Richard Spencer attempted to crash a Libertarian conference and was shown the door – Salon

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Richard Spencer the alt right leader who vowed were not going awayafter Donald Trump won the presidency, was caught leadinga Nazi salute for Trumpand who got punched in the face at his heros inauguration was evicted from the 10th annual International Students for Liberty Conference after trying to crash itsparty.

Spencer, a self-declared white nationalist who believes the U.S. is losing its white identity, had no business attending a gathering of libertarian students, and conference organizers had every right to eject him, Robby Soave wrote in Reason Magazine. Indeed, their decision to do so was a valid exercise of libertarian principles in action.

Soave described how Spencer set himself up in the bar of the hotel in Washington D.C. where the event was being held and attempted to host an unscheduled and unwanted conversation about his despicable views. He was eventually confronted by libertarian punditJeffrey Tucker, who confronted Spencer and made clear to the alt-right provocateur that he did not belong at ISFLC. Some shouting ensued, and hotel staff intervened. Shortly thereafter, Spencer left.

In characteristic libertarian fashion, Soave pointed out that the Marriott Wardman hotel is private property, and should enjoy the absolute right to evict irksome and unwelcome guests from its premises.

Spencer has naturally availed himself of the opportunity to troll libertarians on his Twitter account. Some of his tweets are included below, although for spatial reasons we have not included all of them.

Attempts to disrupt the conference, both from the far left and far right, were not entirely unexpected, but the appearance of Mr. Spencer and alt-right activists at the hotel demonstrated the alt-rights hostility to the ideas of liberty and freedom, said Students for Liberty CEO Wolf von Laer in a statement. Although we support freedom of speech and thought, we did not invite Mr. Spencer. We reject his hateful message and we wholeheartedly oppose his obsolete ideology.

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Richard Spencer attempted to crash a Libertarian conference and was shown the door - Salon

A Libertarian Look at Free College – Being Libertarian

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There has been a lot of talk lately about free college. Being a Libertarian I initially scoffed at the idea. Then, as I normally do, I started to wonder if there was any idea that could improve the current college business model to attain most of the same perks that free college would be able to attain.

It would be nice if money were off the table when it came to choosing where to attend college. It would be nice if my income, or my familys income or social status, was not a factor. It would be nice if students were accepted solely based on their merit and potential, disregarding all other factors. To me, this is a principle that makes me want to find a solution as a Libertarian. I believe that I have done just that.

What if we had a business model that could remove the need for tuition, while making a college more profitable? What if colleges viewed students as investments and it was in their best interest to provide them with competitive degrees and to help them find employment quickly upon graduation? What if a college based its profitability off of the profitability of its alumni? What if colleges understood the needs of the market and focused its degrees on these areas to not only meet the needs of the market, but also to maximize alumni income? What if students that could not complete their program, and had to drop out, could walk away debt-free? What if the answer to all these questions is yes? Well, it is.

I have developed a business model that requires no upfront tuition to be paid by students. Instead, students agree that upon graduation, they will pay 12% of their income to the college for the next 12 years. With this basic agreement, the colleges profitability is not interlaced with the profitability of the student upon graduation. The college will want the student to find a high paying job quickly, and could offer services to help the student in this manner, and since the student is bound by this contract for 12 years, it is in the colleges interest to help its alumni for this entire time. The college wants to produce graduates that will earn a higher wage to maximize their profits.

In order to accomplish this, the college will focus degree programs on areas where there is a need in the market. Colleges would shift away from degree programs that earn little money and have little need in the market. Colleges would offer degree programs that would best fit the skill-set of the student and help the individual to be as successful as they can. The college now cares about counseling and motivating students to not drop out. The college now cares about each class within the degree program because it is in their interest to be as efficient as possible. Each class would be taking up vital space in a streamlined degree program designed to provide the best skill and knowledge to students to help them be as successful as possible.

Now the college would start to earn a reputation for itself and its alumni because of its better degrees. The market would constantly change and the degree programs would change in order to keep up, because that would be in the best interest of the college. This business model would remove the government from being loan officers, remove the need for grants for education, remove the debt that students face for decades, and create a contract between the college and its alumni that would be a mutually-profitable partnership.

In order to move this business model away from the theory and to test its validity, I took a look at the University of Colorado. During the Fiscal Year 2015-16 the University of Colorados revenue by tuition was $872.3 million, with a student headcount enrollment of 63,202 and awarded 14,479 degrees. If each of these graduates started out earning an average of $40,000 a year and received a 3% increase each year either through changing jobs or regular pay raises, once the 12 year span of alumni was full, the University of Colorado would be bringing in over $986 million dollars, an increase in revenue of over 13%. The average student would end up paying back $68,121 without any interest. These same 4 year degrees currently cost close to $120,000 with in-state tuition. If the average earnings of the alumni are $50,000 a year, the colleges income can increase to $1.2 billion, which would be an increase of over 41%. Understanding this, one can see why the colleges would focus on finding the best possible opportunities for its alumni.

I can hear you asking how does the university make more money while the student pays less? Its simple; we have removed the middle-man, the government. By doing so, we have removed compounding interest and all payments start off based on the graduates current income. If the college has graduates that are earning less than their peers, it is in everyones interest for the college to assist the graduate to find a higher paying job.

Students that attend college, but fail to graduate, owe nothing. This prevents the current problem of student debt without a degree. The student can always return later and complete their degree, or transfer to another college. Transferring credits would have the same effect as the college owning stock in the transfer student. The 12% that the student would pay upon graduation would be split based on their credits among the two colleges. There are sure to be challenges to this business model, but they could be overcome with creativity and resources.

The biggest challenge will be in the initial years until the college attains a full 12 year span of alumni that are paying their 12% payments. This could be overcome by using a hybrid of the tuition system with the 1212 program, or colleges with a large endowment might use some of it to attain this model. Harvard currently has the largest endowment in the world, just over $36 billion. It could be the first university to implement this business model as a social experiment.

There are solutions to these challenges, and these solutions lead us to a better business model when it comes to education costs in America.

* Jeffrey Smith served in the Army for 13 years, currently working as a Senior Operations Specialist and Analyst for a not-for-profit that proctors the clinical skills exam for medical students and has a masters degree in business administration from Excelsior College. Jeff is a long time Libertarian looking for opportunities to bring the Libertarian platform to everyday people.

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WATCH: Libertarian Destroys Tucker Carlson’s Immigration Strawman – The Libertarian Republic

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LISTEN TO TLRS LATEST PODCAST:

By: Elias J. Atienza

Tucker Carlson, host ofTucker Carlson Tonightand former senior fellow for the Cato Institute, debated immigration policy analyst Alex Nowrasteh. The twos debate covered welfare benefits for legal immigrants and illegal immigrants, along with the ideal level of immigration. Carlson favored limiting immigration while Nowrasteh believes in not letting Washington bureaucrats limit immigration.

The twos debate is just another battle in the never ending battle in libertarian circles about borders and immigration. Mainstream libertarians, such as those from the Cato Institute, believe in opening up the borders, while some schools of libertarian thought believing in closing the borders, such as Murray Rothbard and Hans Herman Hoppe. Ron Paul seems to be favor of killing the welfare state before increasing immigration, writing on it just last year:

How to tackle the real immigration problem? Eliminate incentives for those who would come here to live off the rest of us, and make it easier and more rational for those who wish to come here legally to contribute to our economy. No walls, no government databases, no biometric national ID cards. But not a penny in welfare for immigrants. Its really that simple.

So watch Carlson and Nowrasteh argue about their positions on immigration.

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cato instituteHans Hermann Hoppemurray rothbardron paultucker carlson

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WATCH: Libertarian Destroys Tucker Carlson's Immigration Strawman - The Libertarian Republic

Student senate approves Libertarian student organization – Times-Delphic

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Photo by Jake Bullington.

BY JAKE BULLINGTON

Student senate approved a total of six motions, including a motion approving Drakes chapter of Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) as a recognized student group. The Libertarian advocacy group was founded by the partys champion, Ron Paul in 2008, and claims more than 800 chapters have been established at college campuses across the country, according to their website.

The proposal for organizational status reads that YAL intends to spread Libertarianism in the greater Des Moines area and Drake campus. President of Drakes YAL chapter, first-year Jake Dorsch said that they currently have eight active members, but hope to expand the group through bringing elected officials and candidates to speak to students.

We had a state senator come by, a house candidate, a couple political activists, everything, Dorsch said, citing some of the events Drakes YAL chapter has put on thus far.

Senator Grace Rogers asked Dorsch what he looked to gain from having YAL become an official organization on campus.

I think that I was kind of annoyed when I first came here, because theres only Democrats and Republicans represented at Drake University and I believe we need to hear more voices, Dorsch said.

Dorsch also stated that there are YAL chapters at Iowa State, University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa and Coe College.

There was a consensus among senators about the desire to bring more political ideologies to campus.

Senator AJ Treiber also supported approving YAL for Drakes campus.

I think its a great idea to have more political discussion on campus, Treiber said. Seeing that Iowa kind of leads the nation, quite literally with the caucuses, I think its great to have that diversity.

Although YAL has been inactive at Drake for multiple years, senators were not completely unfamiliar with the organizations name.

Nearly a year ago, a conservative group called Turning Point USA (TPUSA) came to senate for organizational approval. One of several reasons senate cited for denying this group was allegations that the TPUSA chapter at Iowa State stole contact information from YAL members. There were concerns of student privacy from members, including then-senator Kevin Kane, according to a 2016 Times-Delphic article.

No questions about this concern arose at the meeting. The motion also clearly stated that YAL is a nonprofit organization and cannot endorse any candidates, only Libertarian ideals and philosophy.

According to public filings to the IRS, made accessible by ProPublica, YAL is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, classified as a youth development program.

Senate approved the motion, allowing YAL at Drake to become an official organization and to enjoy the rights and privileges thereof, according to the motion.

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5 gorgeous private islands you can visit by cruise ship – USA TODAY

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Jodi Ornstein, Editor, Porthole Cruise Magazine Published 8:23 a.m. ET Feb. 22, 2017 | Updated 17 hours ago

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An aerial view of Half Moon Cay, Holland America's private island in the Bahamas.(Photo: Holland America)

Planning a cruise to the Bahamas or the Caribbean for the first time? There's a concept with which you'll have to become familiar: The cruise line private island. Nearly every major brand has one, and they factor into a wide range of itineraries in the regions.

While some are bigger (and more elaborate) than others, they all are designed to serve up that perfect beach day, offering beaches lined with lounge chairs, water sports (normally available for an extra charge), activities such as zip lining and usually at least a few bars overlooking the water. There also often are kiddie play areas, and a staple of the experience at nearly all of the islandsis a big beach barbecue.

One of the newest private islands, Norwegian Cruise Line's just-unveiled Harvest Caye, just off the coast of Belize, also serves as a hub for tours to the mainland of the country. In fact, Norwegian doesn't even like to call it a private island. It's a new gateway to Belize, the company says (scroll through the carousel above for USA TODAY's first look at Harvest Caye).

Could Harvest Caye be the Caribbean's new cruising hot spot?

Looking for that classic private beach experience on your next cruise? Here are Porthole Cruise Magazine'sfive favorite private islands.

1.Half Moon Cay. Consistently voted No. 1 among private islands in Porthole Cruise Magazine's Readers Choice Awards, this Holland America-owned escape boasts miles of white sand and water sports, nature hikes and deep-sea fishing. You can reserve a private seaside air-conditioned cabana (for up to 25 people) or encounter gentle rays at Stingray Cove. Half Moon Lagoon, the islands aqua park, is a favorite for kids.

Dont Miss:One excursion lets you ride horseback along a winding trailto the highest point of the island. After taking in the panoramic view, you head back down to a beach to ride right into the surf, getting a rarechance to experience what it's like on a swimming horse.

Two-story beach villas are available for an extra charge at Holland America's private island in the Bahamas, Half Moon Cay.(Photo: Holland America)

2. Castaway Cay.Theres no need to tender to shore at this Disney Cruise Line-owned island, where ships pull right up to a custom-built pier a rarity among private islands operated by cruise lines. Children will love Scuttles Cove, an expansive kiddie area supervised by Disney counselors, and there also are a number of water play areas. Kids (and adults, too) also will have a chance to interact withDisney characters who wait on the island to greet them.

Dont Miss: You can book an open-air massage in a private cabana overlooking Serenity Bay, Castaway Cay'squiet adults-only beach. You'll hear the sounds of the waves and be buffeted by a cooling ocean breeze during the treatment.

The Disney Dream docked at Castaway Cay, Disneys 1,000-acre private island in the Bahamas.(Photo: David Roark)

3. Great Stirrup Cay. Cruises to the Bahamas with Norwegian Cruise Line always feature a day at this250-acre private island, which has been getting a lot of upgrades in recent years.Relax on white-sand beaches, perhaps in a private beachfront cabana; snorkel, kayak, or parasail; or take part in a sting-ray encounter.

Dont Miss: A new lagoon retreat debuting this summer will feature a secluded, pristine beach area; exclusive dining options; luxury beach villas available at an extra charge; and even a swim-up bar along the waterfront. It'll be open on a complimentary basis to passengers staying in suites and Haven cabins on Norwegian ships. Passengers who book a spa massage on the island also will gain access as will a limited number of additional passengers willing to pay an extra charge.

A couple walks along the beach at Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian Cruise Line's private island in the Bahamas.(Photo: Norwegian Cruise Line)

4.Labadee. One of two private beach destinations operated by Royal Caribbean, Labadee isn't actually an island. It's located on the north coast of Haiti. But it has much in common with the private islands operated by other lines, as it's a self-contained hideaway. Surrounded by gorgeous mountain scenery, Labadee offers pristine beaches, plenty of water sports and thrills such as the Dragons Tail Coaster, a 30-mile-an-hour ride through the lush mountainside. (Royal Caribbean's second private beach destination, is CocoCay in the Bahamas, which often is included as a stop on voyages to the Bahamas).

Dont Miss:Labadee boasts the 2,600-foot-long Dragons Breath Flight Line, long billed as the longest zip line in the world over water. From the takeoff point at 500 feet above the beach, youll soar down the side of a mountain at 40 to 50 mph.

Royal Caribbean's private beach destination of Labadee is located on the coast of Haiti.(Photo: Royal Caribbean International)

5.Princess Cays.Situated on more than 40 acres and featuring more than a half mile of white-sand shoreline, Princess Cruises' private island offers a local craft market, activities that range from volleyball to water sports, a cool over-water deck that makes for aperfect for fish-spotting. There also are private air-conditioned bungalows for up to four peopleavailable for rent, and a supervised sand playground for kids called Pelicans Perch.

Dont Miss:For sweeping views that take in thebeach andoceanand your ship in the distance, too, make your way to the Crows Nest Overlook, an observation tower that boasts 360-degree views of the island.

Paddle wheelers are among the water toys that can be rented out at Princess Cays, Princess' private island in the Bahamas. Snorkel equipment, sea boards, floats and kayaks also are available.(Photo: Princess Cruises)

Porthole Cruise Magazine is one of the most widely read travel magazines focused on all things cruise related. Published bimonthly, it offers ship reviews, destination features and stories on the latest trends in on-board cuisine, spa services, entertainment and more. It's available on newsstands and by both print and digital subscriptions.

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Japan protests Russian military buildup plan in decades-old islands dispute – Reuters

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TOKYO Japan has protested to Russia over its plan to boost troop strength on disputed islands, Japan's top government spokesman said on Thursday, the latest move in a territorial row that has overshadowed ties since World War Two.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference the government was closely monitoring Russia's actions and analyzing information.

"If the move leads to the reinforcement of Russian military on the islands, it would be incompatible with Japan's stance and it is regrettable as they are inherently our territory," he said.

Suga made the comment after media reports that Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu talked about a plan to deploy a military division to the islands, including areas Japan claims as its territory, this year.

The islands in the Western Pacific, called the Northern Territories in Japan and the Southern Kuriles in Russia, were seized by Soviet forces at the end of World War Two when 17,000 Japanese residents were forced to flee.

Suga said Russia's military plan would be on the agenda when defense and foreign ministers from the two countries are due to meet in Tokyo on March 20.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin met last December and struck numerous economic deals but failed to achieve a breakthrough on the islands.

Abe is expected to visit Russia this year to speed up talks to resolve the dispute and try to conclude a peace treaty officially ending World War Two hostilities.

He has pledged to resolve the dispute in the hope of leaving a significant diplomatic legacy and building better ties with Russia to counter a rising China.

(Reporting by Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Nick Macfie)

MEXICO CITY A bid by U.S. President Donald Trump to deport non-Mexican illegal migrants to Mexico that has enraged Mexicans will top the agenda when officials from both countries meet on Thursday amid a deepening rift between the two nations.

BEIJING China's defense ministry said on Thursday it was aware of the presence of a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group in the South China Sea and China respected freedom of navigation for all countries in the waters there.

LAHORE, Pakistan A bomb blast in an upscale shopping center in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore killed at least eight people and wounded 20 on Thursday, officials said, the latest in a surge of violence that has shaken the country.

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China’s Constructing Suspected Missile Silos On Contested Islands – Daily Caller

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With the development of what may be missile silos, China appears to be taking another assertive step towards militarizing its defensive outposts in the disputed South China Sea.

China isclose to completing around20 structures likely to house long-range surface-to-air missiles on its outposts in the Spratly Islands, Reuters reports. The new structures could be a continuation of the extensive militarization China has been carrying out in contested seas for years, orthese developments may be intentional challenges to the new U.S. administration, members of which have declared ChineseSouth China Sea activities illegal.

The structures are 66 feet long and 33 feet tall and have retractable roofs. They are located on Subi, Mischief, and Fiery Cross Reef.

It is not like the Chinese to build anything in the South China Sea just to build it, and these structures resemble others that house SAM batteries, so the logical conclusion is thats what they are for, a U.S. intelligence official told reporters.

U.S. intelligence officials revealed that hundreds of Chinese SAMs were awaiting deployment to the South China Sea, possibly to protect three Chinese airstrips on artificial islands, Fox reported in December. The Chinese military already has HQ-9 surface-to-air missile systems stationed in the Paracel Islands. The SAMs detected in Hainan two months ago may soon be deployed tothe missile silos under construction in the Spratlys.

It certainly raises the tension, Gregory Poling, the director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) at the Center of Strategic and International Studies, told reporters. The Chinese have gotten good at these steady increases in their capabilities.

China asserts that it has the right to construct defenses in the South China Sea.

China carrying out normal construction activities on its own territory, including deploying necessary and appropriate territorial defense facilities, is a normal right under international law for sovereign nations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Geng Shuangexplained at a regular press conference Wednesday.

China has been steadily increasing its military presence in disputed seas in recent months.

In December, AMTI discovered that China had armed all of its artificial islands in the South China Sea. China appears to have built significant point-defense capabilities, in the form of large anti-aircraft guns and probable close-in weapons systems, at each of its outposts in the Spratly Islands, the research group reported.

Earlier this month, AMTI revealed that China had also militarized its holdings in the Paracels, which key role in Chinas goal of establishing surveillance and power projection capabilities throughout the South China Sea.

Three of the islands now have protected harbors capable of hosting large numbers of naval and civilian vessels. Four others boast smaller harbors, with a fifth under construction at Drummond Island. Five of the islands contain helipads, with Duncan Island housing a full helicopter base. And the largest of the Paracels, Woody Island, sports an airstrip, hangars, and a deployment of HQ-9 surface-to-air missile batteries, AMTI explained.

China has secured control of all three corners of the strategic triangle in the South China Sea the Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands, and the Scarborough Shoal. China is building an digging in, arming its outposts, and making its position unshakable.

In response to previous criticisms of its defensive construction projects, China said that it is building up its military defenses in response to American muscle flexing.

If somebody is flexing their muscles on your doorstep, cant you at least get a slingshot? Shuang askedin December, making a thinly-veiled reference to U.S. freedom-of-navigation operations. The necessary military installations are mainly for self-defenseand are fair and legal.

The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson is on patrol in the South China Sea, putting China on edge as concerns that the U.S. may try to challenge Chinas vast claims to the region.

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As obesity rises, remote pacific islands plan to abandon junk food – MyAJC

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HONG KONG

Cookies and sugary drinks served at government meetings are about to go away. So are imported noodles and canned fish served in tourist bungalows.

Taking their place? Local coconuts, lobsters and lime juice.

The Torba Tourism Council in the remote Pacific island nation of Vanuatu is planning to outlaw all imported food at government functions and tourist establishments across the provinces 13 inhabited islands.

The ban, set to take effect in March, comes as many Pacific island nations struggle with an obesity crisis brought on in part by the overconsumption of imported junk food.

Luke Dini, the councils chairman and a retired Anglican priest, said the province had about 9,000 residents and got fewer than 1,000 tourists per year, mostly Europeans.

Dini said the pending ban was an effort to promote local agriculture and a response to an increase in diabetes and other diseases that council members have observed in Vanuatus capital, Port-Vila. Passing a more comprehensive ban on junk food imports to Torba could take at least two years, he added, and a final decision on which products to ban would be made by the national government.

Public health experts welcomed the ban, saying that bold measures were necessary for an impoverished and isolated region of 10 million people.

Imagine if 75 million Americans had diabetes thats the scale of the epidemic were talking about in Vanuatu, Roger Magnusson, a professor of health law and governance at Sydney Law School in Australia, said in an email.

Experts say the regions health crisis is primarily driven by a decades-long shift from traditional diets based on root crops toward ones that are high in sugar, refined starch and processed foods.

The World Bank said in a 2014 report that 52 percent of adult men in the Polynesian kingdom of Tonga were estimated to be obese the highest rate of 188 countries surveyed. It also said that of the seven countries worldwide with female obesity rates of at least 50 percent, four were Pacific island nations: Tonga, Samoa, Kiribati and the Federated States of Micronesia.

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As obesity rises, remote pacific islands plan to abandon junk food - MyAJC

Sea monster? Animal remains in Dinagat Islands worry locals – ABS-CBN News

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The remains of a marine animal washed up on the shore of Cagdianao. Photo courtesy of Cagdianao Municipal Agriculture Office

The remains of a large animal believed to be a sea cow washed up on the shore in the Dinagat Islands on Wednesday afternoon, worrying locals.

Sufenia Chua of the Cagdianao Municipal Agriculture Office said that the carcass, which washed up on the beach along Kantigdaon, Poblacion, Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands, measured 15 feet in length.

According to the aquaculture technologist, it is likely that the carcass was that of a sea cow, based on skin found near the shore,. Chua added that there were also previous sightings of sea cows in the area.

The agriculture office and Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) were examining the carcass and investigating the animal's cause of death as of this writing.

Photos of the remains, which were not immediately recognized by residents as that of a marine animal, went viral on social media as netizens speculated on what it was.

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Sea monster? Animal remains in Dinagat Islands worry locals - ABS-CBN News

South Pacific Islands go to European market – Matangi Tonga

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"Meet the Pacific", to be held in five European cities from February 22 to March 6 is expected to create greater awareness in the South Pacific Islands region acrossEurope.

Now in its third year, the event involves a series of one day meetings to be held in Barcelona, Milan, Prague, Zurich and Manchester, organized by Rosie Holidays in Fiji and Tumara Pacific in Cook Islands supported by the South Pacific TourismOrganisation

This creates a platform for Pacific tourism suppliers to meet with key European tour operators (buyers) who are committed or interested in selling the South Pacific as a destination to theirclients.

SPTO Marketing Manager Alisi Lutu said, "Meet the Pacific is a great way for South Pacific tourism bodies and operators to meet with key industry buyers in Europe in a short period of time and maximize their resources their resources with maximum impact for their particular destinations, product and serviceofferings."

On February 25, SPTO will also participate in a consumer tourism event called Visit Pacific in Malmo,Sweden.

These events lead up to the South Pacific Islands participation in the ITB Berlin (Internationale Tourismus-Borse Berlin), the worlds largest consumer and travel trade show in Europe from March 8-12 along with national tourism offices and private sector (airlines, resorts, tour operators) from Fiji, Cook Islands, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon islands, Tahiti andVanuatu.

SPTO will use the ITB platform to promote the new South Pacific Islands brand identity launched in October 2016 into the wider Europeanmarket.

Visitors

Europe is the third largest tourist source market, representing about 10 percent of all visitor arrivals to the Pacific Islands region following Australia and New Zealand holding steadfast, a combined 50 percent marketshare.

It is important for the sustainability of Pacific tourism that we are maintaining marketing and promotional presence and engaging productive partnerships with European travel partners on selling our Pacific Island destinations. This will help encourage the needed growth of visitor traffic and yields out of these long haul markets into our Pacific island economies, saidLutu.

Tongan representatives are not attending the "Meet the Pacific"event.

However, Tongais still represented through SPTO because we have arranged packages for the European market to visit the Kingdom of Tonga by promoting local operators so that Tonga is still marketed, said TongaTourism.

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South Pacific Islands go to European market - Matangi Tonga

Marked albatross part of Auckland Islands study – Otago Daily Times

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If an albatross with a purple dot on its head catches your eye, you are not going mad.

Two hundred white-capped albatross on the Auckland Islands have been dotted with purple stock markings and banded in an attempt to gather more information on the survival rates of the mid-size albatross, often known as a mollymawk.

Conservation researcher Graham Parker, of Dunedin, said he and his wife Kalinka Rexer-Huber had just returned from a two-month monitoring expedition conducting seabird research on three species of albatrosses and two petrel species in the Auckland Islands.

The Department of Conservation and fishing industries-funded project to the islands 500km south of Bluff was a bit like a ''wintry camping trip''.

''There was very challenging weather.

''It was very cold, very mountainous and very windy.''

The critical condition of albatross species meant braving such conditions was important, he said.

''Albatross are the most endangered family of birds in the world and albatross are susceptible to getting killed in commercial fishing.''

However, the fact the Parker Conservation and Niwa project was partially funded by the fishing industry was an indication of the industry's desire to understand the impacts of incidental bycatch of seabirds in commercial fisheries, Mr Parker said.

The project had been going for three years, but it was too early to tell from gathered data how many white-capped albatross there were.

Helicopter counts conducted each year for eight years on Disappointment Island in the Auckland Islands, showed about 90,000 pairs on the 380ha island, he said.

Banding and marking the birds was not without its challenges.

''They are a big bird, and they have a snappity big beak on them, so you have to be careful not to get bitten.''

Monitoring the birds was also made difficult by the fact the research focused on breeding birds, and the albatrosses were either incubating or nursing young chicks at the time of the project, he said.

Last year a white-capped albatross with a blue marking on its head sparked conversation when it was spotted in Karitane, near Dunedin.

The bird was stock-marked by the pair during their study of seabird species caught as by-catch in commercial fisheries in New Zealand.

Small tracking devices had been put on 40 of the almost 400 leg-banded albatross, however the pair hoped to hear from anyone in Otago or Southland who saw an albatross with purple paint on its head.

Notifications of sightings could be made at: http://www.parkerconservation. co.nz

margot.taylor@odt.co.nz

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Evolution debate: Are humans continuing to evolve? | Genetic … – Genetic Literacy Project

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Is natural selection still a major force in human evolution? As far back as high school biology, weve been taught to think the answer must be yes. But is it really true?

Charles Darwin published his groundbreaking On the Origin of Species back in 1859 around the same timethatanother Charles Charles Dickens was making a name for himself writing about social conditions in England. Dickens stories emerge from a period in which only 50 percent of British childrensurvived to adulthood a numbernot so different from animals in the jungle. In that vein, Darwin was right when he saidnatural selection was operating on humans full force.

Yet the forces that came into play in the 1850s are far different from those we experience today, prompting some high profile biologists to suggest thatour advanced medical capabilitieshave, in effect, blunted natural selection. In a 2013 Radio Times interview,science communicator David Attenborough describedit this way:

We are the only species to have put a halt to natural selection, of its own free will, as it were. We stopped natural selection as soon as we started being able to rear 9599 percent of our babies that are born.

Lowerchild mortalityrates arelargely due to vaccines, water purification, modern medical care and other technological advancements thathave allowed thehuman population toapproach the 7.5 billion mark.Why does this matter for natural selection? Its a simple matter that dying before producing offspring is the most effective filter for agene pool. Lesser traits are weeded out, while stronger ones are passed on.

Charles Darwin

And since natural selection is the most notable evolutionary force, there is a question about whether any significant human evolution will continue far into the future. Theres no clear answer yet, but compiling various proposals and hypotheses leads to a handful of future scenarios:

Scenario I: No major changes on the horizon

This is the boring scenario, so well get it out of the way first. While death before reproduction is an effective tool for culling out undesirable traits, there is a flip side to the equation.In the Stone Age, being less intelligent than ones peers would put an individual at higher risk of premature death by animal attack, for instance. But natural selection alsopromoted thedevelopment of valuable traits. Our smarter ancestorscould hunt better andfind more food leading to the development of farming and a host of other advancesthat enabled them to stay alive and reproduce.

But then a strange thing happened. Human society developed a sense of ethics and justice that led us to protect the weak. Today, we heal the sick. Infant mortality is low. Andchildren of low intelligence are put into special education classes. As a result,manyindividuals who would have been weeded out in the Stone Age are growing up to pass on their genes.

Finally, human populations are no longer genetically isolated. Along with natural selection, reproductive isolation such asfounder effects and population bottlenecksare major evolutionary processes that have shaped humanity. Buttoday, there is substantialgene flow as people from different continents frequently join to mate.The so-called races are blending, so humanity is evolving in that sense. But it is happening so quickly that within a couple of generations there wont be much left to blend. The planetary gene pool will be mixed about, leaving little room forhuman physical characteristics tochange in any significant way.

Scenario II: Natural selection continues

The main argument here is that currently were in a peaceful time, biologically speaking. Yet we could be on the verge of disease pandemics causing a Darwinian selective sieve.The jet-set age the very factor underlying the gene flow thats blending human races also can be a driving factor for the spread of a pandemic. The notorious influenza epidemic of 1918 came right at the end of World War I, claiming more lives than battlefield injuries.Today, we are much better at monitoring infectious disease threats the containment of the2014 Ebola virus outbreakin West Africa is one example but we also have a growing human population. Furthermore, there is some concern that antibiotic resistance could outpace the development of new anti-microbial drugs.

Alongside premature death, evolution is also powered by sexual selection. This means that although we support the survival of nearly every newborn to reproductive age, those who are better fit in terms of intelligence, ability to generate income, and physical attractiveness, could be more likely to attract mates who share those features.

Scenario III: Evolution shifts to off-world human colonies

In scenario I, we noted the absence ofreproductive isolation in modern times. Butthere is serious talk about sending humans to colonize other worlds. This could involve building freespace colonies (miniworlds constructed from asteroid material and shaped to rotate to provide gravity), floating cities in the atmosphere of Venus, or homes on the surface or below ground on various worlds. The most popular idea onepromoted by Elon Musk who hopes relocate thousands of humans within decades is to colonize Mars. Unless the colonists are placed completely underground, the Martian radiation environment could have a significant selective effect on human genetics.This is not because it would kill off colonists themselves, but it couldrender many of them sterile, or at least put significant selective pressure onreproductive cells.

Since we dont yet understandhow human embryos would fare in fractional gravity gravitational pull at the Martian surface is only 38 percent that of Earth theres a possibility of selective pressure in this regard too.

All of this is without assuming any isolation, because, of course humans would be arriving regularly from Earth, thereby adding to the Martian gene pool. On the other hand, should humans successfully colonize planets of other star systems, some biologists think that the reproductive isolation could be complete enough for notable evolutionary divergence away from Earthbound human populations.

Scenario IV: Transhumanism will drive evolution

Were already seeing humans using gene therapy to alter their genes. Transhumanists seek to change themselves through a range oftechnologies, includingrobotics, bionics, computer mind uploading,artificial wombs andgenome editing. These technologies are potentiallystrong enough to give humans the power to essentially take over their own evolution.

With a desire to improve both human performance and appearance,the transhumanist factor makes it hard to predict where this could go.Theartificial womb, for example, could remove constraints on fetal head circumference. Its not impossible to thinkwe could seehumans sporting heads like the science fiction alien, ET. The TV science fiction cloning thriller Orphan Black included a transhumanist character with a tail. Will there be people like that in real life? Or should we merely expect body additions that are practical, such as wings for colonists on low-gravity planets?

Importantly, the four scenarios outlined above are idealized. Each has its merits, and so all can occur. It could be thathuman evolution will continue,based on a combination of each of these scenarios.

David Warmflash is an astrobiologist, physician, and science writer. Follow @CosmicEvolution to read what he is saying on Twitter.

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Town hall brings drama, fears on health care – Ventura County Star

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The audience comes to its feet applauding someone's comment that single-payer health coverage is the best solution. The standing-room-only crowd filled a conference room at the Camarillo Library during a town hall meeting on health care that was hosted by Rep. Julia Brownley.(Photo: KAREN QUINCY LOBERG/THE STAR)Buy Photo

More than 200 people filled every inch of a library conference room in Camarillo, standing in doorways and lined up four deep in the back.

Some carried signs to a Tuesday night town hall meeting held by U.S Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Westlake Village. Patients Over Politics, said a placard at the back of a gathering that at times became a rally for an Affordable Care Act that Republicans have pledged to repeal.

A few people wore pink cat hats.

This seems like a crowd thats all on the same page, Brownley said.

But when a different speaker asked if anyone thought their health care could improve without the system known as Obamacare, at least two people raised their hands. Then one woman, who later identified herself as a Donald Trump supporter, noted that she was a constituent of Brownleylike everyone else and asked for respect. Another audience member responded by loudly demanding the new president show people respect.

Aside from a few heated exchanges, the event revolved around concern that repealing the Affordable Care Act will mean less care.

We want greater access, not less, Brownley said.

Other speakers called for more details on the Republican plan to replace the current system.

One speaker worried that people with pre-existing health conditions could be ushered into high-risk insurance pools in which health care could cost more.

We were routinely spending $30,000 for health care, said Deborah Madden, of Westlake Village, who has a son with Type 1 diabetes, thinking of the days before the Affordable Care Act. She said the health system can be improved but worried that its elimination could hurt her son and others.

Health care is a human right, not a political issue, she said.

Dr. Kathleen Shore, of Ventura, came in her white physicians coat, complete with a stethoscope. Shes a family-practice doctor affiliated with a county-run safety net system. She worried that repeal will mean people losing coverage and care.

I can tell you story after story of people who have suffered from not having primary care, she said.

Another man called for a single-payer health care system. His request drew a standing ovation.

Deborah Baber Savalla wore a hoodie emblazoned with the name, Trump. At one point, she told the crowd she didnt feel welcome, leading another person to tell her she wasnt. Another person then came to offer Savalla a hug.

After the meeting, Savalla said she came looking for information.

I truly wanted to know what her position was, she said of Brownley.

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The congresswoman told the crowd she was willing to consider proposals presented by Republicans but drew a line at reverting to the way things were before the Affordable Care Act.

Im not open to going backward, she said. Im interested in going forward.

Nancy Gomez of the advocacy groupHealth Access Californiaurged people to contact friends and family members and ask them to reach out to Republicans in Congress.

We can slow down this train wreck, she said.

Paula Roady, 63, of Camarillo, came with a sign that read, Yay ACA, and noted that organizers should have booked a bigger room.

She came to listen but also to send a message to the new president.

Were going to be involved now in resisting this new administration, she said.

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A right to healthcare belongs in our Constitution – The Hill (blog)

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After eight years attacking the Affordable Care Act, Congressional Republicans are facing a tough reality: ending this landmark law means millions of Americans will lose health coverage.

My Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate are committed to protecting Americans health care, safeguarding the Affordable Care Acts historic progress, and finding tangible improvements to make care more affordable.

I believe health care is a fundamental right, which is why I introduced the America's Right to Health Care Amendment.

This proposed amendment to our Constitution is simple and straight-forward: As a nation, we must act to guarantee every American affordable, quality health care.

According to recent polling from the Pew Research Center, more than 60 percent of Americans agree that providing health coverage to all Americans is the federal government's responsibility.

While my amendment enshrines that principle into our Constitution, we have already made tremendous progress under the Affordable Care Act towards meeting that federal responsibility.

The uninsured rate is at its lowest in history. People who never before had access to health coverage, because they had a pre-existing condition like diabetes or heart disease, are now able to get the care they need. I hear often from people who are alive today because of this law.

Health coverage has also become more equitable and comprehensive. Women can no longer be charged more than men for our basic health care -- and access to family planning must be covered. Young adults are able to stay on their family's plan until age 26. No one has to pay a co-pay for recommended preventive and wellness care.

An end to annual and lifetime limits means that people who face a devastating diagnosis like cancer no longer have to worry about their insurance companies stopping payment for their care.

Of course, there are some things we need to fix about the Affordable Care Act, including addressing high premiums in the individual market and reining in out-of-control prescription drug costs.

Under the Americas Right to Health Care Amendment the federal government must find common-sense solutions to high out-of-pocket costs instead of simply adding to insurance and drug companies profits.

More than just safeguarding our progress and mandating solutions, the amendment also makes clear that universal access to health care is essential to the strength of the nation. More than 14 million people have gained health coverage in the 32 states that expanded Medicaid. For many, this means getting the care they need to fully participate in the workforce.

That is good for them and their families, good for businesses, and good for our entire society. Even Republican governors have embraced increased access to health care under the Affordable Care Act because of its benefits to state economies.

Despite the broad public agreement that all Americans must have access to health care, I am a realist. This Republican Congress is more interested in catering to big drug and insurance companies than in considering proposals like my amendment.

But the America's Right to Health Care Amendment lays down a critical marker by which we can judge Congressional Republicans' health care proposals.

Do Congressional Republicans want to expand coverage to more Americans or do they want take it away from our families? Does the Republican majority support access to high-quality care or do they want to make it easier for insurance companies to deny care? Does the GOP favor or oppose important consumer protections that save lives?

So far, the answer from Republicans is clear: they want to go backwards and give big drug and insurance companies more control over our health care system. Thats just plain wrong.

Every American deserves to have affordable, quality health care. By coming together, standing up, and speaking out, we can make access to health care a fundamental right for all Americans.

Rep. Betty McCollum represents Minnesotas 4th District in the United States House of Representatives.

The views expressed by this author are their own and are not the views of The Hill.

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National briefs: Trump may have health care plans – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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WASHINGTON The White House declined Wednesday to rule out that President Donald Trump will push his own plan to replace the Affordable Care Act, rather than pursue one course with congressional Republicans.

When asked if there will be a single White House-congressional GOP plan, White House press secretary Sean Spicer left open the door that the president might roll out his own plan no matter what lawmakers do. Minutes later, Mr. Spicer referred to the presidents plan when discussing how the administration intends to achieve one of its top campaign goals.

On Capitol Hill, since Mr. Trump was elected and the party kept the House and Senate, Republican lawmakers have celebrated an era of unified GOP governance. Mr. Spicers comments suggest the party lacks a unified approach to how to dismantle the health care law and replace it.

Shutting down stereotypes

WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Wednesday firmly rejected the use of racial stereotypes when deciding the proper sentence for a convicted criminal, reopening the case of a black man who was condemned to death after his Texas jury was told African-Americans are statistically more likely than whites to commit violent crimes.

Our laws punish people for what they do, not for who they are, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said in the courtroom.

The 6-2 decision faulted Texas authorities and judges for refusing to give a new sentencing hearing to Duane Buck, a Houston man convicted of shooting and killing his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend in 1995.

Ex-sports doctor charged

LANSING, Mich. A Michigan sports doctor who treated elite female U.S. gymnasts was charged Wednesday with sexually assaulting nine girls, including some too reluctant to speak up about the alleged abuse years ago because he was considered a god.

Roughly two dozen charges were filed against Larry Nassar, the first criminal cases related to his work at Michigan State University where he was the preferred doctor for gymnasts in the region who had back or hip injuries. Hes also being sued by dozens of women and girls, including 2000 Olympian Jamie Dantzscher, who described the assaults on 60 Minutes Sunday.

Child care help suspended

WASHINGTON Major U.S. Army bases at Fort Knox, Ky., and Wiesbaden, Germany, are shutting down child care and education services for military families due to President Donald Trumps hiring freeze on federal workers.

Emily Bewley, whose family is stationed at the U.S. Army Garrison in Wiesbaden, was signing out the youngest of her four children from preschool on Tuesday when she found out that the program would be suspended in six days.

Families at the Fort Knox base were sent a letter Feb. 17 announcing that part-day child development centers on the base would be suspended, and no new children would be enrolled. The hourly child care program is also being suspended. Parents were given 10 days notice.

The extent to which the hiring freeze will affect child care programs at other military bases was unclear.

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Sen. Dan Sullivan talks health care with Alaska business leaders as protesters rally outside – Alaska Dispatch News

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Alaska Dispatch News
Sen. Dan Sullivan talks health care with Alaska business leaders as protesters rally outside
Alaska Dispatch News
The protest was organized by the Alaska affiliate of "Protect Our Care," a national group pushing to protect the Affordable Care Act, said organizer Andre Horton. Organizing for Action and the Alaska Nurses Association also coordinated the rally, he said.

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Trump: Healthcare plan coming in March – The Hill

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President Trump saidWednesdaythat he expects a healthcare plan to come forward as soon as next month.

Maybe mid to early March well be submitting something that I think people will be very impressed by, Trump told reporters, according to a pool report.

It remains unclear whether Trump is referring to a plan that the White House would release on its own, which could throw off congressional efforts, or simply a joint plan with lawmakers introduced in Congress.

House committees are looking to mark up legislation in early March.

Pressed by The Associated Presson Mondayon whether the ObamaCare replacement plan would come from the White House, chief of staff Reince Priebus said, We dont work in a vacuum.

Furthermore, Republican senators who hosted Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price earlier this month said his message was that the administration wants to work with lawmakers on the replacement plan.

The details of the Republican replacement plan remain unclear. House Republicans last week circulated an outline, though, with elements like a tax credit to help people afford coverage.

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"Right to shop" bill looks to incentivize cheaper health care – Columbia Missourian

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JEFFERSON CITY Health care is a lucrative business for hospitals, doctors and insurance providers. Why not patients?

That would be one result of a set of bills proposed by Rep. Keith Frederick, R-Rolla, that would make Missouri one of a handful of "right to shop" states in the country.

"Right to shop" laws aim to incentivize patients to find cheaper health care. Patients could compare costs and select a cheaper provider, and insurance companies would be required to split the difference between the initial estimate and the cheaper alternative with the patient.

"This bill would require that insurance companies share the savings with the citizens," Frederick said.

To use an example given by Frederick during the hearing, if an insurance company planned to shell out $2,000 to a patient and the patient found a doctor who would perform the procedure for $1,000, the insurance company would cut a check for $500 to the patient.

Frederick proposed two similar bills, one focused on current and retired state employees, the other focused on all other Missouri residents.

Patients would be able to find information on cost estimates for procedures by going to the insurance providers website because the bill requires the companies to maintain payment information publicly.

Insurance companies would have to pay patients regardless of whether the service provider was in their network.

Frederick said he first heard of a similar proposal from the Foundation for Government Accountability, a think tank based in Florida, while attending a conference in Chicago.

"Ive been a big fan of transparency,because Ive observed over the years that patients have a hard time finding out what the cost of a health-care service is before they consume it," he said.

"Its kind of like going to the car dealership and he tells you, 'Buy it, take it home, park it in your garage, and next week well tell you how much you spent.'"

One lobbyist, Jim Gwinner, spoke in favor of the proposals, but a number of lobbyists representing hospital and insurance organizations spoke out strongly against the measures.

Shannon Cooper, a lobbyist with the Missouri Insurance Coalition, said "right to shop" laws would incentivize cheaper health care too much, leading to lower-quality standards.

"When there is a cash incentive out there, some people will be driven to the lowest-cost provider. They wont take into consideration a positive outcome," he said. "Theyll just think 'Hey, I might get a check if I go down the street and let somebody do the procedure on me that I dont know and Ive never heard of.'"

Frederick was undeterred.

"I would just ask the committeenot (at the hearing)," he said. "People that are not here are patients, your constituents, consumers of health care. They dont have lobbyists."

Supervising editor is Mark Horvit.

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BI announces COPD collaboration with Weill Cornell Medicine – Danbury News Times

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Photo: Carol Kaliff / Carol Kaliff

Boehringer Ingelheim's North American headquarters located in Ridgefield, CT.

Boehringer Ingelheim's North American headquarters located in Ridgefield, CT.

BI announces COPD collaboration with Weill Cornell Medicine

RIDGEFIELD Boehringer Ingelheim announced a collaboration with Weill Cornell Medicine to identify new treatment approaches for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also known as COPD, with the hopes of halting or reversing the progression of the disease.

The three-year collaboration combines Weill Cornell Medicines Department of Genetic Medicines understanding of chronic airway diseases and use of novel therapeutic concepts for airway repair with BIs knowledge in the discovery and development of new therapies for respiratory diseases.

It is the second collaboration between BI and Weill Cornell Medicine, following prior work in inflammatory bowel disease.

The scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine and Boehringer Ingelheim will work hand in hand to translate new discoveries into drug discovery and development programs at Boehringer Ingelheim, Dr. Clive R. Wood, senior corporate vice president, Discovery Research at BI, said in a release.

The new collaboration is an excellent example of our unique partnering approach and our focus on early innovation, underscoring our ambition to develop the next generation of medical treatments for patients with COPD.

Chronic lower respiratory diseases, which include COPD, are the third leading cause of death in the United States. Approximately 15 million Americans have been told by a health care provider that they have COPD, BI officials said.

The goal of the new treatment is to help patients keep as active as possible and improve their overall quality of life, BI officials said.

Our continuous search for molecular drivers of chronic obstructive airway diseases has revealed novel repair mechanisms that warrant further investigation of their potential as therapeutic approaches, Dr. Ronald G. Crystal, chairman of Genetic Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine and lead investigator in the new collaboration, said in a release.

BI is based in Ridgefield and employs about 2,500 people locally.

cbosak@hearstmediact.com; 203-731-3338

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Many people with harmful genetic variants show no ill effects … – Spectrum

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Crowd control: Nearly 4 percent of people carry at least one genetic variant tied to a serious medical condition.

brainmaster / Getty Images

Most adults with genetic variants tied to certain conditions, such as heart disease or cancer, go undiagnosed, according to a study of more than 50,000 people1.

The variants silence leaves these people unaware of their risk of developing the conditions later in life, says lead investigator David Carey, director of the Weis Center for Research at Geisinger Health System in Danville, Pennsylvania.

Careys team looked for genetic variants associated with 27 chronic conditions. The list of conditions does not include autism, but does include tuberous sclerosis complex. As many as half of all people with tuberous sclerosis complex have autism. Other teams are studying the same population to gauge the effects of variants linked to autism.

The value lies in the huge population, all captured within the same healthcare system. Its really fantastic, says Dan Arking, associate professor of genetic medicine at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, who was not involved in the new work.

The variants in the study are clinically significant: Some increase the risk of the linked condition by up to 70 percent. But variants interact with many other genetic and environmental factors, and these interactions may cause the conditions features to be more or less severe or even absent.

People used to say anytime there is a [spontaneous] variant or something really rare, that it must cause disease, says Arking. The new study instead suggests that, on the contrary, some rare variants have weak ties to conditions such as autism, he says. The results appeared 23 December in Science2.

Carey and his team looked at data from the MyCode Community Health Initiative, launched in 2007 by Geisinger Health System in central Pennsylvania. MyCode researchers have collected DNA samples and up to 14 years worth of medical records from the participants.

The researchers probed the 50,726 participants genomes for inserted or deleted sequences, and for single nucleotide variants, called SNVs, in the code. Their analysis revealed that each individual harbors about 21,409 SNVs, consistent with findings from previous studies.

The researchers then narrowed their analysis to 76 genes known to contribute to life-threatening conditions such as cancer or cardiovascular disease. The list includes three genes tied to tumor growth and to autism: PTEN, TSC1 and TSC2. (Clinicians are obligated to counsel individuals with variants in any of these 76 genes.)

Nearly 4 percent of the general population carries variants in at least one of these genes, the researchers found. But more than one-third of these people show no symptoms and have no family history of the linked condition. For example, most of the individuals who carry a variant linked to an inherited condition that causes high cholesterol have normal cholesterol levels, according to a second study by Careys team in the same issue of Science.

The findings could mean the individual will develop the condition later in life or not, Carey says. Other variants in her genome might mitigate the risk, he says.

We generally look at one gene at a time, but we have about 20,000 genes and they all work in concert, Carey says. Were not sophisticated enough yet to be able to tease out all the genetic interactions, but we know that they exist.

Last year, another team of researchers used the MyCode data to show that genetic changes tied to autism also crop up in many people without the condition. At the 2016 American Society of Human Genetics annual meeting in Vancouver, Canada, last year, they presented results showing that about 2,000 of the MyCode participants carry large deletions or duplications of genetic material associated with autism, intellectual disability or schizophrenia. But less than 5 percent of this group has received treatment for any of the conditions.

The finding suggests that genetic variants can confer features so subtle that they go unrecognized well into adulthood. Researchers could study this group to understand the mildest end of the autism spectrum.

This cohort could help us describe the full picture of autism, the breadth of the phenotype, says Christa Lese Martin, director of the Autism and Developmental Medicine Institute at Geisinger Health System in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Martin was a lead investigator on the autism study but was not involved in the new work.

About 125,000 people have enrolled in MyCode so far. By early next year, researchers expect to have sequencing data for 90,000 of the individuals.

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Many people with harmful genetic variants show no ill effects ... - Spectrum