Also makes sitting on the couch watching Buffy reruns with a can of frosting feel good, makes running feel bad.

Scumbag DNA is a post from: The Inquisitr

If you are reading this on a WiFi-enabled computer, please be warned that a new study published in the Fertility and Sterility journal has linked WiFi connectivity with possible sperm damage.

Researchers placed drops of healthy sperm near a laptop downloading data. Four hours later, it was observed that a quarter of the sperm stopped swimming and 9 percent showing DNA damage. In a separate controlled environment away from the computer, only 14 percent of the sperm stopped swimming.

Argentinian researchers believed that electromagnetic radiation from wireless internet caused the zapping of the sperm.

If this is any consolation to WiFi loving men, researchers said that the results were not conclusive and more research should be done.

If in case this is true, would you give up using WiFi for a healthy sperm?

WiFi May Be Nuking Your Sperm is a post from: The Inquisitr

Longevity is an interesting subject, and scientists are about to tackle its mysteries more aggressively.

Even as scientific advances move beyond what we’d imagined just a decade ago, one of the eternal questions of science is what enables some people to make it past 100 years subsisting on a diet of bacon, whiskey and unfiltered Pall Malls, while others can spend their time drinking macrobiotic shakes and jogging and still drop dead in their early 50s. While it’s often possible to mitigate the effects of lifestyle factors- like smoking, exercise levels, diet and even disease- scientists say that to live past 100, genetics is often the overriding factor.

A new study is collecting DNA from patients over the age of 100 in an attempt to unlock the keys to surviving beyond your tenth decade. Dr. Thomas Perls, a geriatrics expert, is among researchers collecting centenarian DNA for the project:

Perls is helping find centenarians for the Archon Genomics X Prize competition. The X Prize Foundation, best known for a spaceflight competition, is offering $10 million in prize money to researchers who decipher the complete DNA code from 100 people older than 100. The contest will be judged on accuracy, completeness and the speed and cost of sequencing.

Dr. Eric Topol is heading up another study, and asks:

“Why are these people Teflon-coated?” Topol asked. “Why don’t they get disease?”

Topol adds:

“There’s been too much emphasis on disorders per se and not enough on the people who are exceptionally healthy,” to learn from their genomes, Topol said. “Now we have the powerful tools to do that.”

Researchers note that the studies are the tip of the iceberg in the potential knowledge contained in centenarian DNA.

Centenarian DNA Aims to Crack Longevity Code is a post from: The Inquisitr

They’re as ugly as sin and creepy little buggers to boot.

But the toothy, scary-looking subterranean rodents could offer clues as to how humans can beat certain issues of old age- like cancer and Alzheimer’s- and have better, longer lives. Naked mole rats, however unappealing their underground and ant-like existence may seem, however, live fairly enviable lives for their species. Unlike mice, who live about four years, naked mole rats have a lifespan of a staggering quarter century. Scientists have never observed cancer in the rodents, even when scientists have deliberately tried to create tumors in the creatures. (By the way, dick move, scientists.)

Earlier this week, scientists published the naked mole rate genome, and Rochelle Buffenstein, a researcher at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio participated in the studies. She commented:

“It’s a treasure-trove for cancer and Alzheimer’s research. It’s got so much information that we can now go and mine to test all kinds of theories about aging and disease.”

Another naked mole rat researcher, Vera Gorbunova of the University of Rochester, did not participate but said:

“Having the genome raises the possibility of finding treatments that may prevent cancer in people and possibly even extend life span.”

Vadim N. Gladyshev was lead author on the study- published October 12th in the journal Nature- and he says the implications could be big for human medical science:

“If we can understand the genetic adaptations, we may be able to find treatments which can change the human into a more long-lived species.”

The study was funded in part by groups dedicated to aging research.

Naked Mole Rat Genome Could Have Lasting Implications For Human Lifespan, Quality is a post from: The Inquisitr

If you think going to space is for astronauts and for multi-millionaires only, then you are gravely mistaken.

rSPACE LLC, a company whose goal is to allow everyone the chance (yes, that includes you and me) to actively and personally participate in a real rocket launch into outer space, announced the formation of DNA Astronaut Corps.

J.P. Stevens, President and CEO of rSPACE LLC, in explaining the goals of DNA Astronaut, said:

“We have three goals – the first is to bring a new form of space travel within everyone’s reach so they can experience the thrill of adventure and the dream that is space; the second is to provide a very unique gift; and the third is to encourage students to pursue an education in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.”

Okay, let’s clarify things here. It’s not you who’s going to space but a part of you. You will need to buy a DNA Astronaut Kit which can set you back within the price range of $59.99 to $99.99. This is cheaper than the $200,000 fee in Richard Branson’s Virgin Galatic. Once you’re done working on the kit, you send in your DNA sample (like hair). DNA Astronaut will then review your DNA sample. If approved, your DNA sample will be thrust into the universe aboard a rocket carrying other DNA Astronauts from all over.

Your DNA sample will be placed in an orbit that would keep your sample in the universe for a lifetime.

So, take your pick, $59.99 or $200,000 for a chance to travel to outer space.

You Can Now Orbit the Universe Forever (And You Don’t Have to be a Millionaire) is a post from: The Inquisitr

So, what did you do today, anything interesting?

No, not much, just a simple ole neural network from some DNA that we had lying around.

As funny as that might sound it is exactly what some researchers at the California Institute of Technology have done – created the world’s first artificial neural network from DNA molecules; but not happy to just stop there they have also been able to get that neural network to answer questions – correctly.

Taking their cue from the limited intelligence exhibited by single-celled organisms, the researchers built four neurons made up of 112 distinct DNA strands (by contrast, the human brain has some 100 billion neurons).

This rudimentary neural network works on a simple input-output mechanism called a strand-displacement cascade. Essentially, synthesized strands of DNA float around in water and join to other strands that have complementary base pair structures, creating an input. When such a union occurs, a strand of DNA will be shed, creating an output.

The technique was previously used to build the largest-ever DNA circuit, one that can compute square roots, according to Caltech.

In the latest research, the team trained the neural network to play a memory game in which it would correctly “identify” four scientists based on specific yes or no questions–for instance whether the scientist was British.

Players dropped DNA strands representing an incomplete set of answers into a test tube. The network then provides the answer–the identity of the correct scientist–by fluorescent signals.

When presented with 27 different ways of answering the questions, the DNA “brain” responded correctly each time.

via CNET

Now about that Skynet thing……

A DNA neural network created by scientists who can think [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Snuffleupagus, you are the father.

Scientists have discovered that the ancient species the Woolly Mammoth- which we basically know as a hairy elephant- could have interbred with a completely different elephant species that was much larger- which is kind of dirty, woolly mammoths. The suspected fraternization was also part of a long-distance relationship:

Although woolly mammoths lived in the cold of the tundra, the Columbian mammoth (Mammuthus columbi) preferred the more temperate regions of southern and central North America. The Columbians were much larger than woollies, with Columbian males reaching one-and-a-half to two times that of woolly males.

The Mammoths died out in Siberia about 10,000 years ago, but dwarf versions of the species- essentially toy mammoths- lived on on an Arctic island until about 3,700 years ago. According to science people, the mammoths and the other elephants had significant difference- for instance, the non-mammoth males were one and a half to two times bigger than the mammoths:

“We are talking about two very physically different species here,” said researcher Hendrik Poinar, an evolutionary geneticist at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada. “You have roughly 1 million years of separation between the two, with the Columbian mammoth likely derived from an early migration into North America approximately 1.5 million years ago, and their woolly counterparts emigrating to North America some 400,000 years ago.”

The estimations were made from mitochondrial DNA located in specimens in Utah and Wyoming, and the findings were published in the May 31st edition of the journal Genome Biology.

Woolly Mammoths, Giant Elephants May Have Gotten Busy is a post from: The Inquisitr

It’s one thing when some silly Web 2.0 social service gets sold, or shuts its doors, and our data either goes poof or gets bought up by whoever buys the service but what happens when that service is a company that holds our most personal information – our DNA?

This is the question being asked as deCode Genetics declares bankruptcy and becomes the property of another company who is known for doing whatever it has to to maximize the returns on its investments. In this case the company is Saga Investments and many are worried that it will find ways to monetize the DNA data of people who have used the service.

Kari Stefansson, deCODE’s chief executive, told The Times that ownership of genetic data remained with the company’s customers and that Saga would be bound by a privacy policy that prevents disclosure of data to third parties such as insurers, employers or doctors.

Industry experts said that Saga would want to maximise returns on its investment, and could still make wider use of data that some subscribers may find uncomfortable. Pooled and anonymised information, for example, could be sold to academic researchers or pharmaceutical companies.

Dan Vorhaus, a lawyer with the US firm Robinson, Bradshaw and Hinson, which specialises in genomics, said that while the new management would be bound by deCODE’s customer agreements, these were often unclear and contradictory.

Source: Times Online

As has been proven before any supposed anonymized data can actually be “de-anonymize” the data. It is my opinion that if we are going to be silly enough to use services like this that there should be safeguards put in place to make sure that important and immensely personal data like can not be transferred for any reason.

deCode Genetics closes doors, questions about data raised is a post from: The Inquisitr

Alleged to have raped and nearly killed an 8-year-old girl in 1990, Dennis Earl Bradford has walked free for almost 19 years since the crime.

Bradford’s victim, Jennifer Schuett, is now 27. She never gave up hope that her attacker would be prosecuted, and thanks to DNA evidence, he has been apprehended. The FBI published an affidavit on the web detailing the horrific crime:

Jennifer was last seen inside her apartment at approximately 2:30 AM on August 10, 1990, leaving her mother’s bedroom and going to her bedroom. At approximately 7:00 AM, on August 10, 1990, Eliane discovered Jennifer was missing from her bedroom. At about 7:40 AM, an investigation was opened into the disappearance of Jennifer Schuett. Eliane reported that Jennifer was last seen wearing a pink shirt, pink shorts and white underwear with blue roses.

At about 6:30 PM on August 10, 1990, Jennifer was found in an empty field located behind 2112 California, Dickinson, County of Galveston, Texas. Jennifer was nude and her throat had been cut. Jennifer was unable to talk when located.

The crime occurred in Dickinson, Texas, and Bradford was captured in Little Rock, Arkansas. He is charged with attempted capital murder.

[Source]

DNA evidence catches up with Dennis Earl Bradford in shocking child rape case is a post from: The Inquisitr

We’ve all read stories about stupid thieves who have done ridiculous things that end up lead to them being caught but I think this is the first time I’ve heard of someone’s leftovers from a trip to the washroom being used against them.

The whole story starts with a homeowner in Valencia County, New Mexico, having their home broken into an their collection of family heirloom guns stolen. However not satisfied with just taking the guns the thief decided to take a breather from his busy day and made himself a meal from their food after which he had a smoke. If that wasn’t bad enough the thief decided to go and take a crap in their toilet and then leave without flushing the toilet.

As insulting as this might have been to the homeowner for the police this was a treasure trove of DNA which they promptly took custody of and sent to the state crime lab.

"We ended up getting a hit," Rivera said.

The hit came from the state’s DNA database and deputies said they now have a possible suspect.

The man turned out to be a convicted burglar who is on parole.

"We still had to go in and get a body search warrant and get DNA from him," Rivera said.

The sheriff is waiting for the lab to come back and link DNA from the feces to the fresh DNA from the man.

Source: KOAT.com TV – Authorities Use Feces To Find Suspected Thief

Should be interesting hearing the thief explain away how he was caught to his fellow prisioners.

Hint to would be thieves – flush the toilet is a post from: The Inquisitr

DNA is pretty incredible science that has seen people freed from life sentences and had people sent to jail for life. It its relatively short life DNA has become in integral tool in fighting crime and saving lives.The general consensus is that DNA is infallible and the chances of it being wrong are incredibly small.

It turns out though that for all its infallibility any biology student could easily create credible DNA evidence that could implicate the wrong person in a crime. This comes from the scientists at Israeli company Nucleix who recently found a way to create DNA evidence that indeed would be considered to be credible evidence.

To make the fake DNA, all the researchers needed was a small sample of the DNA they wanted to plant (such as that from hair or lingering in saliva left on a discarded coffee cup) and blood from a donor. Donor blood was centrifuged to separate DNA-containing white cells and DNA-free red cells. The researchers then expanded the filched DNA into a larger sample size via whole genome amplification and added it to the DNA-free red blood cells from the donor. Poof! Blood that matched the genetic profile of the person to be framed—not the donor—was created.

Nucleix was also able to replicate a deceptive double helix just by working off genetic profiles in a police database. Building a small collection of common genetic variations—425—for different genome points, they were able to drum up a fabricated sample.

"Any biology undergraduate could perform this," [Dan] Frumkin told the New York Times.

Source: Scientific American – Lab creates fake DNA evidence

Of course much like any business needed to create a market for it’s product Nucliex says it has a fix for the potential problem. As well as creating the fake DNA the company has also created a way to detect the difference between the fake and the real DNA.

Why am I not at all surprised by that?

That lifesaving DNA … it could be faked is a post from: The Inquisitr

This was done based on DNA traces found at the scene of the crimes committed by this unnamed woman suspected of being a serial killer. It turns out now though that the investigators of the crimes may have to accept the fact that it was the swabs used to collect the evidence that were contaminated by an innocent woman – possibly during manufacture of the swabs.

According to prosecutors in the south-western town of Saarbruecken, doubts about the existence of the "phantom killer" were raised when her DNA appeared on documents belonging to a person who had died in a fire.

When police first tried to identify the victim, they found the phantom’s DNA on the dead person’s ID. But in a subsequent test, no trace of the phantom’s DNA could be found on the document.

That was the point at which alarm bells started ringing and investigators began to suspect that the test material itself may have been contaminated with DNA, prosecutors say.

Source: BBC News

Kind of makes one wonder if such a thing has happened before albeit on a smaller scale?

DNA contamination leads to hunt for the Phantom of Heilbronn is a post from: The Inquisitr