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Apr 17, 2020

Analysis of the mutation dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 reveals the spread history and emergence of RBD mutant with lower ACE2 binding affinity

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, evolution, genetics

Via Harvard David A. Sinclair “The coronavirus is part bat & part human virus. A new study says the Frankenstein event happened well before its transmission to humans. Wait, what? Humans first infected bats?

The intermediate Frankenstein coronavirus has part human/part bat versions of the spike protein (the knobs on the outside of the virus & what COVID-19 vaccines target). Coronafrankenstein is formally called RaTG13, the name, rank & serial # of a horseshoe bat sample. If we gave bats coronavirus first, then people, including scientists, should stay away from bats especially if they don’t feel well. That’s why, as much as I like cats, I don’t like how they can catch it from us. It’s a potentially vicious cycle.

The new study says a mutation has changed the spike protein of an Indian strain of coronavirus that likely reduces its ability to transmit, but “raises the alarm that the ongoing vaccine development may become futile in future epidemics” like seasonal flu.”


Monitoring the mutation dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 is critical for the development of effective approaches to contain the pathogen. By analyzing 106 SARS-CoV-2 and 39 SARS genome sequences, we provided direct genetic evidence that SARS-CoV-2 has a much lower mutation rate than SARS. Minimum Evolution phylogeny analysis revealed the putative original status of SARS-CoV-2 and the early-stage spread history. The discrepant phylogenies for the spike protein and its receptor binding domain proved a previously reported structural rearrangement prior to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2. Despite that we found the spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 is particularly more conserved, we identified a mutation that leads to weaker receptor binding capability, which concerns a SARS-CoV-2 sample collected on 27th January 2020 from India. This represents the first report of a significant SARS-CoV-2 mutant, and raises the alarm that the ongoing vaccine development may become futile in future epidemic if more mutations were identified.

Apr 17, 2020

As coronavirus fears mount, some seek alternative healing

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

Another warning from the WHO to not treat coronavirus, but wait for a vaccine that does not even exist. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported on its site that it is not advised to take any herbal remedies to treat #COVID19, and in India Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned alternative healers they should not boast they have a cure for the virus, only remedies to assist with symptoms.

Apr 17, 2020

One Among Hemp’s 25,000 Uses? Diversifying Commercial Agriculture

Posted by in category: food

O,.o cool plant :3.

Apr 17, 2020

Legendary Physicist Stephen Wolfram Is Modeling Our Universe, and He Needs Your Help

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, business, computing

Between the summer of 1665 and the spring of 1667, Isaac Newton developed his theories on calculus, optics, and the laws of motion and gravity. He was quarantining during the Bubonic Plague and found the extra time on his hands gave him the freedom to pursue intellectual endeavors his day-to-day duties may have otherwise squandered.

Nearly 400 years later, history could be repeating itself.

With decades of work at the intersection of time, space, and elementary particles under his belt, Stephen Wolfram believes he’s close to discovering how the universe works—or, at least, the fundamental law of physics that makes all of our other laws of physics tick. So the 60-year-old computer scientist, businessman, and physicist has launched “The Wolfram Physics Project” to crowdsource that work with some of the best minds in the world.

Apr 17, 2020

Building Blocks of the Genetic Code

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, food, genetics, health

Humans and all other living things have DNA, which contains hereditary information. The information in your DNA gives your cells instructions for producing proteins. Proteins drive important body functions, like digesting food, building cells, and moving your muscles.

Your DNA is the most unique and identifying factor about you—it helps determine what color your eyes are, how tall you are, and how likely you are to have certain health problems. Even so, over 99% of DNA sequences are the same among all people. It is the remaining 1% that explains much of what makes you, you!

DNA is arranged like two intertwined ropes, in a structure called a double helix (see figure 1). Each strand of DNA is made of four types of molecules, also called bases, attached to a sugar-phosphate backbone. The four bases are adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine ©, and thymine (T). The bases pair in a specific way across the two strands of the helix: adenine pairs with thymine, and cytosine pairs with guanine.

Apr 17, 2020

7 Ways Hemp Plastic Could Change the World

Posted by in category: education

Your source for trusted cannabis education.

Apr 17, 2020

Coronavirus testing is plateauing

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

We need to do more testing to begin returning to normal.

Apr 17, 2020

Forecasters predict a very active 2020 Atlantic hurricane season

Posted by in category: climatology

Warmer ocean temperatures could fuel a very active Atlantic hurricane season, with one forecast predicting 18 named storms, including nine hurricanes.

Apr 17, 2020

Yes the aurora can look that crazy in real life

Posted by in category: futurism

Read more

Apr 17, 2020

Life, but not as they knew it: ISS crew return to Earth transformed by Covid-19

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

American and Russian crew touch down in Kazakhstan after months on International Space Station.