Monthly Archives: January 2024

Ancient DNA could be hiding all kinds of health secrets – Deccan Herald

Posted: January 16, 2024 at 9:17 pm

Researchers trying to find better drugs for MS now have a better idea of what theyre up against when it comes to certain autoimmune diseases. As explained by Lars Fugger, a neurologist at the University of Oxford who was involved in the study, scientists are trying to undo 5,000 years of evolutionary honing.

Unfortunately, the research doesnt offer a roadmap for how to design new and better drugs. But Lugger suggests that the work might at least point to a better way. Current MS therapies generally work by damping down the immune system, but given that these mutations arose to protect us, perhaps the better approach would be to recalibrate immune cells activity rather than shutting them down altogether.

Ideally, with these data in hand and eventually made available to other researchers an exploration other health conditions will unfold. The signal of risk wont always be as clear and meaningful as with MS, but there are plenty of diseases where this type of data can be used to solidify hypotheses and illuminate biology.

As that work evolves, the field must do better a job of expanding the study of ancient (and modern) DNA beyond Europe and North America. Although all humans are genetically very similar, our evolutionary pasts might differ and, as this MS paper nicely highlights, those histories can affect our understanding of current health issues.

Some of the focus on European ancestors is practical. Ancient DNA is better preserved in colder, drier climates, making it harder to extract useful genetic information from samples in, for example, the tropics. But researchers say funding for projects in less-represented populations has lagged significantly.

The problem is not limited to ancient DNA. Much of the work in modern genetics has been devoted to studying people outside of North America and Europe. Asgari points out that 80 per cent of large genetic studies focus on populations of European ancestry, yet that group makes up just 18 per cent of the global population.

While the field has become far better at acknowledging these knowledge and resource gaps, more needs to be done to close them. Each region has diseases that might be better understood by comparing ancient and modern DNA. Asgari points to sickle cell disease, which is believed to have arisen as a protection against malaria, or the high prevalence of diabetes in the Middle East, as areas that deserve the same kind of study.

Theres still so much to learn about the human genome. Well learn more, faster, if we cast a wider net.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH.

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Ancient DNA reveals reason for high MS and Alzheimer’s rates in Europe – ScienceBlog.com

Posted: at 9:17 pm

Researchers have created the worlds largest ancient human gene bank by analysing the bones and teeth of almost 5,000 humans who lived across western Europe and Asia up to 34,000 years ago.

By sequencing ancient human DNA and comparing it to modern-day samples, the international team of experts mapped the historical spread of genes and diseases over time as populations migrated.

The astounding results have been revealed in four trailblazing papers published in the journal Nature and provide new biological understanding of debilitating disorders.

The study involved a large international team led byProfessor Eske Willerslevat the Universities of Cambridge and Copenhagen,Professor Thomas Wergeat the University of Copenhagen, andProfessor Rasmus Nielsenat University of California, Berkeley, with contributions from 175 researchers from around the globe. They found:

Future analysis is hoped to reveal more about the genetic markers of autism, ADHD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression.

Northern Europe has the highest prevalence of multiple sclerosis in the world.

The new study foundthe genes that significantly increase a persons risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) were introduced into north-western Europe around 5,000 years ago by sheep and cattle herders migrating from the east.

By analysing the DNA of ancient human bones and teeth, found at documented locations across Eurasia, researchers traced the geographical spread of MS from its origins on the Pontic Steppe (a region spanning parts of what are now Ukraine, South-West Russia and the West Kazakhstan Region).

They found that the genetic variants associated with a risk of developing MS travelled with the Yamnaya people livestock herders who migrated over the Pontic Steppe into North-Western Europe.

These genetic variants provided a survival advantage to the Yamnaya people, most likely by protecting them from catching infections from their sheep and cattle. But they also increased the risk of developing MS.

It must have been a distinct advantage for the Yamnaya people to carry the MS risk genes, even after arriving in Europe, despite the fact that these genes undeniably increased their risk of developing MS. These results change our view of the causes of multiple sclerosis and have implications for the way it is treated.

Professor Eske Willerslev, jointly at the Universities of Cambridge and Copenhagen, Fellow of St Johns College, expert in analysis of ancient DNA and Director of the project.

The age of specimens ranges from the Mesolithic and Neolithic through the Bronze Age, Iron Age and Viking period into the Middle Ages. The oldest genome in the data set is from an individual who lived approximately 34,000years ago.

The findings provide an explanation for the North-South Gradient, in which there are around twice as many modern-day cases of MS in northern Europe than southern Europe, which has long been a mystery to researchers.

From a genetic perspective, the Yamnaya people are thought to be the ancestors of the present-day inhabitants of much of North-Western Europe. Their genetic influence on todays population of southern Europe is much weaker.

Previous studies have identified 233 genetic variants that increase the risk of developing MS. These variants, also affected by environmental and lifestyle factors, increase disease risk by around 30 percent. The new research found that this modern-day genetic risk profile for MS is also present in bones and teeth that are thousands of years old.

These results astounded us all. They provide a huge leap forward in our understanding of the evolution of MS and other autoimmune diseases. Showing how the lifestyles of our ancestors impacted modern disease risk just highlights how much we are the recipients of ancient immune systems in a modern world.

Dr William Barrie, postdoc in the University of Cambridges Department of Zoology and first author of the MS study.

Multiple sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease in which the bodys immune system mistakenly attacks the insulation surrounding the nerve fibres of the brain and spinal cord. This causes symptom flares known as relapses as well as longer-term degeneration, known as progression.

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Supreme Court seeks government’s view on DNA profiling of unidentified bodies – IndiaTimes

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NEW DELHI: Ten years after initiating proceedings on a PIL seeking DNA profiling of all unidentified bodies, the Supreme Court was back at square one as it sought Union government's response afresh on a PIL on the same issue - DNA profiling of unidentified bodies - after being told that a bill on this subject has been withdrawn from Parliament. In 2014, the SC had issued notices to ministry of home affairs, CBI and secretary, department of scientific and industrial research on a PIL by Lokniti Foundation, which had said that absence of a national DNA database is impeding identification of nearly 40,000 bodies that are found across the country every year. After dealing with the PIL for four years, the SC on May 1, 2018 had disposed of the PIL as government had then promised to bring a bill in the monsoon session of Parliament for DNA profiling to enable maintaining records of unidentified and unclaimed bodies or missing persons. Government did introduce a bill on use of DNA technology in 2018 and it was passed by the Lok Sabha. However, it lapsed in 2019 and a new bill on this subject was re-introduced in July 2019. It was sent to the standing committee. During the pendency of the DNA bill, Parliament enacted Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022 which authorised police and prison authorities to collect biological samples, including DNA, of persons arrested, detained, under-trial or convicted in a criminal case. On July 24 last year, government withdrew from Lok Sabha the DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019, citing the enactment of the 2022 law. But Congress and opposition parties had criticised the move saying the BJP-led NDA government did not want to incorporate the privacy safeguards suggested by the standing committee. On Tuesday, a bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra sought response from government on a PIL filed by advocate Kishan Chand Jain, seeking use of DNA technology to profile unidentified bodies to help relatives identify their near and dear ones who had gone missing. However, before entertaining the PIL, the bench observed that whether to enact a law is completely within the prerogative of Parliament and the courts cannot intervene in this field. To this, Jain said that he was not on the issue of directing the government to move a bill to this effect, but on use of DNA technology to make it easier for relatives to identify a body.

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Supreme Court seeks government's view on DNA profiling of unidentified bodies - IndiaTimes

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Prosecution Ordered to Release Portion of DNA Evidence to Kohberger’s Defense Team – bigcountrynewsconnection.com

Posted: at 9:17 pm

MOSCOW - According to documents filed this week, Judge John Judge says Bryan Kohberger's defense team will receive some of the DNA records requested from the prosecution.

Kohberger is accused of murder in connection with the stabbing deaths of Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Kaylee Goncalves at a home near the University of Idaho campus in November of 2022.

"The Court has now completed its review of the information provided by the State and orders the State to discover to the defense a portion of the IGG information. The specific material to be provided is set forth in a sealed order to protect the privacy of the IGG information, including individuals on the family tree," says a court order signed by Judge John Judge on Thursday.

IGG is short for "investigative genetic genealogy." IGG evidence was used to name Kohberger as suspect after he allegedly left a Ka-Bar knife sheath containing DNA evidence at the crime scene.

IGG involves comparing DNA from a crime scene to data from commercial online genealogy services that are often used by consumers to investigate their family tree. Defense attorneys for Kohberger have tried several times to obtain the evidence, but were unsuccessful prior to this week.

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Judge orders more DNA disclosure in University of Idaho murder case – KXLY Spokane

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Judge orders more DNA disclosure in University of Idaho murder case - KXLY Spokane

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Hospitality New Zealand to launch industry strategy looking to next 10 years – RNZ

Posted: January 14, 2024 at 10:27 pm

Photo: 123RF

Hospitality New Zealand is aiming to have an ambitious new industry strategy officially launched in early March.

The strategy will detail what the industry thinks the next 10 years of hospitality should look like.

Chief executive Steve Armitage said it would include how to ensure more resilience as well as plans to encourage more talent into the sector.

"It's quite high level, but it is also quite ambitious and we're trying to really get to the essence of what makes New Zealand hospitality unique in the world, and how do we make sure that we're really focusing on dialling those strengths up," he said.

"But also acknowledging the issues that we need to resolve that underpin the sector more broadly."

Hospitality New Zealand was planning to take the draft strategy out for consultation with its members later this month with hopes to have a finalised strategy to take to the board by the end of next month, he said.

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AI is helping US spies catch stealthy Chinese hacking ops, NSA official says – CyberScoop

Posted: at 10:27 pm

NEW YORK CITY Artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies are helping the National Security Agency and other U.S. government agencies detect malicious Chinese cyber activity, a top U.S. intelligence official said in remarks on Tuesday that indicate how U.S. security agencies are using the technology to improve computer defenses.

Speaking Tuesday at the International Conference on Cyber Security at Fordham University, Rob Joyce, the director of the NSA Cybersecurity Directorate, said that AI is helping his agency detect Chinese operations targeting U.S. critical infrastructure that might evade traditional defensive measures.

U.S. intelligence officials have warned in recent months that Chinese hacking groups are increasingly targeting power generation systems, ports and other critical infrastructure entities by using methods that analysts refer to as living off the land the use of tools, software and privileges already present on networks to achieve various objectives. Malware that would normally trip detection software or tools is never employed, making it much harder to detect.

Recent Chinese operations do not rely on traditional or known malware that might be easily flagged based on signatures, Joyce explained. Instead, the hackers takes advantage of architecture implementation flaws or misconfigurations, or default passwords to get into networks, create accounts or users that appear to be legitimate, which are then used to move around the networks or perform activities that typical users dont normally do.

AI tools are helping the NSA catch these operations. Machine learning, AI and big data help us surface those activities, Joyce said, because the models are better at detecting anomalous behavior of supposedly legitimate users.

Recent advances in AI and machine learning have raised concerns among researchers and security officials that they might provide an advantage to offensive cyber operations, but Joyce said Tuesday that hes encouraged by the defensive dividends offered by the technology.

Youre going to see that on both sides, people that use AI/ML will do better, Joyce said.

Joyce, his colleagues at the NSA and other agencies have been warning for months that China is aggressively targeting U.S. critical infrastructure in troubling ways. The U.S. government and Microsoft revealed in May 2023 that Chinese-linked operations were targeting critical infrastructure entities in the U.S. and Guam as part of a campaign tracked as Volt Typhoon.

Theyre not there for intelligence. Theyre not there for financial motivation. Theyre in places like electric, transportation, and ports, trying to hack in so they can cause societal disruption and panic at a time and place of their choosing, Joyce said Tuesday.

In November, Morgan Adamski, the director of the NSAs Cybersecurity Collaboration Center, told a crowd of industry analysts and researchers at the CYBERWARCON conference that China was penetrating crtiicial infrastructure and waiting for the best time to exploit these networks. In a call to action, Adamski urged the researchers to look for anomalous behavior beyond known malware in their networks and emphasized how serious the situation is.

The threat is extremely sophisticated and pervasive, she said, as reported by Wired at the time. It is not easy to find. It is pre-positioning with intent to quietly burrow into critical networks for the long haul. The fact that these actors are in critical infrastructure is unacceptable, and it is something that we are taking very seriously something that we are concerned about.

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NSA says cybersecurity will gain many benefits with generative AI – ReadWrite

Posted: at 10:27 pm

Will the use of generative AI in Cybersecurity help countries and nations combat threats in cyber wars? The NSA thinks so. The attackers are chomping at the bit to cause problems to anyone online, and they are ramping up their technology skills to cause harm. Global cybercriminal groups have been on the offensive for years, but Rob Joyce, director of cybersecurity at the US NSA agency, told attendees at the Fordham University event in New York that generative AI is absolutely making us better at finding malicious activity, and he outlined the key benefits of the technology for use within security personnel.

Generative AI tools have been leveraged in a big way. Joyce noted that over the past year, a disproportionate effort has been placed by nefarious individuals to deploy the application of generative AI in the cybercriminal community. Joyce said that cybercriminal groups have been leveraging generative AI tools to turbocharge fraud and scams.

The NSA continued that generative AI in cyber security will offer practitioners marked benefits in combating attacks and cracking down on global cyber criminal groups.

Over the past year, generative AI has enabled bad actors to have the ability to launch a barrage of powerful and personalized social engineered attacks upon the online community at large. Researchers from Darktrace have raised concerns because of the increased AI-supported phishing attacks and have warned that hackers will use technology to fine-tune their techniques and attack and scam users. Rob Joyce, director of cyber security at the US NSA agency, goes on to assure the country that the national security bodies are harnessing the AI tools to great effect. He promises cybersecurity experts are getting as much out of generative AI as criminals.

In the cybersecurity conference, Joyce cites examples and use cases to show how to combat the threats of those who hide on the internet to cause harm, all the while posing as safe accounts. AI has long been a misunderstood research field. Still, it is unlikely that generative AI will ever be a silver bullet for cybersecurity practitioners, and it is not a super tool that will make an incompetent person competent.

Featured Image Credit: Cottonbro Studio; Pexels

Deanna is the Managing Editor at ReadWrite. Previously she worked as the Editor in Chief for Startup Grind and has over 20+ years of experience in content management and content development.

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NSA: Benefits of generative AI in cyber security will outweigh the bad – ITPro

Posted: at 10:27 pm

A senior figure at the NSA has said that generative AI in cyber security will offer practitioners marked benefits in combating attacks and cracking down on global cyber criminal groups.

Rob Joyce, director of cyber security at the US agency, told attendees at an event at Fordham University in New York that generative is absolutely making us better at finding malicious activity and outlined key benefits of the technology for use among security personnel.

Joyce noted that, over the last year, a significant focus on the nefarious applications of generative AI have been a key talking point, particularly their use by cyber criminals.

Many threat actors and cyber criminal groups have been leveraging generative AI tools to turbocharge fraud and scams, he said.

Last year, researchers at Mandiant warned that generative AI will give threat actors the ability to launch a new wave of far more powerful and personalized social engineering attacks.

Mandiant's claims were just one of a number of warnings from security experts on the matter over the course of 2023. Research from Darktrace raised concerns about the prospect of AI-supported phishing attacks, warning that hackers could use the technology to fine-tune techniques and dupe users.

However, while Joyce said fears over the use of generative AI in cyber crime were justified, he also made clear the fact that national security bodies are harnessing these tools to great effect, and that cyber security experts were getting as much out of generative AI as criminals.

Citing examples and use-cases, Joyce said AI can be used to combat threat actors who hide on networks posing as safe accounts through vulnerability exploits.

As these sorts of accounts don't behave normally, AI and LLMs can be used by cyber security teams to aggregate activity and identify malicious activity.

Joyce warned, however, that generative AI wont represent a silver bullet for cyber security practitioners.

[AI] isnt the super tool that can make someone whos incompetent actually capable, but its going to make those that use AI more effective and more dangerous, he said.

Speaking to ITPro, Spencer Starkey, VP for EMEA at SonicWall, echoed Joyce's comments, adding that the use of AI tools in cyber security will prove vital for practitioners in the coming years and enable them to stamp out attacks far more effectively.

These technologies are perfect for spotting suspicious behavior and fending off cutting-edge threats because they can instantly analyze large volumes of data without requiring human oversight, he said.

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Cyber security experts are already using AI and ML to identify cyber attacks in real-time, which emphasizes the significance of their work in maintaining a secure online environment, he added.

While AI can sift through records of login activity and IP addresses to monitor unusual activity, it can also respond proactively if programmed to do so. Once a potential threat actor is identified, AI models can log out accounts or place restrictions on data deletion.

AI might even be able to predict attacks before they happen, if trained correctly, according to Own Companys Graham Russel.

A notable trend is the strategic use of backup files, he told ITPro. Traditionally seen as a safety net for data recovery, backup files are now being leveraged as a valuable resource for training and refining AI and machine learning models.

Incorporating backup files into AI and machine learning models allows organizations to simulate diverse scenarios, ensuring that the algorithms are robust and adaptable to real-world complexities," Russel added.

This approach not only optimizes the performance of AI applications but also enhances the accuracy of predictions and decision-making processes."

The use of generative AI in cyber security could also help crack down on voice and facial recognition scams, according to Nick France, CTO of Sectigo.

France told ITPro that AI's ability to analyze vast quantities of data and detect anomalies in speech patterns could uncover efforts to tamper with voice authentication and facial recognition processes.

The machine learning aspect of AI means that, when paired with security solutions such as identity verification and biometric authentication (voice or fingerprint), it improves in its detection over time, increasing accuracy but also reducing the number of false positives, he said.

And rather than having to wait after the scam has happened, AI has real-time capabilities that can make a decisive judgment call in the moment.

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AI Identified as Emerging Threat in Cyber Crime by NSA Director – CoinGape

Posted: at 10:27 pm

Rob Joyce, the Director of Cybersecurity at the National Security Agency (NSA), highlighted the escalating role of artificial intelligence (AI) in cyberattacks. Joyces insights reveal a concerning trend: the adoption of AI by state-backed hackers and criminal entities.

Joyce underscored that various criminal and nation-state actors now leverage AI technologies to enhance their cyber operations. As he pointed out, these entities have access to major generative AI platforms, significantly enhancing their capabilities. This trend marks a shift in the landscape of cyber threats, where AIs role is becoming increasingly prominent.

In response, U.S. intelligence, according to Joyce, is also utilizing AI and machine learning techniques to detect and counter these threats. This dual-edged nature of AI in cybersecurity presents a new dynamic where both attackers and defenders are harnessing the power of advanced technology.

At the core of the NSAs strategy is using AI, machine learning, and big data to identify malicious activities. Joyce noted that these technologies have proven effective in detecting unusual activities, especially in critical U.S. infrastructure sectors like electricity and transportation. The ability of AI to discern patterns and behaviors that deviate from the norm provides U.S. intelligence agencies with an upper hand in identifying and countering threats.

The NSA focuses not only on detecting traditional malware, but also on identifying the exploitation of vulnerabilities and implementation flaws. These sophisticated attack vectors allow adversaries to infiltrate networks and operate undetected, posing significant challenges to cybersecurity defenses.

A particular focus of Joyces address was the recent activities of China-backed hackers. These hackers, as Joyce explained, are targeting U.S. critical infrastructure in what is believed to be preparations for potential geopolitical conflicts, such as an anticipated invasion of Taiwan. The use of Artificial Intelligence by these actors complicates the cybersecurity landscape, as their methods are more sophisticated and harder to detect.

The U.S. intelligence community, leveraging AI tools, actively monitors and responds to these threats. AI is instrumental in identifying and mitigating actions of state-backed hackers, especially in scenarios where they mimic legitimate network users.

Generative AIs ability to create convincing computer-generated text and imagery has introduced new challenges in cybersecurity. These tools are now employed in cyberattacks and espionage campaigns, making detecting and preventing such activities more complex.

Joyce highlighted that Artificial Intelligence technologies, while not making an incompetent individual capable, significantly enhance the effectiveness of those who use them. For instance, AI-driven tools craft more convincing phishing emails and conduct more sophisticated hacking operations. These developments necessitate a robust response from national security agencies.

Read Also: Bitcoin ETFs: Is Hong Kong Brewing Strategic East-West Capital War?

Maxwell is a crypto-economic analyst and Blockchain enthusiast, passionate about helping people understand the potential of decentralized technology. I write extensively on topics such as blockchain, cryptocurrency, tokens, and more for many publications. My goal is to spread knowledge about this revolutionary technology and its implications for economic freedom and social good.

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AI Identified as Emerging Threat in Cyber Crime by NSA Director - CoinGape

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