Category: Biotech/Pharma News

By Kevin E. Noonan — Svante Pääbo created the science of detecting Neanderthal DNA in archeological samples (and living humans) almost single-handedly (see Neanderthal Man: In Search of Lost Genomes).  So it will come as little surprise to many that he published a paper in September describing his discovery of a gene derived from our…

By Kevin E. Noonan — Perception by the five human senses (sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch) varies significantly between individuals and populations.  Some use these differences to their advantage, such as sommeliers capable of detecting exquisite shadings in wines (or even the difference between the taste of Coke and Pepsi; see Malcolm Gladwell's Blink). …

By Kevin E. Noonan — One of the hallmarks of the current coronavirus pandemic, caused by SARS-Cov-2, is its zoonotic origins.  The virus is thought to have risen in bats and "jumped" to humans, and despite conspiracy theories of intentional human engineering (reminiscent of Soviet-backed propaganda in Africa in the 1980's that HIV/AIDS was produced…

By Kevin E. Noonan — There are an estimated 219 million cases of malaria per year, leading to more than 400,000 deaths annually according to the World Health Organization.  Hemocytes (insect white blood cells) comprise the mosquito immune system and are the basis for immunity to malaria.  There are three known hemocyte types:  granulocytes (highly…

By Kevin E. Noonan — Despite the challenges of addressing a previously unknown virus, development of an effective vaccine, soon, is a distinct possibility (see "Multiple Candidate Coronavirus Vaccines Being Developed According to WHO").  But as set forth in an article in Nature on Monday ("The unequal scramble for coronavirus vaccines — by the numbers")…

By Kevin E. Noonan — In the face of the economic and social consequences of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic (COVID-19) and the difficulties attendant in behavioral modifications that could slow progress of the disease (quarantine, lock-down, social distancing, frequent hand washing, and the use of facemasks), the world's best hope…

By Kevin E. Noonan — The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the most severe since the 1918 influenza pandemic (colloquially known as the Spanish Flu; see, J. Barry, The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History, Penguin Books; Revised ed. edition (October 4, 2005)).  The geographic…

Turns Out, Early Humans Not the Cause of Woolly Rhinoceros Extinction By Kevin E. Noonan — Paleogenomics (the use of genetic analysis of DNA contained in ancient remains) has developed rapidly since Svante Pääbo first showed that DNA could be extracted in sufficient quantity and of sufficient quality to be useful in making evolutionary comparisons…

By Kevin E. Noonan — Chemotherapeutic drug resistance is one reason cancer remains an unsolved clinical problem despite the efforts ever since President Nixon declared his "War on Cancer" in 1971.  Cancer cells, due in part to the genetic destabilization characteristic of the disease, are capable of expressing genes (normal or aberrant) that permit the…

By Kevin E. Noonan — One of the signal public health achievements/victories of the 20th Century is the eradication of smallpox (variola virus, VARV) announced by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1980; it has been estimated that smallpox infection killed 300-500 million people in the 20th Century alone.  (A compelling example of the effects…