Archive for the ‘Male Genetics’ Category

How high altitudes affect peoples breathing and its coordination with the heart beat is due to genetic differences, say researchers.

Clear physiological differences have already been demonstrated between people living in the Himalayas and Andes compared with people living at sea level, revealing an evolutionary adaptation in the control of blood flow and oxygen delivery to the brain and the rest of the body.

Now an international team led by Aneta Stefanovska, PhD, a professor at Lancaster University has identified genes that are related to cardiorespiratory function during so-called acute periodic breathing. Their report is published in the Journal of Physiology.

Periodic breathing (PB) occurs in most humans at high altitudes and is characterized by periodic alternations between hyperventilation (too-fast breathing) and apnea (no breathing). The altered respiratory pattern due to periodic breathing is accompanied by changes in heart rate and blood flow.

Breathing, ECG of the heart, and microvascular blood flow were simultaneously monitored for 30 minutes in 22 healthy male subjects, with the same measurements repeated under normal and low oxygen levels, both at real and simulated altitudes of up to 3800m.

As part of the experiment, the participants were also taken in a cable car to a high altitude laboratory at the top of Aiguille du Midi mountain in Chamonix in France and tested immediately on arrival and after six hours at this altitude of 3842m.

The researchers found that orchestration between the participants hearts and lungs, as measured by phase coherence, responded differently to periodic breathing depending on whether they had one of two specific genetic variants affecting the cardiorespiratory response to insufficient oxygen.

Chronic periodic breathing is generally seen as an unfavorable state, being associated with increased mortality in chronic heart failure, but in healthy people it may be an indication of better alertness to oxygen insufficiency at high altitudes.

Hypoxia, as well occurring during rapid ascents to high-altitudes, can also be a significant problem at sea-level, being a contributory factor in many health conditions including cancer, strokes, and heart attacks.

Stefanovska says in a release, The similarities between hypoxia-induced PB at altitude, and the breathing characteristics observed in certain pathological states, provide an opportunity to further our understanding of the physiological processes involved in chronic hypoxic states that occur even when oxygen is abundant.

Considering living systems as collections of interacting oscillators whose dynamics is governed by multiple underlying open systems enables the observation of functional changes over time, and investigation of how they are altered in health and disease.

Image: Participants were also taken in a cable car to a high altitude laboratory at the top of Aiguille du Midi mountain in Chamonix in France. Credit: Lancaster University

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How Cardiorespiratory Function Is Related to Genetics - Sleep Review

It is a truth universally acknowledged that cancer prevention and early cancer detection saves lives.

As scientists and physicians at the major cancer centers work together to unravel the link betweengenetic alterations and cancer risk, genetic testing is rapidly becoming an impactful tool for matching patients to individualized cancer screening programs.

Often called the Angelina Jolie effect based on the actor'slaudable effort to enhance understanding of increased cancer risk for patients with alterations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes the general public has become appropriately more aware of the importance that genetics can play in cancer risk.

Put most simply, genetic testing utilizes DNA usually obtained from small amounts of saliva or blood to identify a genetic mutation, or change, in your DNA that may increase your risk of developing certain cancers. This is determined by sequencing the DNA, which reads the specific DNA code for a subset of genes known to be important for affecting cancer development.

Individuals with a strong family history of cancer or those of a certain ancestry, such as Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry, might be more likely to carry these genetic mutations, but lack of a family cancer history does not mean that someone wont be a carrier. In many cases, genetic risk of cancer arises spontaneously through DNA errors that occur in developing embryos. In other words, genetic risk can result from a spot of ill-timed bad luck, on or before your journey began at the single cell stage.

Being aware that you have a genetic mutation that might increase your risk of developing cancer can help you and your doctor work together and create a personalized plan to help increase your chance of prevention or early detection.

For a man carrying specific alterations in the BRCA2 gene, there may be concern for increased risk of prostate or pancreatic cancer development. The team approach is then taken. After meeting with a genetic counselor, a personalized plan for that patient may entail earlier or more frequent prostate cancer screening, and support for helping the patient change behaviors that may further enhance pancreatic cancer risk, like smoking.

At the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson, the Mens Genetic Risk centralizes these plans, and coordinates with the patients care team to tailor the individual health plan. Further discussions are also had with regard to cascade testing, or testing family members who may also be at risk. As such, genetic testing can impact not just the patient themselves, but family members as well.

Genetic testing might be recommended to someone if they have a strong family history of cancer, which may include several first-degree relatives parents, siblings and children with cancer; many relatives with the same type of cancer; relatives who were diagnosed at a younger-than-normal age; or a relative diagnosed with a rare cancer, such as a male with breast cancer.

Someone who has already been diagnosed with cancer may benefit from genetic testing as well, especially if they were diagnosed at a young age or have a family history of cancer. Cancers with a known hereditary component include breast, ovarian, uterine, prostate, colorectal, melanoma, pancreatic and stomach cancers.

Having a family history of cancer is not limited to a having a family history of thesamecancer. For example, and related to our case above, a man whose mother or sister had breast cancer might be at risk himself for prostate cancer.

It is also important to note that the presence of a gene mutation is also relevant when treating existing cancer. Certain genetic mutations are also associated with a greater risk of having an aggressive cancer and resistance to certain therapies, which can help your doctor manage specific tumor types.

Your results may help your doctor decide on the best treatment regimen, because researchers have found that some treatments are more effective in people with certain gene mutations. In fact, the FDA has recently approved cancer therapies that are only for patients whose tumors have specific gene alterations and it is expected that many more such targeted therapies will be approved and ready for use in treating cancer.

So what if you have been tested and you do not have an identified genetic risk? It is important to note that not having a family history of cancer or genetic risk of cancer does not guarantee that you will never develop cancer. With regard to family history, the National Cancer Institute notes that only 5-10% of cancers are due to inherited gene mutations.

Additionally, having a family history of cancer does not mean that you are certain to be diagnosed with cancer one day yourself. Genetic testing can help inform you of your genetic risk for certain diseases, but it does not inform you of your overall risk. Other factors that contribute to an increased risk for cancer include environmental factors and lifestyle choices, many of which are modifiable.

If you are considering genetic testing or have questions about whether you or your family should undergo testing, talk to your doctor or other health care providers. Talking to a health professional or genetic counselor can help you decide whether you would benefit from testing. They will collect your family and personal health history, explain what kind of information the test can provide you, and help you decide whether the test is right for you.

After undergoing genetic testing, it is important that you talk to your health care provider about what the results mean for you, whether positive or negative. The results can be confusing, and they can help you interpret your results, allay any fears, discuss potential implications for your family, and help you make an informed decision about how to proceed based on the results. Discussion with a specialist is important for future care decisions.

If appropriate, your doctor may discuss cancer risk-reduction strategies with you, like preventive surgery, medications that help reduce risk or lifestyle changes. They also may recommend alternative screening options to help detect the cancer early, such as beginning mammograms before age 40 or having a colonoscopy at 45 rather than 50.

In addition to the clinical genetic testing, a growing number of companies are making tests available to consumers that can provide insight into ones ancestry, as well as certain health information. There are a few things to keep in mind regarding these direct-to-consumer tests if you decide to go ahead with one.

Ancestry DNA tests are typically not clinical grade, meaning that the information is not of the established quality required to change someones health plan. Even if a cancer gene is suspected on these tests, confirmation would be required using a clinical-grade test that has been deemed valid and reliable for detecting cancer gene alterations.

In addition, many at-home tests are very small in scale, and leave out testing of many genes known to be influential in determining cancer risk. For example, an at-home test might screen for mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA1 genes, but not for the genes associated with Lynch syndrome, an inherited disorder that increases the risk of several cancer types, including colorectal cancer.

There is a growing concern that negative results from an at-home test can provide consumers with a false sense of security. These tests should not be used as a substitute for the genetic counseling and testing you would receive from your health care provider, who will usually re-order a clinical test to confirm the results, and help you understand the results of the test.

Despite the importance of understanding personal genetic risk of cancer, there are justifiable concerns about privacy. This is an important concept for every person to consider. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act protects your genetic data if you were tested through your health care provider. However, there are fewer protections with the direct-to-consumer DNA testing companies, so be sure to understand the companys privacy policy when signing up for services. Some companies may share your results with third parties, such as medical or pharmaceutical researchers.

A common concern for people considering genetic testing is discrimination based on their genetics. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act is a federal law that protects individuals from genetic discrimination. GINA prohibits health insurers from discrimination based on the genetic information of enrollees, meaning they may not use genetic information to make decisions regarding eligibility, coverage, underwriting or premium-setting. However, GINA does not cover disability, life and long-term care insurance.

GINA also prevents employers who have at least 15 employees from using genetic information in employment decisions such as hiring, firing, promotions, pay and job assignments. Additionally, some states have enacted laws that offer additional protections against genetic discrimination. For more information on GINA and genetic discrimination, click here

In sum, cancer genetics is a rapidly evolving field, and the era is upon us wherein individual wellness plans will be as guided by genetic information as they are by vital signs. It was not long ago when the only genetic testing option was examining the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes for inherited mutations associated with breast and ovarian cancers.

Fast-forwarding to 2020, we not only understand more about BRCA mutations, but we have discovered that there are many hundreds of other genes related to cancer development and progression. If you had BRCA testing many years ago or were told previously that you were ineligible for genetic testing, talk to your doctor.

As we learn more about genetic mutations and we continue to expand the recommendations for testing to include more people, your doctor might recommend that you undergo genetic testing now or consider additional genetic testing. Understanding your genetic code just might be a life saver!

Karen E. Knudsen, Ph.D., enterprise director at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center Jefferson Health, oversees cancer care and cancer research at all SKCC sites in the Greater Philadelphia region. She writes occasionally on topics related to cancer.

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Genetic testing is helping prevent cancer and changing treatment plans - PhillyVoice.com

The cold case murder of Cedar Rapids teenager Michelle Martinko went unsolved for decades, until last month, when prosecutors won a guilty conviction by relying on 40-year-old crime scene and a family genealogy website. Its one of the first cases of its kind to go to trial but its raising questions about ethics and legality.

It was 1979, the week before Christmas when 18-year-old Michelle Martinko went to a brand new mall in Cedar Rapids to pick up a winter coat. But she never made it home that night; she was found stabbed to death in her parents Buick in the mall parking lot.

With no murder weapon and no clear motive, Martinkos killing haunted Cedar Rapids residents for decades. Generations of police officers worked the case.

They tested and retested DNA evidence that the male suspect left at the crime scene, but never got a match in the FBIs DNA database.

Then in 2018, they heard about a new tool. With the help of the private genetics firm Parabon NanoLabs, officers uploaded the suspects genetic profile to a public genealogy website called GEDmatch.

The site is somewhat similar to the better-known 23andMe or ancestry.com. Its a favorite of people looking for long-lost relatives, and unlike the other services its free to use.

After nearly 40 years of investigating, officers got a hit on GEDmatch: a distant cousin living in Washington State.

From there, the private firm built a family tree of potential suspects and officers began the tedious task of tracking them down, secretly following the men, waiting for them to throw away something they could test for DNA.

For 64-year-old Jerry Burns, it was a straw he used at a pizza restaurant in Manchester, Iowa.

Thirty-nine years to the day after Martinko was killed, Officer Matt Denlinger and his partner J.D. Smith questioned Burns, in the city where hed lived his whole life, just an hour from the crime scene.

They secretly recorded the interaction.

Did you murder someone that night, Jerry? Denlinger asked the man.

Test the DNA, Burns said.

Jerry, Denlinger continued.

Test the DNA, he replied.

Why did this happen Jerry? Denlinger questioned.

Test the DNA, he said again.

What happened? the officer asked.

I dont know, Burns replied.

Last month, a jury convicted Burns of first degree murder based on the DNA evidence. Burns case is thought to be just the third in the country to go to trial.

"I see a utility in this, I do. But right now it's like the Wild, Wild West where people just kind of doing what they do, because there are no rules." State Sen. Charles Sydnor, D-Md.

Other similar cases, including that of the alleged Golden State Killer in California, are at various stages of investigation or are awaiting trial. The high-profile California case made national news in April 2018, when officers tracked down the accused serial killer after testing his trash for DNA. The development is considered a major breakthrough and has sparked similar investigations in other cases across the country.

But the use genetic genealogy by law enforcement officers remains controversial. In recent years, GEDmatch has changed its policies to alert users that investigators have an interest in the site. Where in the past police had access to the profiles of all of the sites approximately one million users, those users are now required to opt in if they want to participate in searches by police.

State lawmakers in several states are considering restricting police access to consumer DNA databases.

At first, State Sen. Charles Sydnor ,D-Md, wanted to ban the practice. But after advocates pushed back, hes seeking a compromise.

I see a utility in this, I do, Sydnor said. But right now its like the Wild, Wild West where people just kind of doing what they do, because there are no rules, Sydnor said.

There are some rules. The Department of Justice has put out guidance on how officers should use genetic genealogy. But its just that, guidance. And theres a lot of interest in this technology.

Parabon NanoLabs, which worked on the Burns case and is one of the go-to private contractors in the field, says theyve now worked with agencies in 47 states.

"We could set up a society where we catch every bad guy. But at the same time we would imprison ourselves to the government." - Michael Melendez, Libertas Institute

Consumer database searches are generally reserved for the hardest-to-solve violent crimes, often cold cases.

But sometimes investigators dont really know who theyre searching for, and dont have a warrant for their search.

Sydnors bill would put limitations on this practice, by restricting familial searches of genetic profiles to a smaller web of family members.

[In larger searches] youre implicating a number of people who havewhere theres absolutely no probable cause, they have nothing to do with whatever crime it is youre trying to solve but yet youre pulling their genetic information, Sydnor said.

Michael Melendez of the Libertarian think tank Libertas Institute has helped write a bill filed in Utah. He says he doesnt doubt that a larger scale of what some call genetic surveillance could help officers solve more crimes.

We could set up a society where we catch every bad guy, Melendez said. But at the same time we would imprison ourselves to the government.

"You can make an argument especially in light of recent Supreme Court precedent that obtaining information from either a public or a private database without a warrant is unconstitutional," - Christopher Slobogin, Vanderbilt University Law School

The practice of warrantless searches of the consumer databases also raises concerns for Christopher Slobogin, director of the Criminal Justice Program at the Vanderbilt University Law School.

Oh yeah, I think they definitely gotta get a warrant, Slobogin said. You can make an argument especially in light of recent Supreme Court precedent that obtaining information from either a public or a private database without a warrant is unconstitutional.

In fact, Jerry Burns lawyer argued that using the database in his case was an unconstitutional search and in violation of his Fourth Amendment privacy rights.

Legal experts say its the first time the constitutionality of these searches has been raised in court.

But the judge in the case shot it down citing whats known as the third party doctrine, writing that because GEDmatch users shared their DNA with a third party (GEDmatch), they do not have an expectation of privacy over that information.

In the 2018 case Carpenter v. United States, U.S. Supreme Court justices hinted they could re-examine modern privacy rights to digital information. But its not clear how that could impact these consumer databases.

In the meantime, Janelle Stonebraker is thankful that investigators have this option. She is the sister of Michelle Martinko, and said she had given up hope on seeing a resolution in the case when investigators called to let her know they would be re-examining the crime scene DNA.

"That of course, was an amazing revelation and reorienting of thought and feelings. Because who else could it have been all those years?" - Janelle Stonebraker, sister of Michelle Martinko

The use of genetics in the case led to elimination of more than a hundred potential suspects. For Stonebraker, that meant the exoneration of her sisters friends and ex-boyfriends, who had long been scrutinized by police.

That of course, was an amazing revelation and reorienting of thought and feelings. Because who else could it have been all those years, in our estimation, Stonebraker said.

Stonebraker said she is aware of the criticisms of the investigative method and has family members who are concerned about how genetic information could be used to discriminate against patients in healthcare settings.

I think always the technology is ahead of the law, she said. So I think it will all have to be looked at, they will have to analyze all of the permutations and misuses and see what is see what is necessary.

Another person thankful for this innovation in forensic investigation is Brandy Jennings. It was Jennings DNA that led officers to Jerry Burns in the first place. She says for her, privacy was never a concern.

I dont regret it. I dont think that its a bad thing. I dont think I wouldve chosen differently. You know, its kinda like one of those things, if you dont have anything to hide whats the big deal? she said. To me anyways.

Like 200,000 people on GEDmatch, Jennings has agreed to let officers use her DNA in their searches.

As of now theres not much stopping them from doing just that.

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Police Used A Genealogy Website To Crack An Iowa Cold Case. The Tool Is Raising Concerns Elsewhere. - Iowa Public Radio

A new study investigates the relationship between hearing loss and cognitive decline. The scientists have found that after 18 months of hearing aid use, participants performance on some cognitive tests improved.

Dementia becomes more likely as we age so as the populations average age steadily rises, the prevalence of dementia climbs accordingly.

To date, there is no cure for dementia, and researchers are avidly investigating ways to treat and prevent it.

Because cognitive decline precedes dementia, understanding how to curb this decline could help reduce the risk of dementia.

A group of researchers from the University of Melbourne, in Australia, is particularly interested in the potential role of another condition that becomes more prevalent with age hearing loss.

According to the authors of the study, published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, age-related hearing loss affects 3060% of people aged over 65 and 7090% of those aged 85 or older.

The authors explain how, Hearing loss is associated with many comorbidities, including poorer physical health, anxiety, depression, loneliness, and isolation. Yet, they note, hearing loss is undertreated, with only 1 in 20 working adults aged 5070 wearing hearing aids.

Importantly, medical researchers now consider hearing loss to be a risk factor for dementia.

It follows that using a hearing aid might reduce the risk of dementia or slow its progress. However, to date, the evidence has been contradictory, with some studies finding benefits and others finding none.

Earlier research had certain limitations. For instance, some studies only had access to relatively small sample sizes or relied on self-reported hearing loss and cognitive decline.

Other studies did not capture information about education level, mood, exercise frequency, and other factors that can also influence cognitive decline.

The latest study involved 99 adult participants aged 6282 with hearing loss who were new to hearing aids.

The scientists assessed the participants before they had acquired the hearing aids and then 18 months later. The team was also interested in observing any differences between males and females.

The researchers collated information about hearing, speech perception, levels of physical activity, the quality of life, mood, loneliness, and general health.

They also assessed cognitive performance in five domains: psychomotor function, attention, working memory, visual learning, and executive function.

Primarily, the authors were interested in the relationship between hearing loss and cognitive impairment; they also wanted to track whether wearing a hearing aid, over time, might influence cognitive ability.

At the 18-month mark, there was a pronounced improvement in self-reported speech perception in quiet situations. As the authors explain, this has been widely reported for users of hearing aids.

When the scientists assessed cognitive performance after 18 months, they found that average scores across the battery of cognitive tests had not improved.

However, when they assessed executive function separately, they found significant improvements. Of the 99 participants, only one male had experienced a decline in executive function.

Executive function refers to a set of cognitive tools that helps us navigate our everyday lives. It includes flexible thinking, working memory, and self-control.

This increase in executive function was more pronounced in females than males.

When the researchers analyzed cognitive data from females only, they found significant improvements in working memory, visual attention, and visual learning, alongside improvements in executive function.

The researchers had also monitored how often the participants used their hearing aids. They found that those who used their devices most regularly experienced greater improvements in cognitive performance.

The authors believe that this difference between sexes might be, at least partially, due to how often the participants used their hearing aids; females used their devices 56.3% of the time, whereas males used them just 33.3% of the time.

The authors are quick to note that their sample is not representative; on average, the participants were more highly educated than the general population. This means that they are likely to have more cognitive reserves and, therefore, might be more resistant to cognitive decline.

Yet even among highly educated people, cognitive performance is not expected to improve in this age group. Overall, the authors conclude:

Despite the small sample size to date, both the observed relative stability and clinically and statistically significant improvement in cognition seen in this initial participant group after 18 months of hearing aid use are exciting and encouraging.

When the authors looked at measures of quality of life, they noted a significant improvement over the 18 months.

Again, they found a difference between the sexes, with a greater proportion of females than males reporting improved quality of life after 18 months of hearing aid use.

Earlier studies have shown links between hearing loss and mental health issues. In the current study, at the 18-month mark, mental health, on average, was good.

However, the participants in this study had relatively good mental health at baseline. Again, the sample is not representative of society at large, so to fully assess the impact of hearing aids on mental health, scientists will need to carry out more research with larger, more diverse samples of the population.

Although some risk factors for dementia, such as advancing age and genetics, cannot be altered, others can be minimized, and one modifiable risk factor is hearing loss.

Wearing a hearing aid many not prevent dementia. But, as the authors write, If the onset of functional impairment could even be delayed by only a few years for some people, this would be a significant achievement.

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Cognitive decline: Could hearing aids reduce the risk? - Medical News Today

Male Breast Cancer Treatment Market Size, Type, Application, and Regional Analysis, Trading Analysis, Industry Analysis, Premium Insights, Patent Analysis, Market Attractiveness, Competitive Landscape, Traders/Distributors, Key Buyers, Forecasts 2020 2025

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PfizerRocheGlaxoSmithKlineSanofiNovartisBayerBristol-Myers SquibbEli LillyAstraZenecaTeva PharmaceuticalSun PharmaceuticalBioNumerik PharmaceuticalsSeattle GeneticsAccord Healthcare

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Market Size Segmentation by Region (or Countries), Types and Applications:

Key Focused Regions in the Male Breast Cancer Treatment market:

South America (Brazil, Argentina)

The Middle East & Africa(South Africa, Saudi Arabia)

Europe (Spain, U.K., Italy, Germany, Russia, France)

North America (U.S., Mexico, Canada)

Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Southeast Asia)

Global Male Breast Cancer Treatment Market Size Segmentation by Type:

MedicationChemotherapyOthers

Global Male Breast Cancer Treatment Market Size Segmentation by Application:

HospitalsClinicsOthers

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1) Examination of the global Male Breast Cancer Treatment market size by value and size.

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What are the important trends and dynamics?

Where will most development take place in the long term?

Which regulation thats will impact the industry

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1 Industry Overview of Male Breast Cancer Treatment Market

2 Industry Chain Analysis

3 Manufacturing Technology

4 Major Manufacturers Analysis

5 Global Productions, Revenue and Price Analysis by Regions, Creators, Types and Applications

6 Global and Foremost Regions Capacity, Production, Revenue and Growth Rate of Male Breast Cancer Treatment market (2015-2019)

7 Consumption Volumes, Consumption Value, Import, Export and Trade Price Study of Male Breast Cancer Treatment market by Regions

8 Gross and Gross Margin Examination

9 Marketing Traders or Distributor Examination

10 Worldwide Impacts on Male Breast Cancer Treatment Industry

11 Development Trend Analysis

12 Contact information of Male Breast Cancer Treatment

13 New Project Investment Feasibility Analysis

14 Conclusion of the Global Male Breast Cancer Treatment Industry 2020 Market Research Report

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Global Male Breast Cancer Treatment Market 2020 Size, Share, Growth and its Detail Analysis and Forecast By 2025 - News Times

The lion commonly referred to as the king of the jungle, is one of the most popular animals in the wild and a member of the Big Five Game. It is a widely recognized animal symbol in most cultures and has been extensively depicted in paintings and sculptures, national flags, and literature. Lions are social species belonging to the family Felidae or cats. They mainly inhabit savanna and grasslands and are rarely found in forests. There are two subspecies of lions; Panthera leo leo consisting of Central African, West African, Barbary, and Asiatic lions and Panthera leo melanochaita consisting of Southern African lions. This article focuses on the Asiatic lion and its characteristics, habitat, classification, and related information.

A large population of the lion was found in the vast African savannah alongside herds of antelopes and zebras which serve as their food. Apart from Africa, lions were common in Eurasia. However, systematic hunting, especially by the British colonials brought the species in Eurasia to near extinction. The subsequent conservation efforts ensured that the Asiatic lion survived. Despite their restricted distribution, the story of the species remains one of the rare conservation successes. The Asiatic lion is restricted to Gir National Park and its environs in Gujarat and it is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List because of its small population which is about 650 individuals (as of 2017). It is sometimes referred to as Persian lion or Indian lion. The Asiatic lion is one of the five pantherine cats in India.

The Asiatic lion is a subspecies of lions that split from the African lions about 100,000 years ago and prowled across Asia and the Middle East. The subspecies was first described in 1826 by Johanna N Meyer (Austrian) and named it Felis leo persicus. Phylogeographic analysis of lions indicates that all the modern lions including the Asiatic lion may have originated from Sub-Saharan African lion. Lions migrated from East and Southern Africa to eastern North Africa, West Africa, and into Turkey, northern India, and Southern Europe via the Arabian Peninsula. The Asiatic lion is closely related to West and North African lions than the Southern and Eastern Lions. It is believed that the Indian lion maintained its connection with the Central and North African lions until the lions in the Middle East and Europe became extinct following the interruption of the gene flow. Because of the close molecular genetics and morphological similarities with the now extinct Barbary lion, the Asiatic lion has been subsumed to Panthera leo leo.

The Asiatic lion is smaller than the African lion. The male is slightly bigger than the female lion, with the male weighing approximately 160-190 kg while the female weighs 110-120 kg. The shoulder height for the male Asiatic lion is 3.51-3.94 feet and the female is 2.6-3.5 feet. The maximum recorded length of a male lion in Gir National Park is 115 inches (from head to tail). The fur of the Asiatic lion ranges ruddy-tawny to sandy or buffish gray. Like the African lions, the males also have mane at the top of their heads but the growth is shorter, making it possible to see the ears. The mane on the throat and cheeks are scanty. The skull of adult males is about 13 inches and of the female is 11.5-11.9 inches. The Asiatic lions tail tuft is larger than the African lion. The outstanding feature common in the species but absent in their African counterparts is the fold of skin on the belly.

Approximately 545 square miles in Saurashtras Gir forest has been set aside as a conservation sanctuary for the Asiatic lions. The sanctuary and its environments are the only places where the Asiatic lions can be found. However, the lions occurred in eastern Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Mesopotamia, Bengal, and Iran in the 19th century. Since the turn of the 20th century, the lions are restricted to the Gir Forest National Park and the surrounding environs. The national park is approximately 100 square miles and was established in 1965. Human activities are not allowed in the national park and the surrounding area.

The Asiatic lions inhabit the Girnar and Gir hill systems comprising large land of thorny forest, savannah, and tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forest. The lions are protected in five protected areas; Gir National Park, Gir Sanctuary, Pania Sanctuary, Girnar Sanctuary, and Mitiyala Sanctuary. The national park, Gir, and Pania sanctuaries are the core habitats for the lions and form the Gir Conservation Area. There are plans to establish an additional sanctuary near the Barda Wildlife Sanctuary. In 2019, a lioness and a sub-adult were sighted in villages about 31 miles from Chotila (Surendranagar District), making the district the 5th in Gujarat to host the lions. The villages are about 43 miles from Ger Forest.

Although lions are social species, the male Asiatic lions are generally solitary and may form a loose pride of up to three males. The females are more social and often have a strong pride of up to 12 females and their cubs. The pride of female lions will always share carcasses among themselves. Males and females only associate for a short time during the mating season. The males have a large home range (56-89 square miles) compared to the female (26-33 square miles).

Asiatic lions prefer larger prey with weight ranging from 420 to 1,210 pounds. Domestic cattle have been the main source of food for the lion in Gir Forest. Inside the national park, they mainly prey on sambar, buffalo, chital, nilgai, and cattle. Buffalos and cattle are mainly hunted outside the protected areas where there is no wild prey. The dominant male lion consumes almost half of the kill while the rest is shared by the coalition partners.

The mating season for the Asiatic lions falls between September and January. The mating period is between 3 to six days, during which the lions do not hunt and only survive on water. The lions gestation period is 110 days after which 1-4 cubs are born. The female lions take care of cubs for an average of 24 months before they give birth to another set. However, the interval between births can be shorter if the cubs die.

Asiatic lion is the lone representative of P. l. leo species outside of Africa. It was almost driven to extinction by human actions in the 19th century. Thanks to human efforts, the lions have been brought back to the brink. The lions are counted every five years, with the census involving people from the surrounding villages. About 300 rangers recruited from the surrounding area track, count, and record each lion. In 2015, 523 individual lions were counted including 201 adult females, 109 adult males, and 203 cubs.

The Asiatic lions, like other wild animals in India, face the usual threat of poaching and habitat loss. Although the government has banned poaching of lions throughout the country, there have been reports of poaching in recent years involving organized gangs who prefer lions to tigers. Although wells have been dug within the protected areas to provide water for the wildlife, some lions have reportedly drowned in the wells.

Three major roads and a railway track pass through the protected area. Although these have been fenced off, the continued use has caused disturbance to the lions. The three big temples inside the protected area attract a large number of pilgrims, especially during certain times of the year.

Since the 1990s, the population of Asiatic lions has increased significantly. About 200 of these lions reside outside the protected area, leading to an increase in conflict between them and humans. Although the lions have helped to keep away animals such as wild pigs and nilgais ways, the locals have attacked and killed some lions for preying on their livestock. There have also been cases of lions attacking and killing humans. However, with the changing lifestyle and values, the lion-human conflict has greatly reduced.

The existence of the Asiatic lions as a single sub-populations makes them vulnerable to extinction in case of an event such as wildfire or epidemic. They also exposed to the threat of genetic inbreeding because of their existence in one place.

The Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project is one of the most successful conservation stories in India. The project was an initiative of the government of India to safeguard the Asiatic lions from extinction. It involved the relocation of people living around Gir to create room for the lions. So far, over 500 square miles has been declared a protected area and a habitat for the Asiatic lions. To increase conservation awareness, the seal of the state of Gujarat depicts three Asiatic lions above its name. WWF-India is working with local partners such as the Gujarat Forest Department to barricade the wells. It is also working to undertake studies to assess the habitat change to address issues of poaching and manage conflict. There is also a dedicated team of game rangers who take the injured lions to the treatment center located in the park. The effort has seen several injured lions rescued and treated on time.

Continued here:
The Story Of The Asiatic Lion: Surviving Only In Gujarat, India - World Atlas

Some of the most notorious low testosterone myths center around male pattern baldness.

Some myths say, on the one hand, that too much testosterone causes balding. On the other hand, some myths say that low testosterone leads to balding.

Is testosterone really causing men to lose the hair on their head?

What the evidence shows is pretty interesting. If youre concerned about hair loss, you should be looking into the genetics of male pattern baldness.

Androgenic alopecia (the scientific term for male pattern baldness) is often wrongly attributed to hormones.

Its true that those experiencing male pattern baldness have particular hormonal profiles, and hormones certainly play a role.

Men experiencing male pattern baldness usually have a high level of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is a byproduct of testosterone that has been broken down for use by the body.

DHT has been proven to shrink hair follicles, which makes it impossible for healthy hair to survive. Its then easy to incorrectly conclude that its the amount of DHT circulating in the system thats causing the shrinkage of hair follicles and subsequent hair loss.

More DHT doesnt necessarily mean youre going to lose your hair.

Male (and female) pattern baldness is actually the result of DHT acting under a specific set of genetic conditions.

Some men are genetically predisposed to developing hair follicles that react strongly and negatively to the presence of DHT. Their follicles have an increased number of receptors that allow DHT to bind to them and cause the follicles to constrict.

Hair loss is almost entirely determined by this genetic increase in the number of receptors, not on the amount of DHT in mens systems.

The catch is that only men with this specific genetic increase in receptors have this reaction and lose their hair.

The gene that determines DHT sensitivity is found on the female X chromosome.

Men have one X chromosome, and one Y chromosome. If that single X chromosome contains the sensitivity gene, they inherit the sensitivity.

On the other hand, women have two X chromosomes and no Y chromosome. That means that they get a second chance. Both X chromosomes would have to possess the sensitivity gene, which is a rare occurrence.

Its that most basic genetic makeup, XY for men and XX for women, that sets up a relatively high statistical occurrence of baldness in men, but a low occurrence in women.

Most testosterone myths have developed as a result of observing differences between men and women, and people assumed the natural differences in testosterone levels was the determining factor.

Thats simply not true in the case of male pattern baldness.

Male pattern baldness is primarily a hereditary trait, and some genetic predictions can be made: If you have a high occurrence of male pattern baldness in your family, the chances are high that you, as a man in that genetic line, have the genetic factor, too.

After having said all of that about genetics determining male hair loss, there is a different kind of hair loss you should keep an eye on: Thinning body and facial hair (one of the more common signs of low testosterone).

If youve found that your beard is thinning or that youre losing body hair, it could be a symptom of low testosterone.

(Read more about the many symptoms of low testosterone here.)

Theres a definite positive conclusion to be drawn from all of this information: If youre suffering from low testosterone and currently have a full head of hair, the supplemental testosterone injections used for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) wont suddenly cause you to develop male pattern baldness.

That means you can utilize the benefits of a regimented TRT plan that has the potential to restore your quality of life and help you feel like yourself again, all without the fear of suddenly losing your full head of hair.

If you still have questions regarding the genetics of male pattern baldness, or if you would like to learn more about the role of hormones in hair loss, we invite you to check out some further information we have available on the subject click the button to learn more.

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The Genetics of Male Pattern Baldness - tctmed.com

The likelihood of conceiving twins is a complex trait. It is probably affected by multiple genetic and environmental factors, depending on the type of twins. The two types of twins are classified as monozygotic and dizygotic.

Monozygotic (MZ) twins, also called identical twins, occur when a single egg cell is fertilized by a single sperm cell. The resulting zygote splits into two very early in development, leading to the formation of two separate embryos. MZ twins occur in 3 to 4 per 1,000 births worldwide. Research suggests that most cases of MZ twinning are not caused by genetic factors. However, a few families with a larger-than-expected number of MZ twins have been reported, which indicates that genetics may play a role. It is possible that genes involved in sticking cells together (cell adhesion) may contribute to MZ twinning, although this hypothesis has not been confirmed. Most of the time, the cause of MZ twinning is unknown.

Dizygotic (DZ) twins, also called fraternal twins, occur when two egg cells are each fertilized by a different sperm cell in the same menstrual cycle. DZ twins are about twice as common as MZ twins, and they are much more likely to run in families. Compared with the general population, women with a mother or sister who have had DZ twins are about twice as likely to have DZ twins themselves.

DZ twinning is thought to be a result of hyperovulation, which is the release of more than one egg in a single menstrual cycle. To explain how DZ twinning can run in families, researchers have looked for genetic factors that increase the chance of hyperovulation. However, studies examining the contributions of specific genes have had mixed and conflicting results. Few specific genes in humans have been definitively linked with hyperovulation or an increased probability of DZ twinning.

Other factors known to influence the chance of having DZ twins include the mothers age, ethnic background, diet, body composition, and number of other children. Assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) are also associated with an increased frequency of DZ twins.

Hoekstra C, Zhao ZZ, Lambalk CB, Willemsen G, Martin NG, Boomsma DI, Montgomery GW. Dizygotic twinning. Hum Reprod Update. 2008 Jan-Feb;14(1):37-47. Epub 2007 Nov 16. Review. PubMed: 18024802.

Machin G. Familial monozygotic twinning: a report of seven pedigrees. Am J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet. 2009 May 15;151C(2):152-4. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.c.30211. PubMed: 19363801.

Mbarek H, Steinberg S, Nyholt DR, Gordon SD, Miller MB, McRae AF, Hottenga JJ, Day FR, Willemsen G, de Geus EJ, Davies GE, Martin HC, Penninx BW, Jansen R, McAloney K, Vink JM, Kaprio J, Plomin R, Spector TD, Magnusson PK, Reversade B, Harris RA, Aagaard K, Kristjansson RP, Olafsson I, Eyjolfsson GI, Sigurdardottir O, Iacono WG, Lambalk CB, Montgomery GW, McGue M, Ong KK, Perry JR, Martin NG, Stefnsson H, Stefnsson K, Boomsma DI. Identification of Common Genetic Variants Influencing Spontaneous Dizygotic Twinning and Female Fertility. Am J Hum Genet. 2016 May 5;98(5):898-908. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2016.03.008. Epub 2016 Apr 28. Pubmed: 27132594.

Painter JN, Willemsen G, Nyholt D, Hoekstra C, Duffy DL, Henders AK, Wallace L, Healey S, Cannon-Albright LA, Skolnick M, Martin NG, Boomsma DI, Montgomery GW. A genome wide linkage scan for dizygotic twinning in 525 families of mothers of dizygotic twins. Hum Reprod. 2010 Jun;25(6):1569-80. doi: 10.1093/humrep/deq084. Epub 2010 Apr 8. PubMed: 20378614. Free full-text available from PubMed Central: PMC2912534.

Shur N. The genetics of twinning: from splitting eggs to breaking paradigms. Am J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet. 2009 May 15;151C(2):105-9. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.c.30204. PubMed: 19363800.

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Is the probability of having twins determined by genetics ...

What is a genetic disease?

A genetic disease is any disease caused by an abnormality in the genetic makeup of an individual. The genetic abnormality can range from minuscule to major -- from a discrete mutation in a single base in the DNA of a single gene to a gross chromosomal abnormality involving the addition or subtraction of an entire chromosome or set of chromosomes. Some people inherit genetic disorders from the parents, while acquired changes or mutations in a preexisting gene or group of genes cause other genetic diseases. Genetic mutations can occur either randomly or due to some environmental exposure.

What are the four types of genetic disorders (inherited)?

There are a number of different types of genetic disorders (inherited) and include:

The baby with Down syndrome has a hallmark appearance. However, every aspect of the appearance does not need to be present as the phenotype, the way the genes make the child look, can be markedly different for each patient. Common Down syndrome symptoms are:

7 single gene inheritance disorders

Single gene inheritance is also called Mendelian or monogenetic inheritance. Changes or mutations that occur in the DNA sequence of a single gene cause this type of inheritance. There are thousands of known single-gene disorders. These disorders are known as monogenetic disorders (disorders of a single gene).

Single-gene disorders have different patterns of genetic inheritance, including

Some examples of single-gene disorders include

7 common multifactorial genetic inheritance disorders

Multifactorial inheritance is also called complex or polygenic inheritance. Multifactorial inheritance disorders are caused by a combination of environmental factors and mutations in multiple genes. For example, different genes that influence breast cancer susceptibility have been found on chromosomes 6, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, and 22. Some common chronic diseases are multifactorial disorders.

Examples of multifactorial inheritance include

Multifactorial inheritance also is associated with heritable traits such as fingerprint patterns, height, eye color, and skin color.

4 chromosomal abnormalities

Chromosomes, distinct structures made up of DNA and protein, are located in the nucleus of each cell. Because chromosomes are the carriers of the genetic material, abnormalities in chromosome number or structure can result in disease. Chromosomal abnormalities typically occur due to a problem with cell division.

For example, Down syndrome (sometimes referred to as "Down's syndrome") or trisomy 21 is a common genetic disorder that occurs when a person has three copies of chromosome 21. There are many other chromosomal abnormalities including:

Diseases may also occur because of chromosomal translocation in which portions of two chromosomes are exchanged.

3 mitochondrial genetic inheritance disorders

This type of genetic disorder is caused by mutations in the non-nuclear DNA of mitochondria. Mitochondria are small round or rod-like organelles that are involved in cellular respiration and found in the cytoplasm of plant and animal cells. Each mitochondrion may contain 5 to 10 circular pieces of DNA. Since egg cells, but not sperm cells, keep their mitochondria during fertilization, mitochondrial DNA is always inherited from the female parent.

Examples of mitochondrial disease include

What is the human genome?

The human genome is the entire "treasury of human inheritance." The sequence of the human genome obtained by the Human Genome Project, completed in April 2003, provides the first holistic view of our genetic heritage. The 46 human chromosomes (22 pairs of autosomal chromosomes and 2 sex chromosomes) between them house almost 3 billion base pairs of DNA that contains about 20,500 protein-coding genes. The coding regions make up less than 5% of the genome (the function of all the remaining DNA is not clear) and some chromosomes have a higher density of genes than others.

Most genetic diseases are the direct result of a mutation in one gene. However, one of the most difficult problems ahead is to further elucidate how genes contribute to diseases that have a complex pattern of inheritance, such as in the cases of diabetes, asthma, cancer, and mental illness. In all these cases, no one gene has the yes/no power to say whether a person will develop the disease or not. It is likely that more than one mutation is required before the disease is manifest, and a number of genes may each make a subtle contribution to a person's susceptibility to a disease; genes may also affect how a person reacts to environmental factors.

Medically Reviewed on 10/17/2019

References

United States. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. "Cystic Fibrosis." <https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/cystic-fibrosis>.

United States. National Human Genome Research Institute. "Frequently Asked Questions About Genetic Disorders." <https://www.genome.gov/19016930/faq-about-genetic-disorders/>.

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21 Common Genetic Disorders: Types, Symptoms, Causes ...

Can you guess the single most important tool in preventing neglected, stray and unwanted animals? Yep, its spaying and neutering. This one, fairly simple procedure has made a tremendous impact on controlling the number of animals coming into shelters across the nation.

World Spay Day is Tuesday and its a great time to be reminded of how this one effort can prevent animal homelessness. Yet, some people are still hesitant to get their pets spayed or neutered, often due to misinformation or misunderstanding surrounding the procedure.

Here are some common myths about spay and neuter debunked by Humane Society International.

Myth: My pet needs to have a litter/one heat before sterilization.

Fact: Medical evidence indicates just the opposite. In fact, the evidence shows that females spayed before their first heat are typically healthier.

Myth: Its not natural to spay or neuter and will upset my dog or cat.

Fact: The domestication of animals removed them from the natural order and placed responsibility for their care with humans. Applying human emotions to animals is neither realistic nor applicable when it comes to identifying a need for sterilization.

Myth: I want my dog to be protective.

Fact: It is a dogs natural instinct to protect home and family. A dogs personality is formed more by genetics and environment than by sex hormones.

Myth: I do not want my male dog or cat to feel like less of a male.

Fact: Pets do not have any concept of sexual identity or ego. Neutering will not change a pets basic personality. The pet does not suffer any kind of emotional reaction or identity crisis when neutered.

Myth: My pet will get fat and lazy.

Fact: The truth is that most pets get fat and lazy because their guardians feed them too much and do not give them enough exercise.

Myth: But, my dog (or cat) is so special, I want a puppy (or kitten) just like them.

Fact: Your pets puppies or kittens have little chance of being an exact copy of your pet. Even professional breeders cannot make this guarantee. There are homeless pets waiting for homes who are just as cute, smart, sweet and loving as your own.

Spaying or neutering also helps keep dogs and cats healthy by reducing or eliminating the possibility of uterine infection, mammary tumors, prostate problems and certain types of cancers. Neutering male dogs and cats also eliminates the urge to seek out females in heat (sometimes by creatively escaping from their house or yard), thus reducing the risks associated with free-roaming animals.

Marin Humane offers spay and neuter services for the pets (including rabbits) of low-income Marin County residents. And for pit bulls and pit bull mixes, spay and neuter services are free for Marin County residents. We also collaborate with local organizations like Marin Friends of Ferals to sterilize feral cats and kittens, and provide vouchers to the public to subsidize spay and neuter surgeries for feral cats by local veterinarians.

As the saying goes, prevent a litter and fix your critter.

For more information about Marin Humanes spay and neuter services for low-income residents, call 415-883-3383 or go to marinhumane.org.

Lisa Bloch is the marketing and communications director for Marin Humane, which contributes Tails of Marin articles and welcomes animal-related questions and stories about the people and animals in our community. Go to marinhumane.org, Twitter.com/marinhumaneor email lbloch@marinhumanesociety.org.

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The most important way to prevent neglected, stray and unwanted animals - Marin Independent Journal

It is far easier to say about being content with what we have than actually being content. Many males are discontent with their penis size due to which you can see penis enlargement and viagra searches skyrocketing on search engines across the world. There are thousands of products on the internet which claim to enlarge the penis. But the reality is, most of them dont work, and the ones which work may cause side effects. However, Massive Male Plus is a unique product amongst the heap of penis enlargement products.

Massive Male Plus is helpful for all the males who are suffering from small penis syndrome, low hormone levels or erectile problems. Even males with diabetes can consume this supplement without any worries. You dont have to follow any dietary restrictions for taking this supplement. Massive Plus has no negative implications or side effects, and it guarantees 100% results.

Massive Male Plus claims to be an outstanding male enhancement supplement that increases your peniss length with a minimum of 3 inches within 30 days. It also declared that about 64,000 males had experienced its benefits. The average length of the penis is approximately 5 inches, and it differs from person to person if the length is satisfactory or not. If an individual or his partner is not satisfied with such length, then they can try this product. Theres no reason to just accept 5 inches as the fixed-length if theres a scope of having a few extra inches, right?

Massive Male Plus is a natural supplement with 14 foods and herbs from equatorial countries, which will help you to increase your penis size in a month. As it is a natural male enhancer product, you dont have to worry about any side-effects.

You might be thinking about how exactly this supplement works to fulfill the unsaid desire of having a larger penis. Just like any organ, the penis has tissues with filled-up blood. When there is proper blood flow to the erectile tissue, it enlarges and turns the penis erect like a balloon inflated with air.

Viagra is a popular drug that keeps the penis erect for a longer time, but it doesnt increase the length of the penis. Viagra just ensures that your penis holds more blood to stay erect. On the other hand, Massive Male Plus fills your erectile tissue with more blood flow due to which, the size of the tissue also increases. Hypergenesis or hyperplasia is responsible for this enlargement. It occurs when cell proliferation increases the amount of organic tissue.

The critical ingredients of Massive Male Plus get sourced from equatorial countries, including Congo, Ghana, and Nigeria. These ingredients include distinctive versions of Vitamin B3, and Vitamin E found in Liriosma Ovata (known as the Viagra of the Amazon), unaltered species of Damiana aphrodisiaca, and herbs like Entengo and Mkongoraa. Now you can see why Africans have the most gigantic penis on the planet! These ingredients enable Massive Male Plus to give super abilities for the penis.

The following are the ingredients in Massive Male Plus:

To impact the bodys erectile response, Chinese Hawthorn improves the flow of blood to the penis. This leads to bigger and harder erections which would help you to perform well in bed.

Epimedium is an active component found in horny goat weed. This compound helps in blocking the work of an enzyme that is responsible for the restriction of blood flow to your penis.

Damiana ensures that the small muscles present in the arterial walls of your penis remain relaxed. As a result, there is a higher flow of blood to the penis, and thus, you get a stronger erection.

Also called intensity wood, Muira Puama has properties that enhance libido and reproductive capacity.

Ginkgo ensures that the effects of nitric oxide enhance due to which, artery walls relax, and there is an increase in the flow of blood into your penis.

Asian Ginseng, traditionally used in Chinese medicine, enhances sexual behavior and treats sexual dysfunction.

Tribulus, a recommended ingredient for vitality and virility of male health, has the properties to enhance libido and boost testosterone.

Catuaba helps to enhance sexual excitement and experience powerful orgasms. It is also responsible for stimulating the flow of blood into the genitals to prolong and strengthen an erection.

Saw Palmetto is a herb that enhances the sexual performance of males. It also intensifies male orgasms.

Oat Straw increases the levels of nitric oxide and provides vasodilation for improving circulation. Your erection quality will improve when there is an improvement in the supply of blood to your penis.

Cayenne has an adequate quantity of nutrients that help in healing any damage around the area of the penis. One should treat such damages sooner as they might inhibit the quality of the erection.

The following are the benefits of Massive Male Plus, which you would gain after using it regularly:

Each bottle of Massive Male Plus contains 60 capsules. The Basic package offers one bottle at $69 while the Standard package offers two bottles at $59. With the Premium package, you will get four bottles at $196 (50% discount), only at the official website.

Does Massive Male Plus offer any money-back guarantee?

Massive Male Plus offers a 60-day money-back guarantee. So, you can return this supplement if you arent satisfied with its results. However, we suggest you use this supplement for at least 30 days to get good results.

You can send the bottles back to their shipping address for getting a full refund. You will get a Return and Refund Form with the package on delivery. The bottle has to get filled to avail of a refund. Also, you can even send back the bottles on the 59th day of your guarantee period as only the day of reshipment matters for the company. Its totally fine if the package reaches after the guarantee period. Just ensure that the package gets shipped within 60 days.

Can I intake Massive Male Plus capsules even if I have allergies?

The ingredients of Massive Male Plus are in quantities that are below the allergy-triggering levels. So there are no side-effects on individuals with various allergies.

I currently use some supplements to fulfill my vitamin levels. Will Massive Male Plus interfere with those supplements?

Massive Male Plus will target only the erectile problems in your body, and so, it wont interfere with other supplements.

How soon will I get to see the results?

Theres a high possibility that you will see the results from the 1st day itself. This supplement immediately gives the internal effects, and you will experience the visible results in a maximum of 30 days.

Will Massive Male Plus cause any side-effects?

Massive Male Plus causes Zero side-effects, being it formulated with natural ingredients.

By Alex L.

I heard that Africans have larger penises than other parts of the world. I assumed that genetics was the reason behind the same. Although genetics played some role, I thought there must be some type of herbs that do the work. Like many males out there, I wished for a bigger penis, and so, I started searching online for penis enlargement products. I went through almost a dozen products, but I wasnt sure if it would really work for me. But I had an intuition that out of those products, Massive Male Plus will definitely give me results due to its ingredients and firm assurance of results. I consider myself lucky to get the results from Day 1. Hats off to this amazing supplement!

By Tom A.

Instead of paying thousands of dollars for a penis enlargement surgery, you should try this supplement which has reasonable costs. This supplement helped me to regain my sexual confidence and made me feel powerful in bed.

By Jimmy V.

Whenever I hear Size doesnt matter from anyone, I feel like punching them right on their face. Size does matter folks! A few more inches provides more satisfaction and even a bit more admiration from your partner. The bigger your thing is, the better you will be able to escalate things on an ultimate level in your bed. I surfed online to find a product that really makes the penis thicker, longer and more prominent. Whenever I used to land on a product that made too many claims, I started doubting the authenticity of the product. The two things which made me purchase Massive Male Plus were its natural ingredients and 60-day money-back guarantee. Even if the product wouldnt have worked for me, I had nothing to lose due to their money-back guarantee. But it worked well for me, a lot more than I expected. The results are just unbelievable! Take these capsules and witness their magic. I have been taking them for two months now, and I can assure you that these capsules wont disappoint you.

By Michael H.

It used to think that it was impossible to enlarge a penis. Still, with Massive Male Plus, I got to experience the miracle itself!

The individuals consuming Massive Male Plus might experience varied results, but all of them will lead to the same effect! This supplement will help you to enlarge your penis, blossom your sex life and increase your confidence while performing in bed. As this supplement is made up of natural ingredients, you wont face any side-effects. You should give Massive Male Plus a try if you are looking for something which would be a life-changing factor to level up your sex life.

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Massive Male Plus Review - Is This Supplement Worth Buying? - Jollofnews

Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is a hormonal disorder in women that can cause irregular periods, abnormal amounts of facial and body hair, infertility, among other symptoms.

The Office on Women's Health reports that PCOS affects 1 in 10 women of childbearing age from 15 to 44 years old. And "as we understand it, is a lifelong disorder," says Richard Legro, MD, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Public Health Services at the Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health.

Here's what you need to know about the causes, symptoms, and symptom relief from PCOS.

PCOS occurs when women have abnormally large tiny follicles in their ovaries. Marochkina Anastasiia/Shutterstock

The name polycystic ovary syndrome is a slight misnomer because it doesn't involve traditional ovarian cysts. Instead, people affected by PCOS often have a larger-than-average number of tiny follicles in their ovaries that look like small cysts but are not like traditional ovarian cysts. These follicles grow but never fully develop to release eggs. And if no eggs are released, you don't ovulate.

The follicles themselves aren't dangerous but the hormonal imbalance they cause can wreak havoc with the person's menstrual cycle. Your body may not produce enough of the female reproductive hormone progesterone to maintain a normal menstrual cycle. As a result, PCOS is the most common cause of infertility in women, according to the Endocrine Society.

Though the exact causes of PCOS are unknown, genetics seem to play a key role, though more research is needed to understand by how much this increases a person's risk.

There is also some evidence that environmental factors including exposure to toxins in the environment like plasticizers may contribute to the condition in rare instances.

Obesity has long been thought to be a cause of PCOS, but it may be the case that obesity only aggravates the condition, rather than causes it. That could be because PCOS causes insulin resistance in the body. Regardless of BMI, all women with PCOS have a degree of insulin resistance, but obesity seems to make the condition worse.

Many of the symptoms associated with PCOS are the result of an increase in male hormones, such as testosterone.

That's because many people with PCOS have insulin resistance in their body, which inhibits the process of sending glucose to cells. As a result, the pancreas has to produce more insulin, which causes problems for the endocrine system and leads the body to ramp up the production of androgens, aka male hormones.

Consequently, you may start having very irregular periods or even stop having periods altogether. You may also put on some extra weight although not every woman with PCOS gains weight.

This excessive amount of androgens also tend to cause you to develop a few other symptoms, notably extra hair on your body and face. The extra hair is what Dr. Legro calls "male-patterned hair." Meaning you're not developing a fine layer of hair all over your body. It's hair that appears in areas where men grow body hair, like the middle of the chest, the midline, and the back.

"Excess facial hair, hair thinning and balding: that's not normal," says Dr. Legro. "Get investigated."

While there's no cure for PCOS, the symptoms of the condition can be abated with various treatments. These treatments include weight loss, birth control pills, and anti-androgen medications.

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What is PCOS? Symptoms and treatments for polycystic ovary syndrome - Insider - INSIDER

The defense team for Jerry Lynn Burns rested its case Thursday, posing questions about whether key DNA evidence is simply circumstantial. The 66-year-old Manchester, Iowa man faces a first degree murder charge in the 1979 killing of Cedar Rapids high schooler Michelle Martinko, who was found stabbed to death in her familys Buick in the parking lot of the Westdale Mall.

Prosecutors have made DNA evidence central to their case against Burns. The defense team has worked to raise questions about whether crime scene materials have been properly handled over the past 40 years, and have questioned whether Burns genetic material could have been transferred to the crime scene by chance.

Analysts from the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation and private firms engaged by the prosecution have testified that Burns DNA is consistent with a male genetic profile developed from a bloodstain on the dress Martinko was wearing when she died. Jurors have also heard testimony that a partial genetic profile developed from blood found on the car gear shifter is also consistent with Burns DNA.

DCI analyst Linda Sawer identified the profile during tested she conducted in 2005. It wasnt until years later that Cedar Rapids Police Department investigators, led by Officer Matt Denlinger, were able to upload the profile to family genealogy website GEDmatch. On the site they found a second or third cousin once removed of the subject and were able to establish a family tree, which ultimately led them to Burns in 2018.

On Thursday, the defense team called their first and so far only witness, private forensic genetics consultant Michael Spence. He was hired to review the case files, and genetic sampling and analysis conducted by DCI and private firms DNA Labs International and Bode Technology.

"At crime scenes there can be [DNA] transfer events from people who arrive at that crime scene, prior to the crime scene, during the crime scene, after the crime scene, there can be transfer events." - Michael Spence, forensic genetics consultant

Through his questioning of Spence, defense attorney Leon Spies worked to establish that DNA can be transferred from person to person simply in passing. Spence testified that there is a robust body of evidence on the secondary transfer of DNA, when one individuals genetic material is transferred to someone or something else, simply by touching items, or physically being in a place and naturally leaving behind millions of skin cells, each containing DNA.

Shaking hands is an easy example. Hugging, Spence said. If you touch the other people, if they talk around you, if they leave DNA on an item and you come over and sit down next to it or on it, those kinds of things. This is how transfer events do occur.

Spence did not dispute that Burns DNA is consistent with the male genetic profile developed from a bloodstain on Martinkos dress. But based on the genetic analyses that have been conducted, he said its not possible to know the exact sequence of events that night, or to say exactly when Burns DNA came into contact with the dress.

At crime scenes there can be transfer events from people who arrive at that crime scene, prior to the crime scene, during the crime scene, after the crime scene, there can be transfer events, he testified.

Under questioning by Spies, Spence testified that it is within the realm of possibility that Burns DNA ended up on the dress due to a secondary transfer, and not necessarily during the commission of the crime.

Is it, Dr. Spence, a plausible explanation that the DNA of Jerry Burns found on the dress or on the gear shift couldve come about by a transfer? Spies asked him.

Yes, thats a distinct possibility, Spence replied.

"It's extraordinarily difficult to reconstruct what happened 40 years ago, isn't it?" - Leon Spies, defense attorney for Jerry Lynn Burns

During cross examination, prosecutor Nick Maybanks challenged Spence repeatedly, questioning him about the body of peer-reviewed scientific evidence backing up his stances. Maybanks cited multiple journal articles by different authors in his questioning, pressing Spence on the myriad of factors that can affect whether and how much DNA could be transferred during a given interaction.

Through his questioning of Spence, Maybanks worked to establish that people are much more likely to leave behind more DNA by a wet transfer (of blood or other body fluids) than by a dry transfer (such as skin cells deposited during a handshake), as well as when theres a greater level of friction involved, as would occur in a physical attack.

Theres a pretty distinct difference here, that the transfer between wet and dry substances is 44 to 100 percent versus less than a 1 percent respectively, right? Maybanks asked.

It is a higher rate of transfer with body fluids and liquids, yes, Spence replied.

Maybanks questioned Spence on whether hes encountered any evidence supporting how Burns DNA couldve been transferred to the dress (other than by him physically Martinko).

Prosecutors have not been able to establish any previous relationship between Martinko and Burns, characterizing the crime as a random act of violence committed by a stranger."

In this case would you agree that based upon your analysis of the case that you didnt find any evidence whatsoever putting Jerry Burns in a position to transfer DNA other than speculating or creating events that that took place? Maybanks asked Spence.

Well, I refuse to speculate up here, Spence responded. And it would be incredibly difficult to do so, especially with a 40-year-old crime.

The defense team continued to press just this point: how can the prosecution definitively prove exactly what happened on that night in 1979?

Its extraordinarily difficult to reconstruct what happened 40 years ago, isnt it? Spies asked Spence.

Absolutely, Spence replied.

On Thursday, Burns formally waived his right to testify on his own behalf. The trial is slated to continue Friday, when prosecutors will have the chance to call rebuttal witnesses.

Read more here:
Man Accused Of Killing Martinko Won't Testify As Defense Rests Its Case - Iowa Public Radio

captionPCOS affect 1 in 10 women of childbearing age.sourceCrystal Cox/Business Insider

Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is a hormonal disorder in women that can cause irregular periods, abnormal amounts of facial and body hair, infertility, among other symptoms.

The Office on Womens Health reports that PCOS affects 1 in 10 women of childbearing age from 15 to 44 years old. And as we understand it, is a lifelong disorder, says Richard Legro, MD, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Public Health Services at the Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health.

Heres what you need to know about the causes, symptoms, and symptom relief from PCOS.

The name polycystic ovary syndrome is a slight misnomer because it doesnt involve traditional ovarian cysts. Instead, people affected by PCOS often have a larger-than-average number of tiny follicles in their ovaries that look like small cysts but are not like traditional ovarian cysts. These follicles grow but never fully develop to release eggs. And if no eggs are released, you dont ovulate.

The follicles themselves arent dangerous but the hormonal imbalance they cause can wreak havoc with the persons menstrual cycle. Your body may not produce enough of the female reproductive hormone progesterone to maintain a normal menstrual cycle. As a result, PCOS is the most common cause of infertility in women, according to the Endocrine Society.

Though the exact causes of PCOS are unknown, genetics seem to play a key role, though more research is needed to understand by how much this increases a persons risk.

There is also some evidence that environmental factors including exposure to toxins in the environment like plasticizers may contribute to the condition in rare instances.

Obesity has long been thought to be a cause of PCOS, but it may be the case that obesity only aggravates the condition, rather than causes it. That could be because PCOS causes insulin resistance in the body. Regardless of BMI, all women with PCOS have a degree of insulin resistance, but obesity seems to make the condition worse.

Many of the symptoms associated with PCOS are the result of an increase in male hormones, such as testosterone.

Thats because many people with PCOS have insulin resistance in their body, which inhibits the process of sending glucose to cells. As a result, the pancreas has to produce more insulin, which causes problems for the endocrine system and leads the body to ramp up the production of androgens, aka male hormones.

Consequently, you may start having very irregular periods or even stop having periods altogether. You may also put on some extra weight although not every woman with PCOS gains weight.

This excessive amount of androgens also tend to cause you to develop a few other symptoms, notably extra hair on your body and face. The extra hair is what Dr. Legro calls male-patterned hair. Meaning youre not developing a fine layer of hair all over your body. Its hair that appears in areas where men grow body hair, like the middle of the chest, the midline, and the back.

Excess facial hair, hair thinning and balding: thats not normal, says Dr. Legro. Get investigated.

While theres no cure for PCOS, the symptoms of the condition can be abated with various treatments. These treatments include weight loss, birth control pills, and anti-androgen medications.

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What is PCOS? Symptoms and treatments for polycystic ovary syndrome - Business Insider

Looking at generations of family is a common way to assume the sex of your child. The four March sisters of Little Women cant be a coincidence, right?

But a new study has found that families arent prone to birthing one sex over another its all up to chance, according to research from the University of Queensland in Australia.

The analysis looked at extensive data of the entire population of Sweden from 1932 to 2000 and challenges other past theories that the sex of a child is inherited.

Sex often refers to biological labels assigned at birth based on genitalia (which can exclude intersex individuals), while gender identity refers to how someone wants to be identified as which can include multiple identities outside of male or female.

Individuals dont have a generic predisposition to have children of a particular sex, said Dr. Brendan Zietsch, co-author of the new findings in a press release.

The chances are more like 51 to 49 of having a boy, but the genes of the mother and father dont play a role. These findings have crucial implications for biological and evolutionary theories of offspring sex ratios, he explained.

The research data pool included every Swede born since 1932, which is around 3.5 million people and their 4.7 million children. Using this information, Zietsch and the other authors determined whether siblings tended to have children of the same sex.

Even though siblings share half their genetics, the study found that when siblings have their own families, they do not have children of the same sex meaning that sex isnt inherited, the researchers explained.

Environment was also a factor taking into consideration, as some theories have examined whether the climate the mother lives in has an impact on the sex of her children. That cant be possible as siblings born and raised identical environments were not any more likely to have girls or boys, said researchers.

Past theories that have been scrutinized, including concepts like tall parents were more likely to have boys, or that attractive people were more likely to have girls have now been proven wrong, said Zietsch.

It was also thought that parents hormone levels at the time of conception were important, he said. Our results rule out all these possibilities.

Some reports from the past year from scientists in Japan found that climate change could impact the newborn sex ratio, with more boys likely to be born with rising temperatures. Another study from the same researches found that events like a major earthquake and added stress around that could impact gestation, as boys are more vulnerable in the womb.

Regardless, a rethink of offspring sex ratio theory is necessary to properly understand why offspring sex ratios appear to vary, for example, across countries, said Zietsch.

- Global News

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BEYOND LOCAL: Having a boy or girl doesn't run in the family, study says - ThoroldNews.com

TATIANA KOSTAREVA/123RF

The probability of having children of the same gender is totally up to chance.

If you're hoping to replicate the family you grew up in that was mostly girls or all boys, genetics won't be on your side.

According to a new study, the probability of you having children of the same gender is totally up to chance.

Researchers from the University of Queensland have conducted a study published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. It analysed of the population of Sweden since 1932 and debunked the myth that having all boys or all girls runs in the family.

It's been found that the gender of a family's children is essentially random.

READ MORE:* Women who hate bugs, lice find men with beards less attractive* Climate change will alter gender ratio of newborns, scientists say* Parents do have a favourite child and it's based on gender - study

"We found individuals don't have an innate tendency to have offspring of one or the other gender," said DrBrendan Zietsch, researcher from UQ's School of Psychology in a news release.

"The chances are more like 51 to 49 of having a boy, but the genes of the mother and father don't play any role. These findings have crucial implications for biological and evolutionary theories of offspring sex ratios."

To conduct the study, researchers reviewed data from Swedish population registers that included every Swede born since 1932. In total, 3,543,243 people and their 4,753,269 children were analysed as researchers linked all family members and tested whether the the sex of a person's children was tied to the sex of heir brother or sister's children.

The findings nix the often repeated idea that some families are more prone to having all boys and others typically wind up with girls.

123RF

If you're hoping to replicate the family you grew up in that was mostly girls or all boys, genetics won't be on your side.

"It was thought that rich or tall parents should have more boys and beautiful parents should have more girls," Zietsch said.

"It was also thought that parents' hormone levels at the time of conception were important. Our results rule out all these possibilities and suggest a rethink of offspring sex ratio theory is necessary to properly understand why offspring sex ratios appear to vary, for example, across countries."

The study comes more than a year after another one emerged from Japan in which scientists said that climate change will alter the ratio of the gender of newborns.

"For every society, for every year, the human being most likely to die (prematurely) is male infants. And that's true for every society that we have data for," University of California, Berkeley, professor Ray Catalano told CNN at the time.

-The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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The chance of families having mostly boys or girls is 'random', study says - Stuff.co.nz

Prosecutors in the trial of Jerry Lynn Burns rested their case Wednesday. Burns is suspected of killing high schooler Michelle Martinko in Cedar Rapids in 1979 and he faces a first degree murder charge.

Eighteen-year-old Martinko was found stabbed to death in her familys Buick parked in the Westdale Mall parking lot early on the morning of December 20, 1979. Her killing upended the lives of her family members and shocked Cedar Rapids residents. The case has stuck in the memories of many for decades.

Thirty-nine years after Martinko was killed, investigators arrested 66-year-old Burns of Manchester, Iowa, after covertly collecting his DNA and testing it. Genetic material retrieved from a straw that Burns used is consistent with DNA found on the dress Martinko was wearing when she died, according to court testimony by forensic genetics experts.

On Wednesday prosecutors argued the scientific evidence in the case is irrefutable and that it links Burns to the scene of the crime.

They also argued the suspect acted with malice aforethought, willfully, deliberately, with premeditation and a specific intent to kill, as is articulated in Iowa Criminal Code.

Investigators and forensic analysts have previously testified that Martinko died after being stabbed repeatedly, and that she suffered defensive wounds, signs that she put up a fight.

There is also evidence that Martinkos assailant wore gloves during the attack, leaving behind prints of the glove material at the crime scene but obscuring their own fingerprints. An investigator testified that based on their analysis, the gloves appeared to be common kitchen gloves, the kind that are often used for dishwashing and are sold at grocery stores.

Prosecutors have argued the use of these gloves is evidence of premeditation.

Prosecutors have not been able to establish that Martinko and Burns knew each other or had any kind of relationship, and have described the killing as a random act of violence committed by a stranger."

Jurors heard more testimony Wednesday from investigator Matt Denlinger of the Cedar Rapids Police Department, one of the many officers who have worked on the case over the years.

It was under Denlingers tenure that the male genetic profile developed from crime scene evidence was shared with private genetic analysis firms and was uploaded to a public family genealogy website and used to develop a family tree. Investigators say these steps were instrumental in leading them to Burns, who has no previous criminal history.

In court on Wednesday, prosecutors played a video recording of Denlinger interviewing Burns, in handcuffs, in the back of a squad car on the way to the Cedar Rapids Police Department. There are long periods where the men sit in silence, but Denlinger also repeatedly asks Burns about what happened the night Martinko was killed.

I wish you could talk me through the issues that night, put me in your shoes if it would help me understand what was going through your mind, Denlinger said.

I dont recollect, Burns replied.

Since Burns was arrested in December of 2018, a criminalist at the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation laboratory has analyzed DNA from a cheek swab taken from Burns, and has testified that Burns genetic profile is consistent with the genetic profile from the crime scene.

Questioned in court by prosecutor Nick Maybanks, Denlinger testified that during the car ride when he asked if its possible Burns forget what happened that night in 1979, Burns told him it is possible for people to block out their memories.

Besides the comment that Mr. Burns made about blocking out memories, did Mr. Burns offer an explanation as to what happened that night? Maybanks asked.

No, Denlinger replied.

And besides saying that he does not recollect or does not know, to questions about what was going on in his life, did he offer more explanation of his life circumstances? Maybanks asked.

No, Denlinger responded.

In further questioning, Denlinger went on to testify that Burns never told him that he had the wrong guy," and that the suspect never denied killing Martinko.

Where in the action, interaction between you and Mr. Burns in the squad car does he deny killing Michelle Martinko? Maybanks asked.

He never denied it, Maybanks said.

Burns has pleaded not guilty to the charge. If convicted, he could face life in prison.

Judge Fae Hoover Grinde has ruled that there is sufficient evidence for the case to go to the jury, overruling a motion for a judgement of acquittal by the defense. Burns defense team will take up the case Thursday.

More here:
Prosecutors Rest Their Case Against Man Accused Of Killing Martinko - Iowa Public Radio

What if I told you that you originated from Asia, although, you reside in East Africa? Yes, thats right- its possible.

You see, the world is changing rapidly- especially technologically. Oh, you really wish to explore the innermost subset of your existence- your DNA? With genetic testing, its possible.

Probably, youve heard or read so much about this topic, yet, you remain skeptical about its effectiveness- how important is it? How sure am I that I would receive accurate results? questions upon questions, challenging its usefulness and accuracy, speed across your mind as the topic is mentioned.

Companies like 23 and Me offer genetic testing services that could be a great benefit to you. Check out how.

According to Mendel, genes are the units of inheritance. DNA is an integral part of genes, and they are a much smaller subset of chromosomes.

That said, DNA code for proteins that dictate specific traits ranging from your eye color to your diet and physique. This probably explains its complex nature.

The whole essence of modern genetics is to simplify the complexity of DNA and demystify its whole importance in the hereditary process. Although it has been quite hard, weve definitely gone a long way from Mendel Peas experiment.

In 2003, we edged closer to achieving this aim when technology capable of interpreting DNA sequence, in its entirety, was developed. With this came an unprecedented speed in understanding an individuals DNA for frugal costs as well as commercial exploitation.

23 and Me (see in-depth review on MyFamilyDNATest) is one, amongst the many companies that explore the DNA of individuals to reveal the hidden script they have inside of them.

Luckily, through genetic testing, you can get to understand where you are from; your ancestry. If you are interested in your family history, you can learn more than what youve known through what your relatives told you or historical documentation.

Presently, there are three major ways you can undergo ancestry testing.

Y- chromosome DNA tests are used to understand the paternal line of ancestry of an individual. Because Y-chromosomes are only passed from father to sons and are absent in women, this kind of test is carried out only in males. Women who are interested in the result this test provides are required to recruit a male relative.

Mitochondrial DNA tests are used to understand the maternal line of ancestry of an individual. This is because a mitochondrion is a semi-autonomous organelle that has its own DNA. Since it is transferred down to a child by the mother, it can be carried out in both sexes.

Single nucleotide polymorphism tests evaluate a large section of variants of an individual genome and compare it to others of known ethnicity.

Whats more in it for you? DNA mutation is the basis for a faulty protein formation, whose end result is a sprout of genetic-related diseases. Genetic testing helps you recognize these potential diseases, so you can channel your lifestyle in a path that reduces the chances of exhibiting these diseases.

Heres where it gets murky. Test providers use different databases to determine the ancestry or ethnicity of individuals. This means that there might be discrepancies when it comes to the determination of your ancestry.

But then, the term accurate could be quite subjective. This is what I mean: if you use the term accurate to infer that these provide correct results based on their individual databases, then, yeah- they are accurate. On the other hand, comparing two or more genetic testing companies would mean neither of their results is accurate due to different databases.

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How Useful and Accurate is 23 and Me Genetic Testing? - The Union Journal

Genetics testing conducted by Colorado Parks and Wildlife adds to the growing evidence that a wolf pack has formed in Moffat County.

In a press release, CPW officials said four scat samples collected near a scavenged elk carcass in early January came from wolves, according to lab results. The DNA indicated three females and one male, according to CPW, and that the wolves were likely siblings. This is the first official documentation of a pack of wolves in the state since the 1940s.

The DNA doesnt tell us the age, CPW Species Conservation Program Manager Eric Odell said in a release. We dont know where or when they were born. We cant say. But that there are closely related wolves is a pretty significant finding.

Wolves are a federally endangered species and fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. According to officials with the agency, killing a wolf can result in federal charges, including a $100,000 fine and a year in prison, per offense.

Anyone who sees or hears wolves, or finds evidence of any wolf activity is urged to contact CPW. A Wolf Sighting Form can be found on the CPW website.

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Genetics tests confirm wolf presence in Colorado - The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel

Feb. 19, 2020

A Michigan State University scientist is determined to increase the number of women and girls going into STEM fields. Kayla Conner is a doctoral candidate in theDepartment of Microbiology and Molecular Geneticswho says she wouldnt be the student she is today if it werent for her high school chemistry teacher, Ms. Hardin.

Conner is part of MSUsBroadening Experiences in Scientific Training, an experimental program dedicated to empowering graduate student trainees to develop professional skills and experiences. Recently, reporters with WKAR News sat down with some of the BEST students to learn more about their inspiring life stories. Listen to the audio clip to hear Conners story in her own words and those of Hardin.

Conner is currently studying what happens to the placenta when a woman gets an infection during pregnancy and what that could mean for the fetus. Shes researching possible ways to stop some of the negative consequences that happen because of infection.

If a woman gets infected with any sort of ailment during pregnancy, whether it be the cold or the flu, it causes inflammation in the mother, says Conner. And that can lead to downstream effects, whether that is stillbirth, preterm labor, birth defects or even ailments later in life.

Conner was raised in Maynardville, Tennessee, and attended a small high school where she found the atmosphere to be less than encouraging and lacking resources for students who wanted to pursue higher education.

A lot of people have the mentality, Im from here so, therefore, I cant, and its really sad, she says. I really dont want people to have that mentality because even though you are from there you can do wonderful things. I dont think I would have had that drive without Ms. Hardin.

Conner looked up to her chemistry teacher and found encouragement to continue her studies.

She told me how well I was doing even when I felt like I wasnt, says Conner. I thought, Man, you know if she thinks I can do it, then maybe I can.

Hardin says that Conner gives her too much credit.

She has a scientific mind and shes curious, says Hardin. It was obvious to me. She had a natural talent for it. As a teacher, I encourage all my students, especially girls, to not look at science and math as something that boys do. You work at it. You keep plugging away and you can do it too.

For Conner, having women who have helped support her has been extremely important. Ive had women who told me that I can and who have helped me in every way they possibly can, she says. I think its important to give back and be that person for someone else. I go to the Girl Scout troops. I have a little outreach program where I do some hands-on activities and I give a talk. Its a fun time.

Only about 24 percent of the STEM workforce is made up of women. There have been studies that have shown that girls in lower education elementary and middle school show the same interest in STEM courses and enroll in courses at the same rates as their male student counterparts, but once it reaches the level of higher education, women do not seek out STEM courses as frequently as men do.

Conner recognizes the disconnect that is happening and strives to inspire talented women to pursue STEM careers.

Its not a mans game, Conner says. It is absolutely a womans game as well. We can be awesome scientists and be awesome mothers, friends and daughters and be whatever we want to be.

MSU BEST seeks to enhance trainees abilities to develop the confidence and competencies useful in navigating and choosing from diverse career opportunities.Learn more about becoming part of the BEST community.

Photos and video by Alec Gerstenberger.

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Shaping the future: Microbiologist's career inspired by influential teacher - MSUToday

Feb. 19, 2020 13:12 UTC

BOTHELL, Wash. & TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Seattle Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq:SGEN) and Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503, President and CEO: Kenji Yasukawa, Ph.D., Astellas) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough Therapy designation for PADCEV (enfortumab vedotin-ejfv) in combination with Mercks (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada) anti-PD-1 therapy KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) for the treatment of patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who are unable to receive cisplatin-based chemotherapy in the first-line setting.

The FDAs Breakthrough Therapy process is designed to expedite the development and review of drugs that are intended to treat a serious or life-threatening condition. Designation is based upon preliminary clinical evidence indicating that the drug may demonstrate substantial improvement over available therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints.

This is an important step in our investigation of PADCEV in combination with pembrolizumab as a first-line therapy for patients with advanced urothelial cancer who are unable to receive cisplatin-based chemotherapy, said Roger Dansey, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Seattle Genetics. Based on encouraging early clinical activity, we recently initiated a phase 3 trial of this platinum-free combination and look forward to potentially addressing an unmet need for patients.

The FDAs Breakthrough Therapy designation reflects the encouraging preliminary evidence for the combination of PADCEV and pembrolizumab in previously untreated advanced urothelial cancer to benefit patients who are in need of effective treatment options, said Andrew Krivoshik, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Oncology Therapeutic Area Head, Astellas. We look forward to continuing our work with the FDA as we progress our clinical development program as quickly as possible.

The Breakthrough Therapy designation was granted based on results from the dose-escalation cohort and expansion cohort A of the phase 1b/2 trial EV-103 (NCT03288545), evaluating patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who are unable to receive cisplatin-based chemotherapy treated in the first-line setting with PADCEV in combination with pembrolizumab. Initial results from the trial were presented at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2019 Congress, and updated findings at the 2020 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium. EV-103 is an ongoing, multi-cohort, open-label, multicenter phase 1b/2 trial of PADCEV alone or in combination, evaluating safety, tolerability and efficacy in muscle invasive, locally advanced and first- and second-line metastatic urothelial cancer.

About Bladder and Urothelial Cancer

It is estimated that approximately 81,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2020.1 Urothelial cancer accounts for 90 percent of all bladder cancers and can also be found in the renal pelvis, ureter and urethra.2

Globally, approximately 549,000 people were diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2018, and there were approximately 200,000 deaths worldwide.3

The recommended first-line treatment for patients with advanced urothelial cancer is a cisplatin-based chemotherapy. For patients who are unable to receive cisplatin, such as people with kidney impairment, a carboplatin-based regimen is recommended. However, fewer than half of patients respond to carboplatin-based regimens and outcomes are typically poorer compared to cisplatin-based regimens.4

About PADCEV

PADCEV (enfortumab vedotin-ejfv) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2019 and is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who have previously received a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) or programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor and a platinum-containing chemotherapy before (neoadjuvant) or after (adjuvant) surgery or in a locally advanced or metastatic setting. PADCEV was approved under the FDAs Accelerated Approval Program based on tumor response rate. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.5

PADCEV is a first-in-class antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that is directed against Nectin-4, a protein located on the surface of cells and highly expressed in bladder cancer.5,6 Nonclinical data suggest the anticancer activity of PADCEV is due to its binding to Nectin-4 expressing cells followed by the internalization and release of the anti-tumor agent monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) into the cell, which result in the cell not reproducing (cell cycle arrest) and in programmed cell death (apoptosis).5 PADCEV is co-developed by Astellas and Seattle Genetics.

Important Safety Information

Warnings and Precautions

Adverse Reactions

Serious adverse reactions occurred in 46% of patients treated with PADCEV. The most common serious adverse reactions (3%) were urinary tract infection (6%), cellulitis (5%), febrile neutropenia (4%), diarrhea (4%), sepsis (3%), acute kidney injury (3%), dyspnea (3%), and rash (3%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 3.2% of patients, including acute respiratory failure, aspiration pneumonia, cardiac disorder, and sepsis (each 0.8%).

Adverse reactions leading to discontinuation occurred in 16% of patients; the most common adverse reaction leading to discontinuation was peripheral neuropathy (6%). Adverse reactions leading to dose interruption occurred in 64% of patients; the most common adverse reactions leading to dose interruption were peripheral neuropathy (18%), rash (9%) and fatigue (6%). Adverse reactions leading to dose reduction occurred in 34% of patients; the most common adverse reactions leading to dose reduction were peripheral neuropathy (12%), rash (6%) and fatigue (4%).

The most common adverse reactions (20%) were fatigue (56%), peripheral neuropathy (56%), decreased appetite (52%), rash (52%), alopecia (50%), nausea (45%), dysgeusia (42%), diarrhea (42%), dry eye (40%), pruritus (26%) and dry skin (26%). The most common Grade 3 adverse reactions (5%) were rash (13%), diarrhea (6%) and fatigue (6%).

Lab Abnormalities

In one clinical trial, Grade 3-4 laboratory abnormalities reported in 5% were: lymphocytes decreased, hemoglobin decreased, phosphate decreased, lipase increased, sodium decreased, glucose increased, urate increased, neutrophils decreased.

Drug Interactions

Specific Populations

For more information, please see the full Prescribing Information for PADCEV here.

About Seattle Genetics

Seattle Genetics, Inc. is a global biotechnology company that discovers, develops and commercializes transformative medicines targeting cancer to make a meaningful difference in peoples lives. The company is headquartered in Bothell, Washington, and has offices in California, Switzerland and the European Union. For more information on our robust pipeline, visit http://www.seattlegenetics.com and follow @SeattleGenetics on Twitter.

About Astellas

Astellas Pharma Inc., based in Tokyo, Japan, is a company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. For more information, please visit our website at https://www.astellas.com/en.

About the Seattle Genetics and Astellas Collaboration

Seattle Genetics and Astellas are co-developing PADCEV (enfortumab vedotin-ejfv) under a collaboration that was entered into in 2007 and expanded in 2009. Under the collaboration, the companies are sharing costs and profits on a 50:50 basis worldwide.

About the Seattle Genetics, Astellas and Merck Collaboration

Seattle Genetics and Astellas entered a clinical collaboration agreement with Merck to evaluate the combination of Seattle Genetics and Astellas PADCEV (enfortumab vedotin-ejfv) and Mercks KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), in patients with previously untreated metastatic urothelial cancer. KEYTRUDA is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA.

Seattle Genetics Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this press release are forward looking, such as those, among others, relating to the development of PADCEV in combination with pembrolizumab as a first-line therapy for patients with advanced urothelial cancer who are unable to receive cisplatin-based chemotherapy, and the therapeutic potential of PADCEV including its efficacy, safety and therapeutic uses. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected or implied in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such a difference include the possibility that ongoing and subsequent clinical trials may fail to establish sufficient efficacy, that adverse events or safety signals may occur and that adverse regulatory actions may occur. More information about the risks and uncertainties faced by Seattle Genetics is contained under the caption Risk Factors included in the companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Seattle Genetics disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Astellas Cautionary Notes

In this press release, statements made with respect to current plans, estimates, strategies and beliefs and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements about the future performance of Astellas. These statements are based on managements current assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: (i) changes in general economic conditions and in laws and regulations, relating to pharmaceutical markets, (ii) currency exchange rate fluctuations, (iii) delays in new product launches, (iv) the inability of Astellas to market existing and new products effectively, (v) the inability of Astellas to continue to effectively research and develop products accepted by customers in highly competitive markets, and (vi) infringements of Astellas intellectual property rights by third parties.

Information about pharmaceutical products (including products currently in development), which is included in this press release is not intended to constitute an advertisement or medical advice.

____________________________1 American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2020. https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/annual-cancer-facts-and-figures/2020/cancer-facts-and-figures-2020.pdf. Accessed 01-23-2020.2 American Society of Clinical Oncology. Bladder cancer: introduction (10-2017). https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/bladder-cancer/introduction. Accessed 05-09-2019.3 International Agency for Research on Cancer. Cancer Tomorrow: Bladder. http://gco.iarc.fr/tomorrow 4 National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Bladder Cancer. Version 4; July 10, 2019. https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/bladder.pdf.5 PADCEV [package insert]. Northbrook, IL: Astellas, Inc.6 Challita-Eid P, Satpayev D, Yang P, et al. Enfortumab Vedotin Antibody-Drug Conjugate Targeting Nectin-4 Is a Highly Potent Therapeutic Agent in Multiple Preclinical Cancer Models. Cancer Res 2016;76(10):3003-13.

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Ever since Charles Darwin began investigating the early evolution of humans, scientists have worked to understand just how far back our species goes, where man first lived, and how his DNA traveled out of Africa and into the world at large.

Ancient humanoids have been found in large portions of Africa, which led to scientific understandings of how man both on and off that continent evolved. What was less understood until recently is how man evolved in areas of Eurasia, and who ancient species bred with to create what researchers are calling a ghost species.

Modern Eurasian species have been easier for scientists to investigate because cold temperatures preserved DNA samples so much better than those in Africa, where hot temperatures caused DNA to deteriorate. That made learning about how man evolved within Africa a challenge to scientists.

Broken Hill Skull from Kabwe, Zambia of Homo rhodesiensis, renamed as Homo erectus, also sometimes named Homo heidelbergensis or archaic Homo sapiens. Photo by Gerbil CC by 3.0

But a study done in 2017 by more than a dozen scholars and published in Cell, an online scientific journal, shed new light on these matters that had challenged researchers for years. In the study, sample genomes were examined from people who lived in southern Africa 10,000 years ago. This revealed that the history of these populations is far more complicated than researchers once believed.

RESTORATION BY A. FORESTIER OF THE RHODESIAN MAN WHOSE SKULL WAS DISCOVERED IN 1921

The samples were taken from Cameroon, which has the earliest and best preserved archaeological site in Africa. Now, a new study confirms the theories put forth in the 2017 paper, and asserts that, in fact, humanoids from Africa left the continent, bred with Neanderthals, and returned to Africa at some point, thereby creating a whole new ghost species, as the new study refers to it.

Anatomical comparison of skulls of Homo sapiens (left) and Homo neanderthalensis (right)

The study, entitled Identifying and Interpreting Apparent Neanderthal Ancestry In African Individuals, was also published in the journal Cell. In the study, 16 sample genomes were examined from people who lived in South Africa during the past 10,000 years. This examination revealed that the history of these populations is far more complicated than once believed. When these folks left Africa about 100,000 years ago, there wasnt, in fact, just one kind of humanoid there.

Model of the head and shoulders of an adult male Homo heidelbergensis [H. rhodesiensis] on display in the Hall of Human Origins in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Photo by Tim Evanson CC by 2.0

The study goes on to examine gene flow into the ancient ancestors of modern South Africans, and concludes that there may be links between archaic hominims and present day Africans. In fact, research suggests as many as seven percent of present day Africans may have genomes from a population that scientists have yet to identify right now, it has no known genome, hence the term ghost population. Scientists theorize this group lived somewhere between 360,000 years ago and more than one million years ago, long before the gene flow started in West Africa, about 43,000 years ago.

The new research postulates that this ghost species of early humans resembled Neanderthals, and was in Africa about 100,000 years ago. Or, scientists suggest, the archaic species was present somewhere outside of Africa, but co-mingled by interbreeding, and then returned to Africa. This theory contravenes prior scientific research, that believed that there was simply one expansion out of Africa, and man developed and evolved from there.

The scientists behind the study, five authors, have stated conclusively that they believe more research needs to be done into the genetics of early humans, both within Africa and those species from outside the continent.

Related Article: Missing Link Skeletons Finally Deciphered Show New Path of Human Evolution

They assert that the DNA of modern and early humans must be studied further if we are to finally develop a full understanding of who we are, how we evolved, and our ancestors who once travelled both inside and outside Africa. Both studies are available for viewing online at: (https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext).

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Study Finds Early Humans Bred with Mysterious Extinct Species in Africa - The Vintage News

Sometimes I think there is this perception that you have to be really tough in order to be successful. I have worked with some women, that appeared to think that in order to compete with male counterparts, they have to have a hard exterior. I dont think thats true. I think you can still be yourself, even in a male-dominated field, and succeed in the industry.

I had the pleasure to interview Lesa Nelson. Lesa has worked in the field of human genetic research for the past 27 years, with the last 20+ years being in senior management positions. She directs all operational activities ofPredictive Laboratoriesand serves as the laboratory technical supervisor.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

Iwas a biology major, and as an undergraduate student, I started working in a molecular genetics lab where I worked on projects with physicians who wanted to look at the genetics of human disease. By doing this, I gained a desire to work in applied human genetics. I was interested in doing the research, but was also interested in how it applied to actual patients. I began working with Dr. Kenneth Ward, M.D., who is currently the laboratory director atPredictive Laboratories, and we established a clinical molecular genetics laboratory at the University of Utah. We conducted research and clinical testing for patients, and together we became more entrepreneurial, which led me to move away from the university and to start working in the private sector.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began at your company?

The most interesting thing that Ive experienced since my start at Predictive Laboratories was having the opportunity to launch genetic tests aimed to help women with infertility and endometriosis. I have been working on this research for years, so seeing it all come to fruition with the official launch of our productsARTguideandFertilityDX, this past October, has been incredibly rewarding. ARTguide identifies genetic causes of female infertility, including the risk for endometriosis and FertilityDx will provide guidance to couples struggling with infertility by identifying genetics risks to conception, pregnancy and the newborn. It has been fascinating to work on a product that can be a full solution, by leveraging everything possible in todays genetic world, across the disciplines of reproductive endocrinology and even pediatrics. Overall, its just an exciting service we are able to offer those in need!

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

One of the funniest mistakes that I first made in my career actually had to do with the weather! I was supposed to meet someone on a Saturday at the laboratory, and we started a job on Friday that needed to be done by Sunday. There was a 20-inch snowstorm in Salt Lake City that Saturday and I was the only one who could walk to the lab. I had to complete the job, despite never doing the procedure before, on my own while receiving guidance from another technician over the phone, while also trying to learn at the same time. Looking back, I laugh at how you can plan for everything on paper, but the weather has a mind of its own.

What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?

I think what makes Predictive Laboratories stand out is our belief in identifying a problem and applying what we know in terms of genetic diagnosis to then develop a solution with technology. I have been lucky enough to work on projects where there is an actual discovery, and we try to find ways to turn it into something that is practical and usable. I myself was an infertility patient and I know what its like to go through that process, so I am extremely empathetic with the patients that were trying to reach and help through our diagnostic tests.

There was a recent case where a couple was going through infertility problems, a niece of theirs had developmental delay and other issues, and naturally, they wanted to know if their prospective children would be at risk and the childs parents wanted to find out what was going on. We call these situations diagnostic odysseys. The child turned 1-year-old and still no one knew what was wrong. We checked the entire coding region of the childs genome and were able to identify the mutation that ultimately caused the symptoms. It turns out it was a rare disease that only 30 people in the world had ever been diagnosed with. While there is no treatment for the disease, we were able to tell the parents the reason why this was happening. This means a lot to families.

Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that will help people?

Right now, Im excited about our focus on FertilityDX and the service it will provide to help couples navigate everything from conception to the delivery of a healthy baby. Through this service, were also able to train physicians in using genetics, so we can teach them to have a more personal approach to helping each of their patients.

Were also in the middle of an exciting time where were able to leverage all of the genetic technology out there. I would really like to see us facilitating the transfer of that genetic knowledge to different specialists and making it comprehensive. We have the ability for personalized medicine, so we need to stop thinking about a population statistic and start thinking how we can leverage technology to diagnose each individual based on their genetics.

Ok super. Thank you for all that. Lets now shift to the main focus of our interview. Are you currently satisfied with the status quo regarding women in STEM? What specific changes do you think are needed to change the status quo?

There are a lot of women in the STEM field, but you still see it kind of segregated by role. Ive noticed in my experience that most of the laboratory technicians end up being women, because the men wind up leaving for higher positions. I think it is almost historical, but I hope its changing.

A while ago, my colleagues and I interviewed third graders about what they wanted to be when they grew up. The boys who responded shared a wide variety of aspirations, while the girls mainly responded that they wanted to be teachers, actresses, nurses and moms, which are all admirable roles, but the responses did not range among the girls like they did with the boys.

I think that there is a lack of exposure to science at a young age, which is why I was involved in a local elementary school where we introduced a program to offer students the chance to do science experiments. I hope there are more and more programs that are introduced like this because I believe this is what will change the status quo. The University of Utah, for example, offers a program that takes high achieving college freshmen girls in science and provides them with a two year mentorship where they are placed in a laboratory. These women have the opportunity to spend their entire summer, prior to the start of their freshman year, exploring science with different people. I think things like this can also help get women in STEM leadership areas.

In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by women in STEM or Tech that arent typically faced by their male counterparts? What would you suggest to address this?

I think we are still in a society where one of the biggest challenges that women are facing is managing work and family life. It can be challenging to work and still have a family. I think there is more pressure on women to do both and do both well. I always felt lucky because even though I worked really hard, I still had the flexibility to make time for family. Flexibility in the workplace helps and it is much easier to work remotely in the modern day, thanks to technology. Hopefully this will eventually resolve some of those issues for women who are trying to balance both.

What are the myths that you would like to dispel about being a woman in STEM or Tech. Can you explain what you mean?

Sometimes I think there is this perception that you have to be really tough in order to be successful. I have worked with some women, that appeared to think that in order to compete with male counterparts, they have to have a hard exterior. I dont think thats true. I think you can still be yourself, even in a male-dominated field, and succeed in the industry.

What are your 5 Leadership Lessons I Learned From My Experience as a Woman in STEM or Tech and why. (Please share a story or example for each.)

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

I am most grateful for the guidance by Dr. Ken Ward, who had worked with me almost from the start of my career in molecular genetics, as mentioned earlier. We first met when he was doing a fellowship and we immediately hit it off and worked well together.

Despite not having a doctorate of philosophy (Ph.D) like most of the other professionals in my industry, Ken was always willing to work with me. He always saw what I was capable of and there were never any limitations of what I could do in the laboratory.

I have been working with Ken for nearly 30 years, and I came from a laboratory where as a technician, you werent going to scientific conferences or rarely were an author on a paper. At a laboratory, I worked very hard on a project and my name wasnt on the paper because I did not have my Ph.D. Since working with Ken, not having a Ph.D has never held me back, and that is super important to me. He has let me do what I wanted to on both the research and clinical side. He was always super supportive of me becoming exactly what I wanted to be. I think we are on the same wavelength and it has made me feel confident in my career and role at Predictive Laboratories. Like Ken, I too just want people to succeed. I like hearing about peoples aspirations, and I try to pass that forward as well.

How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?

It is mostly what I said earlier, but were bringing goodness to the world and to patients by taking our research and applying it to something that affects individuals. I do not care what it is you do in the laboratory, you can always be learning from it. The ability to take something and then apply it to change someones life has been the most satisfying part of my job. What makes my heart beat the fastest is when we figure something out or help somebody with genetic testing.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.

I would really love to see the healthcare system be able to provide more without being governed by cost. For example, rare diseases do not get looked at because they dont generate enough revenue and Medicare doesnt want to pay for something that would cost too much. I think we could offer so much more without financial barriers. I dont mean that companies and providers of services should not have a profit, but I feel like a lot of healthcare gets caught up in the dollars. Much of it isnt driven from a patient centric point, but from a monetary one.

Can you please give us your favorite Life Lesson Quote? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

I have two that I think sum up my approach to life.

One of them is that high achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectation, which was said by Charles F. Kettering, and the other is from Steve Jobs when he said, technology is nothing, what is important is that you have faith in people, that they are basically good and smart, and if you give them the tools, they will do wonderful things.

These sentiments are applicable to everything whether that be STEM or life.

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It is a myth that you have to be really tough in order to be successful with Penny Bauder & Lesa Nelson - Thrive Global

In order to contain a virus, its important to know exactly what youre dealing with and the COVID-19 coronavirus is no different.

One of the key tools to try to contain or limit transmission of infectious diseases is case identification, saysSamira Mubareka, a virologist in the University of Torontos Faculty of Medicine and at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

If you identify cases, then you can contain them. If you miss them, then you dont.

Mubareka and her colleagueRobert Kozak, both in U of Ts department of laboratory medicine and pathobiology, are part of a local working group of scientists who are researching the novel coronavirus outbreak and are developing a suite of tools to control it.

One of their current projects involves using the latest in whole-genome sequencing technology to help hospitals characterize the virus more quickly. Their work may help to track the viruss evolution and trace its spread.

If the viruss genome was a book, were going to figure out its entire story, Kozak says.

Mubareka and Kozak collected specimens of the coronavirus from the first confirmed case in Canada, an adult male who was treated and eventually discharged from Sunnybrook after returning from Wuhan, China the epicentre of the outbreak. Two more cases in Ontario have since been confirmed: the original patients wife, who accompanied him to China, and a woman in her 20s in London, Ont. who had also traveled to Wuhan.

Worldwide, there are more than 73,300 confirmed cases ofCOVID-19 as of Feb. 18. More than 1,800 have died.

Robert Kozak, pictured here in the lab, andSamira Mubareka say their teams work will enable front-line hospital staff to run a test on-site, helping to identify and triage patients more efficiently (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

In Canada, where there are so far seven confirmed cases, health authorities say the risk remains low. But Mubareka and Kozak are preparing for any possible scenario.

You put a smoke alarm in your house even if you hope theres no fire, says Kozak, who previously worked at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg on Ebola and Zika.

Part of the teams work involves developing a test that will speed up the characterization of the virus. Currently, patient samples in Ontario are sent from local hospitals by courier to the Public Health Ontario lab in downtown Toronto for testing, and to the national lab in Winnipeg for confirmation.

The process can take a few days, depending on the hospitals distance from the labs and test volumes.

Mubareka and Kozak say their teams work in collaboration with McMaster University and infectious disease expert Allison McGeer of U of Ts Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Mount Sinai Hospital will enable front-line hospital staff to run a test on-site, helping to identify and triage patients more efficiently. The test involves using swabs from a patients nose and throat to do genomic testing to sequence the virus.

If theyre negative, you can take them [the patients] out of precautions and maybe even send them home, Kozak says. If theyre positive, then you can again take the appropriate precautions to isolate them and do everything else that needs to be done.

The researchers hope they can adapt the approach for mini-sequencers the size of a cell phone, so it can be used more widely.

Vivek Goel,U of Ts vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives,says the university worked quickly to mobilize support for the project.

With its cross-disciplinary expertise and close relationships with area hospitals, the university recognizes that its uniquely positioned to play a leadership role when it comes to these sorts of global health issues, Goel says.

We also have the benefit of having experienced the SARS outbreak in Toronto in 2003, so we know first-hand how important this sort of research can be.

The genomic testing being performed by the U of T-led group could also help researchers get a fuller picture of the mysterious illness.

Although genomic sequences of the virus were published and shared in public databases, many were deposited soon after the first cases were identified in Chinas Hubei province, according to Mubareka.

The problem is that was early on before it started going from person to person-to-person, she says, noting that viruses mutate.

There are only about 50 sequenced genomes of the virus, adds Kozak for about 48,000 confirmed cases.

Youre not getting a great snapshot, he says. Its tough to really understand a lot about the virus.

Among the nagging questions about COVID-19 that U of T and Sunnybrook researchers hope to answer are how long patients remain contagious and if the amount of the virus present in respiratory secretions is proportional to its severity.

Their work may help others understand how the virus spreads from point A to point B, and if its changing in ways that make it more dangerous.

The research team includes U of T students likeNatalie Bell, a second-year masters student in laboratory medicine and pathobiology who is also working with Mubareka on a project related to influenza from swine.

Its really interesting to see science happen in real time, especially being part of Sams lab [and] to see her involvement and the movement from lab to policy work, and how it impacts public health, Bell says.

Mubareka and Kozak plan to upload the sequencing data to public servers and share it with the world to help with epidemiological studies and vaccine design.

We will build global capacity any way that we can, Kozak says.

Mubareka and Kozak say their work was made possible thanks in part to the McLaughlin Centre, which provided emergency funding for the project. We have no shortage of ideas of things we can do to hopefully make a difference, Kozak says, but you always need someone to provide the resources to do it.

Stephen Scherer, the director of the McLaughlin Centre at U of T and a University Professor in the department of molecular genetics, says the centre wanted to make sure the researchers had the necessary funds to do their work in time.

Nobody is busier right now than this group, so we wanted to make the process as easy as possible for them, Scherer says. We also wanted these researchers to know the rest of us value their efforts to keep us safe.

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U of T and Sunnybrook virologists work on tools to combat coronavirus outbreak - News@UofT

"I would take them to the clean lab and at my work station I would open them up and then I would use a swab to swab around the inside of the pots that contained the samples to recover the DNA," he said.

"Once I'd done that, I'd have an extraction tube ready and you cut the tip off the swab and put it in the extraction tube for processing."

Mr Talbot said he would have carried out the process twice, keeping AJM40 and AJM42 separatefrom AJM46 and AJM48 to prevent contamination.

"The whole point of the clean lab is to prevent contaminating your sample with extraneous DNA," he said.

"There are safety cabinets for working in so the airflow is designed to prevent contamination and the labs themselves have a positiveair pressure."

Mr Talbot then added a chemical solution to the tubes with the swabs inside and they underwent a heating and spinning process for the DNA to be extracted.

He noted that the first time he tried to extract the DNA, it failed, as some of the chemical solution - the phenol - he had added to the tubes appeared frozen or crystallised.

He then added more phenol to the samples from a new bottle and repeated the process, which successfully separated the DNA.

A further several stages of the extraction were then carried out, with Mr Talbot estimating it would have taken a "few hours" to get to the final extract.

Witnesses were present for the key stages of the extraction process, to peer review Mr Talbot's workings.

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Claremont killer trial LIVE: Court sits into night for UK witnesses to give evidence on breakthrough DNA moment - WAtoday