Month: May 2020

Evolution of pandemic coronavirus outlines path from animals to humans

A team of scientists studying the origin of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that has caused the COVID-19 pandemic, found that it was especially well-suited to jump from animals to humans by shapeshifting as it gained the ability to infect human cells.

Source: Evolution of pandemic coronavirus outlines path from animals to humans: The virus’s ability to change makes it likely that new human coronaviruses will arise — ScienceDaily

The US is declaring a vaccine war on the world 

Donald Trump launched a new vaccine war in May, but not against the virus. It was against the world. The United States and the UK were the only two holdouts in the World Health Assembly from the declaration that vaccines and medicines for COVID-19 should be available as public goods, and not under e

Source: The US is declaring a vaccine war on the world – Alternet.org

Human activity threatens billions of years of evolutionary history, researchers warn 

Human activity could drive extinction and destroy billions of years of evolutionary history, which has produced remarkable creatures such as the punk-haired Mary River turtle, the yellow eyed Aye Aye lemur and the Chinese crocodile, researchers have warned.

Source: Human activity threatens billions of years of evolutionary history, researchers warn – CNN

Vitamin D levels appear to play role in COVID-19 mortality rates: Patients with severe deficiency are twice as likely to experience major complications 

Researchers analyzed patient data from 10 countries. The team found a correlation between low vitamin D levels and hyperactive immune systems. Vitamin D strengthens innate immunity and prevents overactive immune responses. The finding could explain several mysteries, including why children are unlikely to die from COVID-19.

Source: Vitamin D levels appear to play role in COVID-19 mortality rates: Patients with severe deficiency are twice as likely to experience major complications — ScienceDaily

Past is prologue: Genetic ‘memory’ of ancestral environments helps organisms readapt 

Organisms carry long-term ‘memories’ of their ancestral homelands that help them adapt to environmental change, according to a new study that involved raising chickens on the Tibetan Plateau and an adjacent lowland site.

Source: Past is prologue: Genetic ‘memory’ of ancestral environments helps organisms readapt — ScienceDaily