Neanderthals shared 99% of the DNA of Homo sapiens, but the 1% difference in DNA has led to the species being characterised as a somewhat inferior species to Homo sapiens. A recent discovery however, now indicates that Neanderthals may have been able to swim, and even dive. A new discovery validates the claim that Neanderthals…
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UEA appoints new Pro-Vice Chancellor for Science
Professor Mark Searcey, current Chair of Medicinal Chemistry and Head of the Schools of Pharmacy and Chemistry at UEA, is taking up a new position on the Executive Committee at UEA. He will replace the current Pro-Vice Chancellor for Science, Phil Gilmartin, from 1 April 2019. The Vice-Chancellor Professor David Richardson said: ‘This is an…
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‘Impossible’ physics theory finds application
It may have taken 40 years, but Professor David Andrews’ physics theory, proposed at UEA back in 1979, has finally found its application. A real-world application for his work ‘could never have been imagined’ said Prof Andrews, talking about when his work was published. But now researchers at the University of Bath have confirmed the…
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UK flour to be fortified with folic acid
On the 14 October 2018 it was reported that government ministers would support a plan to fortify flour in the UK with folic acid in the coming weeks. However, on the 23 October it was then announced that the government would launch a consultation into the fortification of flour with folic acid in early 2019….
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Breakthrough in Genomic Medicine as NHS turns 70
Whilst the NHS may be facing some of the greatest challenges of its 70-year existence, breakthroughs in Genomic Medicine are revolutionising its approach to individualised patient care. Genomic Medicine is, as the name suggests, medicine concerned with genes – the heredity biological units made up of our DNA. In recent years, a large focus within…
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DNA clues shed light on woolly mammoth death
Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have discovered indications as to why the woolly mammoth became extinct by examining ancient DNA. Researchers have concluded the animals died out because their genomes developed in ways not conducive to survival. Genetic mutations found in mammoth DNA from 4,000 years ago was compared to another genetic sample…
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Meddling with DNA can make a positive impact
Scientists believe that they may be able to bring back the woolly mammoth. Well, technically, it wouldn’t be an actual woolly mammoth, but an elephant with certain mammoth genes in place of their own. We lack enough genetic data from a mammoth to fully clone one, but the hybrid mammoth-elephant would look like a mammoth…
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Genetic editing has huge potential complications
When I first heard of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) I thought about human DNA as a series of Lego blocks from which some parts can be changed or rearranged in a number or ways. In fact, CRISPR means selecting and changing parts of DNA. This would be as if you could select the…
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DNA testing breakthrough
Scientists have created a smartphone attachment that can analyse DNA. The prototype phone-powered pathology microscope can be mass produced for less than $500 (£406) each. The accessory could be used to treat diseases such as cancer and tuberculosis, especially in the developing world.The attachment was developed by scientists at the University of California, Stockholm University…
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