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IMAGE: Interneuron, stained green, with positive markings for trkB.DN, stained orange, and parvalbumina, stained blue. These results prove that trkB.DN-expressing inhibitory interneurons were successfully inserted by the viral vector. view more
Credit: Nicolas Guyon
Researchers used genetic engineering tools to create a virus that can enter specific neurons and insert into the prefrontal cortex a new genetic code that induces the production of modified proteins. In tests with mice, the alteration of these proteins was sufficient to modify brain activity, indicating a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and autism.
Sometimes referred to as the executive brain , the prefrontal cortex is the region that governs higher-level cognitive functions and decision making. Studies of tissue from this brain region in patients with schizophrenia have detected alterations in two proteins: BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic fact
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IMAGE: Erica Martinho, first author of the article. Manatees first split from their common ancestor after geological events isolated the South American region from the sea. The African species may have. view more
Credit: Erica Martinho
All three species of manatee now present on Earth share a common ancestor from which they split some 6.5 million years ago, when a huge lake in Amazonia, then linked to the Caribbean, was cut off from the sea. The African manatee
Trichechus senegalensis is not as genetically close to the West Indian manatee
T. manatus as was thought, and adaptation to this complex environment by the Amazonian manatee
Covid strain that contains 18 mutations is more deadly and infectious, researchers warn
Outbreak of the coronavirus in Brazil
Researchers have confirmed that a new variant of the Coronavirus turns out to be a combination of 18 different mutations, including the strains commonly known as the Brazil, British and South African variants.
Moreover, the new strain is more deadly and infectious variant than the original coronavirus variant.
Researchers in the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte said the new variant is a mixture of nearly two dozen previously know mutations, according to local media reports in the South American country.
“It is as if these variants were evolving,” virologist Renato Santana reportedly said, adding the new variant includes the same genes modified by Brazil’s Manaus, known as P1, British and South African variants.
MoHE revises list of ‘recognised’ varsities SHARE
By Zainab Al Nasseri MUSCAT: Dec. 25: The Ministry of Higher Education has updated on its website the list of “recommended institutions” for those planning to study abroad. The Ministry made the announcement after a meeting of the Accreditation of non-Omani Educational Institutions and Qualifications Equivalency Committee. The website contains the list of accredited universities and colleges. It said it will not be held responsible for any degrees obtained from unaccredited institutions.
The meeting recognised the following varsities in Portugal. They are: University of Lisbon, University of Porto, University of Minho, University of Coimbra, University of Aveiro, New University of Lisbon, University of Evora, Catholic University of Portugal, University of the Algarve, Polytechnic Institute of Oporto, University of the Azores, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, Polytechnic Institute of Setubal, Polytechnic