DNA reveals we are all genetic mutts
Examination of ancient DNA can provide profound insights into human history, according to David Reich, a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School. His talk at the Science Center on Wednesday, “A Tale of Two Subcontinents: The Parallel Prehistories of Europe and South Asia,” was drawn from his new book, “Who We Are and How We Got Here: Ancient DNA and the New Science of the Human Past,” showing what recent studies have revealed about the prehistory of Europe and southern Asia.Reich “reshaped our understanding of human prehistory,” according to a New York Times profile last year, with the publication of DNA from the genomes of 938 ancient humans — more than all other research teams working in the field combined. This research, the story noted, has shed light on the spread of agriculture and the peopling of the planet.Reich began his lecture by explaining how his work is done: With recent advances in DNA sequencing, it is now possible to extract sequences from humans who lived tens of thousands of years ago by grinding skeletal remains — specifically parts of the ear where much DNA is concentrated — into a powder to be examined.“It’s similar to the introduction of microscopes,” Reich said. “We can now look at worlds that were never previously looked at. And when we look at ancient DNA from past worlds, the stories don’t conform to what we thought. The information that comes from sequencing the whole genome makes it possible to answer questions that are profoundly different, and more precise than ever before.”One phenomenon Reich set out to examine is the parallel histories of Europe and South Asia. Both regions saw the arrival of agriculture thousands of years ago, and they speak related Indo-European languages that eventually arrived in both regions. In both cases, the transformations happened through migration.In Europe, Reich said, farmers arrived from Anatolia thousands of years ago and mixed with the local hunter-gatherer population; this is the largest source of ancestry in Europeans today. A second, later migration from the Eurasian Steppe happened at roughly the time Stonehenge was built. “People [from the Steppes] took advantage of two powerful inventions: the wheel and the domestication of the horse,” said Reich. “They were able to exploit the grasslands of the Steppes in a way that hadn’t been done before.” The Steppe migration resulted in a 90 percent replacement of the population.A similar prehistory occurred in the Iberian Peninsula where a third population, also arrived from the Steppes, joined the hunter-gather and farmer groups. In this case, DNA research shows that the third population was exclusively male: While only 40 percent of the population about 6,000 years ago comes from the Steppes, 100 percent of the Y chromosomes do.In India, a migration after the Ice Age caused a blending of two ancestries, called Ancestral North Indian and Ancestral South Indian. “People in India today are a mixture of two different portions of these ancestral populations,” Reich said. Genetics also show that India’s caste system, previously thought to have developed under colonial rule, was in place thousands of years earlier.One question genetics can’t answer, he said in response to an audience question, is exactly how population replacement happened. “In the case of Britain after 6,000 years ago,” he asked, “did new people come in and kill the old ones, or just crowd them out? We just don’t know. What genetic data does is provide facts about movements of people and changes in groups. We are not the experts to describe how that happened.”One important takeaway from this study, he said, is that humans inherently derive from mixed ancestry.“No population is, or ever could be, pure,” he said. “Ancient DNA reveals that the mixing of groups extremely different from each other is a common feature of human nature. We do not live in unusual times; profound events have occurred in our past. We should learn and feel more connected from that.” Researchers discuss new theories on human migration revealed by sophisticated DNA tests The surprising origins of Europeans A mark on modern Europe
Related DNA findings suggest post-agriculture influx, challenging prevailing view
Illustration by Wade MickleyIs any whitewater river better than the Gauley?
Our annual Outdoor Festival Guide is the harbinger of warm weather, good vibes, and great times. May is typically the time of year when it finally starts to get consistently tepid enough to think about getting back on the water for some rafting or kayaking; the water may still be frigid, but at least the sun is out to warm you back up. It’s the perfect time to hit the river, and you can kick of both festival season and paddling season in one fell swoop at the French Broad River Festival this weekend in Hot Springs, North Carolina.For such a small town, Hot Springs sure does know how to party. At the crossroads of the Appalachian Trail and the French Broad River, the Hot Springs Campground is the perfect spot for a large festival, and this one is large. The music is the main attraction with regional and national bands like Langhorne Slim, Yarn, the Jeff Sipe Trio, Snake Oil Medicine Show and more in this year’s line-up. But great music is not the only reason to attend. The Festival also hosts many outdoor recreation activities including a mountain bike race that begins and ends on the festival grounds and is free for festival goers. There is also the Raft Race down nine miles of Class I-IV rapids which is billed as the “biggest, mass start, whitewater raft race in the Southeast.” Three time world champion Eli Helbert will be on hand teaching and instructing for the Paddle with the Pros event, and you can give back by participating in the River Cleanup. The French Broad Fest is also fun for the whole family with a Kids Village featuring crafts, games, storytelling, parade and special performance by Sol Driven Train.The festival begins on Friday and wraps on Sunday. Proceeds from this event benefit American Whitewater and the Hot Springs Community Learning Center, so you will not only be having a blast, you’ll be helping keep our rivers and kids productive. What’s better than that?View Larger Map
By Dialogo April 02, 2009 The Spanish singer Julio Iglesias aroused passions among female audience members in his only concert in Chile, which was dominated by his sensuality and where he joked with spectators about his splendid “47 years.” On Wednesday night, the audience at the Movistar Arena in Santiago anxiously awaited the appearance of the idol, who faced more than 9,000 spectators which had just watched the Chilean soccer selection tie at zero against Uruguay in a very even game broadcast from the same stadium. Without goals to celebrate, the Chileans saved their voices to welcome the singer, who appeared dressed in a black suit and tie, accompanied by three dancers who were also dressed in dark tones. With a band consisting of two keyboardists, a saxophonist, a percussionist, a bass player, and a guitarist, the singer who has sold the most albums in different languages (300 million copies) gave a solo performance suitable for an audience that declared itself faithful followers since the beginning. “You Chileans, like the Spaniards, have a lot of mix in your blood, a culture full of wisdom. We have said it many times but I will say it again, because in my 47 years I have traveled around the world and I know what I am saying,” said Iglesias, who just celebrated his 65th birthday, to the amusement of the public, which was skeptical of his alleged age. In this way he presented the theme “Un Canto a Galicia” (“A Song for Galica”) which he dedicated to the ancestors of those present, with his characteristic manner of holding the microphone in his hands and his unmistakable eye drop. In a slightly risky repertoire, he went back to popular hits like “Me Olvidé de Vivir ” (“I Forgot to Live”) and “De Niña a Mujer,” (“From Girl to Woman”), which roused sincere applause and shrieks from the women in the stadium, who for a moment were transformed into seething adolescents. Iglesias alternated between Spanish, Castilian, and French without difficulty, and knew how to share the stage with a couple who danced a beautiful tango, chorus dancers, and the saxophonist’s solos. Women surrounding the singer received a kiss on the mouth from him with no embarrassment, in front of the envious, shouting female audience. But Iglesias also dedicated his conspiratorial glances and his songs “to the moms,” who were dressed for a gala night and came to the stadium’s bleachers to see their musical idol. An environment flavored with the smell of good perfume and happy ushers – because tips were more generous than usual – were the cherries on the top of a day that started early with the qualifying match for the World Cup South Africa. When Iglesias uttered the phrase “now it is all over,” a “no” resounded among the spectators, and the singer had to stop the song with a small, guilty smile. Iglesias, who was missed at the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Viña del Mar Song Festival, which witnessed his beginnings as an artist, gave a single concert in Chile after on two occasions canceling concerts scheduled in the northern city of Iquique. The artist will continue his tour, “Julio Iglesias in Concert,” in Holland, and then he will leave for the United Arab Emirates.
By Nelza Oliveira/Diálogo December 12, 2018 The Brazilian and Peruvian governments agreed to exchange intelligence to counter common threats in the Amazon. Peruvian Defense Minister José Huerta Torres and his Brazilian counterpart Joaquim Silva e Luna signed the agreement during the II Bilateral Defense Meeting at Nanay Naval Base, in Iquitos, Peru, September 27th. In addition to addressing combat operations against common threats, the ministers discussed experience exchange, training, and civic activities in the Amazon region. The meeting gives continuity to agreements established in Tabatinga, Amazonas state, Brazil, August 2017. The countries share a 3,000-kilometer border. “Our countries share common dangers and must deal with them together. These are transnational threats, as such our countries must take into account each other’s view and find common grounds to fight them,” Huerta said. Among the common risks, the minister cited drug trafficking, illegal mining, illegal wood extraction, and human and arms trafficking. Each country’s particular situation At the meeting, both countries agreed to develop civic activities and bring humanitarian aid along the Javari river, in the Amazon region, to help deter from crime the vulnerable population that lives along the border. On the Brazilian side, the Armed Forces will conduct civic and social engagements that include providing medical and social services, promoting cultural activities, and distributing medicine. According to the Brazilian Ministry of Defense’s Public Affairs Office, mutual operations to increase government presence in the border region will take into account the particular situation of each country. Activities promoting increased access to technology, such as high-speed internet, are steps to reduce social inequalities observed in the region, the agency told Diálogo. Brazil plans to contribute in many other ways. “The Navy’s ships will bring security and access to citizenship rights and health to the population. The Integrated Border Monitoring System is also essential to deter illegal activities, since it clearly expands monitoring in the region,” the Public Affairs Office stated. “Additionally, satellites and systems of the Defense Ministry’s Strategic Space Systems Program will allow us to expand security and social inclusion in remote regions, far from city centers, like the Brazilian land border.” During the meeting, the ministers discussed future plans to improve bilateral officer exchanges, given the increase in personnel and specialties, and strengthening common operations. Huerta highlighted the experience exchange born of the armed forces’ cooperation during natural disasters. Duties of the Brazilian and Peruvian armed forces go beyond defending national sovereignty. Service members from the Navy, Army, and Air Force participate in various disaster situations. The Brazilian Ministry of Defense revealed plans for joint operations in the civil defense sectors to share experiences. Cooperation through academic exchange to share qualifications, training, and education was another topic of discussion. Mutual trust In the meeting, Brazilian Navy Admiral Ademir Sobrinho, chief of the Brazilian Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces, and Peruvian Navy Admiral José Luis Paredes Lora, chief of the Peruvian Armed Forces Joint Command, signed the Peru-Brazil Binational Border Commission (COMBIFRON, in Spanish) to coordinate, evaluate, analyze, and supervise the commitments both countries adopted on border security. “We know that trust is earned, relies on the interaction of those who look at each other in the eyes, and is naturally passed on,” said Silva e Luna at the beginning of the meeting. “We signed a cooperation agreement between both countries, through our armed forces’ general staffs, to handle border issues within the framework of COMBIFRON. The commitment we made is not only from the Defense ministers, but from our countries, to directly handle the issues that threaten our border,” he said. “More importantly, we strengthened agreements to combat both countries’ threats. COMBIFRON will join a coordinated effort to control the airspace and halt illegal activities, especially drug trafficking, illegal mining, and human trafficking,” Huerta said. According to the Public Affairs Office, the next meeting between the Joint Chief of Staff of the Brazilian Armed Forces and its Peruvian counterpart is scheduled for year’s end in Brazil, to continue planning. The upcoming reunion will focus on the execution of scheduled activities at the operational level. Authorities expect to carry out COMBIFRON yearly, with a subsequent meeting in the first quarter of 2019, in Brazil. COMBIFRON will have delegations from Peru and Brazil, and a permanent president and secretary in each country.
The controversial revision to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law violated several democratic values upheld by the country, former Supreme Court chief justice Bagir Manan told the Constitutional Court during a hearing on Wednesday.Bagir, also a constitutional law professor at Padjadjaran University in Bandung, West Java, was summoned to give an expert statement regarding a judicial review petition challenging the revised KPK Law filed by seven different groups.The former justice was brought by a group of petitioners consisting of former KPK commissioners, namely Agus Rahardjo, Laode Muhammad Syarif and Saut Situmorang. Apart from the protests, hundreds of thousands of people signed petitions demanding the House revoke the revision, including a petition started by a Yogyakarta’s Gadjah Mada University lecturer that received around 2,300 signatures from lecturers of 33 universities.The former justice said public opinion should be an essential consideration in writing laws, even though the country used a representative democratic system through the election of legislators. He added that public participation should also still be encouraged.Bagir added that the short deliberation time of the revision indicated that the House and government rushed the bill and did not deliberate it prudently. It took only 12 days from the initial meeting to the day the House passed the bill.“It also shows a lack of openness and transparency, which limits public participation. This went against efforts to eradicate corruption.”He highlighted that only 102 lawmakers attended the plenary meeting in which the bill was passed, which was less than the required quorum – although 289 House members signed the attendance list.Bagir said the law should not be valid if this fact could be proven, as it violated the procedure for drafting and passing legislation.The petitioners also invited Aan Eko Widiarto, a constitutional law expert from Brawijaya University in Malang, East Java, to give testimony during Wednesday’s hearing.Aan highlighted that the KPK Law revision was on the House’s 2019 open cumulative list– meaning that the government or House could promote it to be deliberated, although it was not included in the National Legislation Program.Bills are put on the open cumulative list if they are related to international treaties, state budget, changes in the regional administrative area, the establishment and revocation of a regulation in lieu of law (Perppu), as well as a Constitutional Court ruling.Read also: Constitutional Court probes why KPK bill got speedy treatmentAlthough the Constitutional Court ordered the government and House to revise the KPK Law and put the antigraft body under the executive branch in 2017, Aan said the bill’s academic script failed to address the court ruling. This should have hindered the House and the government from pushing the deliberation of the bill.Moreover, he added that the submitted academic script should not be valid as it failed to address at least six points included in the revised law, including the role of the newly established supervisory council. Many criticize the board for reducing the antigraft body’s independence, as graft busters would need to wait for its approval prior to carrying out wiretapping, raids and the seizure of items.Presiding Justice Anwar Usman adjourned the hearing until July 14, when the petitioners will propose more experts to testify.Topics : Bagis testified that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and the House of Representatives had largely ignored mounting rejection against the revision upon deliberating the law.The revision, which was passed by the legislative body in October last year, triggered massive demonstrations in Jakarta and other regions, with protesters saying the law had taken the independence out of the antigraft body and stripped away most of its power.“Many voices from the public at large, academics, mass media and experts demanded [the President and the House] to stop deliberating the revision and keep the law as is,” Bagir testified during Wednesday’s hearing. “However, neither the House nor government responded to the public’s opinion.”Read also: Majority of people oppose KPK Law revision, support student protests, new survey reveals
Share LifestyleRelationships What no one tells you about being a pregnant bride by: – October 17, 2011 Sharing is caring! 83 Views no discussions Tweet
Share Share Did I even want this?When I found out I was pregnant one fateful night following a frantic trip to Rite-Aid during my senior year of college, there seemed to be one overlying question:Would we get married?As anyone who experiences an unplanned pregnancy in a committed relationship can tell you, it’s the question that everyone wants to ask. It’s the elephant in the room, the words hanging in the air, waiting to burst out of the mouth of your parents, the grocery store clerk, your next-door neighbor.It’s the question that my boyfriend of four years, Ben, asked when he proposed to me on a drizzly fall day, the sun bursting out through the rain clouds the moment he dropped to his knees.Getting engaged while you’re pregnant is a bit like your parents congratulating you for running your junior high track meet — sure, they probably mean it, but in the end, they kind of have to, don’t they?I wasn’t sure how I felt about anything. I had no idea how to accept the fact that I growing an actual human being inside of me, let alone deal with the fact that in nine short (long) months, I was going to become a mother.My whole life had already changed, literally overnight. Did I really want to rock the boat even more by jumping into marriage?The consensus among our small town was that of course we should get married — and soon. The pressure to wed felt overwhelming. People looked at us as if we committed the ultimate sin of getting pregnant out of wedlock, and yet, they somehow thought our getting married would make it all better — that even though the math didn’t really add up, it would still be ok when I popped that kid out as long as I had a ring on my finger.My mom was the sole voice of reason through the whole thing. She urged me to not to rush into marriage just because I was pregnant. She knew there would be doubts someday as a married woman, and she reminded me that I wouldn’t want those doubts surfacing because of a baby.Of course, I already had doubts — was Ben just doing his duty? Were we too young to get married? Was I ready for any of this? Did I even want this?There were other things too. Like the fact that I wanted my day. I wanted to feel pretty, not pregnant. I wanted to look at Ben and see my husband — not the father of my child. I wanted everything that came with the wedding — the champagne, the dancing, the carefree joy of the day.A wedding is supposed to be the one day in a woman’s life that is really and truly all about her. The hair, the dress, the jewels — it’s all about the bride.But in my case, it would be all about the baby.And then there’s the fact that a wedding is more than a day; it’s a symbol of the perfect life that we all dream about — the beautiful bride, the loving first kiss, the start of happily ever after. We all want the fairytale wedding.Pregnant brides are not the stuff of fairytales.Eventually, I had to face my reality, which was that it wasn’t just about me anymore. I had a baby to think of. Worries and questions flashed through my mind as I considered getting married after the baby came: Would I rather have the pregnant body or the postpartum body? Who would watch the baby during the ceremony? Did I want the nurses at the hospital asking me which last name the baby would carry? Could I breastfeed in my wedding gown?There were practical considerations, too — like the fact that my due date fell on the week of my college graduation, that Ben would still have a semester of school left, that we would be moving, job-seeking, and apartment hunting.Then again, I knew on our first date that he would be my husband, the shy boy in the striped sweater across the restaurant booth, and we had discussed marriage plans before I found out I was pregnant. Would moving it up a year matter?And part of me wanted to make a stand for myself and for all the young moms out there like me who still face judgment and hostility for our unplanned pregnancies. I wanted to show that I didn’t care what people thought — that I could be pregnant, get married, and remain happy all while wearing bridal white, thankyouverymuch.So I did it.At five months pregnant, after two months of planning, I walked down the aisle. Four hundred guests craned their heads to look at me, not just to see the blushing bride or beautiful dress, but to see if I was starting to show.Most days, I am confident that I made the right decision in marrying before I gave birth, but on other days, like when I see a bride who can actually fit into her wedding gown, I have my doubts.I compare the non-pregnant bride’s glow with my own experience, and I wonder about what could have been.I never thought my wedding would turn out the way it did. I didn’t think I would puke in the parking lot from morning sickness right before wedding dress shopping. I didn’t think I would show off ultrasound pictures at my rehearsal dinner or that I wouldn’t have a bachelorette party or bridal shower. I didn’t think I would call my seamstress, crying and hysterical, when my wedding gown, already let out twice, tore completely down the side with hours to go before the ceremony.I’d like to give you a neat and tidy ending here, but the truth is, I’m still not sure I did the right thing. Getting married when I was pregnant was hard. It was stressful on both sides of the family, it was rushed, I was exhausted and nauseous, and it felt entirely like too much pretending everything was “normal.” I found myself wanting to stand up in the middle of the ceremony and shout, “I’m pregnant! Everyone knows it, so can we please stop pretending I’m not?” I paused at the part of our church ceremony when they asked if we would accept children into the marriage — how did they expect me to answer that?In the end, I don’t have an answer for you. I don’t know what the right thing to do is when you are expecting and engaged.But I can tell you this:That sometimes, you can re-write the fairytale.That sometimes, you get to dance with your daughter at your wedding.That sometimes, all you can do is sip your non-alcoholic champagne, ignore your swollen ankles, and dance the night away.by Babble.com
Josef Bogdanovich, CEO of Reggae Sumfest and Downsound Records, has initiated the Caribbean Love Now concert to raise money and relief items for Caribbean countries which were ravaged by Hurricanes Irma and Maria last September.The show (and telethon) is scheduled for November 22 at Red Stripe Oval in Kingston, Jamaica. It has a number of top acts including Sean Paul, Tarrus Riley, Assassin, Beenie Man, Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons, Bunny Wailer, Freddie McGregor, Etana, Nesbeth, Sizzla, Romain Virgo, Third World, Toots and the Maytals and Mr. Vegas.Visited devastated islands Josef Bogdanovich visited some of the affected islands recently with Jamaican government officials. He was particularly struck by the devastation in Dominica, Anguilla and Barbuda.“Now, more than ever we have to stand up for our Caribbean brothers and sisters. No one could have imagined that so much could have been lost so quickly. Jamaica is in a position to help in a meaningful way, but we must act now,” he said.Bolt company support’s effortA number of Jamaican companies have pledged their support for the event including Usain Bolt’s Tracks & Records, a popular Kingston nightclub.Bogdanovich, an American, is principal of Downsound Records which has worked with a number of top Jamaican artists including Fantan Mojah, Ninja Man, Ishawna, Nanco and DYCR. He bought the rights to the annual Jamaican music festival, Reggae Sumfest last year.Anguilla, Barbuda and Dominica suffered the brunt of the two hurricanes’ deadly force. Located in the Leeward Islands, the governments of the affected countries reported extensive damage to infrastructure and in the case of Dominica, approximately 27 deaths due to Hurricane Maria.For previous article on Caribbean Love Now, click the link: Joe Bogdanovich launches Caribbean Love Campaign
“Ever since I stopped drinking, it’s been a transformation,” Seferian-Jenkins said. “It really has changed my life. I just try to win one day at a time. … Knowing you need help and you don’t go get it, that’s the worst thing.”Between injuries and disciplinary issues, Seferian-Jenkins played only 43 games in five seasons since being drafted in the second round by Tampa Bay in 2014. He has 116 career receptions for 1,160 yards and 11 touchdowns. Patrick Peterson surprises Cardinals by attending OTAs despite suspension The tight end position in New England remains in flux as the team announced Tuesday it has released Austin Seferian-Jenkins shortly after multiple reports that he planned to step away from the game for a month to deal with personal issues.Seferian-Jenkins signed a one-year deal with the Patriots in April after a five-game stint in Jacksonville that ended when he aggravated a core injury and landed on injured reserve. Browns’ Duke Johnson says team put him on trade block before he asked to be dealt Titans’ Adam Humphries explains decision to pass on Patriots It’s unclear what personal issues Seferian-Jenkins is dealing with, but he admitted to seeking help for a drinking problem in 2017 — less than a year after a DUI arrest that resulted in him being cut by the Buccaneers.Seferian-Jenkins told ESPN at the time he had stopped drinking. Related News With Seferian-Jenkins now off the depth chart, New England is left with Stephen Anderson (36 career receptions), Matt LaCosse (27), Ryan Izzo (0) and Andrew Beck (0) as options at tight end … a tough reminder of the stability it enjoyed at the position before Rob Gronkowski retired this offseason.Benjamin Watson was signed out of retirement last month but will serve a four-game suspension to start the season after testing positive for PEDs.New England has been linked to trade talks for Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph, who is entering the final year of his contract and has been adamant about not taking a pay cut to remain in Minnesota.
Before the start of last night’s match between national teams of B&H and Wales, B&H national team player Edin Dzeko handed special gift to Amel Tuka.Our best athlete and winner of the bronze medal at the World Championship received a gift in the form of the national team jersey of honor, with his name and the time he ran the race in Monte Carlo.This is the time he ran on the Diamond League, which was held back in July, when Tuka won the 1st place with excellent time 1:42:51.To recall, in the great race in Monte Carlo, in which he charmed all lovers of athletics, Tuka achieved time which secured him the first position, and lead him in front of the world’s best athletes.(Source: klix.ba)