Category Archives: Transhuman News

DNA tests are being carried out in relation to two children removed from Roma families in Dublin and the midlands.

A seven-year-old girl removed from a Roma family in Tallaght on Monday evening remains in the care of the Health Service Executive.

DNA samples were taken from her parents this morning and the results are expected this evening.

In the second case,a two-year-old boy was removed from aRoma family in the midlands last night.

Gardavisited the child's home after they were contacted by a member of the public and decided to act under Section 12 of the Child Care Act.

The child was placed in the care of the HSE last night. However, following inquiries today, the boy was returned to his family this morning.

DNA tests are also being carried out in this case.

Both families are co-operating with the inquiries.

Concerns raised over reporting of Roma cases

The Executive Director of the European Roma Rights Centre has expressedconcernat the way two cases of children removed from Roma familiesin Ireland andGreece are being reported.

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DNA tests on two children removed from Roma homes

A DNA breakthrough has lead to new hopes that we might one day fully understand the ageing process - and be able to slow it down -- or halt it altogether.

Steve Horvath, professor of genetics and biostatistics at the University of California in Los Angeles, claims to have located an "internal body clock" which measures the age of our tissue.

The clock is DNA-based, and appears to regulate different types of tissue at different rates. The result is that some parts of the body appear to age faster or slower than the rest of the body.

And by learning to understand this "clock", researchers say it might be possible to develop treatments that could slow it down.

The Guardian reports that the tea behind the study looked at 8,000 samples of 51 healthy and cancerous cells, and focused on how methylation - a process that modifies DNA - changes over time.

The results showed that the methylation of 353 DNA "markers" varied in a predictable way over time, and suggested that they could be used as an objective "clock".

What isn't clear is whether the process is a cause of ageing, or a result. And without information as basic as that, it's unlikely that any kind of anti-ageing 'treatment' is going to arrive any time soon. But it's an intriguing constant to examine - giving scientists a new avenue to explore for potential treatments.

"It provides a proof of concept that one can reset the clock," said Horvath.

Other scientists reflected that scepticism, saying that an 'elixir of youth' is far from a reality.

"The general idea that you can read a genome and it reflects the ageing process is probably correct," Darryl Shibata, professor of pathology at the University of Southern California, told Forbes.

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DNA Breakthrough Could Lead To Anti-Ageing Treatments

The identity of Maria, the young girl found in a Roma community in Greece remains a mystery after a search Interpol's DNA database of missing people came up empty, the police body's chief said Tuesday.

The blond-haired, fair-skinned girl, believed to be 5 or 6, drew the attention of police during a raid on a Gypsy camp near the central Greek town of Farsalalast week because she looked unlike the couple raising her.DNA tests showed they were not her biological parents as claimed on her birth certificate.

Authorities asked Interpol to help identify the little girl, the cross-border agency said.

Christos Salis, 39, right, and his companion Eleftheria Dimopoulou, 40, or Selini Sali as the woman has two separate sets of identity papers, pose with the little girl known as "Maria" who police say the couple abducted. (Greek Police/AP)

We took the DNA profile received from the Greek authorities and we compared it to our database. And there was no match in our database, Interpol Secretary General Ronald Noble told AFP.

Noble said Interpol has asked all member countries to search the girl's DNA with their own national databases.

The Interpol chief said thatthe huge publicity the girl's case has received worldwide might help find some of her relatives. The agency is asking that the DNA profile be taken for anyone who comes forward and sent to Interpol.

Police spotted Maria during one of dozens of raids they have carried out on Roma camps in the past few weeks in a crackdown on drug smuggling and burglary gangs.The girl whose age was confirmed from dental checks to be five or six, was kept by a Roma couple who were placed in pre-trial detention on Monday for allegedly abducting her.The couple, a 39-year-old man and his 40-year-old wife, deny the charge and claim that she was voluntarily handed over by her Bulgarian Roma mother who could not care for her.

The Associated Press and AFP contributed to this report.

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Interpol DNA database shows no match for mystery girl in Greece

BOCA RATON, FL--(Marketwired - Oct 22, 2013) - DNA BRANDS, INC. (OTCQB: DNAX), makers of DNA Energy Drink, the winner of the 2010 and 2012 "World's Best Tasting Energy Drink" title, today announced that in a series of transactions, the Company's officers have converted approximately $1.8 million in officer loans into 1.8 million shares of Series D Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Series D Shares"). In addition and as further evidence of their commitment to the Company, they have forgiven $945,000 in accrued officer salaries which represented the value of all of their compensation from 2010 through July 1, 2013.

Each of the Series D Shares can convert into 68.02721 shares of the Company's common stock. Additionally, the Company's officers have voluntarily agreed to a lock-up of these Series D Shares for a one year period.

Darren Marks, Chairman and CEO, stated, "During the past four years Mel Leiner and I have contributed nearly $2 million of our personal funds in the form of cash loans to DNA. In addition, since 2010, we have accrued all of our salary in order to allow the Company to devote its available financial resources to the implantation of its business plan. We want to send a strong message through these series of moves to our shareholders of our ongoing and unwavering commitment to make DNA successful, and to deliver shareholder value. We believe the strengthening of our balance sheet coupled with recent cost reductions to reduce overhead and our rebranding efforts during the past year positions us well going forward. We are optimistic about the future of our award winning brand."

Additionally other members of the Company's management who are owed in excess of $350,000 in accrued salaries, along with certain minority shareholders who hold notes in the aggregate amount of $350,000, have agreed to convert their accrued salaries and their outstanding notes into shares of the Company's common stock. As a result, the Company has reduced its total liabilities by $3,500,000 and increased its stockholders equity by an equal amount.

About DNA Brands, Inc.DNA BRANDS, make DNA Energy Drink, the 2010 and 2012 winner of the best-tasting energy drink at the World Beverage Competition. DNA Energy Drink is a proprietary blend of quality ingredients in several delicious flavors. DNA is a proud sponsor of many action sport teams consisting of top athletes from Motorcross, Surf, Wakeboard and Skateboard, and has received tremendous TV and media coverage. "Awarded the World's Best Tasting Energy Drink 2010 & 2012 respectively at the World Beverage Competition"

For more information about DNA Energy Drink, its athletes and sponsorships, please visit http://www.dnabrandsusa.com or contact Darren Marks, President (954) 970-3826

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for statements of historical fact, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking,."Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "future," "plan" or "planned," "expects" or "projected." These forward-looking statements reflect numerous assumptions and involve a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's control that may cause actual results to differ materially from stated expectations. Some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward looking statements contained herein include (i) the Company's ability to generate significant revenues from its new product line, (ii) the Company's ability to obtain adequate financing to achieve its business plan (iii) a decision by the Company's distributors to carry the Company's products (iv) acceptance by consumers of the Company new flavors and branding (v) launching of three new coffee drinks and re-ordering the new rebranded five energy drink flavors, and (vi) and other factors without limitation which are detailed in documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at SEC.gov.

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DNA Brands Management Agrees to Convert Debt to Equity and Waive Accrued Salaries Totaling an Aggregate of $3.5 Million

The couple who were found with a 4-year-old blonde girl named Maria who's unrelated to them have explained how they obtained custody, telling authorities that a prostitute handed them the girl to care for. NBC's Michelle Kosinski reports.

By Carlo Angerer and Henry Austin, NBC News

ATHENS, Greece -- DNA taken from the blonde girl found in a Roma camp last week does not match anyone in Interpol's global database of missing people, officials said.

Authorities asked the international police agency to help identify the youngster, known as Maria, who continues to be cared for in a hospital in Larissa, Greece.

"A comparison of the girl's profile against Interpol's global DNA database has not produced a match," Interpol said in a statement late Tuesday. "All of the organizations 190 member countries are now being encouraged to check her DNA profile against their own national databases, as Greek authorities investigate whether the young girl known as Maria may have been abducted or fallen prey to child traffickers."

Interpol also issued "Blue Notices" for Christos Salis, 39, and Eleftheria Dimopoulou, 40, who claimed to be Maria's parents until DNA tests revealed they were not biologically related.

The FBI is joining the international authorities searching for the parents of the 4-year-old girl now known as "Maria," who was found in a Roma camp. NBC's Michelle Kosinski reports.

Magistrates on Monday ordered that the couple be held in custody until they face trial on charges of abduction and procuring false documents.They denied snatching Maria and said her mother handed the girl to them shortly after giving birth.

Blue Notices are issued to collect additional information about a persons identity, location or activities, Interpol said in the statement.

Panagiotis Pardalis, a communications officer atThe Smile of a Childcharitythat is looking after Maria, told NBC News that new information was still coming in, adding to the more than 10,000 tips received since last week.

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Maria mystery: No DNA match in cop database

ATHENS, Greece, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- The DNA from a girl found living in a Gypsy camp in Greece didn't find a match in an international database of missing children, Greek officials said.

The non-match only intensified efforts to identify the blond-haired girl dubbed "Maria" who was found by Greek police last week during a nationwide crackdown on Gypsies, or Roma, ABC News reported Tuesday.

The initial suggestion about the findings by Interpol is the girl isn't one of the hundreds of children reported missing every year in its database, officials said. The Interpol database doesn't include reports of missing U.S. children.

Maria, believed to be 5 to 6 years old based on a dental exam, is in the care of The Smile of The Child charity and is at an undisclosed Greek hospital, officials said.

"The kid is happy, plays with her dolls but doesn't seem to like the food that they give her," Costas Giannopoulos, the charity's director told ABC News.

A child psychologist and a Roma translator will interview the girl soon after a court order is issued, Giannopoulos said.

Authorities said they hope genetic testing will reveal the girl's exact age and ethnicity.

Maria was found living with a Gypsy couple, who first claimed to be her biological parents but later claimed they adopted her "in a non-legal way" from a Bulgarian Gypsy, attorney Marietta Palavrasa said. They face charges of kidnapping a minor and falsifying documents.

A police source told ABC News the girl was one of four children -- including two other girls and a boy -- found with the couple. The police source said the couple had registered 14 children to receive welfare benefits, but it was unclear whether the other children existed.

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DNA from 'Maria' no match in Interpol's database of missing children

The couple who were found with a 4-year-old blonde girl named Maria who's unrelated to them have explained how they obtained custody, telling authorities that a prostitute handed them the girl to care for. NBC's Michelle Kosinski reports.

By Carlo Angerer and Henry Austin, NBC News

ATHENS, Greece -- DNA taken from the blonde girl found in a Roma camp last week does not match anyone in Interpol's global database of missing people, officials said.

Authorities asked the international police agency to help identify the youngster, known as Maria, who continues to be cared for in a hospital in Larissa, Greece.

"A comparison of the girl's profile against Interpol's global DNA database has not produced a match," Interpol said in a statement late Tuesday. "All of the organizations 190 member countries are now being encouraged to check her DNA profile against their own national databases, as Greek authorities investigate whether the young girl known as Maria may have been abducted or fallen prey to child traffickers."

Interpol also issued "Blue Notices" for Christos Salis, 39, and Eleftheria Dimopoulou, 40, who claimed to be Maria's parents until DNA tests revealed they were not biologically related.

The FBI is joining the international authorities searching for the parents of the 4-year-old girl now known as "Maria," who was found in a Roma camp. NBC's Michelle Kosinski reports.

Magistrates on Monday ordered that the couple be held in custody until they face trial on charges of abduction and procuring false documents.They denied snatching Maria and said her mother handed the girl to them shortly after giving birth.

Blue Notices are issued to collect additional information about a persons identity, location or activities, Interpol said in the statement.

Panagiotis Pardalis, a communications officer atThe Smile of a Childcharitythat is looking after Maria, told NBC News that new information was still coming in, adding to the more than 10,000 tips received since last week.

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Maria mystery: No DNA match in Interpol database

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Athens (CNN) -- The DNA of a girl authorities think may have been abducted by a Roma couple in Greece doesn't match any profile in Interpol's database, the international law enforcement agency said Tuesday.

In a case that has generated huge interest in Greece, authorities have charged the couple with abducting the child they call Maria.

Interpol said Greek authorities have asked for its help in solving Maria's identity.

"Until now, a comparison of the girl's profile against Interpol's global DNA database has not produced a match," Interpol said in a news release.

Interpol said it would make the database available to authorities in countries where someone who claims to be a possible blood relative to the child has submitted a DNA profile.

'Maria': Greece's mystery girl

'Maria': Greece's mystery girl

'Maria': Greece's mystery girl

'Maria': Greece's mystery girl

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Greece mystery girl: Interpol says no DNA match in its database