Show Notes 8 April 2022
Story 1: Scientists finally finish decoding entire human genome
Source: AP News Story by Laura Ungar [AP Science Writer]
Link: https://apnews.com/article/science-health-genetics-4d2fba43b7b72ce67fa86b753dd77b42
Source: Genetic Engineering
Link: https://tinyurl.com/492bahdz
- First, what do we mean by “the human genome?”
- An organism’s complete set of genetic material is called its genome which, in all plants, animals and microbes, is made of long molecules of DNA.
- The genome contains all the genetic information needed to build an organism and allow it to grow and develop.
- Here’s more genome fun facts for nerds:
- The human genome is made up of about 3.1 billion DNA subunits, pairs of chemical bases known by the letters A, C, G and T. Genes are strings of these lettered pairs that contain instructions for making proteins, the building blocks of life.
- Humans have about 30,000 genes, organized in 23 groups called chromosomes that are found in the nucleus of every cell.
- The first draft of the human genome was announced at a White House ceremony back in the year 2000.
- That first draft back in 2000 was a great start, but the human genome announced at that time was incomplete because DNA sequencing technologies 22 years ago weren’t able to read certain parts of it.
- Even after later updates, until recently it was still missing about 8% of the genome.
- All that has changed! Last week, an international team of scientists announced the first-ever sequencing of a complete human genome, adding the missing pieces to a puzzle nearly completed more than two decades ago.
- The team stressed that by filling in the missing 8% of the human genome scientists will now gain a greater understanding of our evolution and biology while also opening the door to medical discoveries in areas like aging, neurodegenerative conditions, cancer, and heart disease.
- This achievement also means that someday your full genomic information could help doctors better diagnose and treat you.
- And in the future your individual genomic signature could be as important a component of your personal medical information as your blood type in determining treatment or care decisions.
Story 2: New type of ultraviolet light kills 98% of airborne microbes in a room and could help prevent the next pandemic
Source: UK’s Daily Mail Story by Jonathan Chadwick
- Scientists at the United Kingdom’s University of St. Andrews, University of Dundee, and University of Leeds, along with researchers at Columbia University in New York recently announced a new ultraviolet light, called “far-UVC”.
- The new light can kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses, including coronavirus, without causing damage to human skin.
- In experiments, far-UVC lights took less than five minutes to reduce the level of indoor airborne bacteria in a room by more than 98 per cent.
- Even as microbes continued to be sprayed into the room, their level remained very low as long as the far-UVC lights were on.
- And the team notes — Far-UVC lights are simple to install, inexpensive, and offer a safe way to prevent the transmission of any virus, including the Covid virus and its variants.
Story 3: New Genetically Engineered Bacteria Evade Immune System to Kill Cancer
Source: Medgadget.com Story by Conn Hastings
- Researchers at Columbia University are at it again! They recently announced that they have created a genetically modified bacterium that can go undetected by the immune system.
- Experiments on mice with cancer tumors showed the potential of this stealth bacteria to act as an anti-cancer therapeutic by engineering the bacteria to also produce an anti-tumor toxin.
- Once released into the blood stream the stealth bacteria accumulated in the cancer tumors and killed them.
- Time out – our immune system has evolved potent defenses against bacteria it encounters in the blood.
- And large numbers of bacterial cells in the blood can result in very high levels of inflammation and toxicity. So, how can this work?
- To prevent high levels of inflammation and toxicity from happening, the Columbia University scientists stressed that their genetically engineered bacteria is only temporarily shielded from the immune system – and designed to be active only for enough time to destroy a cancer tumor site before eventual detection and destruction by the immune system.
- This new breakthrough could help to unlock the potential of bacterial therapies for a wide variety of cancers.
Story 4: FedEx will test autonomous cargo flights next year
Source: Engadget.com Story by K. Holt
Link: https://tinyurl.com/msmx6725
Source 2: Electric VTOL News
Link: https://evtol.news/elroy-air-chaparral-c1
- FedEx has set a goal of being carbon neutral by 2040.
- To support that goal, FedEx has teamed up with Elroy Air, which is developing a vertical take-off and landing hybrid-electric cargo drone, to transport packages between sorting centers.
- Elroy Air unveiled its Chaparral C1 autonomous unmanned drone in January and says it will have a range of up to 300 miles and can carry a load of up to 500 pounds in its cargo pod.
- The drone features 12 electric motors and 12 propellers. It can transition between hovering using eight vertical fans and forward flight using four swiveling propellers.
- While both the VTOL props and the four cruise props along the wing are fully electric and battery-powered, the Chaparral runs an additional gas turbine generator to keep the batteries topped up in an efficient manner.
- Thus, it won’t be zero-emissions, but the tradeoffs include a longer range, and instant refueling – as opposed to having to sit on a charger or engage in a battery swap operation when it touches down.
- FedEx noted in a press release that the Chaparral C1 doesn’t need specific infrastructure like an airport or dedicated charging station.
- FedEx and Elroy Air have been collaborating for more than 2 years and they’re working on securing certifications to use the Chaparral C1 commercially.
- If all goes well, the plan is to start test flights in 2023 in Fort Worth, Texas.
- If it works as promised, FedEx would kickoff deployment of the new drone to fly cargo from Fort Worth to Oklahoma City [about 213 miles]
Bonus: Germany Announces New Plan to ‘Turbocharge’ Transition to Renewable Energy – EcoWatch