All posts tagged: genetics

NIMS Medical Genetics Department: A beacon of hope for rare disease patients

NIMS Medical Genetics Department: A beacon of hope for rare disease patients

View of the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences in Hyderabad | Photo Credit: Nagara Gopal The Department of Medical Genetics at the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), Hyderabad, has emerged as a beacon of hope for patients suffering from rare genetic disorders. Established in collaboration with the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD), the department has been providing state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic services for over a decade. The department treats a spectrum of rare conditions, including Gaucher Disease, Homocystinuria, Growth Hormone Deficiency, Methylmalonic Acidemia, Wilson Disease, Phenylketonuria, and Pompe Disease, among others. The NIMS Medical Genetics department was founded in 2008 as the second such department in a government institution in India. In recognition of its outstanding contributions, it was designated as a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in 2021 under the National Policy for Rare Diseases by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This designation underscores the department’s commitment to genetic diagnosis, counseling, and management of rare diseases, said Shagun Agarwal, additional professor, Department of Medical Genetics, NIMS Hyderabad. The department provides …

President Subianto highlights Indian influence on Indonesian language, genetics

President Subianto highlights Indian influence on Indonesian language, genetics

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto wintesses the 76th Republic Day Parade, at Kartavya Path in New Delhi on Sunday, January 26, 2025 | Photo Credit: ANI Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Saturday (January 25, 2025), at a banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu in his honour, spoke about the historical and cultural ties between India and Indonesia, and emphasised the influence of ancient Indian civilization on Indonesian culture, language, and genetics. President Subianto highlights Indian influence on Indonesian language and genetics sequencing test. He added, “A few weeks ago I had my genetic sequencing test and my DNA test and they told me that I have Indian DNA. Everybody knows when I hear Indian music, I start dancing.” President Subianto also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and commitment towards alleviating poverty and helping the marginalised while affirming that he himself learnt a lot from him in the few days. The Indonesian President said he is proud to be in India and further wished “prosperity, peace, and greatness” for the people of India in the coming …

Twinkle Khanna Birthday: Did you know the former actress made genetics list of hubby Akshay Kumar’s family before marriage? The reason is savage

Twinkle Khanna Birthday: Did you know the former actress made genetics list of hubby Akshay Kumar’s family before marriage? The reason is savage

Twinkle Khanna, also known as Mrs. Funnybones by her fans, has an upfront personality. She is witty and unique and has a unique perspective on life, as seen in her social media posts and interviews. As the former actress turns a year older, let’s recall when the actress admitted she made a genetic list of her husband before their marriage to know whether they had strong genes.  Twinkle Khanna appeared on an episode of Koffee With Karan season 5 with her husband, Akshay Kumar, in 2016. During their conversation, the couple made an interesting revelation. Khanna shared that she took a pragmatic step during her courtship period with her. She admitted that she had prepared a complete chart depicting her background check on Akshay’s family’s health history. The Mela actress explained that she did it for logical reasons, as kids were the primary reason for getting married. Consequently, she wanted to know about his family’s diseases and key traits.  Twinkle explained, “The reason you get married is primarily to have children. So, you are introducing …

Study Reveals Genetic and Linguistic Roots of Indo-European Populations

Study Reveals Genetic and Linguistic Roots of Indo-European Populations

A comprehensive study involving 91 researchers, including Eske Willerslev from the Lundbeck Foundation GeoGenetics Centre at the University of Copenhagen, has provided critical insights into the genetic and linguistic origins of Indo-European populations. The findings, identify two significant migrations during the Bronze Age that contributed to the spread of steppe ancestry across the Mediterranean. The genetic research links Spanish, French and Italian populations to Bell Beaker ancestry, while Greek and Armenian populations have been connected directly to Yamnaya ancestry from the Pontic Steppe region. Analyses of Steppe Ancestry Distribution According to the study published on the preprint server bioRxiv, steppe ancestry in Western Europe is attributed to Bell Beaker populations, who combined their genetic profile with local Neolithic farmers. These migrations align with linguistic theories suggesting a shared origin for Italo-Celtic languages. In contrast, Greek and Armenian ancestry reflects direct Yamnaya influence, with no significant local admixture. This divergence between Eastern and Western Mediterranean populations aligns with the Italo-Celtic and Graeco-Armenian linguistic hypotheses. Genomic and Strontium Isotope Studies As per reports, the study sequenced 314 …

Why does recovery look different for people suffering from the same illness? | Health News

Why does recovery look different for people suffering from the same illness? | Health News

Have you ever wondered why recovery looks different for people suffering from the same illness? Taking to X, Dr Sudhir Kumar, consultant-neurologist with Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad shared that the possible reasons for such differing outcomes could be: 1. Those who are fit and healthy prior to the illness recover better and faster,2. Those with positive frame of mind recover better,3. Those with strong and better family support recover better,4. Those who trust and have full faith in the treating team tend to do better. We asked experts to shed light on their take on the potential reasons and here’s what we found. Dr Nasiruddin G, Consultant-Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Cunningham Road shared that recovery from illness varies due to factors like genetics, age, health, lifestyle, socioeconomic status, mental attitude, stress, and healthcare access, with individuals having strong support networks often recovering faster. Agreeing, Dr Basavaraj S Kumbar, Consultant- Internal Medicine, Aster Whitefield Hospital, Bengaluru said that while two patients may be diagnosed with the same illness, their recovery process is likely to differ quite significantly given …

Understanding Twins: Types, Facts, and the Unique Bonds They Share

Understanding Twins: Types, Facts, and the Unique Bonds They Share

Twins Matthew and Michael Youlden have developed a unique language called Umeri, spoken exclusively by them. The Youlden twins, originally from Manchester, UK, are known for their linguistic abilities, each fluent in 25 languages. However, Umeri holds a special place in their hearts. They first started creating the language as children, and it has grown into a complex form of communication that continues to connect them, even as they now live in different countries. A Personal Language Born from a Close Bond The Youldens’ journey with Umeri began early in life, inspired by their close relationship and exposure to various languages. Dr. Nancy Segal, Director of the Twin Studies Center at California State University, notes that up to 40% of twin toddlers develop unique communication patterns, often known as “twin speak.” This phenomenon, described as “cryptophasia” or “private speech,” typically fades as twins grow older and start interacting with more people. Yet for Matthew and Michael, their shared language only grew stronger, reflecting a bond that has remained remarkably close. A Language That Evolves with …

‘You can’t fight genetics’: Bangladesh assistant coach Nic Pothas explains his team’s drought of sixes | Cricket News

‘You can’t fight genetics’: Bangladesh assistant coach Nic Pothas explains his team’s drought of sixes | Cricket News

The biggest disparity between India’s batsmen and their Bangladesh counterparts in this series had been their six-hitting prowess. India’s batsmen racked up 22 sixes in two games; Bangladesh could manage only eight, the same tally as Nitish Kumar Reddy, in perfectly placid surfaces. When asked about the difference, Bangladesh assistant coach Nic Pothas pinned the blame on the genetics. “They have much stronger players. We are working on our strength and conditioning, but you can’t fight genetics,” he said. The South African then elaborated the point. “If one player weighs 95-100 kg and another is 65 kg, naturally the heavier player will hit the ball further. Of course, timing and technique are important, and we are constantly working on those aspects,” he said. He also credited the Indian Premier League for enhancing the power-hitting capabilities of India’s batsmen. “You also have to look at the IPL. It’s the best competition in the world, with top-quality players. The IPL prepares players for the international stage. Comparing India’s six-hitting with ours is like comparing how many sixes …

Better Stress Management, Healthy Hormones or Just Unique Genetics? Why Women Live Longer Than Men

Last week, one of the major announcements in the country was the expansion of the Narendra Modi government’s flagship health insurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat, to include people aged above 70. One of the interesting aspects that came out of the announcement is the government data which shows more than half of individuals aged 70 and above are women of which 54 per cent are widows. This reflects that women live longer than men, a fact that multiple studies have consistently shown to be true. According to analysis of the United Nations, World Population Prospects (2022) data, in 2021, the global life expectancy gap was five years, with women averaging 73.8 years compared to 68.4 years for men. According to the latest data — that was last updated on July 12, 2024 — in some countries, life expectancy of women is significantly higher than that of men, while in others, it is only narrowly higher. In Russia, for instance, the life expectancy of women is 12 years more than men. Life expectancy of men is around …