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Recently, scientists have been exploring the genetic signatures of adaptation in several indigenous cold-adapted human populations. Now, University of Arizona professors Ryan Gutenkunst and Michael Hammer have led a new study identifying new signals of adaptation across multiple genes and exploring a rich demographic history. By performing extensive analyses on DNA sequencing data for two North-Central Siberian populations, the Nganasan (nomadic hunters) and Yakut (herders), they have been able to infer the most comprehensive demographic and adaptive history. DNA samples of both Nganasan (NGA, 21 samples) and Yakut (YAK, 21 samples) were collected during field expeditions in Siberia and working with collaborators from the Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Novosibirsk, Russia. They were also able to use data from several East-Asian and European populations from the 1000 Genome Project. This resulted in a total of 508,160 single nucleotide variants (SNVs), or DNA mutations, to ...

Medical researchers have developed a brand new remedy towards drug-resistant strains of the Plasmodium falciparum parasite that causes malaria. Credit score: © Michail Petrov / Fotolia Tulane College researchers have developed a brand new drug that's efficient towards non-severe instances of malaria, in response to outcomes from an FDA-supervised scientific trial printed within the newest challenge of  The Lancet Infectious Ailments . The outcomes are important as public well being consultants have lengthy warned that the parasite accountable for most malaria instances, Plasmodium falciparum, is growing resistance to extensively used remedies. New drugs are wanted to construct up secondary defenses towards drug-resistant strains of the parasite. The drug, known as AQ-13, was in a position to clear the parasite accountable for the illness inside per week, matching the effectiveness of essentially the most extensively used r...

Asthma is a common and long-term condition affecting around one in ten people in the western world. The majority of patients rely on daily medicine to control symptoms and many are wary of exercise, fearing that it could induce symptoms. However, the new research suggests that taking exercise, combined with a healthy diet, could help patients gain better control of symptoms such as wheezing, chest pain and shortness of breath. The research was presented by Dr Louise Lindhardt Toennesen (MD, PhD) from Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. She told the congress: "There is increasing evidence that asthma patients who are obese can benefit from a better diet and increased exercise. We wanted to see if non-obese patients with asthma could also benefit." Dr Toennesen and her colleagues worked with a group of 149 patients who were randomly assigned to one of four groups. One group were asked to follow a diet that was high in protein and with a low glycaemic...