Ending elephant poachers with DNA and forensics.- http://clapway.com/2015/06/21/catching-elephant-poaching-with-crime-scene-dna-123/

Elephant poaching is big business. Current estimates have the illegal ivory trade worth as much as $10 billion a year. With current African elephant populations at only half a million, researchers are trying novel approaches to help stop elephant poaching.

A study led by Dr. Samuel Wasser, a biologist at the University of Washington, analyzed DNA from elephant tusks seized from elephant poachers. DNA analysis revealed there are 2 main ‘hot spots’ in Africa where elephants are being killed.

HELPING LAW ENFORCEMENT FIND ELEPHANT POACHERS

This information is vital for helping law enforcement pin-point the main areas of poaching activity. Every year, an estimated 50,000 African elephants are killed by poachers. Poaching is driving the African elephant towards extinction.

Now law enforcement knows the 2 worst areas for elephant poaching: Tanzania and Mozambique. Other hot spots include parts of Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, and Gabon.

“The source populations are where it all starts, and to be able to focus on the source populations, especially the major source populations, is very very effective at trying to target these killings,” Dr. Wasser, the lead biologist of the study, told the BBC’s Science in Action program.

TESTING ELEPHANT DNA

Dr. Wasser and his team tested the DNA from ivory seized from 1996 to 2014. Then the team compared the DNA from known African elephant populations to form a geographic map of where the ivory came from.

To get the DNA for comparison, Dr. Wasser’s team analyzed samples of dun from 1,500 elephants currently living in different locations in Africa. The team also took samples from different family groups.

With this new ‘hot spot’ information, Dr. Wasser is hoping that local law enforcement, local governments, and the international community will all work together to stop poaching in these areas before they start.

INTERNATIONAL INTEREST IN ELEPHANT POACHING

US Representative Kay Granger has taken notice and included language in her House Appropriations Foreign Operations committee’s 2016 Defense Bill that expressed concern that poached ivory “can be used as a source of funding by terrorist organizations, extremist militias and transnational organized crime syndicates in central and eastern Africa.” The research study was published by the Science Journal.

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For the nature lovers, Atmorph brings nature to your cozy apartment:

 

Catching Elephant Poaching with Crime Scene DNA

"With the new DNA findings along with several other skeletal analyses performed over the last few years, anthropologists are able to see a bigger picture of human migration in the Americas." - http://clapway.com/2015/06/21/u-s-dna-reveals-relatives-of-8500-year-old-kennewick-man-skeleton-from-washington-to-be-native-americans-123/

After nearly a decade of debate, DNA tests confirm the 8,500-year-old skeleton found in Kennewick, Washington to be closely-related to Native Americans from the Northwest coast.

From Discovery to Disarray: Kennewick Man’s Mysterious Origins

When first discovered near the Columbia River in 1996, the skeleton caused much disarray in the scientific community as anthropologists, researchers, and reporters came up with varying theories and reports of the man’s origins.

Upon the coroner’s first inspection, the skeleton, dubbed Kennewick Man or The Ancient One, was believed to be of European descent until bone analysis concluded he was at least 8,000 years old. After the analysis, speculations arose of his real origins. When reporters covered his mysterious story, they misidentified him as being of Caucasian-descent as they were unfamiliar with “Caucasoid,” the term researchers were using in reference to him.

Contested Origins and a Complicated Court Case about Kennewick Man

Though reporters may have led some astray with their error, there was still much debate among the scientific community surrounding the ancient man. Some researchers thought he was of Polynesian or Japanese descent and at least five Native American tribes claimed to have descended from Kennewick Man.

Matters were further complicated by a court case between the federal government and several of the Native American tribes against the scientific researchers interested in understanding his origins. His possible Native American descendants argued for his proper ritual burial, while the science scholars believed the research to be paramount in understanding human migration. After the lengthy court case, the judge ruled in favor of science as the skeleton’s origins had not been conclusively founded as Native American.

Anthropologists Reconstruct Kennewick Man’s Life

As researchers worked to trace Kennewick Man’s genome through DNA analysis, a group of physical anthropologists worked to recreate his life. Their findings indicated he was between 35 to 45 years old and he stood around 5’7” tall (170 cm). He was predominately right-handed and due to injuries his skeleton revealed, he was most likely involved in hard labor.

Anthropologists linked him to a coastal area as chemical analysis of his bones revealed a diet of fish. The size and shape of his skull also linked him to a coastal area, one believed to link him to the Polynesians or Ainu. However, with advanced methods of DNA extraction, these theories would be put to rest soon.

DNA Evidence Proves Kennewick Man More Closely-related to Native Americans

On June 18, a new study, undertaken by Eske Willerslev, was published that compared DNA found in a sliver of bone in Kennewick Man’s hand to different human populations’ DNA. The findings confirmed Kennewick Man’s origins as more closely-related to the Native Americans rather than then Polynesian or Ainu peoples.

The study also re-examined the skull and found it was within a normal range of variation to be related to Native American populations. The theory of his origins along the Northwest coast held true.

The team found the closest genetic match to be the Colville tribe, one of the original tribes claiming Kennewick Man. Although they are the closest relatives known, scientists have pointed out that the study had a limited sample size of Native American DNA. While other tribes may be more closely-related, the Colville tribe have embraced The Ancient One as one of their own.

The Impact of Kennewick Man’s Origins and His Future

With the new DNA findings along with several other skeletal analyses performed over the last few years, anthropologists are able to see a bigger picture of human migration in the Americas.

One lineage of people migrated to Central and South America. Another lineage headed into the northwest coast of North America towards Canada. Kennewick Man and the nomadic group to which he belonged would become a third branch that followed the south line before diverting north to live and travel around different areas of the Columbia River.

Though the findings have brought The Ancient One to his Colville relatives, Kennewick Man’s journey isn’t completely over yet as this new evidence must be taken into consideration before his final resting place is decided. For now, he will remain at the Burke Museum in Washington.

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U.S.: DNA Reveals Relatives of 8,500-Year-Old Kennewick Man Skeleton from Washington to Be Native Americans

Study Unveils Secret of Exceptional Skin Agers - http://clapway.com/2015/06/19/study-unveils-secret-of-expectional-skin-agers765/

Did you ever wonder why some people seem to never age? Researchers at Harvard Medical School paired with DNA analysis company 23andMe studied genetic data from 60,000 women from a variety of ages and ethnic groups, to finally figure out what’s the secret of exceptional skin agers.

‘FOREVER YOUNG’ BEAUTY MYSTERY FINALLY SOLVED

The initial outcomes of the study from Procter & Gamble’s Olay, include data from Caucasian and African women in their 20s to 70s. Marissa Spivak of Olay told Clapway that scientists are continuing to collect and examine samples from Asia and Hispanic research participants.

By isolating people deemed to look exceptionally younger than their age, preliminary findings show that genes have a lot to do with “biological immortality”. Could this verdict solve the mystery confronting thousands of beauty-conscious people across the globe?

“Ageless” people seem to share a different way of expressing the approximately 20,000 genes, which affect cell energy, skin formation, and antioxidant production.

EXCEPTIONAL SKIN AGERS HAVE A SKIN ‘FINGERPRINT’ IN COMMON

The Multi-Decade and Ethnicity Study (MDE) may have cracked the code to better aging by spotting biological similarities among an exclusive subcategory of women. Exceptional skin agers appear to have a unique skin ‘fingerprint’ pattern in common. Led by Dr. Alexa Kimball, Professor of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital, the research also found particular gene expression changes that influence the skin aging process of women at different stages of their life. Researcher are one step closer to unveiling a ‘forever young’ formula that could drastically shape the beauty industry worldwide.

NATURE OR NURTURE?

According to the study, what’s exciting about these findings is that the genes that make up the unique skin fingerprint of exceptional skin agers may hold the key to successful aging. For everybody.

To solve the ‘nature or nurture’ dilemma, Olay has paired up with genetics company 23andMe. The company has recently created a sort of ‘ancestry map’ by publishing the biggest genetic profile of the United States to date, based on a study of 160,000 people.

The plan is to use Olay’s research to develop new anti-aging products, “activating” genes to help women across the world to finally look like exceptional skin agers.

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Study Unveils Secret of Exceptional Skin Agers