapt quickly just to keep up, evolutionary biologist Harmit Malik at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle and his colleagues report online November 10 in eLife.

The work is a milestone, said Manyuan Long, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Chicago who was not involved in the research. It is really amazing seeing such an important role the heterochromatin plays in gene evolution.

Headlines and summaries of the latest Science News articles, delivered to your inbox

Scientists have documented many cases of genes that seem to arise from scratch and give an organism a new ability. For instance, one such gene in fish makes a novel antifreeze protein; another in flies is essential for flight.

About a decade ago, researchers discovered that new genes dont just confer new functions; some may actually be necessary for survival. In the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, as many as 30 percent of new genes are essential, with some arising as recently as 3 million years ago a flash in evolutionary timescales. The discovery overturned a long-held belief that important genes dont really change much over the course of evolution.

Maliks team investigated a large family of genes in fruit flies that regulate other genes turning them on and off for various tasks in the cell. It found that within the family of 85 or so genes, the genes that were evolving more rapidly were more likely to control essential functions for the fly. In fact, 67 percent of rapidly evolving genes were essential compared with 20 percent in the slower-evolving group.

The dogma is completely opposite than what you would expect, said Malik.

The team found that one of the new essential genes, dubbed Nicknack, issues instructions for a protein that binds to heterochromatin, although the details remain unknown.

To see how quickly Nicknack might have taken over an essential function, the researchers replaced the Nicknack gene in D. melanogaster with the Nicknack gene in its closest evolutionary relative, D. simulans. The two species of flies split into two branches of the fruit fly tree roughly 2.5 million years ago. Scientists would typically expect the Nicknack gene of S. simulans to be basically the same as the one in D. melanogaster,because it is essential and therefore wouldnt have changed much over the short span (in evolutionary terms) of a couple million years.

They tested this theory by swapping the gene from D. simulans into the D. melanogaster fly, expecting that if the genes were the same, the trade would have no effect. But instead, the female flies survived the swap just fine, but all the males died. Malik thinks the difference between the sexes has to do with heterochromatin: The Y chromosome contains a lot of it.

Its as if [D.] simulans [Nicknack gene] comes in with its hand tied behind its back, Malik says. Its good enough to do its function in female flies, but in male flies, where there is a huge block of heterochromatin, it cant. In other words, the gene from one species is no match for its counterpart in the other.

The result suggests that in the 2.5 million years since the two species split, D. melanogaster evolved its own version of Nicknack. And because the swap adversely affected the males, with their abundance of heterochromatin in the Y chromosome, the researchers concluded that Nicknack must play some crucial role in regulating heterochromatin. And since heterochromatin evolves so rapidly, the Nicknack gene has to evolve rapidly too, so it doesnt become obsolete.

Next, Malik hopes to do more studies to understand the exact function of Nicknack. That may help shed light on heterochromatins role in shaping the speed and course of evolution. Scientists, he says, are just at the beginning of understanding the many ways this junk DNA is anything but junk.

Read more from the original source:
A key to the mystery of fast-evolving genes was found in junk DNA - Science News

Irene Blat, a senior director at Genuity Science, discusses how the intersection of data, engineering, genetics and more will be crucial to the future of healthcare.

The future of healthcare will need the right mix of skills and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Irene Blat, senior director of data products and analytics at Genuity Science, is particularly familiar with that. Throughout her career, she has worked with clinicians, geneticists, software engineers and more to drive progress in genomics.

Here, she discusses her passion for problem solving and why mentors have been crucial to her journey.

One of the biggest surprises has been realising the value of collaborative teamwork in tackling these different spaces IRENE BLAT

I have had a passion for life sciences since my early years. I loved experimenting in science class and being able to test, learn and improve. What really solidified my path into life sciences was an undergraduate experience I had working in an immunology lab. We would modify genetic sequences to better understand how immune cells were able to adapt their responses depending on the invaders they were fighting.

The way we measured the response was by looking at thousands of cells with a laser to see how the markers they expressed on their surface had changed based on the genetic changes to their sequence. This generated a lot of data that we then had to analyse.

One of the best aspects of experimenting was recording the data and then looking for and identifying patterns. The thrill of gaining insights into one more piece of the puzzle was what really drove me to continue my career in exploring genetics to better understand and potentially treat diseases.

My interest in genetics was what led me to my first job working at the Broad Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts. At the time, it was an early data revolution in the life sciences where the human genome had just been sequenced a few years earlier and we were learning a wealth of information about healthy and disease states.

My role was to generate thousands of gene expression profiles of cells that had been treated with different drugs and then look for patterns in the cells responses to the drugs. We were looking for ways to link these genetic patterns to diseases to match them to a potential therapeutic compound. Here, I learned that the human cell is a very complex system and requires combing through lots of data to better understand how all the subtle changes in a cell work together to produce altered states.

Working with these large datasets put me on a path to look for opportunities where I could leverage the power of data to better understand complex biological systems.

For me, my career path has not been linear. I have taken risks and explored new opportunities to expand my experience where I could be impactful. Since joining Genuity, I have been fortunate to contribute to the R&D, product management and commercial aspects of the business with, at times, steep learning curves that have taken me out of my comfort zone.

What I have learned about myself is that I enjoy the challenge of learning something new and being able to leverage previous experiences to bring an original perspective to the company needs. While the subject matter might change, the concepts and learnings are still applicable across the organisation.

One of the biggest surprises has been realising the value of collaborative teamwork in tackling these different spaces. In graduate school, my work was focused on a very specific topic and in my career Ive been hired into very specific roles. But what has enabled me to move between different fields has really been collaborating and learning from other people.

Ive learned not to be afraid to ask questions and really take the opportunity to learn from others in the field. Then I have to take time to synthesise all these learnings to put forward a hypothesis that I can share with my colleagues for feedback and input. Basically, its a team effort and the more diverse the team the better the ideas.

I have had the good fortune of having many outstanding mentors throughout my career who see potential in me through my work ethic and dedication. I am grateful for having mentors who have encouraged me to take on bigger risks by giving me their vote of confidence. In particular, I have had strong female mentors who are excellent leaders and have leaned in throughout their careers.

Being able to learn from their experiences and listening to their guidance has been valuable in helping me decide where to go next in my career. The best mentors are the ones that give the gift of their time and my career has been shaped by the time of several great mentors in my life.

I really enjoy problem solving. In this role, I spend a lot of time thinking of creative ways to solve new problems. I also enjoy working through these problems in collaboration with our talented team. I have a deep appreciation for the value of sharing ideas and approaches with others from different backgrounds.

At Genuity Science, I have worked in teams with clinicians, geneticists, software engineers, bioinformaticians and data scientists who each bring their own expertise to the table. These types of cross-functional teams enable problem solving in a way that would not be possible if we all worked in silos.

What is even more exciting is that our team grows when we engage in collaborations with our customers. Our customers bring strong experiences in drug development that nicely complement our internal expertise in genomics discovery to help advance new therapies to the clinic. There are so many people to learn from both internal and external to our organisation and thats what makes my job exciting Im always learning!

I am a passionate learner. As I look back on how I landed at Genuity Science, the common thread is that every role I have had provided me the opportunity to learn. In this role, we are working at the cutting edge of how to analyse large clinical and genomic datasets. We have to iterate and adapt our analytical tools to solve increasingly complex biological problems.

My flexibility in adapting with the needs of the problem has also helped me in looking at problems in different ways. Since my early days in the lab, I recognised I had a lot of perseverance and grit. Sometimes you have to try multiple approaches before you find a path forward, but it is incredibly rewarding when you gain a new insight into a problem that was unsolved. Thats what keeps me motivated to continue trying.

At Genuity Science, the leadership team has encouraged me to explore the commercial boundaries which are well outside my original scientific training. Being able to inform commercial engagements with my deep scientific understanding has significantly broadened my skillset and resulted in exciting partnerships for the company.

Genuity has supported me in attending trainings and conferences where I was able to learn more about the commercial space as well as gain the opportunity to observe others in action. This has been a great development opportunity for me.

If you enjoy a challenge and like to learn, then a career in data analytics will not disappoint you. You have to be willing to take risks and fail but also learn from the failures and apply the lessons to the next challenge. The greatest reward is seeing how this work can ultimately have an impact on patient lives.

Excerpt from:
The role of a data-analytics director in genomic discovery - Siliconrepublic.com

WRAL TechWire keeps tabs on the latest and greatest meetups, panels, workshops, conferences, application deadlines and all things happening in the North Carolina startup/tech world. The Headliners is a multi-part weekly roundup of upcoming events to add to your calendar.

Following is a list of November events in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and the greater Triangle area. To find out whats happening this month in cities outside of the Triangle, check out part two of the Headliners column. Another post highlights December events. Meetups that occur regularly are listed here.

If youd like your event to be included, feel free to send me an email.

Also, check out a full range of events on TechWires interactive calendar, along with our comprehensive resource guide for startups in the Triangle.

Note: The following list is our lineup of Triangle events through the end of Novembermost have been switched to a virtual format due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements.

NC State Entrepreneurship is hosting a virtual open house every Monday to meet with students and answer any questions they have about entrepreneurship and launching a venture at NC State University.

This years Gig East Digital Summit will include talks and panels featuring both local and national leaders in innovation, business, entrepreneurship and arts. The event will premiere on YouTube in three parts, on November 16, November 18 and November 20.

This online forum will cover how animal models can offer useful insights into the vaccine development pathway.

Raleigh Chambers monthly virtual Business After Hours is an opportunity for people to make connections and build business relationships.

Wake Tech Community Colleges Contractors Academy is an eight-week training program designed for minority and women-owned small businesses in Wake County interested in pursuing contracting opportunities with state and local government. Applications are open now.

NC IDEAs second annual Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Summit will feature keynotes and breakout sessions with both local and national experts, leaders and entrepreneurs. Discussions will center around how North Carolinas entrepreneurial ecosystem can shift priorities amid new economic challenges. More TechWire coverage here.

This half-day virtual conference will feature keynotes and breakout sessions about leadership development, advocacy, mentorship and personal wellness for women in the workplace.

In this online event, Raleigh Chamber will host executives from major healthcare systems for discussions on the future of healthcare in Raleigh and its impact on the local economy.

Launch Chapel Hill is hosting a discussion on workplace inclusion, led by Pacific Western Bank Senior Vice President of Diversity & Inclusion Dee McDougal.

In this five-week virtual course, participants will craft and implement a sales plan that guides them through the process of bringing a product or service to market.

In this live Q&A session, TheeDigitals experts will answer common questions about a range of ecommerce topics, such as improving sales, couponing, payment gateways, and more.

The North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association is hosting a monthly webinar serieswith local and national experts covering clean energy trends.

Join the Code for Chapel Hill meetup to network with like-minded individuals and work on civic hacking projects. Meetings are held every two weeks on Tuesdays.

This webinar, hosted by the Wake Tech Small Business Center, will show participants how to engage customers and increase sales through email marketing.

NC TECHs annual awards program honors top leaders and companies in North Carolinas tech sector. This years event will be a three-day, virtual occasion.

1 Million Cups, presented by Kauffman, is a weekly informal pitch event for the startup community. Join for free coffee and entrepreneurial support as local startups deliver their presentations.

The Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) is hosting a virtual fireside chat with Pendo Founder Todd Olson and The Profile Founder Polina Marinova.

In this webinar, small businesses will learn about their sales and use tax obligations and how to prepare tax returns.

In this virtual event, RTPs Sustainability Team will host Leigh-Kathryn Bonner of BeeDowntown for a discussion on the importance of protecting bees, the hive management process and BeeDowntowns offerings. A Q&A session will follow.

In this webinar, small business attorney Kristy Cook of Mod Law Firm will present the basics of contract law, including the types of contracts common to small businesses, contract breaches, negotiation strategies, and more.

In this virtual lunch and learn, Cherry Bekaert Principal Bryce Gartner will discuss the process of applying a data-centric approach to operations and supply chain management.

This years Gig East Digital Summit will include talks and panels featuring both local and national leaders in innovation, business, entrepreneurship and arts. The event will premiere on YouTube in three parts, on November 16, November 18 and November 20.

The fourth annual event of its kind, the 2020 Sustainable Fleet Technology Conference will feature the latest trends and tech in sustainable fleet operations and implementation. This years program will be presented in a series of 12 webinar sessions, held from July to December. See the list of dates here.

This year, The Launch Place is hosting a lite version of its annual Big Launch Challenge pitch competition. Ten startups will pitch to a panel of five investors representing groups across the U.S.

Duke Applied Machine Learning (DAML) is accepting applications for the inaugural cohort of its new student-run tech incubator, Innovation Studio.

This virtual event will feature an interactive discussion with Raleigh Chamber CEO Adrienne Cole and Raleigh Chamber Young Professionals Network Chair Ashley Stallings.

This virtual conference will focus on rural women health workers, global leaders, artists, students and policymakers, and the effort to engage rural women in building sustainable health systems.

The Regional Transportation Alliances 19th annual meeting will cover new and potential transportation investments and innovative ideas for mobility and prosperity.

The Diversity Movement is hosting a free online event to share tips on how to have difficult, but civil conversations with relatives about current events over the holidays.

In this event, a panel of Momentum code school graduate moms will discuss their careers as software developers.

Cary Chambers next Business of Women event will feature Momentum Learning Co-founder and CEO Jessica Mitsch. Attendees can join the event in person at a limited capacity with safety precautions in place; those who would prefer to attend virtually can tune in online.

NCBIO is hosting a panel discussion focused on COVID-19s impact on the clinical trial process, as trials are successfully going virtual.

In this six-week course hosted by UNC-Chapel Hills Entrepreneurship Center, participants will learn ways to scale their companies by building practical plans for revenue, product, staffing, leadership and capital.

The City of Raleigh is hosting monthly virtual workshops on the benefits of the HUB (Historically Underutilized Business) and DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) certification programs.

xElle Ventures is hosting a pitch competition featuring female founders from universities around the RTP area.

This months virtual RTP180 event will feature five experts on genetics discussing related topics such as newborn check screenings, genome editing, applications in developing worlds, and more.

Raleigh SCORE is hosting a virtual workshop covering both sides of buying and selling a businessand all of the processes involved with both.

This free bi-monthly event offers a space for local tech professionals to build connections and find potential job opportunities.

DHITs Frequency Webinar Series features executives and thought leaders from healthcare, life sciences, social sciences, technology and innovation to discuss the latest trends, opportunities and challenges in digital health. Episodes are released through a series of bi-weekly virtual events.

The spring 2021 RIoT Accelerator Program (RAP) cohort will run from February 17 to May 5 in Wilson. Join this information session to learn more about the 12-week program and how to apply. Applications are due on December 21.

This years Gig East Digital Summit will include talks and panels featuring both local and national leaders in innovation, business, entrepreneurship and arts. The event will premiere on YouTube in three parts, on November 16, November 18 and November 20.

This weekly meetup brings together developers, IT professionals and tech enthusiasts who are interested in the Google Cloud Platform.

NC State Entrepreneurship is hosting a virtual open house every Monday to meet with students and answer any questions they have about entrepreneurship and launching a venture at NC State University.

Launch Chapel Hill, a startup incubator located in downtown Chapel Hill, is accepting applications for its new Launch Microgrant Fund, which provides $1,000 in equity-free funding to alumni companies at any stage.

Raleigh Chamber is hosting a discussion with Lindsay Rice, owner of Vita Vite, who will share how she and her team are navigating the pandemic.

Bring your ideas and opinions to the next Midtown Techies meetup. Events are held on the last Tuesday of every month.

Code for Durham brings together technologists, designers, developers, data scientists, map makers and activists to collaborate on civic technology projects. Meetings are held every two weeks on Tuesdays.

1 Million Cups, presented by Kauffman, is a weekly informal pitch event for the startup community. Join for free coffee and entrepreneurial support as local startups deliver their presentations.

This weekly meetup brings together developers, IT professionals and tech enthusiasts who are interested in the Google Cloud Platform.

NC State Entrepreneurship is hosting a virtual open house every Monday to meet with students and answer any questions they have about entrepreneurship and launching a venture at NC State University.

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Triangle headliners: Previewing 50 webinars & events coming up rest of this month - WRAL Tech Wire

Legend has it that some of historys most beautiful women, including Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor, shaved their faces. While this cant be substantiated, many of todays beauties are open about the benefits of shaving.

Every woman has facial hair. There are two types, vellus hair and terminal hair.

Vellus hair is the near-invisible peach fuzz that covers much of your face and body. Its role is to regulate temperature and evaporate sweat.

Vellus hair is very fine and translucent. If you scrutinize your face, especially in bright sunlight, you may be able to see vellus hair on your cheeks, forehead, upper and lower lips, neck, chin, and side burn area.

Terminal hair is darker and thicker. Some women have terminal hair along their upper and lower lips, sideburns, neck, and chin.

Facial shaving can be used to remove both vellus and terminal hair.

We go over the pros and cons of facial shaving for women, plus provide info on terminal hair growth and the conditions which might cause it.

In addition to removing hair, facial shaving can also be used as a mechanical (physical) exfoliator to remove dead skin cells. This can be a pro for some woman, but a con for others.

Before you take razor in hand, check out your skin. If you have conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, or acne, shaving may exacerbate irritation and discomfort. It may also lead to infection.

Sensitive skin, or skin that has red, irritated patches for any reason, may also not respond well to shaving.

If your skin is clear and can handle exfoliation, there are definite pros but also potential cons to shaving:

Shaving blunts the edges of hair, making it feel stubbly and coarse. This may create the illusion that hair has become darker or thicker.

Shaving facial hair, however, doesnt thicken it or change its color. It may make terminal hairs feel harder to the touch, until they grow out completely.

Facial shaving for women should be done differently than facial shaving for men. It also differs from the way you shave your legs and underarms.

To effectively shave your face:

Need the right facial razor? Here are two to buy online:

Other ways of removing facial hair include:

Unlike shaving which removes hair at the skins surface, waxing removes hair from underneath the skin, at the root.

It lasts longer than shaving, but carries some of the same risks such as causing ingrown hairs and skin irritation.

Waxing can be done at home, or in a salon by a professional. It can be uncomfortable or even painful for some people.

For waxing to work, hair has to be at least 1/4-inch long or else the wax cant grip it. If you have obvious terminal hair that youre self-conscious about, this may make waxing challenging to use on the face.

Laser hair removal is a long-lasting, semi-permanent solution for facial hair removal. It must be done by a professional, such as a dermatologist or licensed esthetician.

Laser hair removal can be expensive, but may provide many hair-free years for women with terminal facial hair, making it worth the expense for some.

Laser hair removal works by absorption of the laser within the hairs follicle. The pigment in hair attracts the laser beam to it, which is why its most effective in people with hair thats darker than their skin.

Since vellus hair is lightly pigmented and translucent, it cant be removed by laser.

Excess or dark facial hair can sometimes be the result of genetics. For example, certain ethnicities may include women that have more facial hair than others.

Medical issues and hormonal irregularities can also cause an overgrowth of facial hair to occur in women. These include:

If you have more than your fair share of facial hair, talking to your doctor may help provide additional insight and possibly medical solutions that will help alleviate the problem.

Facial shaving in women is more common than you might think. Its done to remove vellus and terminal hairs from the cheeks, chin, upper lip, and side burn areas.

Facial shaving also provides mechanical exfoliation, which can help skin look brighter and cleaner.

In order to shave your face effectively, you should use a tool designed specifically for this purpose.

If you have excess, dark hair on your face, there may be a medical or genetic reason behind it. In these instances, seeing your doctor may help to provide long-lasting solutions.

Read more:
Face Shaving for Women: Pros and Cons, Best Practice Tips - Healthline

AVONDALE, Ariz. Julie Giese doesnt like the spotlight, so this moment was awkward for her.

She was standing in the desert sun and smiling as a line of photographers snapped away, capturing pictures of both Giese the Phoenix Raceway track president and a car sporting the newly unveiled logo for NASCAR Championship Weekend.

This was March 6, before the pandemic arrived and turned 2020 into a giant barn full of cow dung, forcing the whole world to change its plans. That includes Phoenix, which will host its first championship race this weekend with limited capacity and a different feel than was originally envisioned.

Fortunately for NASCAR and the track, Giese knows all about dealing with giant barns of cow dung; after all, she grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin.

Yes, NASCARs lone female track president only the second ever is used to hard work, putting in long hours and accomplishing goals,...

Follow this link:
NASCAR's only female track president ready to host championship - The Athletic

Tracey Brown, Stacey Stewart, Angela Williams, Linda Goler Blount have created a Call to Action to ... [+] close the health gap for Black Americans.

For 20 years, Carol Fleming has lived with diabetes. In 2016, Fleming, who is now 66, joined Change Your Lifestyle, Change Your Life, a health-improvement program. Located in Flemings hometown of Detroit, Mich., the program was run by the Black Women's Health Imperative, a nonprofit organization created by and geared toward Black women to help protect and advance their health.

This program, among others at the Black Women's Health Imperative, is used to help Black women get healthy and address the underlying reasons for health disparities impacting their communities in America. Through advocacy on a federal level, the organization fights stereotypes about why diabetes, maternal mortality, breast cancer, and other often deadly, chronic health issues seem to plague the Black community.

"It's not in genes; it's due to systemic racism and bias that has created and still creates structural barriers for Black people in America to receive proper health care. Four hundred years of oppression, and what that has done to the way our bodies function brings us to where we are today," said Linda Goler Blount, the president, and CEO of Black Women's Health Imperative.

"These health disparities are what we should have expected based on the way people are treated and have been treated in this society, and where resources go and where they don't go and who has access and who doesn't."

Goler Blount and three other Black female CEOs for nonprofits in the health space are signaling a 'call to action' to address the health gaps for Black Americans. Currently, the health disparities impacting Black Americans, specifically Black women, are startling and have resulted in alarming statistics:

-Black women have three to four times higher rates of maternal mortality compared to white women. In New York City, its up to 12 times higher.

-Black Americans are 50 percent more likely to have diabetes and two and a half times more likely to die from the disease.

- Black women have a seven to eight times higher rate of diabetes, according to Goler Blount, and higher rates of mortality from diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension.

-Black women have 40 percent higher breast cancer mortality rates.

-Black women have, on average, about 15 percent more cortisol in their bloodstream than white women. Cortisol is a stress hormone. Elevated cortisol is associated with inflammatory and metabolic changes and raises the risk of diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. The high cortisol in Black women is because of chronic racial and gender discrimination.

"These health disparities are unconscionable, and there is absolutely no reason for us to live this kind of reality," Goler Blount said. "It's going to take all of us to come together to speak truth to power about our lived experiences, and the impact of racism and gender discrimination on our health, and to apply the political pressure, and the moral pressure to change these systems."

Goler Blount argues the disparities can be found through the entire health system, from the person who works at the front desk of a doctor's office to the medical professionals themselves. She says an unconscious bias frequently results in Black women not being listened to; their fears and symptoms are often dismissed. Goler Blount also says Black women often receive less adequate care than their white counterparts, and they are often left out of clinical research studies. She even went as far as studying and co-publishing a paper on systemic racial bias in artificial intelligence in scheduling algorithms. Goler Blount found that hospitals and provider's scheduling systems were double and triple booking Black patients.

"The thing that everybody should contextualize about this, you know, if we pick something like breast cancer: in 1981, Black women and white women had the same breast cancer mortality rate. Well, what happened in 1981? We learned how to detect breast cancer; we learned how to treat it. So what we see now is a reflection of who had access and who didn't."

Keelee Moseley, a 40-year-old mother of three, says she believes systemic bias almost cost her life and her baby's life.

Keelee Moseley believes systemic bias almost cost her life and her baby's life.

In 2018, Moseley was pregnant with her third child. She went to an OBGYN checkup. The doctor noticed leakage, and her cervix was dilated. But Moseley was only 21 weeks pregnant.

"He said, you know, your pregnancy isn't viable. The baby is not going to survive," Moseley said. "He recommended abortion."

Moseley refused to accept that answer. She went home, where she spoke to her mother-in-law, who had been a nurse for decades, who recommended Moseley go the next morning to talk to an advanced maternal medicine doctor. The next day, she was admitted to the hospital on bed rest.

Moseley made it one more week before undergoing a cesarean section.

"He survived, you know, they didn't give him any chance," Moseley said. "And even when he was born, they said maybe you know, one percent chance of survival."

"But Adrian survived."

After the C-section, Moseley was in intense pain; but the doctors sent her home, saying the discomfort was normal. But the next day, it got even worse.

While Moseley and her husband were at the hospital visiting their newborn in the NICU, she began to feel lightheaded. Nurses took her temperature and discovered she had a fever. Moseley was taken to the ER and then back to Labor and Delivery, where they determined she had a high white blood cell count. Her stomach was swollen, red, and hot to touch. The hospital admitted her.

"I stayed the night, and I was still in a lot of pain. The second day it got worse, and I started to decline, Moseley said. "And then that evening, I vomited."

The doctor checked on Moseley, who explained her pain and symptoms. But the doctor said her stomach was swollen because it was irritated by her pajama pants that were too tight. He gave her Benadryl and left.

But Moseley believed something was more seriously wrong, so she kept taking photos of her swollen, red belly. And then, she found black blisters.

Doctors rushed Moseley into exploratory surgery. When she woke up, she was in the ICU with a large bandage around her stomach and a tube through her nose. She was informed her kidneys were failing and that she received multiple blood transfusions. The culprit was necrotizing fasciitis or a flesh-eating disease in her C-section incision.

Moseley spent over four weeks in the hospital recovering. Her baby was in the NICU for 144 days. She believes she wouldn't have been in this position undergoing multiple surgeries because of a flesh-eating disease had doctors taken her concerns seriously. She also believes if she were a different race, doctors would have worked harder to save her baby from the beginning, instead of first encouraging Moseley to have an abortion.

"I felt like, even if my voice wasn't enough, there were clinical signs that showed that I was in some distress and trouble," Moseley said. "And I felt like if doctors would have recognized that earlier, it may not have been so severe."

"Also, if I would have listened to my doctors, I would have never, never got to where I am today with Adrian. His birth was hard, but now he talks, he runs."

After some complications, doctors recommended Keelee Moseley have an abortion. Two years later, ... [+] Moseley's son is a thriving, healthy baby.

According to Stacey Stewart, the president and CEO of March of Dimes, there has been a maternal and infant health crisis for all women in the United States for several years. The U.S. is among the most dangerous developed nations in the world to give birth. But it is compounded and even worse for people of color.

Every year, Stewart says, 700-900 women die in the United States due to pregnancy and childbirth complications, and another 50,000 women come close to death in what are called 'near misses.' Black women die at a rate of three to four times compared to white women.

"We have had generations of systemic racism and discrimination that is embedded in the system. Black women often articulate that they don't feel respected and heard. Often, they present with symptoms, and their symptoms are dismissed. They are often not heard and not responded to in the same way that other women are," Stewart said.

"And then, of course, the pandemic comes, and then all these things are even more exacerbated."

The Covid-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted Black and brown Americans, increasing the health inequity gap. According to AMFAR, the Foundation for Aids Research, as of August, 45 percent of Covid-19 cases, and 51 percent of Covid deaths, are in 22 percent of counties that are disproportionately Black. Black Americans are dying at more than twice the rate of white Americans from Covid-19.

Many of the reasons are related to social determinants of health like income, housing, food, and employment. A large percentage of Black Americans work what have become known as essential jobs - in the food industry, health services, etc. So while they may still have their job, it puts them at greater risk of getting sick. Many Black Americans would have to quit their job to protect their health, which puts them at greater risk for economic insecurity. Black Americans also often have health conditions, like diabetes and pre-existing conditions, that put them at greater risk.

But according to Goler Blount, we can't talk about the social determinants of health without talking about the inequalities that Black Americans have faced for decades, which are now being highlighted and made notably visible by the pandemic health crisis.

"The way people talk about data, they would lead people to believe that 'Oh, it's because they're Black [that they have a certain condition],' Goler Blount said. "Black women have 40 percent higher breast cancer mortality rates, and it's not because they're Black, it's the experience of being Black."

"Racism is the risk factor, and gender oppression is the risk factor."

Racism and gender oppression have significantly impacted the Black population in America when it comes to diabetes, according to Tracey Brown, the CEO of the American Diabetes Association. Brown, who has diabetes herself, says Black Americans and Hispanics are 50 percent more likely to have diabetes; she also says people of color are two and a half times more likely to die from diabetes.

"You can't talk about health in this country without talking about wealth wealth is health and you look at the number of people who are below the poverty line, 76 percent of those people are people of color," Brown said. "Genetics is a small portion of why people may have diabetes; the rest of the story is systemic racism and the social determinants of health."

"What we have to help people understand is we've got to attack these systems, these policies, these procedures if we want to seriously start to talk about changing health outcomes for people of color in this country."

Angela Williams, the CEO of Easterseals, a nonprofit that provides services for people with disabilities and their families, is advocating to improve Black disabled Americans' lives.

Black people with disabilities face higher rates of police violence and find themselves disproportionately impacted by the school-to-prison pipeline. Black children with disabilities often have their behaviors interpreted as aggressive and violent instead of a disability diagnosis. They also have a more challenging time getting access to much-needed early-intervention and services.

"What I want people to know is that we need to raise awareness, that this is, in fact, an American issue that must be addressed," Williams said. "Secondly, research institutions, corporations, and foundations must partner with organizations like Easterseals to solve these problems."

The American Diabetes Association, March of Dimes, The Black Women's Health Imperative, and Easterseals are all working towards changing policy and legislation at a federal level to improve Black Americans' lives and health.

At the Black Women's Health Imperative, they fund chronic disease prevention work across the country. They are working on policy with the Congressional Black Caucus and The Caucus on Black Women and Girls. They have also implemented anti-bias training for obstetric providers.

March of Dimes is instituting programs to reach moms at their homes through telehealth. They, too, created an implicit bias training program for healthcare providers and launched #BlanketChange, to demand policymakers, candidates for office, and community leaders take immediate action to fight for the health of all moms and babies.

The American Diabetes Association and Easterseals have advocated for change and improvements to Black Americans' healthcare through conversations with policymakers and spreading awareness on social media.

Meanwhile, Fleming, the woman from Detroit with diabetes, improved her health through the program at Black Women's Health Imperative. Today, she eats healthier and even walks three to five miles a day.

Carol Fleming has improved her health thanks to the Black Women's Health Imperative.

She is proud of how far she's come as an individual but says that, to see real change and improve all Black Americans' lives and health, there needs to be a societal overhaul.

"Doctors don't always believe that we're the same as people that are not of color," Fleming said. "I had always thought it was my genes, and I inherited diabetes from my family, and there wasn't anything I could do about it."

"But if you have diabetes, if you have heart problems, if you're obese, it's not something you have to take."

"We can fix this disparity through education."

Link:
Four Black WomenAll CEOsHave Created A 'Call To Action' To Close The Health Gap For Black Americans - Forbes

Parks Canada is looking into a conservation breeding program to increase Jaspers dwindling caribou population. Resource conservation manager David Argument said this has never been attempted before for southern mountain caribou. | Parks Canada/Layla Neufeld photo

Joanne McQuarrie, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter |reporter@fitzhugh.ca

With the Maligne herd extirpated and the Tonquin and Brazeau herds in Jasper National Park at dangerously low population levels, Parks Canada is looking at conservation breeding for caribou.

David Argument, resource conservation manager for Parks Canada, described the move as the only remaining suitable tool here for circumstances in Jasper.

He said: The work that weve been doing indicates the herds are too small and have been too small for some time, to rebuild naturally.

A well-developed proposal is being worked on, he said, and theres a timeline of several weeks and months as it goes through an expert review process.

Even with the urgency of declining populations, Argument emphasized the need to ensure the conservation breeding program will work before it is put in place.

Conservation breeding for caribou has actually never been attempted for southern mountain caribou, he said.

Its never been attempted on the scale were thinking will be necessary here in Jasper.

He added with low caribou numbers, bringing the animals into captivity has to be done correctly to ensure propagation of the species.

With the finalizing of the proposal a long way down the road, Argument said Parks Canadas attention is focused on working on retaining existing conservation measures that help to keep the remaining caribou persist on the landscape.

We know the numbers in Jasper are low, Argument said. The Tonquin herd is sitting around 45 animals and has been at that number for years. We survey that (area) annually and keep close tabs on how that herd is doing. We expect them to persist into the foreseeable future, barring some calamitous event which is possible with any wildlife population.

The last caribou in Banff National Park were declared extirpated when an avalanche killed the remaining five animals in an avalanche north of Lake Louise in 2009.

Argument said theres no reason to expect the Tonquin herd is going to follow the Maligne herd in the immediate future.

The Maligne herd, unfortunately, in reaching its end, got to lower numbers earlier and reached those lower numbers before the threats to caribou persistence were fully understood, and before the full suite of conservation measures we now have in place were developed, he said.

The Maligne herd is considered to have been at a functional extirpation level for quite a long time, because they havent had enough breeding females in that herd for a longer period.

The Tonquin herd we expect to persist and were not proposing any drastic measures in the immediate term, nothing that well take undertake this fall.

The number of breeding females is more important than the number of breeding males, Argument noted.

If there are below 10 breeding females in a herd, then theres a very small, very limited chance theyll be able to rebuild the herd naturally, he said.

There could be 100 bulls hanging around but if we have less than 10 breeding females then were in trouble. Thats what were really talking about when were talking about whether or not a herd is functionally extirpated.

About the conservation breeding proposal, Carolyn Campbell, Alberta Wilderness Association conservation specialist, said, As we understand, theres been quite a bit of expert review. If theyre going to do another review, make it quick and transparent.

We believe its time to tell Canadians. Make a decision. In any case, those caribou have no time to lose.

Addressing calls for change

The Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) has called for Parks Canada to stop clearing snow beyond Maligne Canyon.

That and backcountry skiing, the AWA says, may inhibit potential caribou dispersal from the adjacent Tonquin or Brazeau ranges, and support wolf travel.

Argument said removing recreational opportunities is something that needs to be thought about fairly carefully in the national parks.

Argument said, Its not that the habitat is bad. Weve addressed the threats to caribou habitat in Jasper. Winter access restrictions are a significant part of that and those will remain wherever there are caribou present on the landscape.

We feel conditions are good right now: the predator density, the predator numbers are low, due in part to our management activities over the last 10 or 15 years.

In our view the conditions are actually very good in Jasper for the re-establishment of caribou herds.

Altering access

With the confidence that the Maligne herd is no longer there, Parks Canada has changed some access restrictions to the area.

Winter closures protect more than 3,000 square kilometres of winter habitat for caribou in Jasper National Park from November to March. The purpose of these closures is to prevent people from creating trails that wolves can use to prey on caribou in places that are otherwise inaccessible.

But this year, the boundaries of the closure in the Maligne Range have been changed, effective Nov. 1, to allow some limited opportunities for recreation.

Winter access has been opened to some terrain in the Bald Hills, and the area between Big Shovel and Little Shovel Passes is no longer restricted.

Travel along the Skyline Trail between Little Shovel Pass and the Bald Hills will not be permitted until after Mar. 1, 2021.

Even so, Campbell, AWA conservation specialist, said, Were concerned that the ongoing winter plowing and opening of trails still allows for early wolf access and wolf re-establishment in prime Maligne Valley caribou habitat.

We acknowledge the two trails are limited in area, and we appreciate that dogs are still not allowed, but we still think its urgent to end Maligne Road plowing.

Campbell said Parks Canadas decision to remove restrictions in those areas will make it hard to rescind them.

Parks Canada said that if caribou are observed in the Maligne Range, the closure will be reassessed and reinstated at any time.

Counting caribou

Argument said Parks Canada spend a great deal of effort surveying caribou, monitoring where they are actually living and the herd sizes that remain.

We have a pretty good handle on the numbers of each of these herds and where theyre spending their time, he said.

Argument said in the past, when the herds were larger, there would be natural distribution, also called natural immigration, between the herds. For example, 50 to 100 years ago, the Brazeau herd and the Maligne herd probably saw a lot of interchange of animals when their numbers were bigger, when the males were prospecting for different territory.

Now were in a situation where the Brazeau herd is down to 10 animals remaining and we know where theyre spending their time in the winters, Argument said.

Theres very, very little chance that those animals will naturally immigrate to the Maligne range to where the Maligne herd used to live. If that were to happen, well, wed be very excited to see that.

Argument said if that happens, Parks efforts would be put in place and any changes to how they manage visitor access would be put right back into the protection mode. Immediately.

He said although tracking collars have been used in the past to keep tabs on the number of animals, Parks Canada now uses less invasive tools.

Every year at about this time of year when we first get a good snow cover in the alpine areas, we fly in those areas so we can see the animal tracks, he said, adding that a survey was recently done in the Brazeau range and the caribou tracks stood out clearly.

Parks Canada staff go for the minimum count when they do surveys. Whatever number we come up with in that survey, we know with 100 per cent certainty that is the minimum number of animals remaining in that herd, Argument said. It may be that there are more, it may be that there are some that are not observed, some hiding in the trees.

That information is augmented by the skat DNA method, where skat is collected and sent to a genetics lab to make it possible to keep track of how many individuals are in that herd over the year. Skat is directly tied to the sex ratio male or female, an increase or decrease in the herd, age distribution.

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Fitzhugh is now soliciting donations from readers. This program is designed to support our local journalism in a time where our advertisers are unable to due to their own economic constraints. Fitzhugh has always been a free product and will continue to be free. This is a means for those who can afford to support local media to help ensure those who cant afford to can get access to trusted local information. You can make a one-time or a monthly donation of any amount and cancel at any time.

Click on https://support.fitzhugh.ca for more information or to make your donation.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Link:
Breeding program 'being worked on' to boost caribou population in Jasper National Park Jasper's source for news, sports, arts, culture, and more -...

Angelika Amon, professor of biology and a member of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, died on Oct. 29 at age 53, following a two-and-a-half-year battle with ovarian cancer.

"Known for her piercing scientific insight and infectious enthusiasm for the deepest questions of science, Professor Amon built an extraordinary career and in the process, a devoted community of colleagues, students and friends," MIT President L. Rafael Reif wrote in a letter to the MIT community.

Angelika was a force of nature and a highly valued member of our community, reflects Tyler Jacks, the David H. Koch Professor of Biology at MIT and director of the Koch Institute. Her intellect and wit were equally sharp, and she brought unmatched passion to everything she did. Through her groundbreaking research, her mentorship of so many, her teaching, and a host of other contributions, Angelika has made an incredible impact on the world one that will last long into the future.

A pioneer in cell biology

From the earliest stages of her career, Amon made profound contributions to our understanding of the fundamental biology of the cell, deciphering the regulatory networks that govern cell division and proliferation in yeast, mice, and mammalian organoids, and shedding light on the causes of chromosome mis-segregation and its consequences for human diseases.

Human cells have 23 pairs of chromosomes, but as they divide they can make errors that lead to too many or too few chromosomes, resulting in aneuploidy. Amons meticulous and rigorous experiments, first in yeast and then in mammalian cells, helped to uncover the biological consequences of having too many chromosomes. Her studies determined that extra chromosomes significantly impact the composition of the cell, causing stress in important processes such as protein folding and metabolism, and leading to additional mistakes that could drive cancer. Although stress resulting from aneuploidy affects cells ability to survive and proliferate, cancer cells which are nearly universally aneuploid can grow uncontrollably. Amon showed that aneuploidy disrupts cells usual error-repair systems, allowing genetic mutations to quickly accumulate.

Aneuploidy is usually fatal, but in some instances extra copies of specific chromosomes can lead to conditions such as Down syndrome and developmental disorders including those known as Patau and Edwards syndromes. This led Amon to work to understand how these negative effects result in some of the health problems associated specifically with Down syndrome, such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Her expertise in this area led her to be named co-director of the recently established Alana Down Syndrome Center at MIT.

Angelikas intellect and research were as astonishing as her bravery and her spirit. Her labs fundamental work on aneuploidy was integral to our establishment of the center, say Li-Huei Tsai, the Picower Professor of Neuroscience and co-director of the Alana Down Syndrome Center. Her exploration of the myriad consequences of aneuploidy for human health was vitally important and will continue to guide scientific and medical research.

Another major focus of research in the Amon lab has been on the relationship between how cells grow, divide, and age. Among other insights, this work has revealed that once cells reach a certain large size, they lose the ability to proliferate and are unable to reenter the cell cycle. Further, this growth contributes to senescence, an irreversible cell cycle arrest, and tissue aging. In related work, Amon has investigated the relationships between stem cell size, stem cell function, and tissue age. Her labs studies have found that in hematopoetic stem cells, small size is important to cells ability to function and proliferate in fact, she posted recent findings on bioRxiv earlier this week and have been examining the same questions in epithelial cells as well.

Amon lab experiments delved deep into the mechanics of the biology, trying to understand the mechanisms behind their observations. To support this work, she established research collaborations to leverage approaches and technologies developed by her colleagues at the Koch Institute, including sophisticated intestinal organoid and mouse models developed by the Yilmaz Laboratory, and a microfluidic device developed by the Manalis Laboratory for measuring physical characteristics of single cells.

The thrill of discovery

Born in 1967, Amon grew up in Vienna, Austria, in a family of six. Playing outside all day with her three younger siblings, she developed an early love of biology and animals. She could not remember a time when she was not interested in biology, initially wanting to become a zoologist. But in high school, she saw an old black-and-white film from the 1950s about chromosome segregation, and found the moment that the sister chromatids split apart breathtaking. She knew then that she wanted to study the inner workings of the cell and decided to focus on genetics at the University of Vienna in Austria.

After receiving her BS, Amon continued her doctoral work there under Professor Kim Nasmyth at the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, earning her PhD in 1993. From the outset, she made important contributions to the field of cell cycle dynamics. Her work on yeast genetics in the Nasmyth laboratory led to major discoveries about how one stage of the cell cycle sets up for the next, revealing that cyclins, proteins that accumulate within cells as they enter mitosis, must be broken down before cells pass from mitosis to G1, a period of cell growth.

Towards the end of her doctorate, Amon became interested in fruitfly genetics and read the work of Ruth Lehmann, then a faculty member at MIT and a member of the Whitehead Institute. Impressed by the elegance of Lehmanns genetic approach, she applied and was accepted to her lab. In 1994, Amon arrived in the United States, not knowing that it would become her permanent home or that she would eventually become a professor.

While Amons love affair with fruitfly genetics would prove short, her promise was immediately apparent to Lehmann, now director of the Whitehead Institute. I will never forget picking Angelika up from the airport when she was flying in from Vienna to join my lab. Despite the long trip, she was just so full of energy, ready to talk science, says Lehmann. She had read all the papers in the new field and cut through the results to hit equally on the main points.

But as Amon frequently was fond of saying, yeast will spoil you. Lehmann explains that because they grow so fast and there are so many tools, your brain is the only limitation. I tried to convince her of the beauty and advantages of my slower-growing favorite organism. But in the end, yeast won and Angelika went on to establish a remarkable body of work, starting with her many contributions to how cells divide and more recently to discover a cellular aneuploidy program.

In 1996, after Lehmann had left for New York Universitys Skirball Institute, Amon was invited to become a Whitehead Fellow, a prestigious program that offers recent PhDs resources and mentorship to undertake their own investigations. Her work on the question of how yeast cells progress through the cell cycle and partition their chromosomes would be instrumental in establishing her as one of the worlds leading geneticists. While at Whitehead, her lab made key findings centered around the role of an enzyme called Cdc14 in prompting cells to exit mitosis, including that the enzyme is sequestered in a cellular compartment called the nucleolus and must be released before the cell can exit.

I was one of those blessed to share with her a eureka moment, as she would call it, says Rosella Visintin, a postdoc in Amons lab at the time of the discovery and now an assistant professor at the European School of Molecular Medicine in Milan. She had so many. Most of us are lucky to get just one, and I was one of the lucky ones. Ill never forget her smile and scream neither will the entire Whitehead Institute when she saw for the first time Cdc14 localization: You did it, you did it, you figured it out! Passion, excitement, joy everything was in that scream.

In 1999, Amons work as a Whitehead Fellow earned her a faculty position in the MIT Department of Biology and the MIT Center for Cancer Research, the predecessor to the Koch Institute. A full professor since 2007, she also became the Kathleen and Curtis Marble Professor in Cancer Research, associate director of the Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research at MIT, a member of the Ludwig Center for Molecular Oncology at MIT, and an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Her pathbreaking research was recognized by several awards and honors, including the 2003 National Science Foundation Alan T. Waterman Award, the 2007 Paul Marks Prize for Cancer Research, the 2008 National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Award in Molecular Biology, and the 2013 Ernst Jung Prize for Medicine. In 2019, she won the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences and the Vilcek Prize in Biomedical Science, and was named to the Carnegie Corporation of New Yorks annual list of Great Immigrants, Great Americans. This year, she was given the Human Frontier Science Program Nakasone Award. She was also a member of the NAS and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Lighting the way forward

Amons perseverance, deep curiosity, and enthusiasm for discovery served her well in her roles as teacher, mentor, and colleague. She has worked with many labs across the world and developed a deep network of scientific collaboration and friendships. She was a sought-after speaker for seminars and the many conferences she attended. In over 20 years as a professor at MIT, she has mentored more than 80 postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduates, and received the School of Sciences undergraduate teaching prize.

Angelika was an amazing, energetic, passionate, and creative scientist, an outstanding mentor to many, and an excellent teacher, says Alan Grossman, the Praecis Professor of Biology and head of MITs Department of Biology. Her impact and legacy will live on and be perpetuated by all those she touched.

Angelika existed in a league of her own, explains Kristin Knouse, one of Amons former graduate students and a current Whitehead Fellow. She had the energy and excitement of someone who picked up a pipette for the first time, but the brilliance and wisdom of someone who had been doing it for decades. Her infectious energy and brilliant mind were matched by a boundless heart and tenacious grit. She could glance at any data and immediately deliver a sharp insight that would never have crossed any other mind. Her positive attributes were infectious, and any interaction with her, no matter how transient, assuredly left you feeling better about yourself and your science.

Taking great delight in helping young scientists find their own eureka moments, Amon was a fearless advocate for science and the rights of women and minorities and inspired others to fight as well. She was not afraid to speak out in support of the research and causes she believed strongly in. She was a role model for young female scientists and spent countless hours mentoring and guiding them in a male-dominated field. While she graciously accepted awards for women in science, including the Vanderbilt Prize and the Women in Cell Biology Senior Award, she questioned the value of prizes focused on women as women, rather than on their scientific contributions.

Angelika Amon was an inspiring leader, notes Lehmann, not only by her trailblazing science but also by her fearlessness to call out sexism and other -isms in our community. Her captivating laugh and unwavering mentorship and guidance will be missed by students and faculty alike. MIT and the science community have lost an exemplary leader, mentor, friend, and mensch.

Amons wide-ranging curiosity led her to consider new ideas beyond her own field. In recent years, she has developed a love for dinosaurs and fossils, and often mentioned that she would like to study terraforming, which she considered essential for a human success to life on other planets.

It was always amazing to talk with Angelika about science, because her interests were so deep and so broad, her intellect so sharp, and her enthusiasm so infectious, remembers Vivian Siegel, a lecturer in the Department of Biology and friend since Amons postdoctoral days. Beyond her own work in the lab, she was fascinated by so many things, including dinosaurs dreaming of taking her daughters on a dig lichen, and even life on Mars.

Angelika was brilliant; she illuminated science and scientists, says Frank Solomon, professor of biology and member of the Koch Institute. And she was intense; she warmed the people around her, and expanded what it means to be a friend.

Amon is survived by her husband Johannes Weis, and her daughters Theresa and Clara Weis, and her three siblings and their families.

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Angelika Amon, cell biologist who pioneered research on chromosome imbalance, dies at 53 - MIT News

In episode #99 of Berkeley Talks, Chancellor Carol Christ joins Manual Cinemas co-artistic director Drew Dir to discuss the collectives presentation of Frankenstein, a Cal Performances co-commission, in a talk moderated by Cal Performances executive and artistic director Jeremy Geffen. Listen on Berkeley News. (Photo by Drew Dir)

Jeremy Geffen: Hello everyone. Im Jeremy Geffen, executive and artistic director for Cal Performances, and it is my great pleasure today to have with me two incredible people who both have intersections with the world of Frankenstein. Ill start out in alphabetical order with Carol Christ, who is the chancellor of UC Berkeley, as well as a scholar of 19th century, particularly Victorian literature, and in even further a great fan of Frankenstein, the book. And from Manual Cinema, one of their co-artistic directors, Drew Dir, whos joining us from Chicago. It is Drews concept for Frankenstein that we will see in the performance that will follow. Thank you both for being here.

Jeremy Geffen: A first question for you Drew, because this may lay some of the groundwork for what we talk about beyond this. Could you explain what is meant by the term cinematic shadow puppetry?

Drew Dir: Yeah, yeah, of course. So the name of our company is Manual Cinema and it also describes sort of the mission statement of the company, which is to create something that looks like cinema, that looks like a movie by hand in front of you using handmade materials. And weve created a technique called cinematic shadow puppetry, which uses old-school overhead projectors, the same kind that you mightve used in math class when you were a kid, and uses a whole bank of overhead projectors to use slides, shadow puppets, and create something that doesnt look like a traditional childrens shadow puppet play, but create something that resembles an animated film made live in front of you.

Jeremy Geffen: Well, Im very glad that you made the introductory couple of minutes of video that show how these techniques are put to use in a live performance, because otherwise it could be mistaken for just incredible digital work. And there theres so much artistry manual artistry that goes into your work.

You said something in an interview, which I thought would be something that through to you, both, which is that there are no good or evil characters in Frankenstein.

Drew Dir: Weve always thought of the story as the story of two characters, Victor and the creature that he creates. And its also for us, a dual twin story about creation and about abandonment. And, we always wanted to be able to allow the audience to sympathize with Victor and to understand why he creates and even beyond the why of why he creates, but to feel the feeling of excitement, ambition, energy, that he feels when he brings something new into the world. And to also allow the audience to understand the immediate remorse and regret that he feels at the moment that the creature, you know, opens his eyes and looks back at his creator.

At the same time, we always wanted the audience to understand the violence of Victors creature as the product of a series of circumstances that brought him to violent acts. So, to us, its Greek tragedy: There arent good and evil characters. There are only characters who make errors based on choices that they made up to that point.

Carol Christ: Yeah, I think thats a wonderful way of talking about the book. I think the book is profoundly about good and evil. And I often think of the creature and Victor as almost a doppelgnger, its almost like theyre a single person and they keep switching roles, which one is Paradise Lost is a really important frame of reference for this book. And Mary Shelley is always asking you, which one is Adam? Which one is Satan? What responsibility does a God have for his creature? And if a creature is rejected, is he justified in the evil that he does afterwards? So, its profoundly about a theory of good and evil.

Jeremy Geffen: I was thinking, Carol, in your position as the chancellor of an enormous research university, about the prescience of the question that Mary Shelley presents us, is there something Frankenstein is trying to do good or trying to do something that has benefit to to society? But along with benefit comes the possibility of either manipulation or use for dangerous or reckless uses. Im thinking about the questions before us today regarding genetics, artificial intelligence and even in vitro fertilization.

Carol Christ: No, I think youre absolutely right. Frankenstein has proven to be an enormously resonant text today. There are a number of contemporary writers that have been rewriting Frankenstein, Ian McEwan in Machines Like Me or Jeanette Winterson has a wonderful book called Frankissstein that is a double narrative, one of Mary Shelley writing Frankenstein, the other of a kind of parallel story of artificial intelligence. There was even a Frankenstein in Baghdad, which was a really chilling book. So, I think its just its a narrative for our time with the incredible capability through genetic technology, through artificial intelligence that mankind has obtained.

Drew Dir: We spoke a lot about social media companies and the internet when we were developing the show and about Silicon Valley and about how, you know, there are no ill intentions. People in Silicon Valley there are few ill intentioned people in Silicon Valley who one means to do well. And yet the internet companies like Facebook grow so large and so complex that even their creators are just beginning to understand what it is theyve created and the consequences their creations have on the world.

Jeremy Geffen: I was wondering as I watched this performance, which is so wonderfully humane, even with regard to the monster, but especially with regard to the creature, what it means to be envisioning a dramatic work about this novel in the shadow of so many popular culture, not necessarily interpretations, but weights of images from Frankenstein.

Drew Dir: Yeah. We, I mean, one of the reasons we were attracted to Frankenstein in the first place was because there are so many iterations of it, it felt like such a rich text. Theres a whole Frankenstein text that lives outside of Mary Shelleys novel because, you know, the Frankenstein, the character has taken on a life of its own in the popular culture beyond like what she created. But when we first began looking at the title, we landed on Frankenstein because you know, most of our work is non-verbal, its told without language. And of course, one of the most famous nonverbal characters in popular culture is Frankensteins monster. Even though ironically, as, you know, Carol, Frankensteins monster is quite loquacious in the novel. He speaks very well for himself, but we were looking for a good marriage between our form and some sort of content. And so, doing our own interpretation on this famous non-verbal character of the creature was really exciting to us.

Another aspect that felt really exciting was when we landed on the title and went back to the novel, we were reminded about what an interesting structure the original novel has, the Gothic structure of the nested framing narratives. And we thought, Oh, this is fascinating. This is a book thats told with these Russian nesting dolls in which each part of the book is narrated by a different character. One part is narrated by Victor and another is narrated by the creature itself, another by this ships captain who finds Victor in the Arctic. And we thought what an interesting challenge to find a, to adapt a narrative voice for a visual idiom. So we cant have someone narrating our story, or we cant have different characters narrating our story, but what if we could create these different frames and create a different visual style for each one, it would be like personal narrative voice.

And so having all the different versions of Frankenstein the story was really helpful in that regard because across the history of American cinema, like every era of American cinema has produced its own Frankenstein. It was one of the very first novels to be adapted by Thomas Edisons cinema company, like a very simple 10-minute silent film of Frankenstein. And of course the 1930s James Whale version and the lots of different versions up through the 60s, 70s into today. And so, it was really rewarding to draw on each of these arrows, especially silent film and kind of stitch together our own Frankensteins monster from all these different cultural tropes that have been produced over the past 200 years of Frankenstein.

Carol Christ: Yeah, I think thats so interesting as one of the things that I loved about, about your version of Frankenstein is theres almost a meta-theatrical element to it in which the crafting of these puppets and the silhouettes, the shadow puppets is almost an analogy to what Victor is doing when creating the creature itself. Theres a really interesting point about the history of Frankenstein by the time Mary Shelley returns to London, which is five years after Frankenstein is published. There were five versions of Frankenstein on the stage. So, it almost immediately becomes this really copular theatrical property. And the arguments been made, I think really interestingly, that one of the things that draws filmmakers to Frankenstein is its a kind of analogy that Victors creation of the creature to the art of cinema itself.

Drew Dir: Oh, I love that. I love that.

Jeremy Geffen: That ties us into something that Manual Cinemas Frankenstein also creates another, a bigger Russian nesting doll.

Carol Christ: Yeah, thats absolutely right. I mean, I love, I always call them not Russian nesting dolls, but Chinese boxes. And youve created a Chinese box around the Chinese boxes of Mary Shelleys novel with the story of Mary Shelley herself and her creation of Frankenstein. I thought that was absolutely wonderful, and wonderful in your connection of Mary Shellys trauma about giving birth and about babies dying as analogous indeed, one of the motivations to her imagination to create the story.

Drew Dir: Yeah, from the very beginning we knew we wanted to include Mary Shelleys biography in the show somehow. And actually, the very first draft of the show had so much about Mary Shelley that we had to cut so much because her life is really fascinating. And, you know, just like briefly a couple interesting things about her was that her mother is Mary Wollstonecraft, the 18th century feminist and thinker, and Wollstonecraft actually died shortly after childbirth giving birth to Mary Shelley.

And she also had this half sister, Fanny, who committed suicide during the writing of Frankenstein. Of course, her husband, Percy Shelley, who she was running around Europe with at the time that she wrote Frankenstein along with Lord Byron. But the detail from the biography that stuck out to us was the story of the birth of first daughter, Clara, who died shortly after Mary gave birth to her.

And she wrote a journal entry shortly after the death, in which Mary had a nightmare in which she laid hands on the dead child and rubbed it, and basically rubbed it back to life. And when we read that, we thought, Well, this is fascinating because I dont think wed ever thought of Frankenstein Frankenstein is a story of a lot of things, but it didnt strike us as a story about grief and loss and, and putting that in the mix with everything else thats going on in the original novel felt really interesting to us thinking of it as a novel of grief.

And also, of course, introducing the idea of motherhood and childbirth back into the book, which it feels like the story really opens up when you read the novel in that way. And it felt really interesting to us that Mary wrote this novel, you know, basically like throughout a postpartum period. So, those were the, those were the elements that struck us as really interesting and why we want it to include Marys story alongside or around the original Frankenstein story.

Carol Christ: I think thats really profound about Frankenstein. One of the things that I emphasize when I teach Frankenstein is how young Mary Shelley was. I mean, she was 18 and 19 when she writes this and shes living in Europe in this kind of house, they all go to Percy Shelly, Gordon, Lord Byron, Byrons physician and Claire Clairmont who Byron is having an affair with and theyre young and theyre reckless. And yet, Mary Shelleys life is one of having lost this first child, had a second shot. Shes nursing when shes at this home in Geneva. And so, you know, reinforcing what you just said, when Victor Frankenstein, in the novel, falls asleep right after he finishes creating the creature, he has a dream about his dead mother walking, or Elizabeth, walking through the streets, whos his fianc. He grasps Elizabeth and she turns into the skeleton of his dead mother in his arms. So, its a book thats just haunted by death. And I think haunted by grief, I think youre right.

Jeremy Geffen: Yeah, youre right. Youre totally right. In fact, the dream, Im going to mess up the phrase livid with the power of death. Your point Carol, about Mary Shelleys youth is extraordinary because she went on to write another six novels. She was incredibly accomplished, but when the book was published, I dont believe her name was attached to it.

Carol Christ: Yeah, thats right. Its by Anonymous. And theres a big argument in the scholarly literature about how important Percy Shelley was to the revisions. And in the novel. One of the things I loved about your version of Frankenstein is the sense of the marital dynamics, or I guess they werent married at the point, that the dynamics between Mary Shelley and Percy Shelley that shes, you know, trying to get his attention and hes just writing away. And I felt that was really well done.

Drew Dir: Its a fascinating relationship on its own and is enough material for an entire novel or story itself, for sure.

Jeremy Geffen: Obviously this is not an unfamiliar concept to offer lovers, but it took me a little while to realize that that all of the actors, whether they are male or female are played by women. And I wanted to ask Drew how you arrived at that decision.

Drew Dir: Well, its a little bit of a marriage between the material and the companys mission. Manual Cinema, all of our shows for the most part, either portray female characters as protagonists or draw on work by female authors. Its maybe not the most visible part of our mission, but it is a sort of a core part of our mission. And when we got ahold of Frankenstein and discovered all these beams and ideas and motifs of motherhood, we really thought about how do we put Mary Shelley back into the story, which by the way, when you read the novel, it really is full of male characters. I mean, almost exclusively, except for, you know, Elizabeth and his mother, most notably. And so we just wanted to find any kind of way where we could remind the audience as much as possible that this is written by a woman. And there are, there are certain themes and motifs and Frankenstein that you mightve missed if you hadnt been thinking about maternity or childbirth before.

Carol Christ: Yeah. I love the fact that you made that you had the same actor play, both Mary Shelley and Victor Frankenstein, because it really makes it clear that that Victor Frankenstein is expressing so much of her own, you know, desires, dreams, traumas, in the character.

Drew Dir: Yeah. A lot of people, you know, think that Victor Frankenstein is just a stand-in for her has been Percy, and I think there is a totally a valid critique there, but what that loses is that Mary is a creator as well. And, and she has felt these things, shes felt that thrill of creation, shes felt the regret of ambition and all those things that Victor feels as an author.

Jeremy Geffen: Well, before two such deeply knowledgeable individuals as yourself on the subject of Frankenstein, I feel embarrassed to admit that my first exposure beyond cartoons was Young Frankenstein, which Ive watched.

It was this production that was the impetus for me to finally read the novel and to recognize that so much of what we think we know about the novel is not, its not an accurate reflection of what was in the text itself. And that is actually one of the themes of Cal Performances current season, Fact or Fiction. So, I think we could probably talk for another hour or so about Frankenstein and about your fantastic work Drew, but were going to call it quits here. And I want it to say a great thank you to you Drew Dir from Manual Cinema and Carol Christ of UC Berkeley, for making the time for this conversation. And we look greatly forward to the performance.

Carol Christ: Thank you Jeremy.

Drew Dir: Thank you so much for presenting Frankenstein, Jeremy and Carol good luck with your class. I have to say that a big reason why I really love Frankenstein the novel is because of an introduction to romanticism class that I took as a freshman in college. And, and the way, that Frankenstein was taught to me stuck with me all through the years and was so important to me putting up this production. So, I hope your students, Im sure your students will feel as inspired as I was.

Carol Christ: Well, thats wonderful to hear and thank you so much for such a spectacular theatrical event about Frankenstein.

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Berkeley Talks transcript: How Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' took on a life of its own - UC Berkeley

By Jolene Marriah-Maharaj Oct 28, 2020

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Durban - A Durban mother, who is the first black woman to graduate with a PhD in leisure and recreation from the University of KwaZulu Natal, is hoping to change the lives of children living with disabilities.

Khumbuzile Khumalo, fondly known as KK, recently graduated from the College of Health Sciences.

Her PhD is entitled The development of a policy framework for physical activity and sport for children with disabilities in schools in disadvantaged communities in KwaZulu-Natal.

Her study resulted in a policy framework for physical activity and sport for children with disabilities (CWD) in schools in disadvantaged communities in KZN.

The provision of sport facilities and equipment suitable for CWDs requires a collaborative effort between the Department of Sport and Recreation and the community stakeholders to address long-standing barriers, said Khumalo.

In developing the policy framework, Khumalo ensured that CWDs and their families contributed significantly, thereby ensuring that their voices were heard.

The new policy framework that aims to enhance the physical activity of CWDs will be presented to the Department of Sport and Recreation with the intention of it being adopted and implemented in KwaZulu-Natal, especially in schools based in poorly resourced communities.

I have a passion to work with people with disabilities. Currently, I am a member of the interim UKZN Division of Sport Union Executive Sport Organising Committee.

Last year, we launched the UKZN Disability Sports and Leisure Association. This association included all students with disabilities on all UKZN campuses.

Khumalo, who works at UKZN, was born in a township called Steadville in Ladysmith.

She has one son who graduated with a PhD in genetics from Stellenbosch University in 2017 and lives and works in Norway.

In her free time, Khumalo enjoys reading, socialising, travelling, and going to church.

She thanked all those who supported her during her studies, including family members, Bongiwe Gumede, colleagues, and Dr SB Radebe for their encouragement and inspiring words of support that enabled her to reach her final destination.

She described her supervisors, Professor Rowena Naidoo and Professor Verusia Chetty, as her beacons of hope.

Both my supervisors believed in my passion for CWDS, my ability to complete my PhD and supported me all the way.

Naidoo and Chetty said: We believe that team work is key, and as supervisors we believe that supporting a candidate and making them believe in themselves is key to succeeding.

We are excited to share KKs policy framework with the related governing structures.

IOL

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UKZN boast its first black female graduate with a PhD in leisure and recreation - IOL

This article was developed with help from Global Citizen fellows Aaron Rakhetsi, Ntombizodwa Lephuma, and Buhle Dlulane.

Why Global Citizens Should Care

Young people dont often view the agricultural sector as a viable and economically sustainable career path an oversight that could threaten the future of food production.

As a result of the massive reduction of young people entering the profession, agriculture as a whole has been on the decline at a time when the world faces enormous pressure to produce more food in a less hospitable climate. But a simple reconceptualization of the field an effort being undertaken by a crop of new farmers could change how young people view it.

Agriculture doesnt have to mean subsistence farming, even for family farms. With increased access to education, young people can be a force for innovation on family farms, increasing incomes and well-being for not only farmersbut also for their local communities.

By tapping into their skills, energy, creativity and willingness to take risks, African youth in particular could play a critical role in revitalising rural communities and enhancing agricultural productivity.

Global Citizen recently spoke with Gugulethu Mahlangu, a 27-year-old farmer in the town of Boksburg near Johannesburg, South Africa. In 2020, she launched her agricultural business, Harvest House, through which she farms spinach, rapeseed, green beans and hubbard squash.

Mahlangu answered questions about her career, views of agriculture, and what it takes to start a home garden.

Global CItizen: What inspired you to go into agriculture? Has it always been something that you thought you would end up doing?

Gugulethu Mahlangu:I studied it in my first year of university but left it to study human physiology, genetics, and psychology. I left university and I was not happy with my career choices. I realized that agriculture has always been a sign throughout my journey. My late grandmother was a farmer, and I enjoy nature, being independent, and working for myself. Agriculture was the light at the end.

GC: What type of farm do you own? Why did you choose this over the other types of farming?

Im already in my fifth year of being on a plant-based diet. Nutrition is very important to me, so choosing to grow vegetables was a natural choice for me.

Related Stories May 1, 2019 9 Reasons Why Plant-Based Meat Is the Food of the Future

GC: How would you describe your journey thus far as a young Black woman in farming?

A tough but rewarding experience. They say do what you love and youll never work a day in your life. Im proud to have been on this road as a young Black female because Ive made my family proud and have served as an inspiration for younger Black girls to join the agriculture sector. That has truly been rewarding for me, to see more young Black girls take up the space.

GC: What are the challenges you have faced since you started farming?

Funding has been a real challenge for me. Agriculture is a business and it's costly. I have currently not received any funding and Im working tirelessly to grow my business with the means I have.

GC: What are your views on sustainable farming and do you practice it at your farm?

Sustainable agriculture is important for every farmer to practice. We use recycling methods such as chicken manure and crop waste to make organic fertilizer which naturally enriches our soil. We also do crop rotation which helps maintain nutrients in the soil. I believe every farmer needs to farm with the consciousness of protecting the ecology of the land and promote foods conducive for public health.

GC: What would you say to other young people out there who want to go into farming?

I would say, go for it. Just make sure you are passionate about it because it is a lot of consistent hard work and it needs you to be focused. If its in you Id encourage them to take up space because their dreams are valid and the sector is big enough to enter, grow and be successful in.

GC: What type of farming would be best for someone without a background in agriculture?

I would advise to start a hobbyist farm. Start small. If youve always wanted to venture into agriculture as a career, its important that you learn. Whether you start with a few chickens or a small backyard garden, youll be able to distinguish how your dream will be achieved on a larger scale. You cannot do agriculture without some sort of experience so I would suggest that. Youll learn as you go and decrease your rate of failure with more time and cultivate a love for it. Soon youll want to expand and buy more chickens or seeds.

GC: Tips on how to start your own garden at home?

Start small;this will lower the risks of mistakes that might occur and costs. Talk to other farmers;this will allow you to not feel alone and get advice on things that you might have missed. Work at trying to get profit. Maximize your space by trying to get something out of it. This will help you learn agri economics, and it wouldnt hurt in case you might want to go bigger. Embrace sustainable practices. For example, get yourself a chicken waterer out of a plastic bucket instead of buying it. Read and research. Your garden will need you to have knowledge about at least the basics and it can save you a lot of time to just know some things, education is everything.

Related Stories June 5, 2019 This Community Garden Is Fighting Food Insecurity in Rural Benin

GC: Which crops are easier to maintain for a small home garden and why?

Tomatoesyou can harvest throughout the season. Basil, like most herbs you can grow it indoors, too. Spinach easy to grow and the mother plant gives you more leaves when cut. Bell peppers because theyare low maintenance crops that love the sun and heat to grow. Lettuce, old resistant crops that can grow and be planted directly in the soil.

GC: What methods would you advise someone to use to handle or control pests and weeds?

Mulching, because it suppresses weeds. Zero tilling because disturbed soil encourages weed growth so do less of it. Use a scarecrow for birds and choose resistant varieties to grow. Crop rotation which will help with reducing the pest population.

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This Young Farmer Has Advice for Anyone Who Wants to Grow Food - Global Citizen

Elections can be bad for your health.

Actually, any large-scale stressful event causes a national increase in the incidence of heart attacks and strokes, according to researchers who tracked hospitalizations for heart disease before and after the 2016 presidential election. They found that hospitalizations for cardiovascular events were 61% higher than the same two days of the preceding week. The results were the same regardless of corrections for age, race or gender.

The precise cause is unknown.

Obviously, the theory is stress spread broadly enough that it impacts nationwide numbers when examining millions of people is the reason. Common national events simply encompass the national consciousness of the entire population and its not simply elections that capture everyones attention. Cardiovascular disease event risk increases similarly after any traumatic public event, such as earthquakes or the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001.

Anxiety is simply a psychological stressor associated with cardiovascular events and nearly 70% of respondents to a recent American Psychological Association survey said elections were a significant source of stress. This study was also the same regardless when correcting for age, race, gender or even political affiliation. Its a bi-partisan concern. The coronavirus pandemic that has filled headlines certainly only adds to the stress this time of year. We can call it a bit of headline stress as well. But there are some ways to cope.

First, prepare ahead for uncertainty. Stressful events leave a lot of questions. The unknown can be more stressful than reality. Mentally prepare in advance for things like election delays, favorite candidates winning or losing and simply expect uncertainty. If watching the news is stressful, do something less stressful. Try not to obsess over the uncertainty of evolving events. Plan ahead to be active doing less stressful activities.

Secondly, increase stress reducing efforts. This means eating extra healthy. Get sufficient sleep and exercise. Maintain social interactions and support.

Also, plan alternate activities around stressful events. This may mean unplugging from the news and reading a book, listening to music or planning an activity with family. Staying abreast of news is important. But fill time with less stressful activity as well.

Lastly, be hopeful. Regardless of whether or not the stressful event is an election or some other stressor, most Americans when surveyed report that they remain hopeful despite their stressors. This is encouraging. Having something to look forward to is important. Seeing the horizon helps get a person through many obstacles when they look positively toward the future rather than focusing on present distress.

Whether its election distress, headline distress or social media distress, the idea is to take a break from these stressors and engage in alternative pursuits during the period of stress. Limit consumption of news or social media if necessary. Rather than being consumed by immediate events, be hopeful about future possibilities.

Even though elections are over in November, holiday season is close behind. Stressors dont go away after elections, they simply change and the holiday season can be stressful for many. Treating yourself to relaxing activity is vital to prevent stressors from manifesting themselves into more serious cardiovascular events that are also present during holidays. It makes managing stress during election season and heavy news cycles even more important when Thanksgiving and Christmas soon follows the same year.

Phillip Stephens, DHSc, PA-C is affiliated with Carolina Acute Care & Wellness Center, P.A.

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Help your health by taking breaks from stress - The Robesonian