The world of science has seen revolutionary breakthroughs this year. From developing the new human pangenome to recovering the RNA of the extinct Tasmanian tiger, science has seen significant advancements.
First Draft New Human Pangenome Developed
This year, the first draft of the human pangenome was published. This pangenome includes the genetic data of 47 individuals from different ethnicities worldwide.
With great genetic diversity, it can significantly expand on the initial and current genome references. It is remarkably diverse compared to previous sequences of human genome references.
Scientists can pick up to 18,00 massive genome variants with the first draft. These are genomic areas where big chunks have been removed, added, or altered. The draft covers 1,115 novel duplicated gene mutations and 119 million new base pairs.
Read also: Human Genome Project: How This Most-Hyped Breakthrough Could Directly, Indirectly Affect Lives
Octopus Brain Waves Recorded
Scientists could also record the brain waves of octopuses for the first time by implanting electrodes and data loggers onto octopuses. These devices helped record the creature's brain activity when they engaged in different movements.
The experiment serves as a crucial milestone in understanding octopus behavior and could offer hints regarding the primary principles necessary for understanding the existence of cognition and intelligence.
Synthetic Human Embryos Developed From Stem Cells
The field of science witnessed synthetic human embryos developed from stem cells for the first time. This embryonic creation did not involve any sperm or eggs.
The breakthrough shows potential for revolutionizing embryonic research. However, it remains a mystery whether synthetic human embryos can go past the initial developmental stages and grow to become viable living organisms.
Nevertheless, experts think that this embryonic study could offer crucial insights regarding the understanding of genetic disorders, recurrent miscarriages, and different illnesses.
The research has also ignited ethical concerns, raising questions regarding the boundaries between human life implications and scientific experimentation.
RSV Vaccine For Pregnant Women Approved
A novel RSV vaccine was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be administered to pregnant women who are 32 to 36 weeks in labor. The revolutionary vaccine is believed to protect newborn infants until their sixth month.
The shot is believed to help combat the common microbe, which is widely known to cause infant and elderly hospitalizations.
The development of the vaccine has been a research subject since the 60s. However, it was only viable in the recent decade due to significant scientific breakthroughs.
Micro Lungs Grown in the Lab
In an experiment, scientists developed a distinct cell culture technology that produces clones of micro lungs on stem cell microchips. This novel breakthrough could offer a different method to study lung infections and respiratory conditions.
It could also help understand the mechanisms behind RSV, lung cancer, pulmonary conditions, and influenza. Moreover, it can also come in handy when screening novel drug treatments.
RNA From Extinct Tasmanian Tiger Recovered
For the first time, scientists could recover the centuries-old RNA of an extinct Tasmanian tiger.
The specimen was kept in the Stockholm Natural History Museum. The pioneering study offers great prospects for examining museum collections worldwide, as it could lead to the potential uncovering and sequencing of RNA from different tissues and specimens. It also sheds light on the possibility of knowing more about or even reviving species that have gone extinct.
RELATED ARTICLE : Tasmanian Tiger May Have Still Been Alive in the Late 1980s or Even in the 21st Century, Study Suggests
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