Molecular Scissors Technology Market increasing demand with Industry Professionals: Cibus, Intellia Therapeutics, Inc., Recombinetics – The Daily…

Global Molecular Scissors Technology Market Report is an objective and in-depth study of the current state aimed at the major drivers, market strategies, and key players growth. The study also involves the important Achievements of the market, Research & Development, new product launch, product responses and regional growth of the leading competitors operating in the market on a universal and local scale. The structured analysis contains graphical as well as a diagrammatic representation of worldwide Molecular Scissors TechnologyMarket with its specific geographical regions.

[Due to the pandemic, we have included a special section on the Impact of COVID 19 on the @ Market which would mention How the Covid-19 is Affecting the Global Molecular Scissors Technology Market

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Global Molecular Scissors Technology(Thousands Units) and Revenue (Million USD) Market Split by Product Type such as Cas9, TALENs and MegaTALs, ZFN, Others,

The research study is segmented by Application such as Laboratory, Industrial Use, Public Services & Others with historical and projected market share and compounded annual growth rate.Global Molecular Scissors Technology by Region (2019-2028)

Geographically,this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), and market share and growth rate of Molecular Scissors Technologyin these regions, from 2013to 2029(forecast), covering

Additionally, the export and import policies that can make an immediate impact on the Global Molecular Scissors Technology Market. This study contains a EXIM* related chapter on the Molecular Scissors Technologymarket and all its associated companies with their profiles, which gives valuable data pertaining to their outlook in terms of finances, product portfolios, investment plans, and marketing and business strategies. The report on the Global Molecular Scissors Technology Marketan important document for every market enthusiast, policymaker, investor, and player.

Key questions answered in this report Data Survey Report 2029

What will the market size be in 2029and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving Global Molecular Scissors Technology Market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in space?What are the key market trends impacting the growth of theGlobal Molecular Scissors Technology Market?What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of theGlobal Molecular Scissors Technology Market?

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There are 15 Chapters to display the Global Molecular Scissors Technology Market.

Chapter 1, to describe Definition, Specifications and Classification ofMolecular Scissors Technology, Applications of Molecular Scissors Technology, Market Segment by Regions;

Chapter 2, to analyze the Manufacturing Cost Structure, Raw Material and Suppliers, Manufacturing Process, Industry Chain Structure;

Chapter 3, to display the Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Molecular Scissors Technology, Capacity and Commercial Production Date, Manufacturing Plants Distribution, R&D Status and Technology Source, Raw Materials Sources Analysis;

Chapter 4, to show the Overall Market Analysis, Capacity Analysis (Company Segment), Sales Analysis (Company Segment), Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment);

Chapter 5 and 6, to show the Regional Market Analysis that includes North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific etc., Molecular Scissors TechnologySegment Market Analysis by Cas9, TALENs and MegaTALs, ZFN, Others,;

Chapter 7 and 8, to analyze the Molecular Scissors TechnologySegment Market Analysis (by Application) Major Manufacturers Analysis ofMolecular Scissors Technology;

Chapter 9, Market Trend Analysis, Regional Market Trend, Market Trend by Product Type Cas9, TALENs and MegaTALs, ZFN, Others,, Market Trend by Application Cell Line Engineering, Animal Genetic Engineering, Plant Genetic Engineering, Others;

Chapter 10, Regional Marketing Type Analysis, International Trade Type Analysis, Supply Chain Analysis;

Chapter 11, to analyze the Consumers Analysis of Molecular Scissors Technology;

Chapter 12, to describe Molecular Scissors TechnologyResearch Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data source;

Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Molecular Scissors Technologysales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.

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About Author:JCMR global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.

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Molecular Scissors Technology Market increasing demand with Industry Professionals: Cibus, Intellia Therapeutics, Inc., Recombinetics - The Daily...

Its in our genes: What is aiding Indias low mortality rate – National Herald

"The genetic ancestry of most South Asians can be traced to West Eurasian populations rather than with East Eurasians, whereas for this gene, the result is other way round," said Prof. George van Driem of University of Bern, Switzerland, one of the experts on the team in the paper.

In this type of analysis, several DNA fragments are compared rather than few mutations as populations that share more DNA chunks are considered to be closer, said Chaubey.

"The match of DNA fragments of South Asians with East Asians suggests that the entry gate of Corona virus among South Asians will be more similar to that of East Asians rather than that of Europeans or Americans. This also explains the low mortality rate in South Asia," he explained.

The second important finding is about two major mutations which are responsible for strengthening the entry point of the Coronavirus among South Asians. "Thus, this paper adds important potential implications to understanding the transmission patterns of Coronavirus in various populations across the world," said Anshika Srivastava, one of the authors of the paper.

Rudra Pandey and Prajwal Singh from BHU, Avinash Rasalkar, Pankaj Srivastava from Sagar Central University, Rakesh Tamang from Calcutta University and Pramod Kumar from National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) were also involved in this research.

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Its in our genes: What is aiding Indias low mortality rate - National Herald

The State Of Educational Travel In a World Gone Virtual – Skift

Educational travel has largely kept under the radar since the pandemic began, but recently made the headlines after one of the largest specialist agencies in the U.S. filed for bankruptcy.

Lakeland Tours LLC, parent company of WorldStrides,filed a Chapter 11 petition last month. WorldStrides operates educational trips for 550,000 students annually, partnering with 7,000 schools and 800 universities around the world.

But with those institutions closed and the majority of field trips and other types of travel canceled, the company had to issue refunds. It has now agreed to a recapitalization plan with shareholders and lenders.

A spokesperson told Skift: This recapitalization is a positive development for us overall as it helps to reduce our debt and provide significant new financing.

Its a niche but multifaceted sector. Travel can take the form of exchanges, with pupils studying in another country, or field trips. Theres also academic travel, such as teachers attending conferences or professors carrying out research projects.

In WorldStrides case, it also offers language immersion, sports travel and career exploration, which are programs for high-achieving school students to get a taste of further education at a college campus.

Universities and colleges certainly havent been immune to the global restrictions but they have been afforded some privileges.

Like international corporations shutting down business travel, so too did educational institutions go into lockdown. At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in the U.S., all university-sponsored travel outside of Wisconsin or by air within the state remains cancelled until further notice, according to its website.

The policy states that these restrictions are in place for all employees, students and registered student organizations. Some limited cases of travel by ground and air outside of Wisconsin, or by air within the state, may be approved by vice chancellors, academic deans and research center directors.

Many institutions will have cancelled their exchange programs this year. Picture: Mikael Kristenson, Unsplash

But depending on the country, some institutions are being granted more leniency. Australia, for example, enjoys the revenue overseas students bring in, and as far back as April declared it would keep its borders open for education travel, but shut out international tourists. International education is its fourth-largest foreign exchange earner, worth $26.14 billion a year.

Meanwhile, in the U.S., the State Department announced in July that foreign students coming from Europe would be exempt from a travel ban.

In Hong Kong, Connexus Travel was experiencing a slowdown in business long before the pandemic started, CEO Gloria Slethaug told Skift, as bookings dropped following a series of anti-government protests. Those images of demonstrators in the airport, beamed on news channels across the world, didnt help either.

But educational travel proved to be a lifeline, because Hong Kong subsidizes overseas travel for schools. These bookings havent stopped, and Slethaug even believes Connexus will grow its market share over the course of the year.

Its against this backdrop that specialist travel agencies are being challenged.

A lot of universities that have an international focus are still trying to bring students over, in a roundabout way, said Christopher Hellawell, director of account management at Diversity Travel. Obviously the capacity isnt there to bring 400 students from China here to the UK, so theyve been looking into charter aircraft to facilitate that.

A couple of universities have done this, and were also talking to some of our clients. But there are complexities at both ends, around quarantines. And also chartering a plane and landing it in China poses its own challenges as well.

Another specialist has reacted by postponing travel arrangements, and adjusting cancellation policies.

Since the announcement of the March 11 travel restrictions, we have offered every customer the chance to move their tour to another date, thereby protecting every dollar of their investment, international education company EF Education First said in a statement, in relation to its EF Educational Toursdivision. At this time, the majority of our 2020 tour groups have opted to accept flexible travel vouchers, allowing them to rebook their educational tours at no penalty or added cost.

And like most educational travel providers, EF Education First is also navigating the new world of hygiene protocols, and has set up safety hubs teams located domestically and internationally that make recommendations about how various parts of its travel experiences will be adjusted in response to the pandemic. EF has also signed on to the World Travel & Tourism Councils Safe Travels Protocols.

In the long term, the education travel sector will also be assessing the Zoom effect, and Hellawell noted many institutions quickly adapted to video conference-style teaching.

The biggest piece for us is that a lot of bookings in the education sector are conference and events travel, he added. The pandemics impact could be large for us if it moves online, or takes a long time to get back. For some universities, academic travel makes up 40 percent of their travel spend.

For now, the good news is that the fast-tracking of foreign student travel could kick-start a wider recovery welcome green shoots of international recovery and potential valuable lessons for other agencies to learn from. At the same time, how students themselves respond will determine how quickly the industry bounces back.

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Photo Credit: Some countries are waiving travel restrictions for overseas students. StephanieHau / Unsplash

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The State Of Educational Travel In a World Gone Virtual - Skift

WTTC Calls on Global Government Coordination for COVID-19 Recovery – Travel Agent

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has called on the U.S. and other governments to show leadership and unprecedented international collaboration to save the struggling travel and tourism sector and recover the millions of jobs already affected. Over 100 major travel and global business leaders worldwidefrom major airlines, airports, hotels, tour operators and travel companieshave, according to WTTC, backed the move.

The industry leaders signed and sent the letter, which called for urgent coordinated action, to U.S. President Donald Trump and the six other heads of state of the G7countries (Germany, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, U.K.), as well as Australia, South Korea and Spain. Beyond President Trump, the letter was also sent to former vice president and current presidential nominee Joe Biden, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and other such international opposition leaders, highlighting the non-partisan nature of the crisis.

In the letter, WTTC says political leaders of these major powers must step forward to save the global economy and support the recovery of the hundreds of millions of jobs already impacted. If the global leaders fail to come together, WTTC anticipates irreversible damage to the travel and tourism sector.Furthermore, as travel restrictions remain in place, the number of jobs losses around the world will continue to increase. Recently, at a Virtuoso Travel Week virtual event, Gloria Guevara, WTTC president and CEO, said the worst case scenario is a loss of 197 million jobs by the end of the year.

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Despite travel and tourisms importance to the local and global economies, WTTC is gravely concerned there is no clear or internationally coordinated effort to protect this uniquely exposed sector.

In this letter, WTTC has identified four measures which need concerted international framework and leadership to combat the coronavirus:

WTTC research has shown that even a modest resumption of traveling can have massive economic benefits and bring thousands of desperately needed jobs back.

Among those backing the WTTC call were: WestJet, British Airways, Emirates, Etihad and Virgin Atlantic; Accor, Best Western, Hilton, Hyatt, InterContinental, Marriott, Melia Hotels and Radisson; and American Express, Carlson Wagonlit, Expedia, Travelport, TUI and Uber.

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WTTC Calls on Global Government Coordination for COVID-19 Recovery - Travel Agent

Stuck at home, TV travel show host continues to collect stories from around the world – Palo Alto Online

Nothing could more swiftly and effectively impede Megan Zhang's work as a freelance journalist and host of "Travelogue," an international travel show, than a global pandemic.

Before COVID-19, Zhang was in Chongqing, China, documenting its modest but vibrant culinary scene and in a city in Inner Mongolia, where temperatures dip to -22 degrees Fahrenheit and yet still feel right for daring athletes who race on snowmobiles or compete in Mongolian wrestling.

But like many of us, Zhang is stuck at home in Palo Alto. It's hard to tell when she'll be back out in the field.

"Throughout this whole pandemic, I've definitely felt very lost and uncertain," Zhang said in an interview with the Palo Alto Weekly. "The future kind of looks blank, almost."

Still, it hasn't stopped Zhang's passion for telling other people's stories. Since April, a month after California's lockdown began, she has collected stories of people from all over the world China, England, the Czech Republic and Jordan, to name a few and cities across the U.S. and shares them on her new website, TalkingThroughWalls.com.

In brief articles, she gives insight into the lives of a student, a teacher, a musician, a hotel owner even a Florida resident who dresses in an inflatable unicorn costume and gallops around her neighborhood to spread joy during times of social distancing.

No story told in her project is the same, but they all serve a similar purpose.

"I just thought, maybe by bringing these stories to the surface, it might help people feel a little more connected or hopeful," Zhang said. "It's a little bit of a reminder that this fight is everybody's, and there are so many people trying to make a difference."

Using her journalism skills, and with the help of Zoom and her phone, Zhang has been able to seek out stories of resilience from all walks of life.

In Detroit, for example, Asha Shajahan, a medical director turned COVID-19 unit physician, told Zhang about the emotional toll of working five consecutive nights of 12-hour shifts, constantly treating infected patients.

"Dr. Shajahan recalls sometimes simultaneously covering 50 patients, many of whom were having difficulty breathing," Zhang wrote. "On some nights, she would see five patients pass away usually with no loved ones at their side."

Even after being surrounded by so much death, Shajahan felt a sense of optimism, though "measured," when the influx of patients slowed down.

In a small town in Slovenia, just by the northern Italian border, Tina i told Zhang about her work on a historic stud farm, where the nearly five-century-old tradition of horse breeding has survived World War II when American soldiers helped save thousands of horses on the farm from being potentially slaughtered by Nazis and continues during the pandemic.

Each story shows how someone's life was suddenly disrupted by the global health crisis and how they have learned to adapt to a fluid situation. For Zhang, it's not only her passion project, but also her own source of hope.

"It's been just an amazing reminder of how much resilience and resourcefulness and strength is out there," Zhang said.

Zhang was born in Memphis, Tennessee, but moved through five different states and two different countries before her parents finally settled in the Bay Area. During her nomadic childhood and onward, Zhang always loved storytelling, whether through writing her own novellas or exploring her growing interest in videography and filmmaking.

"Some part of me always knew that I wanted to tell stories," Zhang said. "I just didn't know necessarily in what capacity."

That became more clear as she pursued her degree in broadcast journalism at New York University. As a journalist, Zhang realized she was free to do what she loved using many different avenues.

As a part-freelance journalist and part-presenter for China Global Television Network's "Travelogue," Zhang has traveled the world to share the stories of other cultures as she experiences them. One day, she hopes to visit Africa. But in the meantime, Zhang continues to look for her next story from home.

"I do very much believe that everyone has a unique perspective to share and that everyone is the protagonist of their own life story," Zhang said. "So if there's anyone out there who knows of someone who has a particularly inspiring, relatable or interesting story to share, I would love to hear it."

Anyone with a story they'd like to share with Megan Zhang can contact her at [emailprotected]

Find comprehensive coverage on the Midpeninsula's response to the new coronavirus by Palo Alto Online, the Mountain View Voice and the Almanac here.

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Stuck at home, TV travel show host continues to collect stories from around the world - Palo Alto Online

Opinion: Science in a Time of Crisis – The Scientist

The speed of the COVID-19 outbreak has forced humanity to conduct research, craft policies, and make decisions at an unprecedented rate, outside of wartime. The pandemic has highlighted and amplified some of the cracks in these processes. I present evidence of these failings in my book, The State of Science.COVID-19 is truly a wicked problem. Because of its contradictory, incomplete, intertwined, and rapidly changing components, the pandemic seems resistant to resolution.

Epidemiologists have been predicting and preparing for a viral outbreak such as COVID-19 for many years. Live animal markets, which can act as viral mixing bowls; increased world travel; and population density have made a pandemic pretty much inevitable. Despite this, we werent ready. The combined budgets of federal agencies that might have funded and conducted research to better prepare the US for this situationspecifically the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundationare only 7 percent of what the United States spends on defense. The country was prepared for terrorist attacks and war, but not SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. In the United States, the pandemic has highlighted not only the lack of scientific knowledge among elected officials, but the devaluation of scientific expertise, as well as the consequences of budget cuts in government science agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A whole section of my latest book, The State of Science, is devoted to bad science, which is research mispresented for personal or political gain. During the pandemic, it has been more important than ever to get peer-reviewed information out quickly. But the peer-review process is not designed for quick turnaround times. The researchers most qualified to review virology, epidemiology, and modeling papers are working on COVID-19 projects and dont have time to review papers. Preprint servers should have filled the void, but they were swamped by COVID-19 submissions. As the crisis grew initially, everyone was an expert, everyone wanted a slice of the pie, and there werent enough experts doing thorough quality control. These conditions resulted in a breeding ground for bad science and misinformation.

The internet has grown from one website in 1991 to more than 1.6 billion in 2018. We have instant access to more news and information than ever before. Neighborhood gossip has been magnified by websites and social media. Manlio De Domenico is the head of the Complex Multilayer Networks Research Unit at the Bruno Kessler Foundation in Trento, Italy. He and his colleagues used machine learning to analyze more than 112 million COVID-related tweets in 64 languages About 30 percent of those posts were from unreliable sources, as defined by nine publicly available databases such as MediaBias/FactCheck. Waves of unreliable and low-quality information preceded the arrival of the epidemic, exposing countries to irrational social behavior and serious threats to public health. De Domenicos team also tracked the level of misinformation rising exponentially and then, in some countries, falling as the pandemic progressed. In places where misinformation eventually decreased, local leaders tended to play their part and stop spreading misinformation themselves. For example, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who holds a doctorate in quantum chemistry, has gained her nations trust. She has relied heavily and very publicly on the expertise of a handful of qualified experts. US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson have not done the same.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increased focus on science, which ironically has an associated risk of further eroding the publics trust in science, especially amongst those who do not understand the nonlinear, consensus-establishing nature of scientific research. Todays high-profile expert assertions can be disproven by tomorrows events, but this is not a shortcoming of science. This is how science works. Epidemiological models, like climate models, are mathematical tools designed to predicted the probability (with large error bars) of certain outcomes under a prescribed set of conditions and assumptions. They are not crystal balls.

When asked what keeps him awake at night, virologist Christian Drosten recently told The Guardian about something he calls the prevention paradox. If social distancing works and the curve is flattened people will ask: Why did we close businesses? Why did we overreact? Anti-vaxxers commonly use this argument when they claim that the low rates of diseases that are vaccinated against are evidence that the vaccine wasnt needed in the first place. If all of our mitigation efforts and preventive actions work, the outcome is that we dont get sick. But not being sick was the state we were in before we took those actions, so it could appear as if science did nothing. If science works to stem the spread and toll of COVID-19, will it reflect badly on science, at least in the publics eyes?

To mitigate COVID-19 resurgence and to prevent future pandemics, trust in science and global cooperation is essential. The USs decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization, along with similarly isolating policy decisions, are not going to help. It will just antagonize our allies, which may further weaken our medical supply chains and endanger our epidemiological early warning systems. The reckless COVID-19 blame-game and associated political machinations are endangering US-China cooperation and Americas influence overseas at a time when global cooperation in scientific inquiry is desperately required to deal with the virus.

Marc Zimmer is the Jean C. Tempel 65 Professor of Chemistry at Connecticut College. Read an excerpt ofThe State of Science.

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Opinion: Science in a Time of Crisis - The Scientist

Trump Immigration Policy Now Blocks Worlds Most Highly Skilled – Forbes

The U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt, Germany. (Photo by Boris Roessler/picture alliance via ... [+] Getty Images)

Today, even the most highly skilled individuals in the world cannot enter America under the Trump administrations immigration policy. Reports from attorneys and a statement from the State Department confirm that U.S. consular officers in Europe are denying O-1 visas for individuals with extraordinary ability based on a health pretext. The strict interpretation of Trump presidential proclamations means individuals that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have found to possesses extraordinary ability or a record of extraordinary achievement are and will be refused visas in Europe and cannot come to America.

What is an O-1 visa?: The O-1 nonimmigrant [temporary] visa is for the individualwho possesses extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or who has a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry and has been recognized nationally or internationally for those achievements, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The State Departments Foreign Affairs Manual provides a similar definition for consular officers.

To obtain an O-1 visa, an individual must receive an approved petition from USCIS after documenting their ability and achievement. Then, he or she must be approved for a visa at a U.S. consulate. However, Trump administration policy often makes that no longer possible.

Background: On March 11, 2020, the Trump administration issued presidential proclamation 9993, which stated, The entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of all aliens who were physically present within the Schengen Area during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States is hereby suspended and limited. The Schengen Area includes almost all European countries.

On March 14, 2020, presidential proclamation 9996 extended a similar set of restrictions to cover England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland. (A NAFSA resource contains a list of executive branch Covid-19 travel restrictions.)

A presidential proclamation (P.P. 10052), issued on June 22, 2020, suspended the entry of foreign nationals on H-1B, L-1 and certain other temporary visas (but not O-1 visas) until at least December 31, 2020. The proclamation extended P.P. 10014, which suspended the entry to the U.S. of most immigrant visa applicants.

State Department Reply on Visa Policy: Attorneys say clients applying for O-1 visas intend to quarantine for 14 days in a country not subject to the proclamations yet are still being denied visas. That removes the possibility of a visa holder quarantining in a non-banned country before they enter the United States, which should be sufficient to gain entry.

Is it the policy of the State Department to deny all O-1 visa applicants in the Schengen area? I asked the State Department.

A State Department official replied on background and confirmed that O-1 visa applicants cannot get visas to the United States unless they qualified for a national interest exception, which relatively few would.

To the extent that an O-1 applicant believes that he/she meets the exception requirements, the applicant can apply for an exception and consular officers will make that determination, said the official.

The reason for the policy is the March 11, 2020, (presidential proclamation 9993) travel ban for the Schengen Area. On March 11, 2020, the president signed a proclamation suspending the entry into the United States of any foreign nationals who were present in the 26 European countries comprising the Schengen Area during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States, said the official.

After noting the measures were extended to the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, the official added, Certain business travelers, investors, treaty traders, academics, and students may qualify for national interest exceptions under Presidential Proclamations (PPs) 9993 (Schengen Area) and 9996 (United Kingdom and Ireland). Qualified business and student travelers who have valid visas or ESTA [Electronic System for Travel Authorization] authorization may travel to the United States even as PPs 9993 and 9996 remain in effect. Consular officers also continue to consider national interest exceptions for qualified travelers seeking to enter the United States for purposes related tohumanitarian travel, certain public health and healthcare travel, and national security.

Attorneys believe administration policy harms their clients and the United States. The statement from the State Department appears to confirm that the current position is not to issue visas to anyone who is subject to Presidential Proclamations 9993 and 9996 but does not qualify for a national interest exception, said Rita Sostrin, a partner with Sostrin Immigration Lawyers, LLP, in an interview. National interest exceptions are generally reserved for an exclusive group of frontline workers, and most visa applicants would not meet the standard.

Sostrin believes the Trump administration has twisted the proclamations purpose and is now simply enacting additional restrictions on immigration. The spirit of the proclamations is to limit the spread of Covid-19, not to refuse visas to qualified individuals.This will hit particularly hard O-1 visa applicants, who have already been approved by USCIS as individuals of extraordinary ability the highest legal standard to work in non-medical/non-scientific fields like arts, culture and entertainment, as they are unlikely to qualify for a national interest exception.

The State Department published a few paragraphs on the national interest exceptions, but the wording is similar to the statement from the official above.

I cant help but feel this is just another effort by the current administration to restrict admission into the United States of even some of the worlds most talented people, said Debbi Klopman, a Brooklyn, NY-based immigration attorney, in an interview. The travel bans were certainly, at least initially, motivated by strong public health concerns. This current policy appears driven by an anti-immigrant culture within the administration.

Examples of O-1 Visa Refusals: Attorneys provided examples of recent O-1 visa refusals.

-A filmmaker was refused an O-1 visa at the U.S. consulate in Paris on August 4, 2020. My client is a highly accomplished filmmaker who has worked on numerous award-winning productions, said Rita Sostrin. USCIS approved his O-1 petition and he received a visa interview in Paris. He was planning to quarantine in another country but the consular officer refused his visa after a short interview. There was no discussion of his qualifications or the merits of his O-1 eligibility, said Sostrin. It appears that he was simply denied because of the Schengen ban, although the reason listed was the proclamation that restricts H, L and J visas.

-A Polish actress and singer of note was refused an O-1 visa on August 5, 2020, at the U.S. consulate in Warsaw. Debbi Klopman believes the visa should have been issued to her client. Proclamation 9993 is not a ban against visa issuance in Schengen Area countries, she said. The consequences of a visa refusal or denial in such circumstances are significant. There is every likelihoodshe will no longer be able to obtain authorization to travel to the United States. A visa denial creates significant roadblocks to the applicant the next time he or she attempts to obtain a visa.

-An O-1 visa was refused to a material designer at the U.S. consulate in Frankfurt on July 28, 2020. The officer refused the visa, simply stating that they would not issue the visa until after the Schengen Area travel ban is lifted, said Christy Turovskiy, a Portland-based business immigration attorney at Hammond Neal Moore, LLC, in an interview. The officer indicated that the only way the visa applicant could be allowed to travel is if the work is related to Covid-19 or if the applicant is married to a U.S. citizen. While these are two of several factors that can be considered for a national interest exception waiver, these are not requirements for visa issuance.

Strategy: My current advice to a nonimmigrant visa applicant is to travel to a non-travel-banned country where the U.S. embassy is open and processing temporary visas, said Debbi Klopman. They should document their arrival and their 14-day stay. An appointment should be arranged for visa processing at this non-travel banned country on or after day 15 following arrival. The applicant should then fly directly to the United States. She notes that transit through a travel-banned country triggers the ban and the visa holder will be banned from traveling through the transit country to the United States.

Christy Turovskiy points out another problem with the Trump administrations policy and consular officer refusals. These proclamations are bans based upon a persons physical presence in an affected country within 14 days immediately preceding entry to the United States, she said. Yet the government is creating a hurdle for foreign nationals to later enter the United States even after the travel ban is lifted or after they make an intervening trip for at least 14 days in a country that is not listed within the proclamations.

She says that refusing visas due to the proclamations is misguided. A visa is the stamp, representing a travel document that allows a person to apply for admission to the United States. It does not guarantee admission to the United States but allows the person to appear at the airport or land port of entry and be inspected.The consular officers should be issuing the visas and it is the job of inspectors at ports of entry to decide whether to allow someone to enter the United States using that visa. Customs and Border Protection is the agency that may refuse someone entry if he or she is subject to the travel ban if they have been in one of the affected regions during the 14 days before seeking entry to the United States.

Donald Trump has spoken repeatedly about a merit-based immigration system. That rings hollow and appears to be just a code phrase for less immigration when even people who meet the highest standards for obtaining a visa are refused.

Opponents of immigration often have argued that if a foreign national was extraordinary, they could just get an O-1 visa. Like most such arguments, it is not true, particularly during the Trump years. Today, if Superman and Wonder Woman lived in Europe, it appears they would fail to possess enough extraordinary ability to obtain a visa to enter the United States.

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Trump Immigration Policy Now Blocks Worlds Most Highly Skilled - Forbes

Different Travel Rules In Europe Are Delaying The Recovery Of Tourism – CEOWORLD magazine

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) is calling for uniform rules on the movement of tourists in Europe to deal with the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, stressing that the many different measures applied in European countries after the lifting of travel restrictions discourage traveling all over Europe while at the same time delay recovery.

In the Schengen area, the Council emphasizes, the measures must be uniform and not a deterrent to cross-border traffic. Unnecessary and different border restrictions act as a deterrent for travelers, at a time when recovery is urgently needed for destinations to gain tourists and employees of the tourism sector get back to their jobs.

According to the WTTC, every 2.7% increase in travel traffic generates one million jobs in the tourism sector. Governments adopting well-coordinated measures could increase travel by 27%, re-creating 10 million jobs in Travel and Tourism, the Council said. The WTTC cited the confusion of travelers using a face mask. In some countries it is mandatory to use public transport. These countries are for example France and Germany. While in others not, such as Norway and Sweden. In Italy, masks should be worn in all enclosed public places, while in Switzerland, in these areas, it is recommended to keep a distance of 1.5 meters and the mask is only necessary if there is no such distance.

According to medical advice for example from the Harvard Chan School of Public Health, the use of a face mask helps reduce the risk of transmitting the virus by up to 90%. Also, protects the user and those around him and restores a greater sense of normalcy to travelers. However, the WTTC warns that if European governments will not align their policies, they will stagnate and slow the fragile tourism recovery, putting 16 million jobs in travel and tourism at risk.

Gloria Guevara, President & CEO of WTTC called the leaders of European countries to unite and come up with uniform regulations for the benefit of the millions of people who depend on tourism in Europe. The past, she emphasizes, shows that only by coordinating and harmonizing travel rules can the recovery be accelerated, as travelers confidence will be restored. Different approaches to mask use, testing and contact detection create a climate of uncertainty for travelers, points out Gloria Guevara. She is also emphasizing in her statements how important especially this year is the restoration of travelers trust. The time to work together is now, she says. The private sector wants to work with governments and destinations using WTTCs carefully crafted Safe Travels protocols to clarify and eliminate tourist confusion. Tourism contributes 9.1% of Europes GDP, generating a turnover of over 2 trillion dollars, while last year the sector offered 37.1 million jobs.

Have you read?Highest Paying Business Jobs.Highest Paying Creative And Media Jobs.Highest Paying Social Services Jobs.Crewed MegaYacht charter in Greece and the Greek Islands.

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Different Travel Rules In Europe Are Delaying The Recovery Of Tourism - CEOWORLD magazine

United States Agritourism Market share forecast to witness considerable growth from 2020 to 2028 | By Top Leading Vendors BCD Group, Travel Leaders…

The AgritourismIndustry market study now available at Grand View Report, is a detailed sketch of the business sphere in terms of current and future trends driving the profit matrix. The report also indicates a pointwise outline of market share, market size, industry partakers, and regional landscape along with statistics, diagrams, & charts elucidating various noteworthy parameters of the industry landscape.

The Agritourism Market research report offers an exhaustive analysis of this business space. The key trends that define the AgritourismIndustry market during the analysis timeframe are mentioned in the report, alongside other factors such as regional scope and regulatory outlook. Also, the document elaborates on the impact of current industry trends on key market driving factors as well as top challenges.

Agritourism or agrotourism, as it is defined most broadly, involves any agriculturally based operation or activity that brings visitors to a farm or ranch. Agritourism has different definitions in different parts of the world, and sometimes refers specifically to farm stays, as in Italy. Elsewhere, agritourism includes a wide variety of activities, including buying produce direct from a farm stand, navigating a corn maze, slopping hogs, picking fruit, feeding animals, or staying at a bed and breakfast (B&B) on a farm.

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Under COVID-19 outbreak globally, this report provides 360 degrees of analysis from supply chain, import and export control to regional government policy and future influence on the industry. Detailed analysis about market status (2015-2020), enterprise competition pattern, advantages and disadvantages of enterprise products, industry development trends (2020-2028), regional industrial layout characteristics and macroeconomic policies, industrial policy has also been included. From raw materials to end users of this industry are analyzed scientifically, the trends of product circulation and sales channel will be presented as well. Considering COVID-19, this report provides comprehensive and in-depth analysis on how the epidemic push this industry transformation and reform.

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United States Agritourism Market share forecast to witness considerable growth from 2020 to 2028 | By Top Leading Vendors BCD Group, Travel Leaders...

The Latest: S Korea fears infections getting out of control – GoDanRiver.com

Tribal President Jonathan Nez says the Navajo Nation wont rush to fully reopen, recognizing that cases could spike if residents become complacent.

Employees at tribal and national parks on the reservation say they will be busy this weekend preparing for tourists.

MELBOURNE, Australia The Australian state of Victoria continues to flatten the curve in its wave of coronavirus infections and deaths.

The state on Saturday reported four more COVID-19 deaths and 303 newly confirmed cases in the previous 24 hours. It is the second-lowest daily figure reported in Victoria this month after 278 cases Thursday.

Victorias daily case numbers are gradually decreasing, with the seven-day average down to 344 from 521 a week ago.

But authorities warn there is more progress needed before lockdown restrictions in the city of Melbourne can be eased.

Melbourne residents and those in a nearby shire remain subject to strict night-time curfews, time limits on outdoor exercise, distance allowed from home, mandatory public mask wearing and shutdowns of non-essential industries.

MEXICO CITY Mexicos number of confirmed coronavirus cases has risen to 511,369, as health officials say they believe the country's infections have peaked.

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The Latest: S Korea fears infections getting out of control - GoDanRiver.com

Have your cake and eat it too, so long as they’re GMO: 5 Reasons GMO should be on your shopping list – SynBioBeta

Impossible Burger is a household name best recognized for its successful introduction of a plant-based burger that bleeds and has no animal hormones or antibiotics. But, there is another notable first for Impossible Burgerit is the first product in stores to adopt the new USDA-approved bioengineered GMO (genetically modified organism) product label that will soon be federally-mandated. This puts a spotlight on a major debate: the safety of GMO products.

While there have been no proven documented cases of GMOs causing harm in humans or animals, numerous studies show that consumers generally dont understand or lack familiarity with GMOs and are decidedly wary to try products that are genetically engineered.

For example, the pro-GMO organization GMO Answers found that 70% of adults dont really know what GMOs are, and less than a third are comfortable having GMOs in their food. While nearly half of U.S. consumers say they would change their consumption habits to reduce their impact on the environment, its worth noting that organic and natural certifications are anti-GMO, creating an increasingly significant dilemma. Plus a new Regenerative Organic Certification adds soil health, animal welfare and farmer economics to organics, but remains unappreciative that GMOs are a major lever to achieve these new goals. While modern genetic engineering is a key enabler of sustainability, food security and health, many consumers automatically look at GMO labels unfavorably.

There continues to be a serious divide between the scientific community and consumer audiences, certifying that authorities are failing to mediate properly and consumers are receiving an inadequate education on the pros and cons of GMOs. As a hero technology for sustainability, nourishing the population, and supporting farmer economics, GMOs fall victim to a misguided negative perception and are actually quite aligned with prevailing consumer demands.

Here are five considerations to put myths to rest and make the case for GMOs:

A GMO has had its DNA altered or modified in some way through genetic engineering. Approximately 60% of all processed foods on supermarket shelves contain GMO ingredients and, according to the USDA, 94% of soy and 92% of corn grown in the United States is GMO. Additionally, more than 90% of the corn and soy harvested for feed utilized in the production of livestock is GMO.

Humans have been altering the genetic makeup of plants for millennia, keeping seeds from the best crops and planting them in following years, selective breeding and crossbreeding, and conducting induced mutation to enable new varieties of crops that taste sweeter, grow bigger, and last longer. It is the technique of genetic-engineering that is newmodern genetic engineering utilizes biotechnology to intentionally direct a targeted change in a plant, animal, or microbial gene sequence to achieve a specific result.

Take for instance watermelon. The watermelons we eat today contrast starkly with those depicted in a 17th-century painting by Italian artist Giovanni Stanchi. Over time, genetic modification through selective breeding has enabled watermelons of more consistent shape, fewer seeds, increased water and sugar, and bright, red flesh. Which version would you rather eat? Chances are, youd choose the modern variety, which is also the more profitable type for the farmer and higher performing in terms of yield and nutrition.

GMO products undergo more rigorous testing than other foods we consume and are screened for toxins, allergens, nutrients, and proteins to make sure they are safe for human consumption. Additionally, Hundreds of digestion and safety studies examining the effects of feeding genetically engineered crops to various food-producing animal species revealed no disturbance to nutritional value, quality, or health. Regarding environmental safety, GMOs enable decreased reliance on chemical sprays that are harmful to soil and water run-off, and are controlled to mitigate gene flow.

Our food system has reached a pivotal moment. The United Nations estimates our global population will reach 9.7 billion by 2050, all of whom will depend on access to safe, nourishing, and affordable food, which the system today cannot support due to limited land, water scarcity, disease resistance, and climate change. If we are to dramatically improve production, we need to be able to improve yields across current acreage, expand farming in new regions and soil types, grow crops that can tolerate destructive weeds, pests, and molds, and perform in a changing climate. Next-gen biotechnology allows us to do this with greater success, speeds, safety and leads to novel breakthroughs in sustainable methods of production.

820 million people globally are malnourished and biotechnology is the best toolset in our arsenal for addressing the urgent problems of food shortage and hunger, globally. As an example, a 1995 report by the World Health Organization, estimated that more than 254 million children of preschool ages across 60 countries suffered from vitamin A deficiency, which can lead to permanent blindness and death. In 1999 a team of scientists leveraged GMO-based biofortification to introduce two daffodil genes and one bacterial gene into rice plants that enable the staple crop to produce in its grains beta-carotene, a building block of vitamin A. The result was a genetically-engineered crop carrying a promise to prevent millions of deaths and alleviate the suffering of children and adults afflicted with vitamin A deficiency and micronutrient malnutrition in developing countries.

Consumers are plagued by prolific misinformation throughout the food industry. GMOs are just one variable in a complicated web that includes organic, all-natural, free-range, hormone-free, antibiotic-free, and a cornucopia of others that consumers navigate with varying degrees of accuracy to settle on a food ideology.

As experts and food system stakeholders, the onus is on us to better facilitate the communication between consumers and producers, as well as credibly separate myth from fact while in pursuit of feeding everyone sustainably. Consumers are increasingly shopping with purpose and we need to help them be unconflicted and successful.

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Have your cake and eat it too, so long as they're GMO: 5 Reasons GMO should be on your shopping list - SynBioBeta

Biotechnology Could Change the Cattle Industry. Will it Succeed? – Undark Magazine

When Ralph Fisher, a Texas cattle rancher, set eyes on one of the worlds first cloned calves in August 1999, he didnt care what the scientists said: He knew it was his old Brahman bull, Chance, born again. About a year earlier, veterinarians at Texas A&M extracted DNA from one of Chances moles and used the sample to create a genetic double. Chance didnt live to meet his second self, but when the calf was born, Fisher christened him Second Chance, convinced he was the same animal.

Scientists cautioned Fisher that clones are more like twins than carbon copies: The two may act or even look different from one another. But as far as Fisher was concerned, Second Chance was Chance. Not only did they look identical from a certain distance, they behaved the same way as well. They ate with the same odd mannerisms; laid in the same spot in the yard. But in 2003, Second Chance attacked Fisher and tried to gore him with his horns. About 18 months later, the bull tossed Fisher into the air like an inconvenience and rammed him into the fence. Despite 80 stitches and a torn scrotum, Fisher resisted the idea that Second Chance was unlike his tame namesake, telling the radio program This American Life that I forgive him, you know?

In the two decades since Second Chance marked a genetic engineering milestone, cattle have secured a place on the front lines of biotechnology research. Today, scientists around the world are using cutting-edge technologies, from subcutaneous biosensors to specialized food supplements, in an effort to improve safety and efficiency within the $385 billion global cattle meat industry. Beyond boosting profits, their efforts are driven by an imminent climate crisis, in which cattle play a significant role, and growing concern for livestock welfare among consumers.

Gene editing stands out as the most revolutionary of these technologies. Although gene-edited cattle have yet to be granted approval for human consumption, researchers say tools like Crispr-Cas9 could let them improve on conventional breeding practices and create cows that are healthier, meatier, and less detrimental to the environment. Cows are also being given genes from the human immune system to create antibodies in the fight against Covid-19. (The genes of non-bovine livestock such as pigs and goats, meanwhile, have been hacked to grow transplantable human organs and produce cancer drugs in their milk.)

But some experts worry biotech cattle may never make it out of the barn. For one thing, theres the optics issue: Gene editing tends to grab headlines for its role in controversial research and biotech blunders. Crispr-Cas9 is often celebrated for its potential to alter the blueprint of life, but that enormous promise can become a liability in the hands of rogue and unscrupulous researchers, tempting regulatory agencies to toughen restrictions on the technologys use. And its unclear how eager the public will be to buy beef from gene-edited animals. So the question isnt just if the technology will work in developing supercharged cattle, but whether consumers and regulators will support it.

Cattle are catalysts for climate change. Livestock account for an estimated 14.5 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, of which cattle are responsible for about two thirds, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). One simple way to address the issue is to eat less meat. But meat consumption is expected to increase along with global population and average income. A 2012 report by the FAO projected that meat production will increase by 76 percent by 2050, as beef consumption increases by 1.2 percent annually. And the United States is projected to set a record for beef production in 2021, according to the Department of Agriculture.

For Alison Van Eenennaam, an animal geneticist at the University of California, Davis, part of the answer is creating more efficient cattle that rely on fewer resources. According to Van Eenennaam, the number of dairy cows in the United States decreased from around 25 million in the 1940s to around 9 million in 2007, while milk production has increased by nearly 60 percent. Van Eenennaam credits this boost in productivity to conventional selective breeding.

You dont need to be a rocket scientist or even a mathematician to figure out that the environmental footprint or the greenhouse gases associated with a glass of milk today is about one-third of that associated with a glass of milk in the 1940s, she says. Anything you can do to accelerate the rate of conventional breeding is going to reduce the environmental footprint of a glass of milk or a pound of meat.

Modern gene-editing tools may fuel that acceleration. By making precise cuts to DNA, geneticists insert or remove naturally occurring genes associated with specific traits. Some experts insist that gene editing has the potential to spark a new food revolution.

The question isnt just if the technology will work in developing supercharged cattle, but whether consumers and regulators will support it.

Jon Oatley, a reproductive biologist at Washington State University, wants to use Crispr-Cas9 to fine tune the genetic code of rugged, disease-resistant, and heat-tolerant bulls that have been bred to thrive on the open range. By disabling a gene called NANOS2, he says he aims to eliminate the capacity for a bull to make his own sperm, turning the recipient into a surrogate for sperm-producing stem cells from more productive prized stock. These surrogate sires, equipped with sperm from prize bulls, would then be released into range herds that are often genetically isolated and difficult to access, and the premium genes would then be transmitted to their offspring.

Furthermore, surrogate sires would enable ranchers to introduce desired traits without having to wrangle their herd into one place for artificial insemination, says Oatley. He envisions the gene-edited bulls serving herds in tropical regions like Brazil, the worlds largest beef exporter and home to around 200 million of the approximately 1.5 billion head of cattle on Earth.

Brazils herds are dominated by Nelore, a hardy breed that lacks the carcass and meat quality of breeds like Angus but can withstand high heat and humidity. Put an Angus bull on a tropical pasture and hes probably going to last maybe a month before he succumbs to the environment, says Oatley, while a Nelore bull carrying Angus sperm would have no problem with the climate.

The goal, according to Oatley, is to introduce genes from beefier bulls into these less efficient herds, increasing their productivity and decreasing their overall impact on the environment. We have shrinking resources, he says, and need new, innovative strategies for making those limited resources last.

Oatley has demonstrated his technique in mice but faces challenges with livestock. For starters, disabling NANOS2 does not definitively prevent the surrogate bull from producing some of its own sperm. And while Oatley has shown he can transplant sperm-producing cells into surrogate livestock, researchers have not yet published evidence showing that the surrogates produce enough quality sperm to support natural fertilization. How many cells will you need to make this bull actually fertile? asks Ina Dobrinski, a reproductive biologist at the University of Calgary who helped pioneer germ cell transplantation in large animals.

But Oatleys greatest challenge may be one shared with others in the bioengineered cattle industry: overcoming regulatory restrictions and societal suspicion. Surrogate sires would be classified as gene-edited animals by the Food and Drug Administration, meaning theyd face a rigorous approval process before their offspring could be sold for human consumption. But Oatley maintains that if his method is successful, the sperm itself would not be gene-edited, nor would the resulting offspring. The only gene-edited specimens would be the surrogate sires, which act like vessels in which the elite sperm travel.

Even so, says Dobrinski, Thats a very detailed difference and Im not sure how that will work with regulatory and consumer acceptance.

In fact, American attitudes towards gene editing have been generally positive when the modification is in the interest of animal welfare. Many dairy farmers prefer hornless cows horns can inflict damage when wielded by 1,500-pound animals so they often burn them off in a painful process using corrosive chemicals and scalding irons. In a study published last year in the journal PLOS One, researchers found that most Americans are willing to consume food products from cows genetically modified to be hornless.

Still, experts say several high-profile gene-editing failures in livestock and humans in recent years may lead consumers to consider new biotechnologies to be dangerous and unwieldy.

In 2014, a Minnesota startup called Recombinetics, a company with which Van Eenennaams lab has collaborated, created a pair of cross-bred Holstein bulls using the gene-editing tool TALENs, a precursor to Crispr-Cas9, making cuts to the bovine DNA and altering the genes to prevent the bulls from growing horns. Holstein cattle, which almost always carry horned genes, are highly productive dairy cows, so using conventional breeding to introduce hornless genes from less productive breeds can compromise the Holsteins productivity. Gene editing offered a chance to introduce only the genes Recombinetics wanted. Their hope was to use this experiment to prove that milk from the bulls female progeny was nutritionally equivalent to milk from non-edited stock. Such results could inform future efforts to make Holsteins hornless but no less productive.

The experiment seemed to work. In 2015, Buri and Spotigy were born. Over the next few years, the breakthrough received widespread media coverage, and when Buris hornless descendant graced the cover of Wired magazine in April 2019, it did so as the ostensible face of the livestock industrys future.

But early last year, a bioinformatician at the FDA ran a test on Buris genome and discovered an unexpected sliver of genetic code that didnt belong. Traces of bacterial DNA called a plasmid, which Recombinetics used to edit the bulls genome, had stayed behind in the editing process, carrying genes linked to antibiotic resistance in bacteria. After the agency published its findings, the media reaction was swift and fierce: FDA finds a surprise in gene-edited cattle: antibiotic-resistant, non-bovine DNA, read one headline. Part cow, part bacterium? read another.

Recombinetics has since insisted that the leftover plasmid DNA was likely harmless and stressed that this sort of genetic slipup is not uncommon.

Is there any risk with the plasmid? I would say theres none, says Tad Sonstegard, president and CEO of Acceligen, a Recombinetics subsidiary. We eat plasmids all the time, and were filled with microorganisms in our body that have plasmids. In hindsight, Sonstegard says his teams only mistake was not properly screening for the plasmid to begin with.

While the presence of antibiotic-resistant plasmid genes in beef probably does not pose a direct threat to consumers, according to Jennifer Kuzma, a professor of science and technology policy and co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University, it does raise the possible risk of introducing antibiotic-resistant genes into the microflora of peoples digestive systems. Although unlikely, organisms in the gut could integrate those genes into their own DNA and, as a result, proliferate antibiotic resistance, making it more difficult to fight off bacterial diseases.

The lesson that I think is learned there is that science is never 100 percent certain, and that when youre doing a risk assessment, having some humility in your technology product is important, because you never know what youre going to discover further down the road, she says. In the case of Recombinetics. I dont think there was any ill intent on the part of the researchers, but sometimes being very optimistic about your technology and enthusiastic about it causes you to have blinders on when it comes to risk assessment.

The FDA eventually clarified its results, insisting that the study was meant only to publicize the presence of the plasmid, not to suggest the bacterial DNA was necessarily dangerous. Nonetheless, the damage was done. As a result of the blunder,a plan was quashed forRecombinetics to raise an experimental herd in Brazil.

Sometimes being very optimistic about your technology and enthusiastic about it causes you to have blinders on when it comes to risk assessment.

Backlash to the FDA study exposed a fundamental disagreement between the agency and livestock biotechnologists. Scientists like Van Eenennaam, who in 2017 received a $500,000 grant from the Department of Agriculture to study Buris progeny, disagree with the FDAs strict regulatory approach to gene-edited animals. Typical GMOs are transgenic, meaning they have genes from multiple different species, but modern gene-editing techniques allow scientists to stay roughly within the confines of conventional breeding, adding and removing traits that naturally occur within the species. That said, gene editing is not yet free from errors and sometimes intended changes result in unintended alterations, notes Heather Lombardi, division director of animal bioengineering and cellular therapies at the FDAs Center for Veterinary Medicine. For that reason, the FDA remains cautious.

Theres a lot out there that I think is still unknown in terms of unintended consequences associated with using genome-editing technology, says Lombardi. Were just trying to get an understanding of what the potential impact is, if any, on safety.

Bhanu Telugu, an animal scientist at the University of Maryland and president and chief science officer at the agriculture technology startup RenOVAte Biosciences, worries that biotech companies will migrate their experiments to countries with looser regulatory environments. Perhaps more pressingly, he says strict regulation requiring long and expensive approval processes may incentivize these companies to work only on traits that are most profitable, rather than those that may have the greatest benefit for livestock and society, such as animal well-being and the environment.

What company would be willing to spend $20 million on potentially alleviating heat stress at this point? he asks.

On a windy winter afternoon, Raluca Mateescu leaned against a fence post at the University of Floridas Beef Teaching Unit while a Brahman heifer sniffed inquisitively at the air and reached out its tongue in search of unseen food. Since 2017, Mateescu, an animal geneticist at the university, has been part of a team studying heat and humidity tolerance in breeds like Brahman and Brangus (a mix between Brahman and Angus cattle). Her aim is to identify the genetic markers that contribute to a breeds climate resilience, markers that might lead to more precise breeding and gene-editing practices.

In the South, Mateescu says, heat and humidity are a major problem. That poses a stress to the animals because theyre selected for intense production to produce milk or grow fast and produce a lot of muscle and fat.

Like Nelore cattle in South America, Brahman are well-suited for tropical and subtropical climates, but their high tolerance for heat and humidity comes at the cost of lower meat quality than other breeds. Mateescu and her team have examined skin biopsies and found that relatively large sweat glands allow Brahman to better regulate their internal body temperature. With funding from the USDAs National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the researchers now plan to identify specific genetic markers that correlate with tolerance to tropical conditions.

If were selecting for animals that produce more without having a way to cool off, were going to run into trouble, she says.

A Brahman cow at the University of Floridas Beef Teaching Unit. Visual: Dyllan Furness

There are other avenues in biotechnology beyond gene editing that may help reduce the cattle industrys footprint. Although still early in their development, lab-cultured meats may someday undermine todays beef producers by offering consumers an affordable alternative to the conventionally grown product, without the animal welfare and environmental concerns that arise from eating beef harvested from a carcass.

Other biotech techniques hope to improve the beef industry without displacing it. In Switzerland, scientists at a startup called Mootral are experimenting with a garlic-based food supplement designed to alter the bovine digestive makeup to reduce the amount of methane they emit. Studies have shown the product to reduce methane emissions by about 20 percent in meat cattle, according to The New York Times.

In order to adhere to the Paris climate agreement, Mootrals owner, Thomas Hafner, believes demand will grow as governments require methane reductions from their livestock producers. We are working from the assumption that down the line every cow will be regulated to be on a methane reducer, he told The New York Times.

Meanwhile, a farm science research institute in New Zealand, AgResearch, hopes to target methane production at its source by eliminating methanogens, the microbes thought to be responsible for producing the greenhouse gas in ruminants. The AgResearch team is attempting to develop a vaccine to alter the cattle guts microbial composition, according to the BBC.

Genomic testing may also allow cattle producers to see what genes calves carry before theyre born, according to Mateescu, enabling producers to make smarter breeding decisions and select for the most desirable traits, whether it be heat tolerance, disease resistance, or carcass weight.

Despite all these efforts, questions remain as to whether biotech can ever dramatically reduce the industrys emissions or afford humane treatment to captive animals in resource-intensive operations. To many of the industrys critics, including environmental and animal rights activists, the very nature of the practice of rearing livestock for human consumption erodes the noble goal of sustainable food production. Rather than revamp the industry, these critics suggest alternatives such as meat-free diets to fulfill our need for protein. Indeed, data suggests many young consumers are already incorporating plant-based meats into their meals.

Ultimately, though, climate change may be the most pressing issue facing the cattle industry, according to Telugu of the University of Maryland, which received a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to improve productivity and adaptability in African cattle. We cannot breed our way out of this, he says.

Dyllan Furness is a Florida-based science and technology journalist. His work has appeared in Quartz, OneZero, and PBS, among other outlets.

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Biotechnology Could Change the Cattle Industry. Will it Succeed? - Undark Magazine

Discovery Could Lead to More Potent Garlic, Boosting Flavor and Aroma – SciTechDaily

Hannah Valentino, left, and Pablo Sobrado, right, uncover a new step in the process that makes garlic potent. Credit: Virginia Tech

For centuries, people around the world have used garlic as a spice, natural remedy, and pest deterrent but they didnt know how powerful or pungent the heads of garlic were until they tasted them.

This information changes the whole story about how garlic could be improved. Hannah Valentino, a Ph.D. candidate in the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

But what if farmers were able to grow garlic and know exactly how potent it would be? What if buyers could pick their garlic based on its might?

A team of Virginia Tech researchers recently discovered a new step in the metabolic process that produces the enzyme allicin, which leads to garlics delectable flavor and aroma, a finding that upends decades of previous scientific belief. Their work could boost the malodorous yet delicious characteristics that garlic-lovers the world over savor.

This information changes the whole story about how garlic could be improved or we could make the compounds responsible for its unique flavor, said Hannah Valentino, a College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Ph.D. candidate. This could lead to a new strain of garlic that would produce more flavor.

The discovery of this pathway opens the door for better control of production and more consistent crops, which would help farmers. Garlic could be sold as strong or weak, depending on consumer preferences.

The research was recently published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Hannah Valentino, left, and Pablo Sobrado, right, are conducting research that is laying the foundation for a future in which buyers can choose garlic based on its strength and flavor profile. Credit: Virginia Tech

When Valentino, an Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science doctoral fellow, and her team set out to test the generally accepted biological process that creates allicin, they found it just didnt happen.

Thats when the team of researchers set out to discover what was really happening in garlic.

As they peeled back the layers, they realized there was no fuel to power the previously accepted biological process that creates allicin.

By using rational design, Hannah found a potential substrate, said Pablo Sobrado, professor of biochemistry in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and a member of the research team. This is significant because by finding the metabolic pathway and understanding how the enzyme actually works and its structure gives us a blueprint of how allicin is created during biosynthesis.

Valentino and the team which included undergraduate students worked in the Sobrado Lab in the Fralin Life Sciences Institute directly with the substrates that comprise garlic, doing their work solely in vitro.

The researchers found that allicin, the component that gives garlic its smell and flavor, was produced by an entirely different biosynthetic process. Allyl-mercaptan reacts with flavin-containing monooxygenase, which then becomes allyl-sulfenic acid.

Importantly, the allicin levels can be tested, allowing farmers to know the strength of their crops without the need for genetic engineering. Greater flavor can simply be predicted, meaning powerful garlic could simply be bred or engineered.

We have a basic understanding of the biosynthesis of allicin that it is involved in flavor and smell, but we also now understand an enzyme that we can try to modulate, or a modify, to increase or decrease the level of the flavor molecules based on these biological processes, Sobrado said.

Because of their work, the future awaits for fields of garlic harsh enough to keep even the most terrifying vampires at bay.

There is a video with more information on this research.

Reference: Structure and function of a flavin-dependent S-monooxygenase from garlic (Allium sativum) by Hannah Valentino, Ashley C. Campbell, Jonathan P. Schuermann, Nazneen Sultana, Han G Nam, Sophie LeBlanc, John J. Tanner and Pablo Sobrado, 11 June 2020, Journal of Biological Chemistry.DOI: 10.1074/jbc.RA120.014484

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Discovery Could Lead to More Potent Garlic, Boosting Flavor and Aroma - SciTechDaily

Nick Jonas talks about visiting year 3000 and seeing people in masks, Internet asks ‘why did you come back?’ – MEAWW

American singer Nick Jonas is singing some different tunes off late. Judging by his social media activity, the Internet thinks he has allowed his imagination to run a bit wild. The 27-year-old singer tweeted on August 9, Ive been to the year 3000 not much has changed, except everyone was wearing a mask. In his Instagram post for the same, he added as caption 'And your great great great granddaughter was doing fine'.

Ive been to the year 3000 not much has changed, except everyone was wearing a mask.

He probably meant to stress on the longevity of the coronavirus pandemic that has hit the world and that the future looks too bleak. But it seems like his social awareness joke on the pandemic and human negligence evident from people not wearing masks in public is not being taken seriously by the Internet. The actor has become a butt of jokes on Twitter as people think it is pretentious humor. Hahaha oh nick you so funny, wrote one.

Actor-director Jason Marsden tweeted on how he expected better content from the singer/actor and said he is clearly a Jonas Brothers ignorant. What? Im sorry I didnt realize I was following Nick Jonas. Is this the kind of content I should be expecting?. Further, he said, Clearly...Im a #JonasBrosIngnorant.

What? Im sorry I didnt realize I was following Nick Jonas. Is this the kind of content I should be expecting?

Others went as far as saying that theyd want to simply die if the pandemic is to follow us in a futuristic year 3000. If we still have to wear masks in the year 3000 Im yeeting myself off a cliff, wrote one.

Many didn't leave a chance to mock Nicks 2013 song with Jonas Brothers named Year 3000. The futuristic song is about time travel through a time machine into year 3000 where people have begun to live underwater. Well if Busted are to be believed in the year 3000 we live underwater! So your choices are we have masks on, we evolved, or we did genetic engineering, wrote one.

Well if busted are to be believed in the year 3000 we live under water! So your choices are we have masks on, we evolved, or we did genetic engineering

Another one retorted about the song saying, "The Year 3000" was sung by the Jonas Brothers, so yeah, it's his song. How dare someone reference a song that they took part in creating. Blasphemy.

"The Year 3000" was sung by the Jonas Brothers, so yeah, it's his song. How dare someone reference a song that they took part in creating. Blasphemy.

Many people started to compare him with old members in the family-like Grandpa after such a time-traveling tweet. Went through my grandpa's yearbook from 1958 and saw someone familiar.. maybe he really did time travel. Quite a few trolled the singer for his observation with one saying: 'If you were in the year 3000, why did you come back?'

, if you were in the year 3000, why did you come back?

However, there were others who took his advice in the true spirit reminding others about the importance of wearing masks to stop the spread of the pandemic or else we could be seeing this scenario being played out in year 3000 as well. "You heard the man. wear a damn mask unless you want to still be wearing one in the year 3000," reasoned one fan.

you heard the man. wear a damn mask unless you want to still be wearing one in the year 3000.

Nick's been keeping the audience engaged on social media through the lockdown. Recently, he tweeted about welcoming a pet dog in the family, while posting a gushing picture with wife Priyanka Chopra and the new member leaving his followers melting into a puddle. Welcome to the family Panda! Panda is a Husky Australian Shepard mix rescue and were already in love.

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Nick Jonas talks about visiting year 3000 and seeing people in masks, Internet asks 'why did you come back?' - MEAWW

GentiBio Joins Cell Therapy Chase With $20M and New Treg Technology – Xconomy

XconomyBoston

One of the challenges facing cell therapy developers is collecting enough cells to produce a viable treatment. Its a particularly pronounced problem for therapies employing regulatory T cells (Tregs), a type of immune cell thats relatively scarce in the blood, says GentiBio CEO Adel Nada.

Some biotech companies are developing Treg cell therapies from a patients own Tregs. GentiBio makes its Treg therapeutic candidates from an entirely different type of immune cell, and Nada says this approach could make Treg cell therapy production more scalable. On Wednesday, the Boston-based startup announced its launch backed by $20 million in funding.

The immune system is comprised of many different types of cells that have different functions. For example, T cells seek out and destroy pathogens, and they also prompt other immune cells to mount a response. Tregs do the opposite, regulating or suppressing an excessive immune response. Such overreactions are associated with some autoimmune disorders, making Treg cell therapies promising as a way to treat them.

Rather than harvesting a patients Tregs, engineering those cells, and then multiplying them in a lab, GentiBio works with immune cells called CD4+, which are also known as helper T cells. In addition to playing multiple roles in an immune response, these cells are abundant in the blood. GentiBio uses genetic engineering techniques to make Treg-like cells from CD4+ cells. Scientists have already shown that this approach can work in animals. Not only has the technology produced these engineered Tregs, but these cells have also shown the potential to address graft-versus-host disease and encephalitis in mice. Results were published in June in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

GentiBios Tregs are engineered with additional features. Attaching a T-cell receptor to these cells enables them to target specific tissues, Nada says. He adds that synthetic biology technology helps these cells survive longer than typical Tregs. Once infused into a patient, these cells would be tunable, meaning that their numbers could be dialed up or down to the level needed to treat a particular disease. Nada declined to disclose his companys disease targets, other than to say that they are autoimmune diseases of high unmet medical need.

A growing number of companies are researching Treg therapies as a way to treat various diseases. Sonoma Biosciences launched in February, revealing $40 million in Series A financing and its plans to engineer cell therapies from a patients own Tregs. The startup, which splits its operations between South San Francisco and Seattle, has not disclosed its disease targets but co-founder and CEO Jeffrey Bluestone told Xconomy that in addition to autoimmune disorders, the companys approach has potential applications in treating cancer and neurodegeneration.

Pandion Therapeutics (NASDAQ: PAND) is developing drugs intended to treat disease by multiplying Tregs throughout the body without activating inflammatory cells. Last month, the Watertown, MA-based biotechs IPO raised $135 million, part of which will support PT101, the companys lead drug candidate that is currently in early-stage testing in moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis. San Francisco-based Orca Biosciences is developing proprietary mixtures of various types of immune cells, including Tregs, to address disease. One of its programs, a combination of T cells and Tregs, is currently in Phase 1/2 testing in blood cancers.

GentiBios approach can be used to make Treg therapies from a patients own cells, as well as off-the-shelf therapies produced from the cells of healthy donors. Nada says its too early to talk about which type the company is developing. The companys research is based on technologies licensed from Seattle Childrens Hospital and Research Institute, the Virginia Mason Health System-affiliated Benaroya Research Institute in Seattle, and Israels MIGAL Galilee Research Institute.

With the academic collaborators weve been working with, weve generated preclinical data that can support regulatory filings [for clinical trials], Nada says. We have assets that allow us to steadfastly march to the clinic, at a pace that is not what you would expect from an academically grown asset.

GentiBios financing, a seed round, was led by OrbiMed, Novartis Venture Fund, and RA Capital Management. Nada says the new cash enables his company to build infrastructure, including manufacturing, to support early-phase clinical testing in two indications, as well as non-clinical research for its other programs. GentiBio will need to raise more money next year to support those additional programs, Nada says.

Photo by Flickr user Alachua County via a Creative Commons license

Frank Vinluan is an Xconomy editor based in Research Triangle Park. You can reach him at fvinluan@xconomy.com.

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GentiBio Joins Cell Therapy Chase With $20M and New Treg Technology - Xconomy

Diving into the fascinating space of genome sequencing – BSI bureau

Although the revolutionary genome sequencing and DNA studies have sparked several innovations, there are, in all fairness, limited practical applications

The idea of untreatable diseases has always given humans the run for their money. In almost all phases of evolution, human health has been prioritized and it is only through innovations and health-IT that we do have ammunition for treatment at our disposal. The genome sequencing is one such healthcare concept that has opened up a whole new world of practicalities and possibilities.

With applications in cancer treatment and potential in treating epidemics, future predictions are now pouring in rapidly. Among the myriad of fascinating concepts across the world, genome sequencing is listed above several other technologies.

With massive investments in studies and research activities associated with this concept, the worldwide genomics market will cross $62 billion in seven years, as predicted by Fortune Business Insights in its latest report on Genomics.

Where it all began

As humans evolved, the standards of living were raised. Although it took an awful lot of time for us to realize we needed a civilized lifestyle to survive, we did eventually settle on a particular set of rules. In true retrospect, the civilized standard of living is what enlightened education and the concept of research and studies in general. It wasnt until a few hundred years ago, that humans moved on from the hunched way of living. With further evolution, along came a few revolutionary innovations that truly defined the shape of the world. As humans discovered the way to maximize on technology, the world became a closer or connected place as they say, but just like all other things, it did come at a cost.

The idea of connected world or globalization brought along a few negative traits. As people began to explore newer and untapped areas, they were naturally exposed to newer diseases. Globalization certainly amplified the spread of such diseases and with limited medical facilities at our helm; the resulting epidemics became the consequence of our own doing. But even the sheer advances in technology and healthcare werent enough. We realized that all human bodies are different and needed to be addressed in a specific manner. Some of us reacted to certain things and substances differently than others and this is when personalized or precision medicine came into fray.

What Exactly is Precision Medicine and what does Genome Sequencing have to do with this?

It is evident that a large portion of common diseases and conditions are treated with the same medicines and therapeutic approach. Modern physicists are constantly striving to develop personalized medical approach that is more impactful and efficient for the patients they address. The concept of genome sequencing is a primary ingredient to this delicacy that is precision medicine. If there is any weightage to the early predictions, genome sequencing can, in a few years, bring precision medicine for all. With increasing practical theories and clinical studies, there is no shortage of evidence to support the role of genome sequencing and AI in personalized medicine.

Understanding Genome Sequencing

A normal genome sequence is nothing but a sequence of letters that make up a humans DNA. These letters are not just any letters but are used to denote the order of DNA nucleotides in the form of A, T, G, and C, referring to adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosines respectively. Confused Yet? Lets put it this way The human genome is made up of over 3 billion such genomic letters. Without a differentiable sequence, the genomes would be represented by a random combination of letters. This sequence helps scientists identify the genes or DNA of a human being or as they would say in technical terms, decode the human gene. Among all variations in genome sequencing, the next-generation sequencing remains one of the hottest buzzword in the healthcare sector in recent years.

Where Exactly are these Sequences Used?

As we have already established its meaning, let us take a look into where and how these sequences work. A set of pre-defined human genes can be used for a variety of purposes, including building personal or precision proteins, identifying long-lasting problems, and detecting severe conditions at an early stage. But the concept that has made headlines on several frontiers is the use of genome sequencing for study and treatment of complex diseases. This is mainly done by locating the individuality of the disease as a whole; meaning to identify how a particular disease affects a particular human being and then coming up with ways to tackle it. The idea of gene therapy through genome sequencing has opened up newer branches and studies in genetic engineering. Whats more is that these sequences are now being studied beyond just the bracket of treatment, and new ways are being developed to even prevent the disease in its entirety. To put it in a clearer context, genetic diseases such as diabetes can be detected and dealt with very early in life. Although it may sound complex, the general idea behind this concept is to study every human body in a different way and identify ways to tackle damaged genes or areas that are potentially exposed to further damage.

Beyond just A,C,G,TWhere were Currently Getting at with Genome Sequencing?

The applications of DNA sequencing have been expanding rapidly over the past decade. From a scientists perspective, genomics has opened up a whole new world of ideas and we cannot really blame the extensive nature of research that is being going on in this field. With applications in regenerative medicine, the concept has gathered attention from healthcare industries across the world. Among a multitude of diseases that can be studied through genome sequencing, cancer has understandably made the front pages. Global organizations such as the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have carried out studies where-in the tumors in several individuals have been sequenced for the purpose of genetic mutations. Each of these individuals tumor is being studied and potentially be treated by personalized or precision genomic treatment.

The recent scenario of genome sequencing, however, has been more exciting. We are already aware of the fact that this concept was used to study the spread of the infamous Ebola virus a few years back. Although we will not be getting into the detailed medical terms, what we can briefly say is that scientists used genome sequencing to identify microbes and track down the pattern of the outbreak and epidemic across the world. As far as were concerned, this was certainly a win for genomic enthusiasts.

Unravelling the Mysteries Surrounding the COVID-19 Pandemic

The coronavirus outbreak, that originated in Wuhan, China, has now spread all over the world and we cant really pick whos at fault. On one side, humans are responsible for the spread of the disease, but on the other hand, we are entering a state of hesitation for developing vaccination. It is clear that despite the awareness and the general idea of containing and tackling a new disease within the originating area, the manner in which humans are going on about their life, gives us very little room to do so. It looks like we have settled on the idea that we will continue to live through constraints and the fact that were not going to stop travelling, despite the travel bans, a statement that represents much irony.

On the positive side, the advances in healthcare and medicine have given us hope. Having said that, we havent yet tackled the riddle of the Covid-19 pandemic but signs are we might be finally on to something. Concepts such as genome sequencing can be used to track patterns of the epidemic, especially in densely populated countries such as India. The biggest challenge during a nearly uncontrollable epidemic is to identify the origin as well as the pattern of the spread of the disease and genome sequencing, along with other concepts, has certainly helped this cause.

Countless Possibilities Yet Very Few Practicalities; Theres Still work to do.

Although the revolutionary genome sequencing and DNA studies have sparked several innovations, there are, in all fairness, limited practical applications. The depth of existing applications is much more fascinating than the number of applications itself. With genome sequencing finding its way into the ideology for coronavirus treatment, it is safe to say that concepts like these are leaving us with that subconscious safety cushion across several aspects of life. How we handle the ethical side of genetic studies remains to be seen; but the promise and potential held by genome sequencing certainly overpowers such ethical barriers. With applications in areas that were previously deemed unattainable, genome sequencing might just be the answer to a few of our worst nightmares with respect to life-threatening diseases. We can be nothing but excited of what this concept has in store across other areas in healthcare in the coming years.

Author:

Tanay Bhalla is an expert in embedded systems and health-IT sector.

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Diving into the fascinating space of genome sequencing - BSI bureau

Lecturer wins huge award for reining in lethal cereal killer – Daily Nation

By DAVID ADUDA

The sight of Prof Steven Runo in sorghum fields in Kibos, Alupe or Mbita, all in western Kenya, would be less alluring.

But it is the work in those fields and under the scorching heat of the lake region that saw him win this years Royal Society Africa Prize for the best scientific research.

Prof Runo was last week named the winner of the prestigious Royal Society Arica Prize, which celebrates Africas top scientists who excel in practical research. The award comes with a cash prize of British Sterling Pounds 15,000 or Sh2.1 million for research plus additional personal cash award of British Pounds 2,000s (Sh280,000) and a bronze medal. The prizes will be awarded in London later this year.

The Royal Society Africa Prize 2020 is awarded to Dr Steven Runo for elucidating pathways for long distance RNA trafficking between parasitic plants and their hosts and identifying and developing transgenic protocol for characterising and validating candidate host and parasite genes, the Society said in a statement.

Soft-spoken and reserved, Prof Runo would easily pass for any other lecturer at Kenyatta University. But beneath the veneer is a rare kind of scientist, a believer in action research and strong conviction to use scientific knowledge to make a difference in society.

Acutely aware of the perennial food shortage that afflicts millions of Kenyans and the rest of the continent, his desire is to use his knowledge in plant science to transform agriculture and particularly crop protection to achieve food sufficiency.

Prof Runo is the head of Biochemistry Microbiology and Biotechnology Department at Kenyatta University. His specialty is plant molecular biology. A mouthful, one would say, but which in plain terms means studying the nutrients of plants and using that knowledge to change their biological composition and make them resistant to weeds.

The research that has brought honour and glory to Kenya is on the use of plant nutrients to kill parasites. In scientific terms, it is about controlling parasites using what they call RNA interference. And the parasite in question here is Striga, the pink coloured weed that kills maize, sorghum and millet and largely prevalent in western Kenya. The other name of the parasite is witchweed, literally and appropriately, a killer plant.

Essentially, Prof Runos research involves studying the nutrients that Striga eats from host crops and using that knowledge, graft similar but poisonous variety of the nutrients that is injected in the host crops to make it resistant to parasitic attacks.

Prof Steven Runo (left) demonstrates parasite resistant plants that he has researched on at a greenhouse in Kenyatta University.

The research is concentrated on sorghum, maize and millet, main food crops around the country, but which are vulnerable to Striga attacks. According to agricultural research, Striga is one of the most lethal weeds.

According to Prof Runo, parasitic plants establish what is called vascular connection with the host plant through structures termed haustoria, which allow acquisition of water and nutrients, often to the detriment of the infected host.

The parasitic plant extracts the nutrients from the host plant, either killing it or rendering it unable to produce crops. That is why when Striga strikes a maize farm, for instance, it will strangle the crop and leave the farmer without any yield.

What we do is gene editing, where we study the nutrients that parasitic plants like Striga suck from the host plants and from that, we develop similar biological nutrients, inject them in the host crops and ultimately kill the parasites, says Prof Runo.

The concept, he explains, is similar to what doctors do; that of gene editing. It involves examining the composition of ones DNA and developing similar elements that are injected into human beings to give them immunity against viruses that cause diseases, such as polio vaccination.

The overall objective of our research is to achieve food security, says Prof Runo. We have been working with seed companies to develop crops that are resistant to parasites based on the research we have done.

He adds: My interest is to support farmers and ensure they get value from their sweat.

So, rather than confine his research to KU laboratories and only with his students, Prof Runo has adopted a public-facing approach. He works with Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research (Kalro) centres in Kibos in Kisumu County, Alupe in Busia and Mbita in Homa Bay and seed companies to translate academic research into practical use. The outcome of the research is to benefit farmers.

According to research studies in agriculture, Striga (witchweed) is one of the most lethal pests that affect food production in the tropics. For example, the studies say that in Kenya, the parasite leads to yield losses of between 65 and 100 per cent.

In our context where farmlands are shrinking due to increased population and urbanisation, demand for food is fast rising. In turn, farmers are forced into intense land use that degrade soils. With that, parasites such as Striga are on the increase as they seek places to survive.

This explains the significance of Prof Runos research. It strikes at the heart of what confounds farmers and for which immediate solution is imperative.

Ordinarily, farmers have used pesticides and herbicides to deal with such marauding parasites, but it has since emerged that those practices are in themselves harmful to farmlands in the long run. Moreover, their consistent use also affects farmers.

In an interview with Higher Education, the soft-spoken academician says his research interests are in the fields of parasite control through genetic engineering.

His desire is to translate that knowledge into dealing with weeds that do harm to farmers and make a difference in their lives. Lately, he has developed interest in research on swabs for testing for Covid-19.

Prof Runo believes that the award will inspire more Kenyans to conduct research and in particular, stimulate interest among high school and college students to study sciences.

Importantly, he hopes the award will send a strong statement to the government and other potential funders that Kenya has solid researchers and therefore should be funded to conduct research to provide solutions to challenges of our times.

The research that won him the award was a carry-over from his PhD in Plant Molecular Biology, which he did through a sandwich programme between the University of California, Davis, US and Kenyatta University. Earlier, he did a MSc in biotechnology and a BSc in biochemistry, both at Kenyatta University.

Besides, he did a postdoctoral research in molecular biology at the University of Sheffield in UK. He has also been a visiting researcher in genomics at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville USA.

The Royal Society Africa Prize recognises research scientists based in Africa who are making an innovative contribution to the sciences. The prize was previously the Royal Society Pfizer Award which was last awarded in 2016.

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Lecturer wins huge award for reining in lethal cereal killer - Daily Nation

Even in a Brave New World, systems are violence – The A.V. Club

Much of Aldous Huxleys vision of a Brave New World has been borne out: genetic engineering, mood-stabilizing pharmaceuticals, chemical birth control, ubiquitous marketing, and a society given to distraction. When the novel was published in 1932, these ultimately prescient notions placed it squarely in the realm of science fiction. The social stratification in the main setting of New London, on the other hand, was mostly a reflection of a class system thats existed for centuries. What the aristocratic Huxley feared wasnt a world in which there are haves and have-notsthe latter conditioned to never question why things arent equitable. He was much more concerned with the threat that Henry Fords assembly line and vacuous entertainments (sports, movies, etc.) posed to individualism.

Though it was primarily aimed at technological advances instead of a hierarchy indifferent to the inequities it perpetuates, Huxleys critique of systems in Brave New World has proven as enduring as his highly influential novel. This opposition to a predetermined way of lifeone molded by technology rather than religionruns through most adaptations of the book, including the iteration that premiered on Peacock last month. Bernard Marx (Harry Lloyd) expresses insecurity about his Alpha-Plus status, Beta-Plus hatchery worker Lenina Crowne (Jessica Brown Findlay) is vaguely discontent, and their trouble-free existence is disrupted by John (Alden Ehrenreich) of the Savage Lands, who prefers to be himself, not who society says he is.

But David Wieners sprawling, intermittently daring sci-fi drama makes several updates to Huxleys story. World Controller Mustafa Mond (played coolly here by Nina Sosanya) and Helmholtz Watson (now Hannah John-Kamens Helm, an emotions-and-orgy conductor) are rewritten so that they are played by women of color, which adds an interesting texture to their respective storylines. But the most promising developments in this Brave New World look beyond the framework of the source material to tap into real-life challenges to the established order. Wiener ventures into new territory by keeping the locale and introducing new characters. These additions dont just question their place in the worldthey eventually come to interrogate the system that creates a paradise for some and a life of servitude for others. Comfort breeds indifference in the upper castes; even the death of an Epsilon, a member of the lowest-ranking division in New Londons social order, only briefly snaps them out of their soma stupors. This tragedy is viewed as an anomaly thats swiftly corrected by Bernard handing out drugs. The Alphas and Betas go right on about their hedonistic day, as is their duty, their place.

Its this idea of systems and the brutality people enact through themwhich can take the form of redlining, food deserts, and gerrymandering in our worldthat feels most relevant today. When I spoke to the Brave New World cast earlier this summer, the ongoing protests calling for justice for George Floyd and other victims of state-sanctioned violence were already underway. Black Lives Matter was and is on the lips of activists and politicians, and emblazoned on the streets of cities. Huxley wouldnt have aimed his criticism at the government (unless Ford ever held an elected office), but this interpretation of his work has the potential to. I asked members of the cast about the protests, as well as the feeling that Mond and the founders essentially re-created an unjust world.

We all feel that way, certainly when you see these things happening over and over again, Ehrenreich said. This is sci-fi, but its not about escaping. Its really about the world we live in now, just as the novel was about the world we lived in then.

Theres some dissonance in watching Brave New World in the midst of resurgent social justice movements. Its an odd time to indulge in a TV show that explores how entertainment desensitizes us to each others plights, something that Ehrenreich and Sosanya acknowledged. But Brown Findlay stresses that the show allows us to reflect ourselves, to look at how weve constructed things, and asks, Can they be changed? Sen Mitsuji, who plays Alpha-Plus Henry Foster, said Brave New Worlds treatment of discrimination based on birthright or birth status, the context youre born into, things you cant change, ensures it still resonates. [This story] is always going to have a place.

We see that in the story of CJack60 (Joseph Morgan), one of the Epsilons who preserve the Alphas way of life (and, to a lesser extent, that of the Betas). The Alphas will continue to take sex-filled vacations and engage in nightly orgies, indifferent to the people who facilitate their pleasure. Theyll never have to suffer for any of it, John observes in a rage. Nor will they or anyone else question it, thanks to the work of scientists like Lenina and Frannie (Kylie Bunbury, always a welcome presence), who essentially design personalities to suit their caste designation: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon. New Londons citizens were all conceived, in a sense, to play their role in society. Whenever genetic engineering fails them, their conditioning and drugs nudge them back into place.

Like any system, New Londons social body requires a lot of maintenance. Here, thats symbolized by Indra, the kind of highly sophisticated artificial intelligence that ends up doing what all such programs do as they evolve: go rogue. Indra is the other side of this equation of systems and violence. And like the Matrix, Indra attempts to create a reality that keeps humans from actually experiencing life on their own. The machines of the Wachowskis film trilogy are just a tad more insidious, using humans as batteries; but Indra is also siphoning something from the New Londoners, who, via their standard-issue oculinks, are all connected to it (and each other). Indra is taking in their consciousness and memories for some unknown purpose beyond creating a perfect world in New London.

CJack60 represents a threat to the foundation Indras so painstakingly laid. After the death of his fellow Epsilon is waved off as an accident in the premiere, CJack60 starts rethinking his way of life. John acts as a catalyst, but its mostly by accident. Hes only railing against the system because it encourages Lenina to have sex with other people even after she and John exchange I love yous. As John screams to the Epsilons shortly before they revolt, People are not supposed to live like this! They cant tell you who to want! They cant give you some letter and tell you where you fit. He doesnt understand what hes set in motion, but the series doesafter Johns galvanizing speech, the Epsilons all drop their soma dispensers, the metal tubes sounding like bullet casings as they hit the floor. It heralds the bloodshed to come in the seasons final episode, as the Epsilons operate under a new mandate: No one above, no one below.

Wieners Brave New World manages to keep the books specific criticism of systems like utilitarianism in the form of John lashing out and Lenina and Bernard probing the bounds of their prescribed roles, while fomenting an actual revolution. Unfortunately, the show botches this development; the first obvious sign that things arent hunky-dory pops up in the Savage Lands, when Sheila (Kate Fleetwood) snaps John out of his daze. Sheila is leading her own rebellion against the New Londoners, who are titillated by the fake massacres carried out like clockwork in the Savage Landswhich are reimagined for the series as a Westworld-like theme park. She inspires Johns awakening when she urges him to ask himself, What am I? A free human being or a washer of cars? Yet these self-described free people are rarely seen again until the final moments of the season.

Westworlds revolts tend to lose their steam due to the sheer volume of characters and plot; Brave New World suffers from the same scattered focus, as CJack60 disappears for long stretches at a time, which takes some of the power out of his sudden emergence as a leader. But theres no doubt in Morgans mind that his character was already feeling frustration and anger at my oppressors at being forced into this box before John wandered into the Epsilons home. As Morgan told me, CJack60 may have been goaded by John, but he was ultimately like a rocket. When the fuse was lit, he really took off.

The season ends with an untold number of slain Alphas, Betas, and Epsilons (and possibly members of the other castes; its hard to say), a meticulously planned society laid to waste, and little indication of what comes next. Wiener and executive producer Grant Morrison are clearly setting up the next season, sending their three leads in different directions: John to mourn; Lenina to a new new world, one whose story isnt crisis. Along with Helm, Bernard returns to the Savage Lands, with what may be the new version of Indra. Both Bernard and Mond try to blame Indra for the bloody confrontation and many of the events leading up to it, but a system isnt inherently violent; it perpetrates violence when its imbued with the beliefs and goals of its creators. Time and again, were told the social order of New London is both necessaryto prevent future global catastrophesand beneficial to all. But even if its true that the Epsilons arent exactly impoverished, that they have jobs and homes, theyre still disenfranchised. And thats by design. To quote from a different dystopian tale recently adapted for TV, Better never means better for everyone. It always means worse, for some. Mond et al. knowingly established inequities in their society, essentially making their new world in the image of the old.

Despite his fear of what automation would do to workers, Huxley wasnt challenging the social order of his world. When he wrote of people in New London buying into the system, it actually reflected his disdain of indiscriminate mass consumption: Most men and women will grow up to love their servitude and will never dream of revolution. Wieners adaptation picks up on Huxleys fear that people would willingly give away their individuality if the offer were attractive or distracting enough. Though Kylie Bunbury doesnt get nearly enough screentime on Brave New World, her character, Frannie, is at the center of this particular discussion. Frannie is a Beta-Plus like Lenina, and theyve essentially been assigned to be each others best friend. She frequently tries to bring a searching Lenina back into the fold, because on some level, she knows theyre better off playing their parts. But New Londons architects have also designed the life of a Beta-Plus to be so filled with pleasure as to defy rejecting it. Bunbury sees this part of the narrative as the show demonstrating how we can participate in these systems, actively harmful and otherwise.

There is a lot of following the way things are because this is the way that things are, rather than taking a look at things, she said. A lot of it is just unconscious. And if you feed people something enough, theyre going to believe it.

Frannie and Lenina arent the same, despite ostensibly sharing genetic profiles and social standing. There comes a moment in the second half of the season, when the Beta-Plus women play a futuristic version of racquetball, and Lenina mocks her frustrated friend, whos lost several games already. Lenina brags to Frannie that she always comes in first, despite their shared status. She urges her friend to question why. Like its source material, Peacocks Brave New World never addresses how its society evolved past racism. The divisions are purely caste-related, but like so many post-race stories, the series still has primarily white actors in lead roles. When I asked Bunbury if she thinks this confession from Lenina is a subtle acknowledgment of racism even in this supposedly idyllic society, she agreed: I see the genius in Lenina saying, Why do you think you always come second? because that is the truth of the world right now. Its a cluemaybe in the near future, those things will still be going on, even if people are genetically engineered. That was a tough scene in that regard, because I viewed it as a racial situation.

If the show gets picked up for a second season, it will hopefully cease eliding race, a decision thats done The Handmaids Tale no favors. A good portion of the action will likely take place in the Savage Lands, which are located in America. Given the world that Brave New World debuted in, its more important than ever not to ignore that history, and the systems entangled within it. When asked if this adaptation of Huxleys novel challenges people to think about how they uphold systems even as it entertains, Lloyd said, It definitely makes you think about society and the way in which humans can live, and do live, and could live, in terms of becoming part of a system or challenging a system. Thats the next step toward a brave new world for this sci-fi drama.

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Even in a Brave New World, systems are violence - The A.V. Club

Protests have erupted across the nation and returned to St. Louis: Here are some of the leaders of the movement – STLtoday.com

The Rev. Darryl Gray sits at the intersection of Market Street and Tucker Boulevard for minutes of silence in memory of those killed by police officers, near City Hall in downtown St. Louis on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. Protesters announced plans to camp in front of the building until their demands were met and Mayor Lyda Krewson resigns. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com

Protests dont just happen as spontaneous moments.

They are planned and executed by an array of people college students and politicians, lawyers and social workers, medical professionals and blue-collar workers spurred by outrage, activism or a sense of injustice.

Protesters who emerged as leaders six years ago after 18-year-old Michael Brown was shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer have in some cases carried their commitment in new directions of influence, including freshman state Rep. Rasheen Aldridge and Cori Bush, the Democratic nominee in the 1st Congressional District after Tuesdays primary election.

Aldridge and Bush have remained active in protests, including those sparked this summer by the death of George Floyd, a Black man killed while restrained by a Minneapolis police officer, as well as by the release of a video that showed a Florissant police detective hitting a man with his vehicle.

But they are not the only leaders of the movement.

At the center of the demonstrations are a mix of groups ExpectUs, RespectUs, Tent Mission STL, Occupy City Hall STL, Protest THAT, Action St. Louis and ClosetheWorkhouse whose opinions vary on the best way to seek justice.

And on the anniversary of Browns death, Aug. 9, 2014, protest leaders say underlying inequities and a lack of broad reform measures make the St. Louis area ripe for social unrest.

Meet a few of the leaders who carry the culture of protest in the St. Louis region.

The pastor

The Rev. Daryl Gray, 66, is a founder of the protest group ExpectUs. He is one of several Democratic leaders in the organization who doubles as both an activist and a politician. Others include Aldridge and Bush, who toppled longtime U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay in Tuesdays Democratic primary.

Among other calls for justice, ExpectUs has advocated for reparations for Black people and an end to police brutality. Gray said current protests are more of a movement than a moment.

Rev. Darryl Gray talks to police officers as protesters march at the Galleria in Richmond Heights on Black Friday, Nov. 24, 2017. About 100 people marched through the mall, calling for an economic boycott of area businesses. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com

Born in Boston and having grown up in both South Carolina and Canada, Gray moved to St. Louis after Fergusons uprisings. He emphasizes that when an organization like ExpectUs is grassroots, its bound to have more buy-in from its members.

If you own it, then youre going to go the extra mile for it, Gray said.

Gray attended a newly integrated high school in South Carolina, where he got a taste of standing up for what he believed in and the repercussions that often follow.

During a school pep rally, Gray said a man came riding into the gym on a horse waving a Confederate flag. He walked out, and hundreds of students followed him. He was suspended from school, he said, for inciting a disturbance.

I didnt know they were behind me. I didnt look back, he said.

Gray went on to join the U.S. Army, where he was honorably discharged. He then campaigned for presidential candidate the Rev. Jesse Jackson in Florida, worked with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, preached in both Canada and Atlanta, served as head of Atlantas NAACP, and briefly served as a state senator from Kansas City.

Now, he said, hes ready to make St. Louis his final destination.

With a history of frequently moving, proving himself in new cities has been the norm for Gray.

I think Ive gotten beat up enough in the streets. Ive shown up more than some people whove been here all their lives thats got to count for something, Gray said.

On July 6, a day after protesters say they were beaten while being arrested for protesting at Florissants police department, Gray asked officers in riot gear behind the gate of the police department to go back inside the police department as a sign of good faith. A white shirt officer agreed and instructed riot police to go inside, but a regular, uniformed group of police then came out another door.

Gray and other ExpectUs leaders told everyone to go home. Some in the crowd strongly opposed leaving though, and the two factions argued with one another.

That was our mistake the timing. For us to disperse while police were standing there could be perceived as a sign of weakness, Gray said. RespectUs felt disrespected at that moment, and they had reason to. Our timing was off. That was our mistake. We owned it.

The self-proclaimed radical

One of the protesters who stayed behind that night was Tauren Taylor, a 25-year-old University City resident.

A self-proclaimed radical, Taylor said he stayed because protesters were supposed to go out on their own terms. Taylor said protesters had to advocate for every inch of real estate on which to protest, including the parking lot across the street from the police station.

Tauren Taylor, center, talks with Dhoruba Shakur, left, and Tory Russell as they block the doorway to the Ferguson Market to shut it down for the night on Thursday, July 30, 2020, after St. Louis County prosecutor Wesley Bell announced that after a review he would not charge police officer Darren Wilson in Brown's 2014 death. The store became a central part of the case after the teenager was accused of robbing it before he was shot. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com

Why keep letting them hand us stuff when our job is to take things? Were supposed to be forcing them to give us things they dont want to give us, Taylor said. They dont want to give us freedom. They dont want to stop killing us, they dont want to stop beating us.

Taylor has been arrested at several protests in the past year. He was also one of the protest leaders after Terry Tillman, 23, was killed last year by police near the St. Louis Galleria Mall in Richmond Heights.

Taylor remains vocal on the front line, but he says he will not join a protest group.

To be held under a name, youre held under their standards. ExpectUs, for instance, I love people in ExpectUS. I will ride for ExpectUs, but I dont think now is the time for us to try to ask for reparations.

Taylor moved to Missouri from California when he was a teenager. He said his family dealt with poverty, and he was bullied frequently for having a lisp and being studious.

One of his first successful protests, he said, was getting a neglectful teacher fired by collecting petition names.

Once I found out what the chain of the command was, I went up that ladder, he said.

Eventually, he said, he was kicked out of Vashon High School for fighting.

Taylor earned a diploma from the Fresh Start Academy program at 17, and briefly studied animal science and genetic engineering at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park.

He acknowledged some may see his protest methods as extreme, but he said his methods also help people understand someone is sticking up for them.

Taylor said hes not sure about a future career path, but hes working odd jobs, including selling homemade goods at Soulard Market. In the meantime, he said, he will continue to protest injustices wherever they spring up in the St. Louis area.

Tauren Taylor leads chants in the parking lot of the Florissant Police Department on Monday, July 6, 2020. Protesters held a demonstration against police brutality after a Florissant officer was fired and charged with hitting a fleeing subject with his vehicle. Those attending were seeking charges against two other officers involved in the incident. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com

Taylor was one of several protesters to take exception with comments in mid-July by Jimmie Edwards, the top law enforcement official in St. Louis. Edwards, at an anti-crime demonstration outside City Hall, said many protesters werent from the city, and he condemned violence that erupted at some of the protests.

I feel like violence happens everywhere, even in nature, said Taylor. Were all human, we all make mistakes. Theres no way to control every single person thats out there. Ive seen police hurt people and each other. You cant condone it on one end and condemn it on the other.

The elder

The perceived lack of government response when doorbell security footage showed former Florissant Detective Joshua Smith running over a fleeing suspect in early June led to the formation of another protest group, RespectUs, said one of the founders, Cathy Mama Cat Daniels.

Daniels, 59, said she and a group of other front-line Ferguson protesters went to the police station for answers about what had happened, but there were barricades around the police department.

Protester Cathy Daniels leads the chant opposing the King Louis IX statue in Forest Park, during a rally atop Art Hill on Saturday, June 27, 2020. About 200 people on opposite sides of the debate attended the rally in front of the St. Louis Art Museum. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com

When they didnt answer us and treat us with the human respect as people who live in this town, youve got to stand up and fight back, said Daniels. Even the (city) council, anyone who spoke against their idea of democracy, they didnt feel the need to respect them. Thats why we are RespectUs.

Daniels said RespectUs has four core demands: fire, charge, arrest and convict Smith. Thus far, three of those four have happened Smith has not yet had his day in court.

Daniels has lived in Florissant since 2012. She grew up in New York City and previously lived in Chicago and San Diego. Since Fergusons uprisings, shes worked as a cook and founded PotBangerz, a nonprofit dedicated to providing food and clothing to families in need. The organization is now renovating a home in Pine Lawn for cis, queer and trans women in need and plans to open the home later this year.

Cathy 'Mama Cat' Daniels empties one of two massive bowls of salad with vegetables donated from area farms, as she cooks dinner for 130 people in the kitchen at First Congregational Church of St. Louis on Thursday, July 23, 2020 in Clayton. Daniels leads the PotBangerz, a group of volunteers, many who are active in area protests, who feed the hungry and the unhoused. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com

An elder of the protest group, Daniels said she offers advice to protesters and watches from the back, cane and chair in tow. Still, she said, she doesnt always approve of the protest methods that unfold.

Theres no such thing as peaceful protest. Thats an oxymoron. If there was peace, we wouldnt need to protest, Daniels said. I dont support tearing up stuff. We had that happen during Ferguson. If were gonna burn it down, then do it the right way, and thats not in the literal sense. Burn down the system. Defund the police.

The congresswoman

Daniels stood behind Cori Bush, 44, as hundreds of protesters returned July 3 to Portland Place in St. Louis West End. The private street had recently made national news, as Mark and Patricia McCloskey waved guns at protesters in an effort to, as they said, defend their home. The couple has since been charged with unlawful use of a weapon.

There was nothing to defend, and thats what angers me so bad, Bush said.

Protest leader Cori Bush marches on Forest Park Parkway during a rally and march against police brutality in the Delmar Loop on Friday, June 12, 2020. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com

In addition to rising as a leader of ExpectUs, Bush gained national notoriety in Tuesdays election. In a district that has historically voted overwhelmingly for Democrats, Bush will likely become the first Black woman to represent Missouri in Congress.

Bush said she learned about politics, protest tactics and demonstrations from her father, Earl Bush, who worked as a politician in north St. Louis County.

She attended high school at Cardinal Ritter College Prep and said she had no intention of starting a life in politics. She graduated from Harris- Stowe State University and Lutheran School of Nursing, then entered the fields of nursing and ministry.

Between Bushs unsuccessful runs for Senate and the House of Representatives in 2016 and 2018, respectively, St. Louis police officer Jason Stockley went on trial for shooting a Black man, Anthony Lamar Smith, in 2011. Stockley was charged with first-degree murder, and prosecutors claimed he planted a gun on Smith. When Stockley was found not guilty by a judge in 2017, protests erupted again, and Bush emerged as a leader of ExpectUs.

During those demonstrations, Bush said, the group began to change how it disseminated information.

With Ferguson, you didnt have to call and ask around to see what time a protest was going on. You could just show up. It was 24/7. With Stockley, we had to have a way to get the information out, said Bush, highlighting the organizations use of social media.

Now, both she and Gray agree the groups protests are more refined, pointing out the local history lessons they provide before the marching and chanting begin.

ExpectUs doesnt do violent things, but what were not going to do is turn our backs on people that do, as far as their form of protest, Bush said, referencing the violence that occasionally breaks out at protests, including an early June demonstration that included gunfire and widespread looting as the night wore on.

If I have a sandwich today for breakfast, lunch and dinner Im not going to loot a sandwich, Bush said. If they fix the problems, they wont have to worry about that.

Bush said shes aware she could get blamed for the violence that occurs during protests, but she stands by her decision to continually show up and call for change.

I know it every single time, and I make that choice to show up, she said. When we stop showing up, when we stop pushing, thats how they win, so Ill take that chance.

This story has been updated to correct the year of the shooting of Anthony Lamar Smith.

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Protests have erupted across the nation and returned to St. Louis: Here are some of the leaders of the movement - STLtoday.com

A Unicorn Rivalry Shaping the Future of the Synbio Industry – SynBioBeta

Two companies Ginkgo Bioworks and Zymergen are poised to shape the future of SynBio

Across industries as diverse as electronics, pharmaceuticals, food, and materials, industrial synthetic biology has begun to produce the goods we need more efficiently and sustainably. Using the synthetic biology approachor synbio for those familiar with the fieldstart-ups and Fortune 500 corporations alike are genetically-engineering microbes to manufacture a massive range of goods from the touchscreens in your phone, to the cotton in your t-shirt, to the meat in your plant-based burger.

Traditionally, this synthetic biology process has been a slow and hypothesis-driven endeavor, dependent on researcher geniusand a healthy dose of luckto design these microbial mini-factories. But not anymore.

Two companies have embraced the power of computational biology to take the guesswork out of synthetic biology and drive this young industry into the mainstream. Zymergen and Ginkgo Bioworks both use vast metagenomic databases, machine learning, and robust automated laboratories to design microbes custom-suited to manufacture a desired good. Both organizations have raised significant capital to build out their platforms, with Zymergen having raised a $400-million Series C in 2018 and Ginkgo Bioworks raising almost double that figure in multiple rounds over its lifetime.

Despite their shared mission to turn the art of engineering biology into a science, the two synbio pioneers are strongly differentiated by their respective technology stacks and business models. Analyzing the key differences between the two can help us understand how the synthetic biology industry as a whole may evolve and where the value levers are hidden in the synbio ecosystem.

At its core, industrial synthetic biology offers a path to both producing humanitys typical array of materialssuch as plastics, textiles, food, and medicinesmore efficiently, as well as creating completely new substances. To produce these goods with biology relies on a three-step process of:

1) Molecule Identification: Identifying the molecule you want to create;

2) Biology Design: Designing a microbe to manufacture the good; and

3) End-Product Manufacturing: Scaling the manufacturing.

Overlaying this simplified three-step value chain against each of these organizations core competencies illustrates where the two companies hope to compete in the industrial synbio field and how they will likely co-exist (or not) with other players in the space.

Both Zymergen and Ginkgo have established wide competitive moats around the Biology Design process. By constructing massive and growing metagenomic databasesmapping genes, proteins, and metabolic pathwaysand investing capital into automated labs capable of running high-throughput experimentation, the two companies have achieved a level of take-off velocity insulating them from would-be challengers seeking to enter the field.

Both companies have embraced an R&D process that creates a positive feedback loop, perpetually self-improving their ability to design microbes and putting greater distance between them and any potential competitors. Both companies leverage their massive datasets to train machine-learning algorithms that help design potential microbes for a given purpose. They then turn to their automated labs to test thousands of strains for performance, creating new data-points to further improve their machine-learning for the next batch of microbes.

While important differences exist between the two companies Biology Design stacks regarding the size of their datasets, the robustness of their software, and the automation of their hardware, both can claim strong proficiency in the Biology Design portion of the synbio value chain.

Beyond Biology Design, Ginkgo and Zymergen have taken divergent approaches to both Molecule Identification and End-Product Manufacturing. Regarding the former, Zymergen has developed chemistry and materials datasets and supporting lab infrastructure to rigorously scan their databases for promising molecules, predict their fit for a given purpose, and test those predictions empirically. To its credit, Zymergen has announced three products so fara biofilm for electronics, an insect repellent, and a crop pest control agentthat are all reported to be completely novel, never-used-before molecules.

Zymergen has also endeavored to internalize End-Product Manufacturing capabilities. After Zymergen designs a product, they turn to a network of close bio-manufacturing partners to produce the end-product in-house for downstream customers and partners.

While exceptions exist, Ginkgo has concentrated its focus almost solely on the Biology Design pieceperhaps with good reason. The ability to predict how a new molecule will behave varies across applications and necessitates a diverse toolkit: the analysis of a molecule to be used in electronic consumables varies greatly from that of one to be used in food or nutrition, diluting the scalability of a Molecule Identification skillset. For this reason, Ginkgo has focused their platform less on the discovery of totally novel substances, but more on finding a better means of manufacturing those we already know.

In regard to End-Product Manufacturing, commercial bio-manufacturing represents a fairly old technologyit relies primarily on the same fermentation process used to make beer.

Accordingly, Ginkgo believes that the End-Product Manufacturing element of the synbio process is relatively commoditized, and that their platform does not provide much marginal advantage here. In Ginkgos worldview, Molecule Identification appears to be too specialized beyond their core competency, while End-Product Manufacturing is perhaps too commoditized to offer much additional value.

In a nutshell, Zymergen has positioned itself as a products company with the infrastructure to cover the full product development process, while Ginkgo acts as a platform providing a modular solution at one valuable link in the synbio value chain. Under this strategy, Zymergen can produce differentiated products that cannot be found anywhere elseand Zymergen will be able to charge for that unique value.

Lacking an internal products engine, Ginkgo has cast a wide net of partnerships with industry innovators and internal spin-outs, in effect creating a decentralized product discovery network that can leverage its biology design platform to bring products to market.

While the two companies early strategies may not be indicative of their future evolution, their current directions do reflect their intended role within the larger synthetic biology ecosystem. On the one hand, Zymergen seems to be driving for a world where they can act as the one-stop-shop for anyones manufacturing or materials needsthey can ID the best substance, engineer the best organisms to produce it, and manufacture the product for sale to customers.

Alternatively, Ginkgos platform allows for a more distributed ecosystemwhere they can leverage their unique expertise in organism design to provide downstream partners with the crucial key to implementing their own bio-manufacturing processes.

If either approach can succeed in pulling synthetic biology into the mainstream, we could all benefit from a cleaner, healthier, and more abundant world.

Matthew Kirshner works in life sciences consulting at Putnam Associates, focused on pharma and biotech organizations commercializing novel therapeutics and diagnostics. He has no professional affiliation in his work with either company referenced in this article.

Originally published on Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News https://www.genengnews.com/gen-edge/a-unicorn-rivalry-shaping-the-future-of-the-synbio-industry/

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A Unicorn Rivalry Shaping the Future of the Synbio Industry - SynBioBeta