Scientists remove the extra chromosome that causes Down Syndrome. Scientists from Japan were able to use CRISPR-Cas9 technology to target just one allele of in a trisomy 9 culture of fibroblast cells. They were successful in about 13.9% compared with only 0.42% of controls. They did observe small insertions and deletions that were too small to detect on the usual G-banding staining, but the significance of these is unclear. This is a start, and should it become more effective, it could transform the lives of children with Down's Syndrome. Paper here.
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Major depression may be associated with genetic changes that can be detected in blood leukocytes. The genes involved are those relevant to synapse biology. This suggests that the cause of depression is indeed likely genetic. Paper here.
And speaking of depression, OHSU researchers link elevated brain levels of serotonin to tinnitus. The study was done in mice, so we don't know for sure if they experienced ringing in the ears, but the scientists think so.
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Oh no! Scientists found that glucosamine, a supplement taken by 40 million Americans for joint pain is associated with 25% faster progression to Alzheimer’s in people with early memory decline. Turns out that it causes glycosylation of brain tissue (similar to diabetes mellitus).
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Gwern has an idea to develop a guardian angel LLM. Interesting idea. Maybe he can market it.
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More than a quarter of private colleges are at risk of closing. Even in Britain, universities are closing. What could be the cause? The authors skirt around the issue. Declining birth rates. Declining international students. But how does that explain the situation in Britain? Oh, they blame far-right influence:
Universities are not popular. They are under increasing assault from the populist right as ridiculous factories of so-called “woke” ideas, and the vast debts that have been placed on young people have come to seem like less and less of a good deal as the terms have changed. Two-thirds of students tell YouGov that they think their tuition is poor value for money: only 6 per cent of voters said they wanted more university spending in one 2024 poll. The so-called “graduate premium” of higher earnings for workers with degrees does still exist, but at 24 per cent among young people it’s not what it was.Yeah, I think the educators are not what they once were.
But some students are finding a way to get the university education they dreamed of, even if they don't go in through usual channels.
And here's Oregon: Most of Oregon’s State Teacher Prep Programs Still Get an F in Reading Instruction. Take a look at the teachers. Whoa, they sure don't look like the teachers I had when I was growing up. 😬
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In pursuit of beauty, Chinese women take unapproved measures with unexpected consequences. Those Chinese doctors should be jailed for this. How do they live with themselves?
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Oregon pulls out of Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C. Most of the poll takers do not support Kotek's decision. How petty our leaders are. 🙄
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