Archive for September, 2022

Neuron generation trajectories. Credit: BGI Genomics

Because of its distinctive and adorable look, the axolotl Ambystoma mexicanum is a popular pet. Unlike other metamorphosing salamanders, axolotls (pronounced ACK-suh-LAH-tuhl) never outgrow their larval, juvenile stage, a trait known as neoteny. Its also recognized for its ability to regenerate missing limbs and other tissues including the brain, spinal cord, tail, skin, limbs, liver, skeletal muscle, heart, upper and lower jaw, and ocular tissues like the retina, cornea, and lens.

Mammals, including humans, are almost incapable of rebuilding damaged tissue after a brain injury. Some species, such as fish and axolotls, on the other hand, may replenish wounded brain regions with new neurons.

Tissue types the axolotl can regenerate as shown in red. Credit: Debuque and Godwin, 2016

Brain regeneration necessitates the coordination of complex responses in a time and region-specific way. In a paper published on the cover of Science, BGI and its research partners used Stereo-seq technology to recreate the axolotl brain architecture throughout developing and regenerative processes at single-cell resolution. Examining the genes and cell types that enable axolotls to renew their brains might lead to better treatments for severe injuries and unlock human regeneration potential.

Cell regeneration images at seven different time points following an injury; the control image is on the left. Credit: BGI Genomics

The research team collected axolotl samples from six development stages and seven regeneration phases with corresponding spatiotemporal Stereo-seq data. The six developmental stages include:

Through the systematic study of cell types in various developmental stages, researchers found that during the early development stage neural stem cells located in the VZ region are difficult to distinguish between subtypes, and with specialized neural stem cell subtypes with spatial regional characteristics from adolescence, thus suggesting that various subtypes may have different functions during regeneration.

In the third part of the study, the researchers generated a group of spatial transcriptomic data of telencephalon sections that covered seven injury-induced regenerative stages. After 15 days, a new subtype of neural stem cells, reaEGC (reactive ependymoglial cells), appeared in the wound area.

Axolotl brain developmental and regeneration processes. Credit: BGI Genomics

Partial tissue connection appeared at the wound, and after 20 to 30 days, new tissue had been regenerated, but the cell type composition was significantly different from the non-injured tissue. The cell types and distribution in the damaged area did not return to the state of the non-injured tissue until 60 days post-injury.

The key neural stem cell subtype (reaEGC) involved in this process was derived from the activation and transformation of quiescent neural stem cell subtypes (wntEGC and sfrpEGC) near the wound after being stimulated by injury.

What are the similarities and differences between neuron formation during development and regeneration? Researchers discovered a similar pattern between development and regeneration, which is from neural stem cells to progenitor cells, subsequently into immature neurons and finally to mature neurons.

Spatial and temporal distribution of axolotl brain development. Credit: BGI Genomics

By comparing the molecular characteristics of the two processes, the researchers found that the neuron formation process is highly similar during regeneration and development, indicating that injury induces neural stem cells to transform themselves into a rejuvenated state of development to initiate the regeneration process.

Our team analyzed the important cell types in the process of axolotl brain regeneration, and tracked the changes in its spatial cell lineage, said Dr. Xiaoyu Wei, the first author of this paper and BGI-Research senior researcher. The spatiotemporal dynamics of key cell types revealed by Stereo-seq provide us a powerful tool to pave new research directions in life sciences.

Corresponding author Xun Xu, Director of Life Sciences at BGI-Research, noted that In nature, there are many self-regenerating species, and the mechanisms of regeneration are pretty diverse. With multi-omics methods, scientists around the world may work together more systematically.

Reference: Single-cell Stereo-seq reveals induced progenitor cells involved in axolotl brain regeneration by Xiaoyu Wei, Sulei Fu, Hanbo Li, Yang Liu, Shuai Wang, Weimin Feng, Yunzhi Yang, Xiawei Liu, Yan-Yun Zeng, Mengnan Cheng, Yiwei Lai, Xiaojie Qiu, Liang Wu, Nannan Zhang, Yujia Jiang, Jiangshan Xu, Xiaoshan Su, Cheng Peng, Lei Han, Wilson Pak-Kin Lou, Chuanyu Liu, Yue Yuan, Kailong Ma, Tao Yang, Xiangyu Pan, Shang Gao, Ao Chen, Miguel A. Esteban, Huanming Yang, Jian Wang, Guangyi Fan, Longqi Liu, Liang Chen, Xun Xu, Ji-Feng Fei and Ying Gu, 2 September 2022, Science.DOI: 10.1126/science.abp9444

This study has passed ethical reviews and follows the corresponding regulations and ethical guidelines.

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Unlocking the Mysteries of Brain Regeneration Groundbreaking Study Offers New Insight - SciTechDaily

Formulated as a rich cream, this product acts as a lightweight veil ideal for concealing, correcting, brightening, and contouring. Because of its texture, the Sweetener Concealer is especially a plus for dry-to-normal skin types craving added moisture in their makeup regimen. Whats more, as with other skincare-makeup hybrids, this has skin-nourishing ingredients at its corepacked with hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, raspberry stem cells, and ashwagandha for not only hydration, but protection against environmental stressors.

According to Thomas, a good pot concealer should offer a double pay-off, optimal coverage that acts as a foundation and concealer. She recommends applying under the eyes, around the nose, and on top of any spots or blemishes; blend with fingers, a sponge, or a brush.

For daily use, I prime with a hydrating mist and makeup primer. Then, I place a bit of the concealer on my skin, immediately buffing with a Beautyblender or complexion brush. Despite its rich texture, I find that it blends seamlessly, so I often wear it on its own instead of foundation for a skin-like finish, just as Thomas indicated. Because this leans towards full coverage, it instantly veils my dark spots and under-eye bags without any heavy layering.

Keep in mind, though, that this can crease easily on some skin types, so a good setting powder is essential for long-wear. My advice is to start with a small amount, building up to your desired coverage. A little goes a long way! Otherwise, this layers well with other products on top (think: cream blushes or Chanels bronzer) without feeling cakeyan ideal concealer for the cooler months ahead.

r.e.m. beauty Sweetener Concealer

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Rose Inc Number 3 Foundation Brush

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TikTok Made Me Buy It: The Creamy Concealer That Instantly Veils Dark Circles and Hyperpigmentation - Vogue

You probably know what hormones are, and you may have at least heard about stem cells, but what is a growth factor? According to Britannica, it is a protein that stimulates growth in specific tissues. There are many types of growth factors, each with the job of repairing certain body parts. Some growth factors include epidermal growth factor (responsible for skin repair), platelet-derived growth factor (responsible for repairing muscles and connective tissues), and nerve growth factor (responsible for stimulating brain cell growth and repair).

According to a 2020 mini-review in Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, growth factors are critical for tissue repair and regeneration. In short, growth factors help maintain skin health and heal wounds. As you age and fewer growth factors are available to help with repair and regeneration, injuries take longer to heal. Stem cells factor in because they release growth factors to instigate wound healing, according to a 2010 study in theInternational Journal of Stem Cells.

And the sex hormones estrogen and testosterone play a part in wound healing too. Low estrogen levels or high amounts of testosterone can slow healing. For women, estrogen levels drop after menopause, resulting in slowed healing time (via Wounds).

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Here Is Why You Heal Slower As You Age - Health Digest

By Dr Chytra V Anand

The fascination with beauty and skincare in India has grown leaps and bounds in recent times, and understandably so, given that the culture of beauty is deeply rooted in the country. The days when beauty was an aspect of social class and the cosmetic treatments and products you access gave away your economic status are long gone, as are the days when cosmetic treatments were considered a girl thing. With cosmetic treatments becoming more accessible and sought-after, the Indian skincare and derma cosmetics market generated an estimated revenue of a whopping USD 188.2 million in 2021. The same is projected to grow at a CAGR of 10.2% between 2021 and 2030.

Today, with changing lifestyles, demographic growth, cutting-edge technology, and improving economic and social conditions thanks to rising per capita and disposable income, India is quickly heading towards becoming a leader in the global cosmetics industry. But for a bit of self-introspection, what are Indian consumers looking for when it comes to cosmetic treatments? What does their consumption tell industry players?

Body hair removal has become one of the most popular cosmetic procedures done across the world today. But compared to shaving, waxing, or using an epilator or a trimmer, laser hair removal is a more permanent hair removal method that has gained immense traction of late. Especially in urban India, laser hair removal has quickly gained popularity, with mothers even bringing their 16-year-olds for Laser hair removal.

In 2021, the global laser hair removal market was valued atUSD 798.6 million, with an estimated CAGR of 18.4% from 2022 to 2030. Given that laser hair removal is a one-time procedure, although one has to sit through multiple sessions, the results, when done by a reliable cosmetic professional, are impressive. The Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing segment for laser hair removal, especially in countries like India and China.

A cosmetic procedure where a chemical solution is applied to your skin to remove the top layers, Chemical Peels ensure that the skin becomes smoother and clearer, making it radiant. On the other hand, a Medical Clean-up, in the simplest terms, is the procedure of cleaning your skin, ridding impurities like blackheads and white head spots to clear clogged pores. Besides, Medical Clean-ups are also beneficial for people struggling with acne scars, making it a popular procedure that an increasing number of people are choosing. For Chemical Peels, the market size is expected to touch USD 68.81 million between 2021 to 2025, making their popularity surge.

As we grow older, our skin begins to age too, and wrinkles and fine lines begin to appear on our face. Cosmetic procedures like Hydra Facials and skin maintenance with Laser Photofacials are a weekly must-do for 30-45-year-olds to ensure their skin is supple and glowing. Apart from this, the perception of Indian consumers when it comes to cosmetic treatments like Botox and Fillers has begun to change. These are no longer viewed as taboo as people now realise that they give your skin a lift.

Such treatments are also no longer only available for a certain section of society, like the wealthy. Botox and Fillers are now available to everyone, and consumers are looking at them from a skin maintenance standpoint rather than as a luxury, unnecessary treatment. Annually, the Botox segment is registering 20-25% growth in the country proof of evolving consumer preferences and the rising popularity of such treatments. Besides these, derma cosmetics and medical skin care have also gained a fair amount of traction, with skincare aficionados looking for effective and efficient skin care procedures that are non-surgical.

Alongside our skincare, taking care of our mane is equally important. For people struggling with hair fall, flaky and dry scalp, and other issues that affect your hair, stem cell therapy is the answer. Often done annually, stem cell therapy helps rejuvenate your hair cells to retain hair and repair damage. And with the global hair restoration market standing at over USD 4.2 billion in 2020, we can safely say its here to stay.

With consumerism changing face gradually and Indian consumers gaining access to world-class cosmetic treatments that are non-surgical, which still trump surgical procedures, the future of the Indian cosmetic treatments market shines bright. As long as the procedures are done by qualified and experienced professionals and are reliable and effective, the demand for such cosmetic procedures will continue to grow.

(The author isfounder ofKosmoderma Healthcare Pvt. Ltd.Views expressed are personal and do not reflect the official position or policy of the FinancialExpress.com.)

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A glimpse into Indian consumers expectations for cosmetic treatments and consumption insights - The Financial Express

MELBOURNE, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Propanc Biopharma, Inc. (OTC Pink: PPCB) (Propanc or the Company), a biopharmaceutical company developing novel cancer treatments for patients suffering from recurring and metastatic cancer, today announced that Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder, Dr Julian Kenyon, MD, MB, ChB, explains why pancreatic and ovarian cancers are selected as the primary target therapeutic indications for planned PRP human studies. According to Dr Kenyon, target indications were selected based on in vitro and in vivo data, as well as clinical observations from a compassionate use study investigating the effects of two proenzymes, trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen against a range of malignant tumors. Overall, proenzymes appeared to exert significant effects against more aggressive, less differentiated tumor types, like pancreatic and ovarian tumors. Patients from the compassionate use study suffering from cancers of the GI tract, or endocrine tumors, such as pancreatic and ovarian cancers, benefited most from treatment. The world market for pancreatic and ovarian cancer drugs is projected to grow to $4.2 Billion in 2025 according to Grandview Research and $10.1 Billion by 2027 according to iHealthcareAnalyst, respectively, resulting in a combined global market of $14.3 Billion over the next 5-year period.

Extensive laboratory analysis confirmed that PRP reduced the main characteristics of cancer spread, namely angiogenesis (blood vessel formation), which is a critical step in tumor development, as well as the spreading of tumor metastases. In addition, assays revealed that the migration capacity of ovarian, pancreatic, melanoma and colon cancer cells was suppressed after incubation with PRP. Furthermore, evidence suggests the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), a biological process associated with wound healing and cell migration, which causes cancer stem cells (CSCs) to become motile and invasive, is associated with metastasis and inducing drug resistance in many cancers, such as pancreatic and ovarian cancers. Studies in pancreatic and cancer cell lines after PRP treatment demonstrated a significant reduction in EMT markers and genes and in fact, a reversal of the EMT process so that CSCs become benign and less resistant to standard treatments.

The in vivo effects of PRP at different doses on tumor weight in implanted pancreatic and ovary tumors was evaluated. In the pancreatic tumor model, there was significant reduction in mean tumor weight in animals treated for 26 days with PRP with more than 85% tumor growth inhibition compared with the control. Furthermore, ovary tumor-bearing mice showed a significant reduction in mean tumor weight in animals treated for 21 days with two different doses of PRP, resulting in a 46 52% tumor growth inhibition compared with the control.

The clinical efficacy of a suppository formulation containing bovine pancreatic proenzymes trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen was evaluated in the context of a UK Pharmaceuticals Special Scheme and the results were published in Scientific Reports. Clinical effects were studied in 46 patients with advanced metastatic cancers of different origin (prostate, breast, ovarian, pancreatic, colorectal, stomach, non-small cell lung, bowel cancer and melanoma) after treatment with a rectal formulation of both pancreatic proenzymes. No severe or serious adverse events related to the rectal administration were observed. Patients did not experience any hematological side effects as typically seen with classical chemotherapy regimens.

In order to assess the therapeutic activity, overall survival of patients under treatment was compared to the life expectancy assigned to a patient prior to treatment start. Nineteen from 46 patients (41.3%) with advanced malignant diseases, most of them suffering from metastases, had a survival time significantly longer than their expected, in fact, for the whole set of cancer types, mean survival (9.0 months) was significantly higher than mean life expectancy (5.6 months). In the case of pancreatic and ovarian cancers, 2 from 4 pancreatic cancer patients and 4 from 7 ovarian cancer patients significantly exceeded life expectancy.

As a result of the extensive studies undertaken, particularly in pancreatic cancer, the Company applied for and received Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for the use of its lead product, PRP, for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. The approved indication is one of the most lethal malignancies with a median survival of 6 months and a 5-year survival rate of less than 5%. The lethal nature of this disease stems from its propensity to rapidly disseminate to the lymphatic system and distant organs, and is a major unmet medical issue. Under the Orphan Drug Act (ODA), drugs, vaccines, and diagnostic agents qualify for orphan status if they are intended to treat a disease affecting less than 200,000 American citizens. Under the ODA, orphan drug sponsors qualify for seven-year FDA-administered market Orphan Drug Exclusivity (ODE), tax credits of up to 50% of R&D costs, R&D grants, waived FDA fees, protocol assistance and may get clinical trial tax incentives.

Over the past 15 years, our extensive research has uncovered a truly unique and exciting technology that selectively targets and eradicates cancer stem cells, whilst leaving healthy cells alone, making it less toxic compared with standard treatment approaches, said Dr Kenyon. Furthermore, our technology appears to be effective against more aggressive, less differentiated tumor types where few treatment options exist, and prognosis is poor, especially in the case of pancreatic and ovarian cancers. I look forward to advancing PRP to human studies where we can fully assess the clinical efficacy of PRP in a controlled setting.

Propanc plans to undertake a First-In-Human study in 30 to 40 advanced cancer patients suffering from solid tumors to determine a maximum tolerated dose for PRP treatment, followed by two proof of concept studies in pancreatic and ovarian cancers, 60 patients in each study, to confirm the clinical efficacy of PRP in the selected target therapeutic indications.

PRP is a mixture of two proenzymes, trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen from bovine pancreas administered by intravenous injection. A synergistic ratio of 1:6 inhibits growth of most tumor cells. Examples include kidney, ovarian, breast, brain, prostate, colorectal, lung, liver, uterine and skin cancers.

About Propanc Biopharma, Inc.

Propanc Biopharma, Inc. (the Company) is developing a novel approach to prevent recurrence and metastasis of solid tumors by using pancreatic proenzymes that target and eradicate cancer stem cells in patients suffering from pancreatic, ovarian and colorectal cancers. For more information, please visit http://www.propanc.com.

The Companys novel proenzyme therapy is based on the science that enzymes stimulate biological reactions in the body, especially enzymes secreted by the pancreas. These pancreatic enzymes could represent the bodys primary defense against cancer.

To view the Companys Mechanism of Action video on its anti-cancer lead product candidate, PRP, please click on the following link: http://www.propanc.com/news-media/video

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release are forward-looking statements, which may often, but not always, be identified by the use of such words as may, might, will, will likely result, would, should, estimate, plan, project, forecast, intend, expect, anticipate, believe, seek, continue, target or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These factors include uncertainties as to the Companys ability to continue as a going concern absent new debt or equity financings; the Companys current reliance on substantial debt financing that it is unable to repay in cash; the Companys ability to successfully remediate material weaknesses in its internal controls; the Companys ability to reach research and development milestones as planned and within proposed budgets; the Companys ability to control costs; the Companys ability to obtain adequate new financing on reasonable terms; the Companys ability to successfully initiate and complete clinical trials and its ability to successful develop PRP, its lead product candidate; the Companys ability to obtain and maintain patent protection; the Companys ability to recruit employees and directors with accounting and finance expertise; the Companys dependence on third parties for services; the Companys dependence on key executives; the impact of government regulations, including FDA regulations; the impact of any future litigation; the availability of capital; changes in economic conditions, competition; and other risks, including, but not limited to, those described in the Companys periodic reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website at http://www.sec.gov. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any obligations to update these statements except as may be required by law.

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Propanc Biopharma Targets Pancreatic & Ovarian Cancers for PRP Clinical Studies with Combined Markets to Reach Over $14.3 Billion by 2027 -...

Expression of genes depending on parentage

Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic phenomenon that causes genes to be expressed or not, depending on whether they are inherited from the mother or the father.[1][2][3][4][5] Genes can also be partially imprinted. Partial imprinting occurs when alleles from both parents are differently expressed rather than complete expression and complete suppression of one parent's allele.[6] Forms of genomic imprinting have been demonstrated in fungi, plants and animals.[7][8] In 2014, there were about 150 imprinted genes known in mice and about half that in humans.[9] As of 2019, 260 imprinted genes have been reported in mice and 228 in humans.[10]

Genomic imprinting is an inheritance process independent of the classical Mendelian inheritance. It is an epigenetic process that involves DNA methylation and histone methylation without altering the genetic sequence. These epigenetic marks are established ("imprinted") in the germline (sperm or egg cells) of the parents and are maintained through mitotic cell divisions in the somatic cells of an organism.[11]

Appropriate imprinting of certain genes is important for normal development. Human diseases involving genomic imprinting include Angelman syndrome, PraderWilli syndrome and male infertility.[3]

In diploid organisms (like humans), the somatic cells possess two copies of the genome, one inherited from the father and one from the mother. Each autosomal gene is therefore represented by two copies, or alleles, with one copy inherited from each parent at fertilization. The expressed allele is dependent upon its parental origin. For example, the gene encoding insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2/Igf2) is only expressed from the allele inherited from the father. Although imprinting accounts for a small proportion of mammalian genes they play an important role in embryogenesis particularly in the formation of visceral structures and the nervous system.[12]

The term "imprinting" was first used to describe events in the insect Pseudococcus nipae.[13] In Pseudococcids (mealybugs) (Hemiptera, Coccoidea) both the male and female develop from a fertilised egg. In females, all chromosomes remain euchromatic and functional. In embryos destined to become males, one haploid set of chromosomes becomes heterochromatinised after the sixth cleavage division and remains so in most tissues; males are thus functionally haploid.[14][15][16]

That imprinting might be a feature of mammalian development was suggested in breeding experiments in mice carrying reciprocal chromosomal translocations.[17] Nucleus transplantation experiments in mouse zygotes in the early 1980s confirmed that normal development requires the contribution of both the maternal and paternal genomes. The vast majority of mouse embryos derived from parthenogenesis (called parthenogenones, with two maternal or egg genomes) and androgenesis (called androgenones, with two paternal or sperm genomes) die at or before the blastocyst/implantation stage. In the rare instances that they develop to postimplantation stages, gynogenetic embryos show better embryonic development relative to placental development, while for androgenones, the reverse is true. Nevertheless, for the latter, only a few have been described (in a 1984 paper).[18][19][20]

No naturally occurring cases of parthenogenesis exist in mammals because of imprinted genes. However, in 2004, experimental manipulation by Japanese researchers of a paternal methylation imprint controlling the Igf2 gene led to the birth of a mouse (named Kaguya) with two maternal sets of chromosomes, though it is not a true parthenogenone since cells from two different female mice were used. The researchers were able to succeed by using one egg from an immature parent, thus reducing maternal imprinting, and modifying it to express the gene Igf2, which is normally only expressed by the paternal copy of the gene.

Parthenogenetic/gynogenetic embryos have twice the normal expression level of maternally derived genes, and lack expression of paternally expressed genes, while the reverse is true for androgenetic embryos. It is now known that there are at least 80 imprinted genes in humans and mice, many of which are involved in embryonic and placental growth and development.[11][21][22][23] Hybrid offspring of two species may exhibit unusual growth due to the novel combination of imprinted genes.[24]

Various methods have been used to identify imprinted genes. In swine, Bischoff et al. compared transcriptional profiles using DNA microarrays to survey differentially expressed genes between parthenotes (2 maternal genomes) and control fetuses (1 maternal, 1 paternal genome).[25] An intriguing study surveying the transcriptome of murine brain tissues revealed over 1300 imprinted gene loci (approximately 10-fold more than previously reported) by RNA-sequencing from F1 hybrids resulting from reciprocal crosses.[26] The result however has been challenged by others who claimed that this is an overestimation by an order of magnitude due to flawed statistical analysis.[27][28]

In domesticated livestock, single-nucleotide polymorphisms in imprinted genes influencing foetal growth and development have been shown to be associated with economically important production traits in cattle, sheep and pigs.[29][30]

At the same time as the generation of the gynogenetic and androgenetic embryos discussed above, mouse embryos were also being generated that contained only small regions that were derived from either a paternal or maternal source.[31][32] The generation of a series of such uniparental disomies, which together span the entire genome, allowed the creation of an imprinting map.[33] Those regions which when inherited from a single parent result in a discernible phenotype contain imprinted gene(s). Further research showed that within these regions there were often numerous imprinted genes.[34] Around 80% of imprinted genes are found in clusters such as these, called imprinted domains, suggesting a level of co-ordinated control.[35] More recently, genome-wide screens to identify imprinted genes have used differential expression of mRNAs from control fetuses and parthenogenetic or androgenetic fetuses hybridized to gene expression profiling microarrays,[36] allele-specific gene expression using SNP genotyping microarrays,[37] transcriptome sequencing,[38] and in silico prediction pipelines.[39]

Imprinting is a dynamic process. It must be possible to erase and re-establish imprints through each generation so that genes that are imprinted in an adult may still be expressed in that adult's offspring. (For example, the maternal genes that control insulin production will be imprinted in a male but will be expressed in any of the male's offspring that inherit these genes.) The nature of imprinting must therefore be epigenetic rather than DNA sequence dependent. In germline cells the imprint is erased and then re-established according to the sex of the individual, i.e. in the developing sperm (during spermatogenesis), a paternal imprint is established, whereas in developing oocytes (oogenesis), a maternal imprint is established. This process of erasure and reprogramming[40] is necessary such that the germ cell imprinting status is relevant to the sex of the individual. In both plants and mammals there are two major mechanisms that are involved in establishing the imprint; these are DNA methylation and histone modifications.

Recently, a new study[41] has suggested a novel inheritable imprinting mechanism in humans that would be specific of placental tissue and that is independent of DNA methylation (the main and classical mechanism for genomic imprinting). This was observed in humans, but not in mice, suggesting development after the evolutionary divergence of humans and mice, ~80 Mya. Among the hypothetical explanations for this novel phenomenon, two possible mechanisms have been proposed: either a histone modification that confers imprinting at novel placental-specific imprinted loci or, alternatively, a recruitment of DNMTs to these loci by a specific and unknown transcription factor that would be expressed during early trophoblast differentiation.

The grouping of imprinted genes within clusters allows them to share common regulatory elements, such as non-coding RNAs and differentially methylated regions (DMRs). When these regulatory elements control the imprinting of one or more genes, they are known as imprinting control regions (ICR). The expression of non-coding RNAs, such as antisense Igf2r RNA (Air) on mouse chromosome 17 and KCNQ1OT1 on human chromosome 11p15.5, have been shown to be essential for the imprinting of genes in their corresponding regions.[42]

Differentially methylated regions are generally segments of DNA rich in cytosine and guanine nucleotides, with the cytosine nucleotides methylated on one copy but not on the other. Contrary to expectation, methylation does not necessarily mean silencing; instead, the effect of methylation depends upon the default state of the region.[43]

The control of expression of specific genes by genomic imprinting is unique to therian mammals (placental mammals and marsupials) and flowering plants. Imprinting of whole chromosomes has been reported in mealybugs (Genus: Pseudococcus)[13][14][15][16] and a fungus gnat (Sciara).[44] It has also been established that X-chromosome inactivation occurs in an imprinted manner in the extra-embryonic tissues of mice and all tissues in marsupials, where it is always the paternal X-chromosome which is silenced.[35][45]

The majority of imprinted genes in mammals have been found to have roles in the control of embryonic growth and development, including development of the placenta.[21][46] Other imprinted genes are involved in post-natal development, with roles affecting suckling and metabolism.[46][47]

A widely accepted hypothesis for the evolution of genomic imprinting is the "parental conflict hypothesis".[48] Also known as the kinship theory of genomic imprinting, this hypothesis states that the inequality between parental genomes due to imprinting is a result of the differing interests of each parent in terms of the evolutionary fitness of their genes.[49][50] The father's genes that encode for imprinting gain greater fitness through the success of the offspring, at the expense of the mother. The mother's evolutionary imperative is often to conserve resources for her own survival while providing sufficient nourishment to current and subsequent litters. Accordingly, paternally expressed genes tend to be growth-promoting whereas maternally expressed genes tend to be growth-limiting.[48] In support of this hypothesis, genomic imprinting has been found in all placental mammals, where post-fertilisation offspring resource consumption at the expense of the mother is high; although it has also been found in oviparous birds[51][52] where there is relatively little post-fertilisation resource transfer and therefore less parental conflict. A small number of imprinted genes are fast evolving under positive Darwinian selection possibly due to antagonistic co-evolution.[53] The majority of imprinted genes display high levels of micro-synteny conservation and have undergone very few duplications in placental mammalian lineages.[53]

However, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind genomic imprinting show that it is the maternal genome that controls much of the imprinting of both its own and the paternally-derived genes in the zygote, making it difficult to explain why the maternal genes would willingly relinquish their dominance to that of the paternally-derived genes in light of the conflict hypothesis.[54]

Another hypothesis proposed is that some imprinted genes act coadaptively to improve both fetal development and maternal provisioning for nutrition and care.[9][54][55] In it, a subset of paternally expressed genes are co-expressed in both the placenta and the mother's hypothalamus. This would come about through selective pressure from parent-infant coadaptation to improve infant survival. Paternally expressed 3 (PEG3) is a gene for which this hypothesis may apply.[9]

Others have approached their study of the origins of genomic imprinting from a different side, arguing that natural selection is operating on the role of epigenetic marks as machinery for homologous chromosome recognition during meiosis, rather than on their role in differential expression.[56] This argument centers on the existence of epigenetic effects on chromosomes that do not directly affect gene expression, but do depend on which parent the chromosome originated from.[57] This group of epigenetic changes that depend on the chromosome's parent of origin (including both those that affect gene expression and those that do not) are called parental origin effects, and include phenomena such as paternal X inactivation in the marsupials, nonrandom parental chromatid distribution in the ferns, and even mating type switching in yeast.[57] This diversity in organisms that show parental origin effects has prompted theorists to place the evolutionary origin of genomic imprinting before the last common ancestor of plants and animals, over a billion years ago.[56]

Natural selection for genomic imprinting requires genetic variation in a population. A hypothesis for the origin of this genetic variation states that the host-defense system responsible for silencing foreign DNA elements, such as genes of viral origin, mistakenly silenced genes whose silencing turned out to be beneficial for the organism.[58] There appears to be an over-representation of retrotransposed genes, that is to say genes that are inserted into the genome by viruses, among imprinted genes. It has also been postulated that if the retrotransposed gene is inserted close to another imprinted gene, it may just acquire this imprint.[59]

Unfortunately, the relationship between the phenotype and genotype of imprinted genes is solely conceptual. The idea is frameworked using two alleles on a single locus and hosts three different possible classes of genotypes.[60] The reciprocal heterozygotes genotype class contributes to understanding how imprinting will impact genotype to phenotype relationship. Reciprocal heterozygotes have a genetically equivalent, but they are phenotypically nonequivalent.[61] Their phenotype may not be dependent on the equivalence of the genotype. This can ultimately increase diversity in genetic classes, expanding flexibility of imprinted genes.[62] This increase will also force a higher degree in testing capabilities and assortment of tests to determine the presences of imprinting.

When a locus is identified as imprinted, two different classes express different alleles.[60] Inherited imprinted genes of offspring are believed to be monoallelic expressions. A single locus will entirely produce one's phenotype although two alleles are inherited. This genotype class is called parental imprinting, as well as dominant imprinting.[63] Phenotypic patterns are variant to possible expressions from paternal and maternal genotypes. Different alleles inherited from different parents will host different phenotypic qualities. One allele will have a larger phenotypic value and the other allele will be silenced.[60] Underdominance of the locus is another possibility of phenotypic expression. Both maternal and paternal phenotypes will have a small value rather than one hosting a large value and silencing the other.

Statistical frameworks and mapping models are used to identify imprinting effects on genes and complex traits. Allelic parent-of -origin influences the vary in phenotype that derive from the imprinting of genotype classes.[60] These models of mapping and identifying imprinting effects include using unordered genotypes to build mapping models.[62] These models will show classic quantitative genetics and the effects of dominance of the imprinted genes.

Imprinting may cause problems in cloning, with clones having DNA that is not methylated in the correct positions. It is possible that this is due to a lack of time for reprogramming to be completely achieved. When a nucleus is added to an egg during somatic cell nuclear transfer, the egg starts dividing in minutes, as compared to the days or months it takes for reprogramming during embryonic development. If time is the responsible factor, it may be possible to delay cell division in clones, giving time for proper reprogramming to occur.[citation needed]

An allele of the "callipyge" (from the Greek for "beautiful buttocks"), or CLPG, gene in sheep produces large buttocks consisting of muscle with very little fat. The large-buttocked phenotype only occurs when the allele is present on the copy of chromosome 18 inherited from a sheep's father and is not on the copy of chromosome 18 inherited from that sheep's mother.[64]

In vitro fertilisation, including ICSI, is associated with an increased risk of imprinting disorders, with an odds ratio of 3.7 (95% confidence interval 1.4 to 9.7).[65]

Epigenetic deregulations at H19 imprinted gene in sperm have been observed associated with male infertility.[66] Indeed, methylation loss at H19 imprinted gene has been observed associated with MTHFR gene promoter hypermethylation in semen samples from infertile males. [66]

The first imprinted genetic disorders to be described in humans were the reciprocally inherited Prader-Willi syndrome and Angelman syndrome. Both syndromes are associated with loss of the chromosomal region 15q11-13 (band 11 of the long arm of chromosome 15). This region contains the paternally expressed genes SNRPN and NDN and the maternally expressed gene UBE3A.

DIRAS3 is a paternally expressed and maternally imprinted gene located on chromosome 1 in humans. Reduced DIRAS3 expression is linked to an increased risk of ovarian and breast cancers; in 41% of breast and ovarian cancers the protein encoded by DIRAS3 is not expressed, suggesting that it functions as a tumor suppressor gene.[67] Therefore, if uniparental disomy occurs and a person inherits both chromosomes from the mother, the gene will not be expressed and the individual is put at a greater risk for breast and ovarian cancer.

Other conditions involving imprinting include Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, Silver-Russell syndrome, and pseudohypoparathyroidism.[68]

Transient neonatal diabetes mellitus can also involve imprinting.[69]

The "imprinted brain hypothesis" argues that unbalanced imprinting may be a cause of autism and psychosis.

In insects, imprinting affects entire chromosomes. In some insects the entire paternal genome is silenced in male offspring, and thus is involved in sex determination. The imprinting produces effects similar to the mechanisms in other insects that eliminate paternally inherited chromosomes in male offspring, including arrhenotoky.[70]

In placental species, parent-offspring conflict can result in the evolution of strategies, such as genomic imprinting, for embryos to subvert maternal nutrient provisioning. Despite several attempts to find it, genomic imprinting has not been found in the platypus, reptiles, birds, or fish. The absence of genomic imprinting in a placental reptile, the Pseudemoia entrecasteauxii, is interesting as genomic imprinting was thought to be associated with the evolution of viviparity and placental nutrient transport.[71]

Studies in domestic livestock, such as dairy and beef cattle, have implicated imprinted genes (e.g. IGF2) in a range of economic traits,[72][73][29] including dairy performance in Holstein-Friesian cattle.[74]

A study published in March, 2022,[75] documents that foraging behavior in mice studied was influenced by a sexually dimorphic allele expression implicating a cross-gender imprinting influence that varies throughout the body and may dominate expression and shape a behavior.[76]

A similar imprinting phenomenon has also been described in flowering plants (angiosperms).[77] During fertilization of the egg cell, a second, separate fertilization event gives rise to the endosperm, an extraembryonic structure that nourishes the embryo in a manner analogous to the mammalian placenta. Unlike the embryo, the endosperm is often formed from the fusion of two maternal cells with a male gamete. This results in a triploid genome. The 2:1 ratio of maternal to paternal genomes appears to be critical for seed development. Some genes are found to be expressed from both maternal genomes while others are expressed exclusively from the lone paternal copy.[78] It has been suggested that these imprinted genes are responsible for the triploid block effect in flowering plants that prevents hybridization between diploids and autotetraploids.[79] Several computational methods to detect imprinting genes in plants from reciprocal crosses have been proposed. [80][81][82]

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Genomic imprinting - Wikipedia

When a doctor recommended to Steven Kalister that he get screened for genes associated with breast cancer a few years ago, the Columbus Northwest Side resident was surprised.

Kalister, 50, did not have breast cancer a disease uncommon (though not unheard of) among men or any form of malignancy, for that matter. But his father had died from metastatic prostate cancer, so Steve was seeking precautions besides common tests like digital rectal exams and prostate-specific antigen screenings.

The oncologist, Dr. Steven Clinton at Ohio State Universitys comprehensive cancer care center, explained to Kalister that mutations in two genes, known as BRCA1 and BRCA2, could have caused his fathers cancer, and might have been passed down to him. BRCA stands for Breast Cancer Gene, because that is what researchers first found it to be associated it with.However, science has since connected the BRCA genes with a range of malignant tumors that affect men and women, from melanoma to pancreatic, ovarian, and prostate cancers.

Kalister decided to take a simple blood test and learned that, indeed, he had a mutation in the BRCA2 gene.Since then, he has undertaken a variety of precautions that could help him ward off any significant tumor, and he shared the news with family members who also got tested.

Kalister said he would encourage anyone who is thinking about genetic testing to go seea counselor.

My wife thought maybe Id get paranoid or have a lot of anxiety from these results. But thats not the case at all.Knowledge is power, he said.

'Pay it forward': One testicular cancer survivor raises funds for research

Researchers and clinicians say that the publics understanding of BRCA genes needs updating.Because of the genes association with breast cancer and therefore cisgender women, until recently BRCA testing was not covered by insurance or encouraged for men diagnosed with prostate cancer but with no family history of the disease.

However, recent research has shown that men with mutations to BRCA2 have a three-times higher risk of prostate cancer than the general population, and people with mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 are six and 14 times more susceptible to pancreatic cancer, respectively. Today, genetic counselors recommend that certain male cancer patients and men with family histories of cancer get tested for mutations in BRCA and a suite of other cancer-associated genes.

The BRCA genes code for proteins that help prevent cancer by fixing damaged DNA.

Like everything in our bodies, DNA is susceptible to damage from radiation, chemicals, or other factors, like random chance during the process of creating new cells. Cells containing damaged DNA can become cancerous if fixes are not made by DNA-repairing proteins. Mutations in the BRCA genes can create proteins that are less effective at fixing DNA damage, thus upping cancer risk.

Everyone has two copies of each BRCA gene one from each parent but only some people have harmful mutations in the gene. If a parent has a harmful mutation in either gene, each of their children has a 50% chance of inheriting it, according to Lindsey Byrne, a licensed genetic counselor at Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center.

More: United we ride: Pelotonia brings cancer survivors, loved ones together to find a cure

Byrne leads a genetics clinic at the OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute. As a licensed genetic counselor, she helps patients decide whether to undergo genetic screening, how to interpret results, and next steps.

Byrne encourages genetic testing for anyone with a strong family history of cancer, and for patients who have cancer at an early age or particularly aggressive cancers.

That includes prostate cancer.

I think there hasnt been enough messaging to say: prostate cancer is something you should have genetic testing (for). There is a lot of media and coverage about breast cancer and genetics, but the message was not as strong for prostate cancer until recently, she said.

Certain people may want to consider genetic screening based on their ethnicity.While only one in 400 individuals in the general population has a harmful BRCA mutation, that statistic rises to about one in 50 among Ashkenazi Jews, who trace their ancestry to central and eastern Europe.

Kalister works at The James as a service line administrator, but he said there was a lot he didnt understand about cancer and genes until he sought out genetic counseling.

Knowing he is positive for a BRCA2 mutation has helped him take precautionary measures. He is more careful about sun exposure than he used to be (because BRCA2 is linked with melanoma), and tries to eat more healthful foods.

Byrne also helped him connect with an ongoing National Cancer Institute study, which takes MRIs of his prostate on a regular basis to detect any abnormalities.

So far, so good, he said.

Kalister plans to encourage his twin 9-year-old sons, Ian and Colin, to get genetic screening as well when the time comes.

Ill tell them about how its not scary its about how you use that knowledge to your advantage, he said.

Insurance covers most patients for genetic cancer screenings, but it depends on the policy and ones medical and family cancer history, said Byrne.

Testing is very low out of pocket,and for Medicare and Medicaid patients, its usually zero out-of-pocket, she said. Medicaid and Medicare have covered genetic screening for metastatic prostate cancer patients since 2018.

Even if one were to self-pay, the cost of screening is just a few hundred dollars, compared to several thousand dollars a decade or more ago.

Although BRCA is a common genetic cause of cancer, it is not the only one.Byrne says she typically tests for a suite of 12 other genes, in addition to the two BRCAs.

Some genes that cause cancer including prostate cancer may have yet to be discovered.

For example, Black men, who are 60% to 80% more likely than white men to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, do not have higher-than-normal incidences of BRCA.

There must be something else going on, said Byrne.

It could be a combination of a whole bunch of small risk factors, or it could be a gene we havent discovered, and its because we havent studied genetics as much in individuals who are Black as we have in whites. The problem with some research is its not validated for all populations, and thats a huge equity issue.

Byrne says some patients come to her with privacy concerns over genetic testing, but she is usually able to allay their fears.

Unlike some companies that test DNA to identify relatives, none of OSUs genetic testing partners share information with the police, she told The Dispatch.

Individuals are also protected by the 2008 Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), which prevents employers and health insurers from asking about genetic information when making decisions.However, exceptions are made for life insurance and long-term care insurers, who can ask for such information. It is often best to buy such coverage before undergoing genetic testing, said Byrne.

Kalister said that for at-risk individuals like himself, genetic counseling should be a no-brainer.

The counselors are really really good, he said.This is what they do they talk to people about this kind of testing, these results, theyre there to answer questions.

OSU also provides Family HealthLink, a free online tool that estimates cancer risk by reviewing family patterns.

Peter Gill covers immigration and new American communities for The Dispatch in partnership with Report for America. You can support work like his with a tax-deductible donation to Report for Americahere:bit.ly/3fNsGaZ.

pgill@dispatch.com

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BRCA beyond breast cancer: links to prostate, pancreatic, other tumors - The Columbus Dispatch

A retrospective study that analyzed sex disparities in patients with COVID-19 and rheumatoid arthritis found that men had more baseline comorbidities and increased risk of COVID-19related outcomes, compared with females.

Differences in genetics between sex and sex steroid hormones may play a role in predisposition to COVID-19 infection as well as modulating the disease progression, according to Xiaofeng Zhou, PhD, senior director at Pfizer, New York, and the studys lead author.

Zhou presented her findings at The Lancet Summit: Sex and gender in rheumatology in late September.

Patients with chronic rheumatic diseases treated with immunomodulatory therapies may be at higher risk for more severe COVID-19 outcomes, including hospitalization, complications, and death. Research on sex-based disparities in RA patients with COVID-19 in the United States is limited, said Zhou, who embarked on a retrospective cohort study to examine the demographic and clinical characteristics of RA patients with COVID-19 and estimate the risk of possible COVID-19 outcomes by sex.

Zhou and colleagues used U.S. COVID-19 data collected through electronic health records by Optum during 2020 to June 2021. The study included adult patients with RA and a COVID-19 diagnosis ( 1 diagnosis code or positive SARS-CoV-2 laboratory test) and 183 days of database enrollment who received treatment with immunomodulatory therapies prior to the diagnosis date. They were stratified by sex.

Investigators used logistic regression to estimate the risk of 11 possible COVID-19related outcomes within 30 days of the COVID-19 diagnosis (hospitalization, ICU admission, pneumonia, kidney failure, thrombotic event, heart failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome [ARDS], sepsis/septic shock, mechanical ventilation/extracorporeal membrane oxygenation [ECMO], in-hospital death, and all-cause mortality), adjusting for demographics and baseline clinical covariates.

A total of 4476 COVID-19 patients with RA (78% females) took part in the study. Male patients trended older (64 vs 60 years) and had lower African American representation and Medicaid enrollment than females, but they had more baseline comorbidities such as hypertension (55% vs 45%), hyperlipidemia (45% vs 33%), diabetes (25% vs 20%), coronary artery disease (28% vs 12%), and chronic kidney disease (20% vs 15%).

Eight of the 11 COVID-19 outcomes were significantly more likely to occur in men than women (hospitalization: odds ratio [OR], 1.32 [95% CI, 1.11-1.56]; ICU admission: OR, 1.80 [95% CI, 1.36-2.40]; mechanical ventilation/ECMO: OR, 1.48 [95% CI, 1.04-2.11]; in-hospital death: OR, 1.53 [95% CI, 1.13-2.07]; all-cause mortality: OR, 1.42 [95% CI, 1.09-1.86]; sepsis: OR, 1.55 [95% CI, 1.20-2.02]; kidney failure: OR, 1.46 [95% CI, 1.15-1.85]; ARDS: OR, 1.39 [95% CI, 1.15-1.69]).

The data illustrated that men with RA had more baseline comorbidities and increased risk of COVID-19 outcomes than females.

Sex hormones regulate virus entry into host cells, respiratory function, immune response, the cardiovascular system, and coagulation, explained Zhou.

Estrogen and progesterone in women could help develop stronger and efficient immune responses to viruses and reduce virus entry into the host cells. Also, larger number of copies of ACE2 genes in women, [which] is linked with protection in the lungs against edema, permeability, and pulmonary damage, could be associated with lower incidence of severe COVID-19 outcomes, such as respiratory-related mortality and mortality, Zhou said.

By comparison, androgens in men may increase virus entry into the host cells and promote unfavorable immune response through the induction of cytokine production and reducing the antibody response to the virus. This could lead to severe infection, Zhou said.

Sex-based differences in steroid hormones may also explain the higher incidence of morbidity and fatality thats been observed in other studies of male patients with other infectious diseases, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome and Middle East respiratory syndrome.

The results add real-world evidence to the limited literature on sex disparities in COVID-19 outcomes among patients with RA in the United States, Zhou said. The differential role in sex steroid hormones among women and men may shed light on clinical management of COVID-19 patients and the need to consider sex-specific approaches in clinical trials in preventing and treating COVID-19 patients, she said.

Considering that all patients are recommended to get COVID-19 vaccinations, It is difficult to say how this impacts clinical practice, said Janet Pope, MD, MPH, professor of medicine in the division of rheumatology at the University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, who was not involved with the study.

Sharing results with some patients may help to encourage vaccination, thus reducing risk of poor COVID-19 outcomes, Pope said.

In future studies, Zhou suggests using multiple databases and considering other geographies beyond the United States to further understand the etiology of sexual dimorphism in COVID-19 and expand generalizability. In addition, future research will seek to provide insights into health equity gaps in the management of COVID-19. This may inform development of precision medicines and vaccines, especially among patients on immunosuppressive treatments, she said.

The study was sponsored by Pfizer. Zhou and other study authors are Pfizer employees and hold Pfizer stock.

The Lancet Summit: Sex and gender in rheumatology: Abstract P.37. Presented Sept. 22, 2022.

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Severe COVID-19Related Outcomes Found Worse in Men With RA - Medscape

There is something about bees that in all ages has taken men captive.Brother Adam, Beekeeping at Buckfast Abbey*

On isolated, swampy Thorah Island in Lake Simcoe, Ontario, researchers bring virgin queen bees to take their mating flights. Each year, the Honey Bee Research Centre at the University of Guelph brings Buckfast queens to this mating station, which restricts the queens options. Thorah Island is situated far enough from the mainland that queens can only breed with the finest male Buckfast drone (male) bees, also brought by the researchers, who express the traits theyve selected for; here, mainland bees wont fly over water at such a distance.

Researchers and beekeepers work intensely to maintain the Buckfast honeybee genes because the strain is valued for its gentle nature, its hardiness in challenging climates, and its ability to produce high amounts of honey. Today, the Honey Bee Research Centre follows the same breeding program to preserve the bee lines developed in the early twentieth century by a monk named Brother Adam Kehrle.

A Benedictine monk of Buckfast Abbey in England, Br. Adam studied and bred the first Buckfast bee lines around 1920, and over the course of his nearly eighty-year beekeeping career wrote three books regarded as classics on the subject: Beekeeping at Buckfast Abbey, In Search of the Best Strains of Bees, and Breeding the Honeybee.

These texts remain important references for beekeepers and those interested in breeding bee species, and while they offer poetic and meticulous practical detailsqueen selection for optimum fecundity, fertilization, and pest controlBrother Adams writing reveals his deep admiration for honeybees, as well as the more esoteric aims and considerations in the practice of beekeeping.

Their extraordinary sense of order and precision, their ability to adapt themselves to anything and everything, their amazing versatility, these and many other characteristics provide an inexhaustible source of interest and delight for the professional bee-keeper with his 2,000 stocks as well as for the amateur with his few hives in the corner of his garden.

One of Br. Adams most enigmatic instructions with regard to what bees may need from those who tend to them was to Let the bees tell you. Still, while seemingly inscrutable, this idea holds important weight among even expert beekeepers. Many elements of beekeeping cannot be learned by text or even detailed instruction, or by applying past experience to current colonies, whose behavior is as changeable as weather patterns.

As Br. Adams advice suggests, its only with keen and patient attention that beekeepers can understand what may be happening inside a hive; and with this observation, beekeepers need to be attuned to how they contribute to, not engineer, the outcome of a colony; as he says, not attempting the impossible of mastering her, but rather doing all we can to serve her needs.

Honeybees must be, in a sense, decoded. In a failing hive, many would expect the bees foraging to be weak or that a queen is placed into a hive with limited capacity, but Brother Adam emphasized that, all too often, it is the beekeeper who is at fault for failing to serve the bees needs. Certain codes exist even within the beekeeping lexicon.

In one of the more obvious instances, in the world of queen bee breeding and rearinga competitive industry involving larvae graftingqueens are marked with a specific color for the year theyre bred. There are five queen bee marking colors that follow the recognized color sequenceas queens do not live more than a maximum of five years, the color code starts over in the sixth year. A common mnemonic to remember the colors is Will you raise good bees (white yellow red green blue).

On beekeeping message boards one sees speculations about brood patterns, whether a colony is thriving, signs of swarming (abandoning a hive), and, if a colony dies, beekeepers perform hive autopsies, assessing mysteries which can largely only be identified through experience; watching and interpreting, in other words, is letting the bees tell you. The beekeeper must, Br. Adam writes, with his signature esteem for the insects, at all times heed the instincts and highly developed organisation of the bees.

Brother Adam wrote this specific advice in Beekeeping at Buckfast Abbey. You may envision Br. Adam as hes depicted in the many photos featured in this text: a seemingly gentle, gray-haired and fastidious man, dressed not in white suit or a veil, but in a monks dark habitperhaps not the first visual that comes to mind with regard to honeybees and their keepers.

While the history of beekeeping is vast and worldwide, in Europe, beekeeping was taken on regularly by abbeys and monasteries during the Middle Ages; different regions established their traditional forms of housing for bee hives, or skeps, which resemble overturned baskets, some woven and others made from pottery, wood, or cork. Traditionally, skeps were used to house bees and their honeycomb, but harvesting the honey required the destruction of the colony, killing the bees.

Up to a hundred years before Brother Adam was writing, honeybee breeding was the exclusive prerogative of nature, and harvests were challenging. Humans, he writes, had little influence before the movable frame hive became common in the 19th century, borrowed, its said, from top-bar (movable honeycomb) hives in Greece, which preserve the bees. Later, the Langstroth hivethe most popular among apiarists, those recognizable, stackable boxes opened from the topprovided perfect amounts of bee space between frames of comb to keep both honeybees and their honey harvesting stewards content.

As many of us become aware of the dangers of human intervention with honeybeesrelying on industrial beekeeping to support the pollination of monoculture crops, and the (likely) connected colony collapse disorderits important to clarify that apiculture, like agriculture, holds much diversity and nuance. Some contemporary beekeepers support Buckfast strains of bees for the same reasons Br. Adam developed them: gentle temperament (a bonus for keepers), low swarm tendencies, and stability in unpredictable climates.

University of Guelph Honeybee Research Centre brings around a hundred Buckfast mating nucleus colonies to Thorah Island each year; colorful nucs piled like blocks get ferried across the water on a beater pickup truck. From this isolated place, after their lofty mating flights with Buckfast drones, mated queens are harvested on a two-week cycle. These young, fertile Buckfast queens, who will each lay thousands of eggs and populate their own Buckfast colonies, are then used to re-queen HBRC colonies or sold to beekeepers.

The careful steps involved in maintaining these lines of bees requires a commitment to Brother Adams breeding system, and only registered Buckfast breeders are allowed to use the term Buckfast when advertising colonies or queens for sale. Similarly, in Br. Adams pedigree bee-breeding, he isolated his colonies to ensure queens could only mate with selected drones. Buckfast Abbey was relatively close to the wilds of Dartmoor, a relatively treeless expanse utterly inhospitable to bees, which ensured that the only honeybees interbreeding would be Br. Adams Buckfast strain.

Honeybees provided materials that became integrated into the material life of the Catholic Church: fermented honey was used medicinally, and to make mead in areas where grapes could not be grown for wine; beeswax was highly prized for making candles for church services, as they give a purer, longer burn than typical animal tallow candles.

Further, the candles themselves were considered sacred: The wick denoted the soul and mortality of Christ, the light the divine person of the Saviour, writes Hilda Ransome in The Sacred Bee in Ancient Times and Folklore. Apparently, beeswax candles were the preferred method for lighting in Catholic Churches, a practice which survived into the 20th century when the requirement was ended by the Pope.

Aside from the practical usage of their wax and honey, beekeeping among monks and religious communities has long been seen as a meditative, even holy practice. Beekeeping was the responsibility of many monks and nuns, and some religious, like Br. Adam, held positions entirely devoted to working with the bees.

Its not a huge leap to transpose the widely held cultural view of honeybee coloniesas intelligent, industrious, sweet, working in harmony for the greater goodonto religious communities like Buckfast Abbey. In Brother Adams writing, we find admiration for his colonys collective work, its rituals and devotion to a higher power, and his desire to emulate it in his work at the abbey.

*

Karle Kehrle arrived at Buckfast Abbey from Germany in 1909, at just 11 years of age, to join the order, taking the name Brother Adam. Lay monks typically learned practical skills, evidently vital to Buckfast as it was still undergoing a revitalization begun in the late 19th century. As he wasnt suited for stonemasonry, Adam started as an assistant in the apiary with Br. Columban.

At the time, the abbey kept two breeds of honeybees: the native English black beeshardy and well suited for the unpredictable British weatherand Italian honeybees. Soon after Br. Adam joined, thirty of the Abbeys forty-six honeybee colonies (or hives) were lost to what experts thought to be a disease caused by tracheal mites known as acarine. All of the bees that died were of the native black bee variety. The bees that survived were of Italian origin, a discrepancy that struck Br. Adam, and led him to study the importance of species and genetics in apiculture.

Upon Br. Columbans retirement in 1919, Br. Adam took on the apiarist role and slowly rebuilt the lost colonies. His pursuit of a successful strain of honeybee came at an opportune time. As he took on the role at Buckfast Abbey, the Isle of Wight Disease, as it was then called, had brought native bees in England practically to extinction. Italian honeybees could not be managed in the same way as the indigenous variety; the beekeeping practices used elsewhere, in more temperate climates with longer flowering seasons, were unsuitable for the British Isles. Br. Adam sought to use cross-breeding between the English native black bee and the Italian honeybee to develop a new species that would be tough like the black bee, pest- and disease-resistant like the Italian bee, gentle, and, of course, an intrepid producer of honey.

Br. Adam found that providing the hybrid bees with a larger brood chamber (ample breeding space, that is), made way for bees to thrive. In undertaking this breeding of an ideal honeybee, Br. Adam looked to heterosis, also known as hybrid vigor, to develop the superior qualities of genetic lineages; inevitable, though, in hybridizing animals is the persistence of undesirable qualities. In honeybees, this can look like aggression (stinging), slow honey production, or weakly fertile queen lines. The resultant Buckfast bee is more industrious, more thrifty, less disposed to swarm, more resistant to disease, particularly acarine As for temper, she is unusually docile and will tolerate handling in unfavourable weather.

As queen bee genetics determine generations of their own colony, breeding them was vital, and soon Br. Adam was consumed by the search for an ideal bee. Bee breeding typically requires isolation; unlike other livestock, its difficult to predict bee crosses, and, even more difficult to control their pairings. Queens mate while flying, and so bee breeders face the time-consuming task of ensuring queens are limited to top-choice drones.

Directed breeding looks to the best qualities in honeybees, which according to Br. Adam are: fecundity (honey-gathering and brood-rearing abilities), industry (boundless capacity to work), resistance to disease, and disinclination to swarm. He also outlines the charmingly named qualities of indirect value, which do not influence honey production, but facilitate the beekeepers tasks. These involve bees exhibiting good temper, calm behavior, and a keen sense of orientation back to their home hive (for bees that wont drift to neighboring colonies).

There is no perfect or ideal bee, Br. Adam wrote, though he traveled extensively throughout the world to be sure. In his research trips he studied and sourced breeding stock for his bee program. He concentrated on countries with distinct indigenous species of bees, going chiefly to isolated rural regions where the purity of the native strains had been maintained. According to the Buckfast Abbey website, over the years, he traveled more than 100,000 miles in search of the best strains of bees, which of course he documented in In Search of the Best Strains of Bees.

In Beekeeping at Buckfast Abbey, Br. Adam discusses the preferred structure of hives, apiary location (a southerly sunny aspect and shelter from the prevailing wind), and the aims of beekeeping itself. These aims outline objectives, as Brother Adam saw them: over years spent with apiaries and bees, the beekeeper will gain a knowledge and insight into the mysterious ways of the honeybee, usually denied to the scientist in the laboratory. This surrender to natures mystery is likely what compels readers and beekeepers alike.

Br. Adams ongoing acknowledgement of our inability to control honeybees is heartening, especially in the context of genetic selection. He concedes that breeding bees is a blind-mans game and the honeybee will, despite genetic expectations and human interference, follow her instincts regardless of our wishes. The tasks of the modern beekeeper might more aptly be described as a service; in fact, we are more truly servants than masters.

While many others had bred bees before him, it is Brother Adams reverential, poetic writing that makes him a particularly captivating figure. Upon his death in 1996, the Washington Post called his creation the legendary Buckfast Superbee. Adams research led to a breed of honeybee which is exclusive yet popular, highly productive, and more resistant to parasites and the pervasive varroa mites that trouble beekeepers and decimate bee colonies.

Brother Adams hybrid queens, foundational for todays Buckfast honeybees, were so highly valued that in 1982 thieves stole two queens from the Buckfast Abbey apiaries. Police circulated a description of the bees: three-quarters of an inch in length, with dark brown and dark gray stripes.

Buckfast bees are treasured by commercial beekeepers and honey fanatics alike; and, of course, they contribute to their surrounding environment by doing what honeybees do: visiting flowers and pollinating plants that enhance our farming and our ecosystems.

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Let the Bees Tell You. On the Holy Bible (For Beekeepers) of Buckfast Abbey - Literary Hub

What if people who need regular injections to treat chronic diseases could instead take a pill that precisely controls the production of the right proteins and hormones inside their bodies?

A promising new gene therapy technology that aims to turn the human body into such a medicine-making factory could, if successful, push the boundaries of medicine and make certain treatments much more convenient and potentially less expensive.

MeiraGTx, a gene therapy company, is working to make this futuristic vision a reality.

The British company already develops traditional gene therapy, which replaces missing or broken genes in people with inherited disorders. That side of business is booming, and the firm just opened a manufacturing facility in Ireland that could employ up to 300 people.

But MeiraGTx is also making strides in what it calls gene regulation therapy, which it says could help control much more precisely the genes that instruct cells to make or stop making certain proteins.

Its no easy feat and the technology would take years to bring to market, but it has the potential to make gene therapy even more life-changing for patients.

When you put a gene or replace a missing gene into a cell today, you put the gene in and it is expressed for the rest of that cell's life, MeiraGTx CEO Alexandria Forbes told Euronews Next.

Its very hard to build a gene therapy that is switched on and off when it's needed, particularly in a disease. And what's even harder is to create a gene therapy which is switched on or off when you, the doctor or patient, want it to be.

MeiraGTx says it has developed a switch of this sort that could help make patients lives much easier: rather than injecting synthetic hormones and proteins into them, it could insert the gene that tells their body to make those, while a pill activates the gene only when the specific protein or hormone is needed.

Take Epogen (epoetin alfa) a well-known injectable drug that helps create more red blood cells when you're anaemic, with kidney disease or you're being treated for cancer.

What you can do, for example, is put the gene for Epogen into the body, into the muscle, and have a switching system that only allows your body to make the natural form of Epogen when you take a pill, Forbes explained.

So we don't have to make unnatural forms of these drugs because what we're doing is we're providing the body with the message to make the drug, and that message is only switched on when we give the body a pill.

MeiraGTx told Euronews Next it has already tested this technology in animals and is hoping to start trialling it on humans in 2023.

If successful, it could have huge, broad-ranging implications, Forbes said.

This isn't only for gene therapy. It allows you to control cell therapy, immuno-oncology, antibody production anything that is a protein or peptide that can be made by the body.

Many traditional drugs involve making a protein outside the body, like insulin to fight diabetes or antibodies to fight cancer. That protein is manufactured in cells or bacteria outside the body and then is injected into the body on a regular basis as a treatment.

Gene therapy, by contrast, involves putting into the body a gene encoding the therapeutic protein: rather than injecting the protein over and over and over again, you put the gene for the protein into the person and the protein is made in the person's body.

Gene therapies are typically used against inherited diseases, where a gene is missing or not functioning well. Gene therapy inserts into a patient a perfect copy of that gene to replace the missing or broken one.

So our drugs are actually genes - DNA - and they're delivered into the body by being encapsulated in viral proteins which act like a little spaceship and insert those genes that we've made into the appropriate cell, Forbes said.

This type of technology requires a very specific manufacturing process to ensure through rigorous testing that every single batch of these genes always has the same identical quality, safety and potency, she explained.

MeiraGTx controls this manufacturing in-house and has just inaugurated a new commercial-scale facility in Shannon, Ireland, thats set to employ 100 people initially and up to 300 as business grows.

The company hopes the new site will help accelerate its development and delivery of gene therapy treatments to patients with an initial focus on rare inherited disorders affecting the eye, central nervous system, and salivary gland.

But MeiraGTx argues that adding a switch to be able to fine-tune gene therapy has the potential to considerably expand this range to also tackle non-hereditary diseases that affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide, including heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

It says it could even help fight obesity, arguably one of the biggest global health challenges.

The causes behind obesity are complex and multi-faceted, genetic factors mean some people are more at risk than others, and the hormones that control appetite are very unstable and short-lasting.

A class of injectable diabetes drugs currently proving highly effective against obesity are GLP- 1 drugs, which help control blood sugar levels. But they work better in combination with several other gut peptides that affect metabolism.

The challenge, once again, is to precisely control the levels of these peptides.

MeiraGTx claims its technology may someday allow those hoping to lose weight to switch on the combination of genes that produce the hormones and peptides controlling their appetite, blood sugar levels and ultimately their fat.

We can now put the genes for three natural gut peptides that control metabolism into the body and give a pill when we want those drugs, Forbes said.

In theory, if clinical trials go well, the potential applications for other diseases are dizzying and they directly raise the question of extending human life expectancy. But that should not be the priority right now, Forbes said.

I think that currently we have really big problems with obesity, with Alzheimer's, with ways of living that mean we are young and living poorly, she said.

And these sorts of products can be used to help address those really large indications, not just the rare gene replacements.

Originally posted here:
This gene therapy company is testing new tech to 'switch off' diabetes and obesity with a pill - Euronews

CNN Travel recently published a heartwarming story about a unique world tour by Canadian couple Edith Lemay and Sebastian Pelletier and their four children. The couple wishes to give incredible moments that would enrich visual memories of their children before it is too late. Three of their childrenMia, Colin and Laurentare affected by a rare genetic condition named retinitis pigmentosawhich causes blindness over time. It is a condition that does not have a cure so far, and Lemay and Pelletiers aim is to help their children have better coping mechanisms that would prepare them for their future.

What is retinitis pigmentosa?

Retinitis pigmentosa is a condition where the cells in the retina break down slowly over time. The condition would result in vision loss. RP is caused by mutations in certain genes that control the cells that form the retina. These mutated genes are passed down from parents to children.

Symptoms of RP would typically appear in childhood itself. Loss of night vision is the most common early symptom. Children with RP may have issues adjusting to dim light and walking in darkness. The condition would cause loss of peripheral vision, too. Over time, a person with RP will have trouble seeing things out of the corners of the eyes. Eventually, they would lose this tunnel vision, too. Some others may experience loss of central vision, which would hamper their ability to do tasks such as reading or threading a needle.

RP-affected people will exhibit sensitivity to bright light and may also experience loss of colour vision. The type and speed of vision loss associated with RP would vary from person to person. Global estimates say that RP affects about one in 3,000 to one in 4,000 people. In India, the prevalence of RP is high. A study published in 2012 found that the prevalence of retinitis pigmentosa was about 1:1750 in the adult population of rural central India.

How is RP detected?

The most common method for the detection of RP is a comprehensive dilated eye exam. Here the doctor would give the patient some eye drops to widen his pupil and examine for RP. Electroretinography, optical coherence tomography and fundus autofluorescence imaging are other tests that used to detect RP.

Can RP be treated?

There is no cure for most types of RP so far. But low vision aids and rehabilitation programmes may help those with RP to manage their lives. Those with RP are advised to use sunglasses and other means to avoid exposure to too much light. Voretigene neparvovec-ryzl, a gene therapy product, is now being used to treat a specific type of RPcases in which the disease develops because of mutations in the RP65 genes. Researchers believe that advancements in gene therapy, cell therapy, and medications would bring changes in RP treatment soon.

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What's retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic condition that causes blindness over time - The Week

When she was younger, Daisha Dillon was told she couldnt have a baby. Or that it would be dangerous to get pregnant. That she could put her life or her babys at risk.

Dillon has sickle cell disease.

Despite the warnings, Dillon gave birth to Kinley Dillon on Aug. 19, a healthy girl who does not have sickle cell disease, although she does have one of the associated traits.

Dillon has the New England Sickle Cell Institute at UConn Health to thank, but, even more, she can be proud of her own courage and willingness to do what it took to have a baby.

They really worked with me, she said of the staff at NESCI. And to be honest, I had an amazing pregnancy. It was hard sometimes, but to sum it up altogether, I will say it was great, you know, for someone like me that has sickle cell.

On Aug. 19, Daisha Dillon gave birth to her daughter, Kinley Dillon, but it wasn't a normal pregnancy. Dillons pregnancy was high risk because she has sickle cell disease so she required blood transfusions and other measures. Her daughter does not have sickle cell. (Douglas Hook / Hartford Courant) (Douglas Hook)

Dillon said it took a lot for her to decide to become pregnant.

Growing up, I always heard since I had sickle cell I couldnt have kids, she said. It wasnt good for me to have kids. And if I did have kids I would have to have a C-section; it would send me into a pain crisis. Ive heard all this stuff.

Theyre oftentimes discouraged by their physicians as well as their family members who love them that are worried about their health to not have children, said Dr. Biree Andemariam, founder and director of NESCI, whom Dillon met when she was 17. So, you know, it takes a bit of courage and resilience to push on and have a baby despite being told that youre taking significant risks.

Dillon said she felt some fear, but she went ahead because of her lifelong dream to be a mother and because of her faith.

I know God is not going to put anything on me that I cant handle, and if I pray about things and continue to serve him, itll be fine, she said.

Kinley Dillon was born Aug. 19. Her mother, Daisha Dillon, has sickle cell disease but said she set aside her fears to reach her lifelong dream of being a mother. (Douglas Hook / Hartford Courant) (Douglas Hook)

Dillon, 32, a Manchester resident, was required to get monthly blood transfusions throughout her pregnancy, and she had to deal with the pain crises that come with the disease, as well as chronic pain.

When she needed to go to the hospital, I couldnt go to the ER; I had to go to labor and delivery because they had to watch me and the baby, Dillon said. I was automatically a high-risk pregnancy. So automatically I had to go to the doctor more frequently than anyone else.

She was also on Lovenox, a blood thinner that doesnt pass through to the placenta.

I had to shoot myself with a needle every day. Twice a day, she said.

On Aug. 19, Daisha Dillon gave birth to her daughter, Kinley Dillon, but Daishas pregnancy was high risk because she has sickle cell disease so she required blood transfusions and other measures. Her daughter does not have sickle cell. (Douglas Hook / Hartford Courant) (Douglas Hook)

While the doctors had hoped to have Dillon deliver at 37 weeks, she developed preeclampsia, so she had her C-section a couple of days early. It would have been sooner, but she had to be off the blood thinner before they could deliver Kinley.

She stayed at John Dempsey Hospital for 24 hours, and then they did the C-section the next morning, Dillon said. I had an amazing doctor who did it. She was awesome. The whole team was awesome.

September is designated Sickle Cell Disease Month in order to increase awareness of the blood disorder, which affects mostly Blacks and Hispanics but also, to a lesser extent, groups such as South Asians and those from the Mediterranean.

The disease is characterized by misshapen red blood cells, which are flat and curved, resembling a farmers sickle, larger than a normal cell. They dont carry hemoglobin well and will clog up small blood vessels, which can cause the pain crises associated with the disease.

Bone marrow transplants can cure the disease, but not many with sickle cell disease undergo the procedure, partly because of the risks, including infertility, dealing with the required chemotherapy, and because people with sickle cell can live for decades, Andemariam said.

Also, finding a donor who matches a sickle cell patient is difficult, she said. Parents often will defer the decision of having a bone marrow transplant for their child until the child can make the decision for herself, she said.

Another technique, now in clinical trials, is gene therapy, in which the patients own stem cells are edited or corrected and returned to the patient. NESCI doesnt do transplants at this point, Andemariam said, but is gearing up to do gene therapy once its approved.

On Aug. 19, Daisha Dillon gave birth to her daughter, Kinley Dillon, but it wasn't a normal pregnancy. Dillons pregnancy was high risk because she has sickle cell disease so she required blood transfusions and other measures. Her daughter does not have sickle cell. (Douglas Hook / Hartford Courant) (Douglas Hook)

Dillon said she met Andemariam in the hospital and talked to her about the specialized care NESCI could give her.

I was able to ask her all the questions that I had, and she made me feel very comfortable about going to UConn, Dillon said. So when I did come over here, I felt very comfortable. And then when I got over here, it was even better. All the nurses were great.

Genice Nelson, a doctor of nursing practice, also has been really influential in my care, Dillon said.

Andemariam said there are several risks for both the mother with sickle cell and her baby.

There can be increased complications like something called preeclampsia, increased risk of preterm delivery, increased risk of low birthweight an increased number of pain crises, an increased risk of a very serious lung complication called acute chest syndrome, an increased risk of being hospitalized during the pregnancy, Andemariam said. Death of the mother is also a risk.

For the baby, premature birth and miscarriage are the main risk factors, she said.

Dillon said the idea of not being at NESCI is scary and that she has gotten healthier to the point of not having to go to the hospital as often.

When I go to the ER now, people [say], Oh my God, its been so long, rather than before, they think, Oh, you dont feel well again, Dillon said. That feels good to put some spacing between hospitalizations and come in for regular routine doctor visits rather than come in for pain crises. Whatever were doing, its working.

She credits her caregivers at NESCI for letting her know that she would be OK, even when she had to come off a medication during her pregnancy that helped her avoid pain crises.

They told her, Im not the first person to have a baby with sickle cell, and Im not the last, she said.

Andemariam said NESCI plays an important role in caring for patients with sickle cell disease.

Research has shown us that your odds of doing well in pregnancy with underlying sickle cell disease are dramatically improved if youre receiving care at a place where you have experts in sickle cell disease and you have experts in high-risk pregnancies, Andemariam said.

And this gets to her courage, she said of Dillon. This is her resiliency. She was going to do whatever it took to get that care.

On Aug. 19, Daisha Dillon gave birth to her daughter, Kinley Dillon, but it wasn't a normal pregnancy. Dillons pregnancy was high risk because she has sickle cell disease so she required blood transfusions and other measures. Her daughter does not have sickle cell. (Douglas Hook / Hartford Courant) (Douglas Hook)

She said the center, staffed by fantastic nurses, social workers and assistants, has cared for almost 100 pregnant women, with no serious problems, offering blood transfusions, prenatal diagnostic testing and genetic counseling.

More help may be on the way, as a bill has been introduced in Congress to create a $535 million annual grant program to hospitals with sickle cell disease programs to expand services to community health and outpatient centers. Andemariam is on one of the councils that helped develop the bill.

Dillon has always wanted to be a mother, Andemariam said. She actually shares a very special relationship and bond with her own mother, Carmen, who has always been by her side and supportive of her in everything that shes done, and I can only see that Dashia will want to be able to replicate what Carmen has given to her to her own child.

Since sickle cell is individualized there are a number of variations of the disease Dillon has a written and signed pain plan that she can present to any doctor if she has a pain crisis. It spells out the best treatment for her.

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It takes the guessing game out, she said. The doctor doesnt have to ask you all of the questions. Its all written down, ABC type of things. If a doctor questions the plan, Dillons doctors phone number is there.

It reassures me and reassures the doctor that a hematologist is watching me and she knows what shes doing, Dillon said.

As for Kinley, Shes such a good baby. Honestly, I am blessed. God is so good. I prayed because I do take pain medication. I thought that she would have withdrawal symptoms from the pain medication. And she had no withdrawal symptoms. She was born a happy, healthy baby. When she wakes up she opens her eyes wide and looks at me. I know that everythings going to be OK.

Dillon said Kinleys father keeps his privacy and doesnt want to be named. She said he doesnt have sickle cell or the genetic traits. Theyre not married, but hopefully there will be an engagement soon, Dillon said.

Dillon works as care coordinator in the detox unit at InterCommunity Health Care in Hartford and is working on a masters degree in social work, hoping to work with people with substance use disorder.

Daisha, no matter how sick she has been, and she has been sick throughout her life, always perseveres, Andemariam said. She is always holding down at least two jobs. She is always taking care of herself, providing for herself. She was always a support to her family. So it doesnt surprise me that she would have the courage to take the risk to try to accomplish one of her lifelong goals, which is to be a mother.

Ed Stannard can be reached at estannard@courant.com or 860-993-8190.

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CT woman with painful, life altering disease relies on faith, 'perseveres' to have a baby - Hartford Courant

1. Sex- and age-dependent genetics of longevity in a heterogeneous mouse population  Science
2. Different Genes Influence Lifespan in Male and Female Mice  The Scientist
3. Longevity Genetics Influenced by Age, Sex in Mouse Study  GenomeWeb
4. Longevity: New clues on how gender, age, nutrition may impact lifespan  Medical News Today
5. How exercising now could benefit your future grandchildren  The Washington Post
6. View Full Coverage on Google News

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Sex- and age-dependent genetics of longevity in a heterogeneous mouse population - Science

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All-female breast health team uplifts patients, one another - Huntington Herald Dispatch

The Girls Lifting Organization has grown quickly since becoming an official on-campus organization. Credit: Logo created by Elizabeth Thompson

At a Big Ten school like Ohio State, the opportunities for exercise and gym attendance seem endless, but a disproportionate number of female students attend these facilities to work out. The Girls Lifting Organization hopes to change that.

Within only one month of being an active and official on-campus organization, the Girls Lifting Organization has already accumulated over 250 members and made strides towards making on-campus gyms more female-populated, Linzy Malcolm, a third-year in molecular genetics, said.

The concept originated in February 2022 from Malcolm and Elizabeth Thompson, a third-year in linguistics, while reflecting on the differences in their experiences working out at home and at Ohio State, they said.

Elizabeth and I both went to the same all-girls school. So, going and working out was pretty simple, as our gyms were pretty much only females, Malcolm said. We just noticed how different going to the gym is here on campus, and we decided to make an organization to make girls feel more comfortable using the spaces here.

Co-presidents of GLO and friends since preschool, Malcolm and Thompson relate in their desire to create a safe, designated work-out space for women, Thompson said.

Thompson said women are often a minority in gyms due to societys gender roles and contrasting expectations for men and women in physical appearances.

On a macro level, I think that society places a lot of emphasis on men being strong, Thompson said. I think that women, our body ideals, are more, I dont want to say emphasized on being weak, but theres definitely a stigma around bulking up or things like that. So, I think thats just right out the gate, something that women have to overcome. But within campus, all the gyms, theyre very clearly male-dominated.

Thompson said the facilities having a majority-male makeup is not a bad thing, but it can be intimidating when there isnt a strong female presence.

With the establishment of GLO as an on-campus organization, members can receive weekly workouts and accompanying playlists both created by Malcolm and Thompson to do on their own or alongside a group once a week at the RPAC, Malcolm said.

GLO is an organization for girls on campus who are interested in fitness, but are intimidated in getting started and going to our on-campus recreation facilities, Malcolm said. Its for the type of girl who is a beginner lifter, or an experienced and advanced lifter who wants more of a community to feel safer in those spaces.

The co-presidents have many long-term goals for their organization, Thompson said, including initiating conversations about establishing a female-only workout space on-campus.

I think our general attitude towards the club is like, shoot for the moon and kind of land amongst the stars or something like that, Thompson said. Thats really cheesy, but thats kind of what were going for.

Malcolm said she is most excited to continue seeing friendships and confidence develop amongst the members.

The club doesnt have a focus on increasing your max reps or max weight, it has a focus on making sure that you feel comfortable in the skin and the space that you are in, Malcolm said.

The Girls Lifting Organization accepts members year-round. More information on joining the organization can be found on its Instagram.

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The "GLOwing" future of the Girls' Lifting Organization: Making on-campus gyms feel safer for female students - OSU - The Lantern

ABU DHABI -

A strong presence of women is marking the 19th Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX 2022), being held from September 26 to October 2.

Organised by the Emirates Falconers Club, this year's event has recorded a significant attendance by female visitors and participants, reporters told The Arab Weekly.

ADIHEX 2022, reporters said, is actually turning into a family festival, appealing to all ages and community members.

Over the past few years, the UAE has seen an increase in demand among women, when it comes to the purchase of captive-bred falcons. Moreover, during past ADIHEX shows, there has been a significant demand among girls and women to buy licensed hunting weapons.

This comes following government efforts to ease procedures for licensing hunting weapons, in accordance with current legislation in the country.

During this year's ADIHEX, the role of women is being highlighted through multiple participants, including by the Emirates Falconers Club, the Mohammed bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School and the European Foundation for Falconry & Conservation, the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) and the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE).

Women are also taking part in the showing of prey birds at Al Ain Zoo, as well as seminars and workshops, organised on the sidelines of the exhibition.

The Japanese pavilion is also celebrating the role of women in falconry, with the participation of expert Japanese female falconers.

When it comes to equestrian sports, ADIHEX is expected to boast a strong presence of horsewomen from the UAE and various other countries.

A seminar on the Sustainability Platform: Mechanism of Horse Registration Services at the Emirates Arabian Horse Association (EAHA) will be presented by Ms Lola al-Mansouri.

Meaniwhile, researcher Sariya al-Marzouq will give a lecture on the genetics of horses and the most important qualities of Arabian horses from an economic point of view, including the standards of stamina, performance and appearance, which are related to the features and qualities of equine beauty.

Tina Al Qubaisi, a member of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy (FBMA) and the Dhabian Equestrian Club, will deliver a workshop on the "Connect with Nature, Connect with Animals" platform entitled "Equestrian Sports Training". She will also join in special events in the live performances arena that showcases the skills needed to train horses including their jumping.

Amna al-Jasmi, the Emirati horsewoman is another prominent participant in the live performances arena.

Being an impressive model for the Emirati young woman, especially with her pioneering role in spreading the sport among younger generations, Jasmi will also present performances of archery with the traditional bow and arrow on horseback and demonstrate some types of historical martial arts (fencing with the traditional Arab sword) at this year's exhibition.

On the Outdoor Adventure platform, Emirati athlete and mountaineer Nayla Nasser al-Balushi will share her experience with the ADIHEX visitors, along with her athlete husband, Saeed Khamis al-Maamari. They are the first Emirati couple to climb Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain.

Meanwhile Dr Fatima Sajwani will deliver an important workshop entitled Motivating Arab Women to Practice Exciting Outdoor Sports Activities.

The Abu Dhabi Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition will also see the participation of so-called female heritage guardians. These Emirati women will introduce the public to traditional handicrafts, such as the Sadu, Khous and other crafts that have been passed on by Emirati women from one generation to another.

In the field of arts, women are also expected to record a significant presence. From the Fujairah Fine Arts Academy (FFAA), Fatima Alamiri will deliver a unique workshop on Thread Drawing.

Fatima al-Dhanhani, another female artist, will present a workshop on Arabic calligraphy, while Sally al-Azzawi will give a presentation on the Basics of Decoration and Illumination and Ms Shurooq Azzam on Pottery Formation.

Projects run by women are also set to dominate the current show, offering various items, including traditional handicrafts, accessories, cosmetics, perfumes, incense among many other products.

The renowned Emirati artist Azza Al Qubaisi will hold a special workshop entitled "Make your own Jewellery."

Additionally, many companies seem to be keen to offer women-specific products to attract the ADIHEX female visitors. This comes as falconry activities, organised by the UAE throughout the year, have encouraged girls and young women to learn the arts, skills and science of falconry, fishing and hunting, thus paving the way for them to participate in falconry competitions, as with the equestrian and other traditional sports.

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Strong female participation marks new ADIHEX show | | AW - The Arab Weekly

TFP Rep: Scott Dirk

Date of Sale: 09/19/2022

Location: Sale held at the ranch near LaGrange, Wyo.

Auctioneer: Wes Tiemann

Sales Manager: CK6 Consulting

Averages:

88 Open Heifer calves avg. $1,892

101 Bred Cows avg. $2,415

17 Spring pairs avg. $3,125

Comments:

Due to several years of drought and some lingering health issues, Ken Haas Angus opened the gates to their cow herd in the form of a cow herd reduction sale. Ken and Heather along with daughter Kendall offered a top set of females from the heart of the herd for this sale. There was over 45 years of top genetics and breeding in this sale offering calving ease, feed efficiency and excellent carcass merit.

Top selling female was lot 180, KCH Eileen 263, Feb. 2022 heifer calf sired by GB Fireball 672 selling to Express Ranches, Yukon, OK for $7,500.

Lot 179, KCH Erica 2111, Jan. 2022 heifer calf sired by GB Fireball 672 sold to Express Ranches, Yukon, OK for $5,000.

Lot 204, KCH Mandy 295, Feb. 2022 heifer calf sired by EXAR Monumental 6056B to Sydenstricker Genetics, Mexico, MO for $4,000.

There were no extreme tops to the sale, but the cattle sold steady all day long with several volume buyers adding these great genetics to their herds.

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Ken Haas Angus Cow Herd Reduction Sale - The Fence Post

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Iron status and the risk of sepsis and severe COVID-19: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study | Scientific Reports - Nature.com

Animals

Large white domestic crossbred pigs (Sus scrofa) were used in this study. An atlas focused on pig cardiovascular development was previously published using these same animals6. All animal work was humanely conducted under an approved University of Missouri IACUC protocol and according to ARRIVE guidelines. All wildtype animals studied, including both fetuses and newborns, were generated by Landrace Large White cross parent gilt with semen from Choice USA Genetics (Choice USA, West Des Moines, IA). All pigs used for this study were raised on an approved farm facility and then moved into a University of Missouri animal facility for sample collection. All facilities are approved for biomedical pigs by the University of Missouri Animal Care and Use Committee and followed the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and the program is AAALAC accredited. The Sap130 mutant pig used in this study was generated previously with RRID, NSRRC:00816.

Breeding and harvesting of fetal and newborn pigs was carried out as previously described6. Briefly, wild type gilts were bred by artificial insemination with wild type semen. Day 0 of gestation was classified as the first day of detectable estrus, and pregnant female pigs were humanely euthanized on day 20, 26, 30, 35, 42, 64, 90 or 115 of gestation (referred to as D20, D26, D30, D35, D42, D64, D90, D115). Specimens up to 35 GA are referred to as embryos as they are largely indistinguishable between mouse, pig, human, but those at 42days GA and beyond are referred to as fetuses, as at these stages they have craniofacial and limb features distinct for the pig. The stages selected for the present study are based on our earlier analysis of the temporal profile of cardiovascular development in the pig, with D20 corresponding to early heart development comprising the looped heart tube developmental stage6. At this stage, neither ventricular, atrial, nor outflow septation has occurred. As the heart is the first organ system to form, this provided a reasonable starting point for profiling development of the abdominal organs, which are initiated after formation of the heart. From our previous study, we had determined spacing at~56day intervals can maximize what can be learned regarding the developmental progression of organogenesis at these early stages. However, the exact day of collection varied by a day or two, determined by availability of staff for collection of the specimen. Beyond day 35, we collected and analyzed fetuses at increasingly larger intervals that spanned Day 42, Day 64, Day 90 and Day 115 (newborn). By Day 42, most abdominal organs are fully formed, except for the gonads whose development continues at Day 64, but is completed by day 90.

For the embryo/fetus collection, the uterus was opened on the antimesometrial side and fetuses were removed. The whole fetus from each stage was then drop-fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde at room temperature. For fetuses at D42, D64 and D90, a small opening on the side of each fetus was introduced to allow fixative to permeate the chest cavity. Newborn piglets were kept on ice until dissection of all organs. Collected organs were photographed and placed in fixative. Embryos/fetuses were fixed in 4% PFA or 10% buffered formalin for 25days. At minimum, three embryos/fetuses per stage were analyzed. D20 to D42 embryos/fetuses were necropsied by using a stereomicroscope with digital images captured using the Kontron Progres digital camera. MRI scans were conducted followed by histological reconstructions using episcopic confocal microscopy. Newborn pigs (D115) and 2-day old pigs were analyzed by gross dissections and individual organs were separated and further analyzed by MRI. All animal work was humanely conducted under an approved University of Missouri IACUC Protocol.

The SAP130 mutant piglet was generated by a het x het mating of male 243 and female 244. The male (243) contains a 7bp deletion and the female (244) contains a 4bp deletion in SAP130. Six piglets were born. The piglets were genotyped in the same manner as Gabriel et al.6. After the piglets were genotyped, it was identified that one of the founder pigs was mosaic and contained a second modified allele, a 6bp deletion with 2bp mutation. It is not clear, which founder pig contained the third allele. Only one SAP130 mutant piglet was born from this litter containing an allele with a 4bp deletion and an allele with a 7bp deletion which resulted in a SAP130 null genotype. The mutant piglet was identified by external phenotype and euthanized for analysis at term.

For embryos at D20, D26, D30, and D35, following necropsy and MRI, the whole fetus or only the abdominal section of the fetus was embedded in paraffin for episcopic confocal microscopy (ECM). Paraffin embedded samples were sectioned using a Leica SM2500 sledge microtome and serial confocal images of the block face were captured using a Leica LSI scanning confocal macroscope mounted above the sample block as previously described6. The 2D serial image stacks collected were visualized using the OsiriX Dicom viewer11 (https://www.osirix-viewer.com). These image stacks could be digitally re-sectioned in multiple imaging planes and 3D reconstructed for optimal viewing of the abdominal organs.

Prior to MRI scanning, embryos/fetuses were fixed and stained with a gadolinium (Gd)-based contrast agent to shorten the tissue T1. Briefly, after fixation embryos/fetuses were immersed in 1:200 MultiHance23 (gadobenate dimeglumine, 529mg/ml, Bracco Diagnostic, Inc. Monroe Twp, NJ) diluted with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at 40C for at least 48h. After staining, small embryos were secured on a tongue depressor (McKesson Medical-Surgical, Irving, TX) with Webglue surgical adhesive (n-butyl cyanoacrylate, Patterson Veterinary, Devens, MA). The embryos/fetuses were then immersed in Fomblin Y (perfluoropolyether, Sigma-Aldrich Millipore) to eliminate the susceptibility artifact at the tissue-air interface and to avoid dehydration during imaging.

MRI was carried out as previously described, with special emphases on abdominal structures, using a Bruker Biospec 7T/30 system (Bruker Biospin MRI, Billerica,MA) with a 35-mm or 72-mm quadrature coil for both transmission and reception6. 3D MRI was acquired with a fast spin echo sequence, the Rapid Acquisition with Refocusing Echoes (RARE), with the following parameters: effective echo time (TE) 24.69ms,RARE factor 8, repetition time (TR) 900ms. We used RARE also known as Fast Spin-Echo (FSE) or Turbo Spin-Echo (TSE) pulse sequence for high-resolution 3D imaging with T2-weighted contrast. It generates similar T2-weighted contrast as the Half-Fourier-Acquired Single-shot Turbo spin Echo (HASTE), a Turbo spin-echo technique that is used for sequential acquisition of high-resolution T2-weighted images. However, the strategy for fast spin echo is different. Our RARE condition with RARE factor 8 uses 8 echoes as 8 phase-encoded k-space lines to accelerate acquisition; whereas HASTE uses a single-shot technique or segmented multiple shorts to cover sufficient k-space from a single TR. HASTE although commonly used in human scanners, it is not available in the Bruker preclinical scanner used in this study. RARE provides flexible T2-weighting conditions by changing RARE factors depending on the tissue types of interest. We have tested various RARE factors, TE, and TR combinations to optimize the contrast, signal to noise ratio (SNR), and scan time used in this study.

The field of view (FOV), acquisition matrix and voxel sizes varied based on the sample size. The typical spatial resolution for D26, D30, and D35 embryos ranged from 39m to 46m, that of D42, D64 and D90 fetuses ranged from 45m to 62m. The FOV, matrix, resolution, echo time, RARE factor, and other MR parameters used for imaging at the different GAs are provided in Supplemental Spread Sheet 1. The 3D MRI imaging stacks were exported with DICOM format and could be re-oriented to any viewing angle with Horos Dicom Viewer (Horosproject.org).

Necropsies were performed as previously described on D42, D64, D90, D105, D115 and 2-day old wildtype normal pigs which showed no external malformations6. Briefly the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic viscera were examined in situ for malformations, the heart, great vessels, and lungs were removed as a block and examined using the sequential segmental analytical method24,25. Following examination of thoracic organs, the abdominal-pelvic visceral blocks were removed as a block and dissected and examined from behind (dorsal in the pig). Because pigs are quadrupeds, structures, which in bipedal mammals are described as inferior in pigs are described as posterior or caudal, for example the inferior caval vein can be referred to as the posterior or caudal caval vein in the pig. However, to better align the pig to the bipedal mammal, we have chosen, like others, to describe the abdominal organs of pigs as in bipedal mammals26. The abdominal organs in mammals obtain their basic gross appearance before term but continue to develop after birth by increasing in size or length as well as at the cellular and biochemical levels. In addition, in the very early embryo the organs begin by cell differentiation, and they lack the expected configuration that is seen in the fetus. In this study we focus on the assessment of the basic gross appearance of the organs before term.

See the rest here:
Profiling development of abdominal organs in the pig | Scientific Reports - Nature.com

Maya, the worlds first cloned arctic wolf, was born in a lab in China(Picture: Twitter/China Science)

A Beijing-based genetics company has successfully cloned an Arctic wolf, in a ground-breaking move which could help preserve endangered species.

26 years after the birth of Dolly the Sheep, Sinogene Biotechnology unveiled the new wolf pup, named Maya to the world.

She had been born back in June, but the firm wanted to wait until she was 100 days old before they announced her to ensure the clone was in good health, Global Times reports.

Scientists created the pup by taking a donor cell from a wild female Arctic wolf which had been introduced from Canada and combining it with an embryo grown inside a beagle, which shares genetic ancestry with ancient wolves.

The process, called somatic cell nuclear transfer, is the same process which birthed Dolly the Sheep back in 1996.

Arctic wolves, also known as white or polar wolves, are not endangered like other wolf breeds because they live in isolation, although Singogen hopes this process can be used in future to save other species at risk of extinction.

The newly born wolf has the same genome as the original wolf, but the cloned wolf hasnt lived with other wolves, but with a dog, Zhao Jianping, the deputy general manager of Sinogene, told EuroNews.

In fact, for cloned pet dogs and cats, there is also a problem of early socialisation. The earlier the socialisation, the more beneficial for its future development, he added.

Some concern has been raised by activists over the suffering of animals required to go through surgery in order to be implanted with cloned donor cells and embryos.

Others says there is a moral imperative against playing God by creating life from artificial sources without fertilisation.

Regardless, Mayas birth is regarded as a landmark in the application of cloning technology, and Mr Jianping is confident that refining the process could be the only way to help save some species of animals from extinction.

Well continue to work in this field, he added to EuroNews.

In the next step, we may clone rare wild animals other than canines or cats and it will be more difficult.

Although Dolly had to be euthanised at six years old after she was found to have a lung tumour, Maya is currently exhibiting all the signs of a normal, healthy arctic pup.

Unfortunately Maya will likely have to spend her life in captivity due to her lack of socialisation, although she has been kept in good company by the beagle who birthed her who acts as her surrogate mother and playmate.

Mayas birth continues the life of a wild female arctic wolf also named Maya, who was introduced from Canada in 2006 and died of old age in 2021.

Another male cloned arctic wolf is expected to be delivered on Thursday.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

See original here:
World's first cloned Arctic wolf born 26 years after Dolly the sheep - Metro.co.uk

At Casa Cattle Company in Corinna, there are plenty of cows and calves making up a successful belted Galloway breeding program but not many bulls to be seen.

Instead, there are two cryogenic tanks in the grain room, each containing 150 vials of bull semen and 30 fertilized embryos containing genetic material from around the country.

Rather than deal with the expense and work required to maintain enough bulls to ensure the genetic diversity Ashton Caron is looking for in his herd, he has opted to instead purchase or save semen from his own prized stock to do the job.

For Caron, saving the semen means big savings and a high-tech way to weather the current economic crisis. Swapping out a bull for artificial insemination technology allows Caron to keep producing high-quality calves that can be sold at a profit while minimizing costs.

It has become very essential, Caron said. With rising grain and hay costs due to COVID, we need to be able to maximize profits and minimize expenses.

It may not be the romantic Hollywood image of the cows and bulls doing what comes naturally out on the range. But for Caron it just makes good economic sense to dip into a vial, often referred to as a straw, of semen rather than deal with an old fashioned cattle roundup when it comes time to breed a cow.

Most people who do this us included can drastically increase the value of their cattle in a short time, Caron said. I can take a bull from the other side of the world and breed it to my cow and have those genetics without having to bring them together, which would not really be feasible.

A healthy breeding bull can cost thousands even tens of thousands of dollars. Then there are the expenses of feeding, housing and keeping the animal healthy. Over the course of a year Caron said that it can run upward of $2,000 for just one animal.

A vial of semen, on the other hand, from a bull of the same quality costs Caron between $25 and $30.

Caron and his family raise Belted Gallowaycattle, a traditional Scottish breed that has adapted to living on poor upland pastures and the windswept moors of southwest Scotland. They are distinctive with their jet black front and hind ends and white middle. The coloration has earned them the nickname Oreo cows.

Selective breeding using artificial insemination is more common when it comes to dairy livestock, according to Caron. Farmers are able to selectively breed for cows that are able to produce more milk than previous generations.

It costs maybe $300 a year to keep the tanks full of liquid nitrogen, said Caron, who began saving semen and embryos eight years ago. We run around 100 cows here, and its easy to breed without a bull, so why would we have one?

Carons cattle have won numerous awards at fairs and livestock shows, something that represents years of breeding on the farm. Thanks to using purchased or saved semen and embryos, the breeding program has shown these champion results at a fraction of what it would have cost to purchase and raise the bulls needed to keep the herd going.

Currently tucked safely away in liquid nitrogen keeping them at a steady minus 300-degrees Fahrenheit in the two tanks each insured for $25,000 theres semen from 50 different bulls, Caron said.

High-quality semen means high demand and that influences the price, he said. We do have some semen worth $600 a straw, but that is from a prize bull that is now deceased, so it is a very limited quantity.

The semen can be planted directly into a female or it can be combined with the egg of a cow in a laboratory as in vitro fertilization.

Most of the breeding cows on the farm serve as surrogate mothers. But a few of those cows are of such high quality that, once they are impregnated, their embryos are harvested to use for in vitro fertilization.

This Simmental cow is a surrogate pregnant with a calf from Knockouts embryo and Loverboys semen, as marked on her ear tag. Credit: Linda Coan OKresik / BDN

Among those special cows there is one that stands above the rest with genetic material with connections to old Maine money.

I was a freshman in high school in 2017 when the Hudson Pines herd owned by David Rockerfeller on Mount Desert Island was sold, Caron said. Me and a friend bought her for $4,000 and shes the best cow on the farm.

The best part of all of this, Caron said, is you do not need a high quality cow to produce a high quality calf. All you need is the embryo from two prize parents.

There is currently not a huge market for selling his bulls semen or any embryos, but Caron said the demand is slowly growing.

In terms of the semen, we had a bull that was born and raised here and before we got rid of him in 2019 we got 300 straws of semen from him, Caron said. Now we are down to less than 50 straws and the cool thing is 90 percent of those customers came were west of Idaho [and] its cool to see our [bulls] progeny on these farms out west.

More articles from the BDN

Continue reading here:
Artificial insemination is keeping this Maine farm in business - Bangor Daily News

Beef + Lamb New Zealand award winners. Photo / Supplied

The winners in the inaugural Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) Awards were announced at a gala dinner at the Napier War Memorial Centre last night.

The awards aim to celebrate the people, innovation, technologies and management systems of New Zealand's grass-based red meat industry.

Andrew Morrison, chairman of B+LNZ reflected on the achievements of the sector over the last couple of years and its resilience in maintaining strong exports in light of Covid-19.

"Environmentally, our sheep and beef production systems are amongst the most sustainable in the world with around 24 per cent of New Zealand's native vegetation flourishing on our sheep and beef farms, and one of the world's lowest carbon footprints."

Throughout the evening, the finalists of the eight award categories were introduced and winners announced. The ceremony concluded with the presentation of the Regional Leadership Award.

Science and Research Award

Lincoln University's Dryland Pastures Research Group won the Ballance Agri-Nutrients Science and Research Award.

For the past 20 years, the Dryland Pastures Research Group has supplied the science that underpins the agronomic guidance it provides to transform sheep and beef farms on hill country throughout New Zealand.

The group's work has transformed thousands of hectares of east coast hill country from Central Otago to Gisborne; while its message has been to use legume dominance to address low nitrogen the main impediment to production in farm systems.

In selecting the winner of this category, the judges commented that the Dryland Pastures Research Group had produced "a huge and important body of work," tackling multiple soil types and farming environments with positive outcomes for productivity, resilience and environmental sustainability.

Livestock Technology Award

The Datamars Livestock Technology Award was won by software decision support-tool Farmax.

Widely used by New Zealand's pastoral farmers to help balance financial, environmental and production goals, Farmax encourages a holistic approach to farm planning.

Judges remarked that this decision support tool had evolved over 30 years and continued to innovate to drive farm profitability, productivity and sustainability.

They noted that as science-based software, Farmax generated a good return on investment and was a leader in what it provided farmers and the industry, in terms of exploring future scenarios.

Innovative Farming Award

Canterbury-based calf rearing business Maatua Hou won the Gallagher Innovative Farming Award.

Creating a viable business on a small land holding, while demonstrating an alternative calf rearing model that reduces bobby calf wastage, is at the heart of the Maatua Hou business.

Set up by four couples who saw an opportunity to think outside of the square, Maatua Hou owns a 34ha drystock block at Burnham, around 40kms outside of Christchurch.

They established what they described as "an alternative calf-rearing model" - one where the supplier cashflows calf-rearing costs and profits are shared.

Judges commented that Maatua Hou provided an innovative and scaleable solution to the bobby calf problem and they believed that, as a business model, it demonstrated an opportunity to build a dairy support industry.

They said Maatua Hou was an interesting innovation which had its strengths in the partnership between producers and finishers and the sharing of benefits and returns.

Market Leader Award

The Silver Fern Farms Market Leader Award was won by Coastal Lamb Ltd.

Richard and Suze Redmayne launched the Coastal Spring Lamb brand in 2010 as a way to better understand their lambs' end-consumer.

Having a background in commerce and marketing before going farming, Richard wanted to build a connection between his family and the consumer through their brand, initially targeting New Zealand's domestic market.

Today Coastal Lamb Ltd involves 17 family-owned supply farms throughout the country.

Critical to Coastal Lambs' success is connecting the producers with the consumers (including chefs), many of whom had never had the opportunity to meet a farmer before.

The judges described Coastal Lamb Ltd as "a true and innovative example of market leadership".

Having forged a new path to market, Coastal Lamb Ltd had demonstrated a clear understanding of the market and in-depth communication with its customers, judges said.

Emerging Achiever Award

The AgResearch Emerging Achiever Award was won by Cambridge-based Estee Browne.

Browne is the breeding programme manager for Browne Pastoral Enterprise's sheep milking unit.

She oversees the selection of genetics and replacement ewes for the company's 1400 ewe dairy unit and rears 2400-plus lambs to weaning, after which they are either finished or retained as replacements.

Judges said Browne had "broken stereotypes" by achieving in a male-dominated area of the agricultural industry.

She had created "good, workable systems" within the sheep milking industry and had clear goals while maintaining a work-life balance, they said.

People and Development Award

The Rabobank People and Development Award was won by the Agri-Women's Development Trust (AWDT).

AWDT aims to empower women to accelerate progress and change in both the primary sector and rural communities.

Over the past 11 years, the charitable trust has helped almost 5000 people with confidence, purpose, leadership and influence from the farm to the boardroom.

The judges commented on AWDT's proven track record of successfully developing people.

They said the organisation had identified a gap in the market and developed programmes targeting female partners in farming businesses.

This had helped to build confidence and resilience in the whole red meat sector, they said.

Rural Champion Award

The FMG Rural Champion Award was won by Tairwhiti-based agribusiness professional Sandra Matthews.

Matthews was instrumental in setting up Farming Women Tairwhiti (FWT) which now has a membership of over 850 primary industry women.

Matthews believed the success of FWT was partially due to the region's isolation, with no other organisation offering farming women the support, connectivity and educational opportunities they were craving.

Since stepping back from FWT last year, Matthews took on several national governance and consulting roles and gained more time to focus on her own business coaching enterprise.

Judges said Matthews' work in establishing, leading and growing Farming Women Tairwhiti was "immeasurable".

As well as setting up FWT, Matthews has been involved in establishing a number of industry initiatives and played an often-understated role in championing the industry.

Alliance Significant Contribution Award

AgResearch scientist David Stevens, based at the Invermay research institute near Mosgiel, won the Alliance Significant Contribution Award.

Stevens' 37-year career has spanned one of the more tumultuous periods in New Zealand's agricultural history.

He has seen the removal of subsidies and the rapid shift from a focus on stocking rates and wool production to meat and productivity.

The farm system's scientist, who has a background in agronomy, was initially involved in plant breeding but this changed in the early 1990s when farmers found that what they were producing was no longer fit for market.

They needed forages that would deliver in terms of animal performance - so Stevens and his colleagues began doing animal production trials alongside agronomic trials - and this morphed into farm systems work.

He said the most rewarding part of his work was having the opportunity to work one on one with farmers through a huge range of projects.

Judges said Stevens was instrumental in creating the foundation of modern sheep and beef farming systems which delivered prosperity to many farmers.

Stevens had a long involvement with the sector and had contributed to the development of a number of resources which had significantly benefited farmers throughout the country, judges said.

Regional Leadership Award

The winner of the B+LNZ Regional Leadership Award, which recognised an outstanding individual, organisation or business in the sheep, beef and dairy beef sector, went to the East Coast Rural Support Trust.

The Trust was represented by Hawke's Bay farmers Mark Barham and Jane Tylee and Wairarapa-based former farmer and Anglican priest Steven Thomson.

The winner of this award was identified by the farmer council in the award's host region.

The judges commented that these three Rural Support Trust members in particular had carried out "outstanding work in the region," particularly during and after the drought.

Much of their work was confidential, and often went unrecognised, but judges said the Regional Leadership Award was an acknowledgement of everything they do to support rural communities and the people within them.

The rest is here:
Winners announced in inaugural Beef + Lamb New Zealand Awards - New Zealand Herald

Press Release

So, you want to grow some sweet cannabis seeds but you have no clue where to start?

Or worse, youve tried growing your own but you got 90% male cannabis plants and 10% (dead) females?

Well, Im supposed to help you with that

But since you may be doing something illegal, Im not sure if I will.

First, tell me where you live and then Ill give you a hand (maybe).

(Im listening)

Hum, okay, thats fine.

Thats a pretty terrible place to live in, so you do deserve a hand (just kidding).

Ive spent weeks comparing the 10 best seed banks that ship to the USA from germination guarantees to pricing to potency to genetics and tons of boring stuff

All this so that you dear newbie wouldnt have the same **** (less-than-ideal) experience I had my first time around.

(And the second time)

(And the third but lets not dwell on the past!)

So, weed on! (Sorry, I couldnt resist)

Thailand Disclaimer: As of June 9th 2022, cannabis will be removed from the Category 5 Narcotics list. Despite this, to import cannabis and hemp seeds into Thailand, you will need to seek permission according to the 1964 Plant Quarantine Act and the 1975 Plants Act.

Pros

Cons

Accepted Payment Methods

Robert Bergman founded I Love Growing Marijuana in 2012 as a small blog sharing growing tips. When the blog became a hit, readers began asking where they could buy seeds.

But since most pre-legalization seed banks were credit card scams

Bergman decided to partner with breeders and start the ILGM seed bank. Fast forward 10 years and ILGM is one of the most reputable seed banks in the world.

As such, it offers a 100% germination guarantee. If a seed doesnt sprout, contact the support and they will send you new ones for free.

Speaking about free stuff

ILGM offers free shipping to the USA as well as frequent Buy 10 Get 10 Free deals on popular strains such as White Widow and Super Skunk. If youre serious about growing cannabis, we recommend checking those out first.

By the way, how do you find the right seeds?

Well, ILGM has pretty good categories and search filters. As such, you can filter cannabis seeds by THC levels, price, climate, height, yield, difficulty, flowering period, and more. You can also check customer reviews on most strains to see if the description matches real-life experiences.

And since were talking about customer reviews, its also worth mentioning that I Love Growing Marijuana has received over 27,000 of them, with a good 8.9 overall rating

>> Check ILGMs Buy 10 Get 10 deals on the official site (free US shipping) <<

Cons

Accepted Payment Methods

Crop King wont die and neither will its marijuana seeds.

Crop King Seeds is a Canadian seed bank founded in the early 2000s. It had to shut down its operations in 2005 and re-established itself in the United States due to murky cannabis legality.

The company grew its operations due to the legalization of cannabis in some US states and finally returned to Calgary in 2013 making it one of the longest-running seed banks in North America.

But what male and female seeds does it stock today?

Well, the seed bank has over 500 cannabis strains, including high-THC and high-yielding seeds like Gorilla Glue and Alaskan Thunder Fuck, respectively.

Like ILGM, Crop King Seeds provides a germination guarantee, although it only covers an 80% rate instead of 100%. That said, its still much better than most cannabis seed banks online that provide zero guarantees.

Speaking about guarantees

Crop King has very helpful customer support that you can reach 24/7 via its live chat feature. If you have any problems with your seeds or even if you just want a recommendation, theyre quite knowledgeable and care about their customers.

>> Check out Crop Kind Seeds 500+ strains on the official website <<

Pros

Cons

Accepted Payment Methods

Seedsman is one of the oldest seed banks to buy from, being in business since 2002.

But perhaps more importantly, the company stocks over 4,000 cannabis strains, including everything you can think of high-CBD, high-THC, high-yielding, pest-resistant, and compact plants, just to name a few.

Besides, Seedsman is actively campaigning for the legalization of marijuana, not just within the UK but all over the world.

Good to know: Although other websites also contain guides and instructional materials, Seedsman takes their website to another level with detailed histories of their famous strains. This might be interesting to cannabis enthusiasts who want to learn about the strains they are growing.

But as to what you really care about

Seedsman has several promotions to make buying cannabis seeds online affordable. Besides a few BOGO deals, you can also get a 10% discount when you buy over $200 worth of seeds, as well as up to 6 free cannabis seeds.

>>Check out Seedsmans BOGO deals and get 10% off bulk orders (official site) <<

Pros

Cons

Accepted Payment Methods

Rocket Seeds is a seed bank that is also a partner with other cannabis seed banks and breeders. They carry high-quality seeds from the likes of Crop King Seeds and Beaver Seeds.

Its basically a one-stop shop for comparing the best seed banks online.

This means that growers might be able to shop for popular strains from different cannabis seed banks and breeders in just one site. This can help them save time when looking for a new strain to grow.

During our research, one of the common compliments that Rocket Seeds received is how fast and reliable their shipping is.

>> Check out the best seed banks on Rocket Seeds official website <<

Pros

Cons

Accepted Payment Methods

Quebec Cannabis Seeds has been in operation for more than 15 years. The company tries to come up with strains that are less vulnerable to pests and diseases.

Although QCS doesnt produce as many new strains as other online cannabis seed banks, they make up for it by introducing new strains resistant to diseases and pests.

If you are a grower whose plants are always getting damaged, Quebec Cannabis Seeds strains might be the ones you are looking for particularly their auto-flowering cannabis seeds.

Aside from the usual phone number, Quebec Cannabis Seeds customer service is also available via email so you can send them a detailed inquiry if you have one.

Its website also has a live chat that customers can use although it is only available from Mondays through Fridays from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

>> Check out current deals on Quebec Cannabis Seeds official website <<

Pros

Cons

Accepted Payment Methods

Beaver Seeds started in 2009 and is one of the best cannabis seed banks to buy from in Canada. The company claims that they consciously limited the number of strains they sell to avoid selling inferior strains.

This Canada-based seed bank only carries popular strains to limit its selection.

The company has what they call a seed library. It has detailed descriptions of high-quality weed seeds (including feminized seeds) and information on the proper care for each strain. This might help growers since they can have as they talk a lot about the best water levels, climate, and fertilizer.

Beaver Seeds provides customer support 24/7 which might help growers who need assistance, especially those who are just starting. This can be a good sign for buyers located in other countries since they dont have to wait for Canadian business hours to get assistance.

>> Try Beaver Seeds amazing customer support on the official website <<

Pros

Cons

Accepted Payment Methods

Like other best seed banks, Sun West Genetics has been in operation for over a decade. They sell auto-flowering, medical, and feminized seeds to customers.

Sun West Genetics can be a great source of premium marijuana seeds with over 500 different strains in its roster of high-quality cannabis seeds online.

The wide variety of strains can also be appealing to those who want to open their dispensary since they can offer more strains to their end-users.

Sun West Genetics has a breeding program that continuously tries to discover new breeds for customers. This can be great for customers looking for new breeds that might be more suited to growing in their location.

>> Check out the amazing seed genetics on Sun West Genetics official website <<

Pros

Cons

Accepted Payment Methods

Sonoma Seeds is one of the best marijuana seed banks based on the US West Coast. It sells strains sourced from all over the world. The company also ships weed seeds to customers globally.

Sonoma Seeds customers have a wide array of payment options that they can choose from. Customers can benefit from this since they wont encounter any difficulties looking for a payment option that will work best.

Sonoma Seeds also provides free shipping for orders exceeding $200. However, to maintain accurate shipping, the company charges a nominal $30 International Shipping with a Tracking fee. This fee can benefit customers since theyll track their shipping as it makes its way to the customers country.

The seed bank ships seeds worldwide which might make them a favourite among buyers outside of the United States.

>> Get worldwide shipping on Sonoma Seeds official website <<

Pros

Cons

Accepted Payment Methods

Marijuana Seeds Canada is a seed bank that started operations in 2009. It holds offices in Vancouver and promises to deliver weed seeds with high germination rates.

This company offers affordable medical marijuana seeds on its website. Based on our research, their medicinal seeds are cheaper by around $5 than most seed banks online, and you get free seeds on bulk orders.

MJ Seeds Canada provides customers with an 80% Germination Guarantee. Growers may find this attractive since the marijuana seed bank guarantees that at least 8 out of 10 seeds will sprout and be ready for planting.

While doing our research, one of the most common customer comments we came across is how responsive MJ Seeds Canadas customer service is. You might find this useful since it means that the seed bank values its customers time and tries to attend to their inquiries promptly.

>> Get high-quality auto-flowering seeds on MJ Seeds official website <<

Pros

Cons

Follow this link:
10 Best Seed Banks that Ship Cannabis Seeds Discreetly to You (Free US Shipping) - Thaiger

Theres a handful of reasons why the Philadelphia region has been (perhaps unfortunately) dubbed Cellicon Valley in the last few years, and a new report from the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia and economic consulting firm Econsult Solutions has IDd them all.

In the report, which looked at 14 large cell and gene therapy hubs in the US, Philadelphia ranked as the runner up, just behind Boston, as the top spot for research and innovation in this space. Other metro areas such as New York and San Francisco scored the third and fourth spots on the list. The report shouts out early local work, including the first FDA-approved gene (Luxturna) and cell (Kymriah) therapies developed here at Spark Therapeutics and the University of Pennsylvania, respectively.

The Philadelphia region is increasingly attracting new and expanding cell and gene therapy companies because it checks all the boxes, but its the regions research infrastructure as defined by NIH-funded cell and gene therapy research and its large number of research institutions that give it the edge, said Claire Marrazzo Greenwood, executive director and CEO of Council for Growth and SVP of economic competitiveness for the Chamber, in a statement.

The study compared cell and gene therapy hubs for their research infrastructure, human capital, innovation output, commercial activity and value proposition. Heres why Philly ranked high:

Because Philly is home to four Tier 1 universities, 93 higher ed institutions, and tons of hospitals and research institutions, it scored second in research infrastructure. The region scored first for most National Health Institute funding, and the report said 302 gene or cell therapy patents had been approved in the last decade. In 2021, the region was home to 15,400 jobs in pharmaceutical manufacturing, and it pulled in $4.2 billion in venture capital funding since 2018.

The talent coming from the high number of universities and colleges and more than 450,000 students in the region also ranked the region high for human capital. Of this, a whopping 54% stay in the region. R&D jobs in the field have also increased more than 100% in the last five years.

Philadelphia also scored high for its innovation output, meaning the region produces a large amount of intellectual property in the cell and gene therapy space. As the birthplace of the industry, the report says, the region is currently home to 302 granted patent and 130 clinical trials now underway.

The large amount of attention cell and gene therapy has gotten from investors in the last four years also ranked the region high in commercial activity. Within the past few years, two local cell and gene therapy companies Passage Bio and Cabaletta Bio have also completed IPOs, raising more than $260 million combined. Cell and gene therapy companies also make up a significant portion of Phillys commercial real estate, leasing about 12 million square feet, with about 9 million planned in construction projects.

And Philadelphias value proposition, or cost to do business, helped the region rank so highly, the report said. The region attracts families and talent with cultural institutions, culinary scene and schools. Plus, life sciences office space rentals (averaging about $58 per square foot) were very affordable next to cities like San Francisco (at $78 per square foot).

Greater Philadelphia is an extremely livable region, boasting some of the worlds best museums, top-notch restaurants, and large open spaces at a comparatively affordable price, Econsult said in its summary.

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Why Philly ranks #2 among best cell and gene therapy hubs in the US - Technical.ly

EVRY, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Atamyo Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on the development of new-generation gene therapies targeting neuromuscular diseases, today announced the dosing with ATA-100 of a first patient in a phase 1/2 clinical study in FRKP-related limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2I/R9 (LGMD2I/R9).

This is an exciting milestone for our company but most importantly, if this clinical trial is successful, it could have a life-changing impact for patients affected by LGMD-R9, said Stephane Degove, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Atamyo Therapeutics.

This clinical trial (EudraCT 2021-004276-33, NCT05224505) is a multicenter, Phase 1/2 study evaluating safety, pharmacodynamic, efficacy, and immunogenicity of intravenous ATA-100, a single-dose Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) vector carrying the human FKRP transgene.

This study will consist of 2 phases: an open-label dose escalation phase (Stage 1) and a double-blind placebo controlled, randomized phase (Stage 2).

LGMD-R9 is a severe progressive and debilitating disease with no approved treatment, said Pr. John Vissing, Director of the Copenhagen Neuromuscular Center at the National Hospital, Rigshospitalet, in Copenhagen, where the first patient was dosed, and principal investigator of this trial. This experimental treatment represents a new hope for the patients. It is a great motivation to know that the work we are doing here has the potential to make a life-changing difference.

After the first patient dosed in Copenhagen, we are now expecting recruitments at the two other approved clinical sites (Paris, FR, and Newcastle, UK) to complete enrollment of the dose escalation phase (Stage 1) of the study. For Stage 2 (after dose selection), we plan to open additional clinical sites in Europe and in the United States, said Dr. Sophie Olivier, Chief Medical Officer of Atamyo.

About the LGMD-R9 program ATA-100

ATA-100 is a one-time gene replacement therapy for LGMD-R9/2I based on the research of Dr. Isabelle Richard, who heads the Progressive Muscular Dystrophies Laboratory at Genethon (UMR 951 INSERM/Genethon/UEVE). ATA-100 has been awarded Orphan Drug Designation status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency.

LGMD2I/R9 is a rare genetic disease caused by mutations in the gene that produces fukutin-related protein (FKRP). It affects an estimated 5,000 people in the US and Europe. Symptoms appear around late childhood or early adulthood. Patients suffer from progressive muscular weakness leading to loss of ambulation. They also are prone to respiratory impairment and myocardial dysfunction. There are currently no curative treatments for LGMDR9.

About Atamyo Therapeutics

Atamyo Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharma focused on the development of a new generation of effective and safe gene therapies for neuromuscular diseases. A spin-off of gene therapy pioneer Genethon, Atamyo leverages unique expertise in AAV-based gene therapy and muscular dystrophies from the Progressive Muscular Dystrophies Laboratory at Genethon. Atamyos most advanced programs address different forms of limb-girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMD). The name of the company is derived from two words: Celtic Atao which means Always or Forever and Myo which is the Greek root for muscle. Atamyo conveys the spirit of its commitment to improve the life of patients affected by neuromuscular diseases with life-long efficient treatments. For more information visit http://www.atamyo.com

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Atamyo Therapeutics Announces First Patient Dosed with ATA-100 Gene Therapy in LGMD-R9 Clinical Trial - Business Wire