Latest news with #Mendel
Business Wire
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Mendel Appoints Laura Madriñán as Head of Travel to Accelerate Enterprise Growth Across Latin America
MEXICO CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mendel, Latin America's leading enterprise spend management platform, today announced the appointment of Laura Madriñán as its new Head of Travel. Based in Santiago, Chile, and originally from Colombia, Laura brings over 15 years of experience in the travel and technology sectors, having held senior leadership roles at LATAM Airlines and Mercado Libre. The opportunity to lead and innovate in the corporate travel space, especially in a region as dynamic as Latin America, is incredibly exciting. Share At LATAM Airlines, Laura served as Global Sales Director, where she was instrumental in forging strategic partnerships and expanding the airline's corporate client base. Her tenure at Mercado Libre further honed her expertise in digital innovation and agile methodologies, aligning perfectly with Mendel's mission to revolutionize corporate travel and expense management in Latin America. 'Laura's unique blend of deep industry knowledge and tech-driven mindset makes her the ideal leader to scale our Travel vertical, ' said Alejandro Zecler, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Mendel. 'Her experience across airlines, travel suppliers, and digital platforms will be invaluable as we continue to build the most comprehensive and flexible Travel + Expense solution tailored for Latin American enterprises.' Mendel's integrated platform combines expense management, payments, and corporate travel into a single, intuitive interface. With the addition of Laura to the leadership team, Mendel aims to enhance its offerings, drawing inspiration from global industry leaders like TravelPerk, Navan, and Ramp, while addressing the unique regulatory and operational complexities of the Latin American market. 'I am thrilled to join Mendel at such a pivotal time, ' said Laura Madriñán. 'The opportunity to lead and innovate in the corporate travel space, especially in a region as dynamic as Latin America, is incredibly exciting. I look forward to contributing to Mendel's growth and delivering exceptional value to our clients.' Laura's appointment underscores Mendel's commitment to attracting top-tier talent to drive its expansion across the region. With a strong presence in Mexico and Argentina, and plans to enter Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Brazil in the coming years, Mendel is poised to solidify its position as the go-to platform for enterprise spend management in Latin America. About Mendel Mendel is the premier platform for managing enterprise spend in Latin America. By seamlessly integrating expense management, payments, and corporate travel, Mendel empowers finance teams to control budgets in real time. From setting rules to tracking expenses and travel bookings, Mendel provides a centralized, intuitive platform tailored to LATAM's unique complexities. Trusted by leading enterprises like Mercado Libre, McDonald's, and FEMSA, Mendel reduces costs, ensures compliance, and delivers actionable insights to transform how businesses operate. Learn more at
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Scientists finally solve the 160-year-old problem of Mendel's peas
Feng, C., Chen, B., Hofer, J. et al, 'Genomic and genetic insights into Mendel's pea genes', Nature (2025). In 1856, an Austrian monk named Gregor Johann Mendel began experimenting on pea plants to understand how traits are passed on from parent to offspring. He worked diligently for eight years, experimenting on more than 10,000 plants, before presenting his results in a meeting of the Brunn Natural History Society in 1865. His work was published the following year in a small journal of the society called Proceedings of the Natural History Society of Brno. His findings received very little attention at the time. Mendel died in 1884, unaware that his work would go on to become the foundation of the field of genetics. Crossing plants In 1900, 16 years after Mendel's death, three scientists — Hugo de Vries, Carl Correns, and Erich von Tschermak — independently rediscovered his work. They realised that Mendel had answered the question of whether some traits of the parents are passed on to their offspring more frequently than others. Mendel had studied the inheritance patterns of seven traits in pea plants, each with two clearly distinguishable forms. For example, one of the traits he examined was seed shape, where the seeds were either round or wrinkled. Mendel observed that when he crossed plants with opposing traits, one form would consistently dominate the other. That is, crossing plants with round seeds and those with wrinkled seeds always produced first-generation offspring with round seeds. Interestingly, when two such first-generation plants were crossed, the wrinkled form reappeared, though at a much lower frequency. Mendel found that the ratio of round to wrinkled seeds in this second generation was consistently around 3:1. For reasons unknown at the time, the round form appeared to 'dominate' the wrinkled form, and this same pattern held true for all seven traits he studied, the remaining six being: seed colour (yellow or green), flower colour (purple or white), pod shape (inflated or constricted), pod colour (green or yellow), flower position (along the stem or at the end), and plant height (tall or short). Predictability of inheritance Mendel's observations became the basis for understanding how traits are inherited through discrete units of heredity, which we now call genes. Scientists later realised that for each trait, an organism carries two versions of a gene, one inherited from each parent. These versions, known as alleles, can differ in their effect on the offspring's appearance. In many cases, one allele masks the effect of the other, explaining why only one form of the trait appeared in first-generation plants. This work provided the first clear evidence that inheritance follows predictable patterns — an insight that eventually led to the development of the chromosome theory of inheritance, the identification of genes as specific units on chromosomes, and paved the way for the emergence of modern genetics. However, the original question of what genetic differences gave rise to the two forms of each of the seven traits Mendel studied remained unanswered for a long time. Although efforts to identify the genetic locations involved had begun to make progress by 1917, it took the scientific community another 108 years to fully understand why Mendel observed what he did. Mountain of information A paper published in Nature on April 23, has now identified the genetic factors responsible for the final three traits, that had remained unresolved, while also uncovering additional alleles involved in the four traits that were previously characterised. The team achieved this by selecting more than 697 well-characterised variants of the pea plant and sequencing the total DNA content of all these plants using a technique called next-generation sequencing. This resulted in almost 60 terabases of DNA sequence information. That's the equivalent of nearly 14 billion pages of text, or a stack of A4 sheets stretching 700 km into the sky. The answer to the problem of Mendel's traits was buried within this colossal mountain of information. Opening new doors The authors of the study analysed this data to create a comprehensive map so that they could begin searching for patterns. This revealed several interesting findings. First, while it is well accepted that the genus Pisum, to which the pea plant belongs, has four species, genetically they appear to form eight groups. The four species are spread across these groups due to multiple crosses and admixtures between them, revealing that the plants have a more complex population structure than previously recognised. Second, while four of Mendel's seven traits — viz. seed shape, seed colour, plant height, and flower colour — were well characterised, the team identified additional allelic variants that contribute to the observed traits. For instance, the team found a new variant that, when present in white-flowered plants, causes them to produce purple flowers again, showing that the genetic picture is more complex than Mendel originally observed. Third, they identified genes that are involved in the remaining three traits — pod colour, pod shape, and flower position — that remained uncharacterised until now. Specifically, they found that a deletion of a segment of DNA present before a gene called ChlG disrupts the synthesis of chlorophyll, the pigment that gives plants their green colour, resulting in the yellow pods. Changes near the MYB gene and changes in the CLE-peptide-encoding genes together resulted in the constricted pod trait. And a small deletion in the DNA containing the CIK-like-coreceptor-kinase gene, along with the presence of another DNA segment called a modifier locus, was associated with the flowers appearing at the end of the stem. Finally, the map that the team generated shows multiple other genome-wide interactions that Mendel did not study, including 72 agriculturally relevant traits such as the architectures of the seed, pod, flower, leaf, root and plant. While closing the doors on this 160-year-old scientific mystery, the scientists involved in the study have paved the way to something greater. The depth of genetic information they had uncovered holds enormous promise for future research, with a lot of implications for increasing crop yield, enhancing disease resistance, and improving environmental adaptations. It is incredible to think that all of this owes its origin to a 19th century monk, who, while tending to his garden, chose to ask why. Arun Panchapakesan is an assistant professor at the Y.R. Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education, Chennai.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
Silver Alert issued for 73-year-old Austin man
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Department of Public Safety issued a Silver Alert for John Mendel, 73, who was last seen around 11 a.m. on Sunday. DPS said the Austin Police Department is searching for Mendel, who is diagnosed with a cognitive impairment. Mendel is a white male with hazel eyes and white hair. He is 6-foot-1 and weighs 150 pounds, according to the alert. Mendel was last seen in the 4000 block of Gemstone Road and may be traveling in an orange 2010 Dodge Caliber with the Texas license plate CZ1W250. He was also last seen wearing a dark blue dri-fit shirt, jeans and Crocs brand shoes. Austin Police believe that Mendel's disappearance poses a credible threat to his health and safety. Anyone with information regarding this missing person should contact APD at 512-974-5000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
For a slice of Parisian charm without the crowds, consider Quebec City
Craving the romance of Paris without the jet lag or legions of other people? The City of Light welcomed nearly 30 million visitors in 2023, and even more admirers plan to travel there since the 2024 Summer Olympics and reopening of the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Canada's Québec City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with French roots, emanates European elegance yet welcomes about a fraction of the visitors as Paris. Flights from the United States clock much shorter times too, providing travelers with Old World charm minus the travel fatigue. French, British, and North American cultures weave together in this walkable, refined city. 'Québec City is French-speaking, but it's North American, and it's unique,' says David Mendel, an author and historian who has lived in Paris and has also resided in Old Québec for almost 50 years. Cobblestone pedestrian streets wind past candlelit cafes and shops adorned with yellow awnings and overflowing flower boxes. Seventeenth-century stone buildings topped with steep, mansard roofs huddle around every corner. Cafe seating spills into walkways and French voices lilt on the breeze. You might think you're in Paris because Québec City was founded by Europeans and largely built by Europeans, explains Mendel. Erected as the capital of New France, the French empire in North America from the 1600 to 1700's, Québec City stands on a promontory. Port of Québec, the oldest in Canada, connects the St. Lawrence River to the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean for global trade. Considered to be the world's most photographed hotel, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac beams proudly from the cliff with its copper roof, circular and polygonal towers and turrets, and dormer windows. Canadian Pacific Railway built this beauty in the French 'Châteauesque' style to encourage tourism. Narrow streets and public squares hug the winding topography. The fortified upper town remains the only completely preserved walled city north of Mexico. In fact, this enchanting municipality looks so much like Europe that it stunt-doubled for France in the 2002 movie Catch Me If You Can. Travelers can cover a lot of ground in a few days, as most of the major sights in Québec City lie within a few miles walk of the city center. Stroll Old Québec for boutique shopping in Quartier Petit-Champlain and art gallery and antique perusing on Rue Saint-Paul. With a star-shaped citadel above, Plaines d'Abraham urban park commemorates where the French and British fought for the fate of New France. Similar to its European big sister, Québec City also boasts a Notre-Dame. The white stone, Neoclassical structure remains the first Catholic cathedral north of Mexico and contains one of seven holy doors in the world. 'Walk through the courtyard archway and you'll feel like you're suddenly in Europe,' says Mendel. 'While Québec City brims with history, it is very much alive, with some institutions still functioning in the same locations since the 1600s.' While Québec City may be chillier than Paris in winter, Canadians know how to champion the cold. The Québec Winter Carnival warms hearts with its spirited ice canoe races, frosty snow baths, and spiced Caribou drinks—a mulled wine best enjoyed between mittened hands. Toboggan down Dufferin Terrace or listen to the crunch of ice crashing in the St. Lawrence River as you're enveloped in steam at the Strøm Nordic Spa. Visitors to Old Québec feel like they've been transported inside a snow globe during the holiday season. In May 2025, the province of Québec became Canada's third destination to receive Michelin ratings, after Vancouver and Toronto. François-Emmanuel Nicol, the chef at renowned restaurant Tanière3, wrote the letter that encouraged Michelin to deploy its anonymous inspectors. His AAA Five-Diamond, Relais & Château restaurant impresses, foraged Indigenous ingredients married with French cooking techniques, and this May earned him two Michelin stars. 'In France, the culinary scene is huge with classics like wild game,' Nicol says. 'Québec has its own clout. With farmland all around the city and access to wild ingredients, foraging is a huge part of the Québec identity.' Diners rave about the gastronomically transcendent tasting menu, which can be savored in stone cellar vaults. 'We play on the fact that Québec is the perfect middle, basically between North American and European cultures with its French influence,' says Frédéric Cyr, culinary director at Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. Beyond poutine and maple syrup, you'll find Québec is also known for nutty cheeses and sweet strawberries. Don't miss the French onion soup blanketed by bubbly Le 1608 de Charlevoix cheese at Bistro Le SAM. Chefs rely on close relationships with small suppliers on the adjacent isle, Île d'Orléans, where 95 percent of the land is still devoted to agriculture. While Paris is flanked by islands with historical buildings, farms flourish on Quebec City's Île d'Orléans. Take a tour with Concierge du Terroir to sample sparkling wines and orchard delights like apple nachos. Even those with a petite sweet tooth will want to taste test the black currant vanilla swirl soft serve at Cassis Monna & Filles as well as the indulgent, Belgian chocolate-cloaked ice cream at Chocolaterie de l'Île d'Orléans. Frantz Noël, co-owner of Conciergerie du Terroir, has also lived and worked in Paris. He explains that Québec City buzzes with a similar cafe culture to the French capital, but in a more relaxed fashion with patio chairs facing each other instead of out to the street. Tours to the island often start at Montmorency Falls, where the cascading commences nearly 100 feet higher than Niagara Falls. Auberge Saint-Antoine, a boutique, museum hotel educates with artifacts from three centuries of Québec history on display. Just like a fairytale, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac enchants with its stenciled ceilings, crackling fireplaces, and views of the Saint Lawrence River. For a cooler experience, travelers turn to North America's only ice hotel: About 20 miles northeast of Old Québec, Hôtel de Glace is constructed each winter with a new artistic theme. Hold hands in hot tubs under the stars, then snuggle up in sleeping bags on ice beds inside igloos. Cortney Fries (pronounced 'freeze') is an award-winning, Chicago-based freelance writer who specializes in family travel, outdoor adventure and wellness. Over the past decade, Cortney has covered hiking in Alaska, sleeping in an ice hotel, swimming with manatees, whitewater rafting the New River Gorge, ziplining in Costa Rica and kayaking in Tenerife. She's always up for an adventure and believes that you should definitely try anything that makes you slightly nervous.
National Geographic
23-05-2025
- National Geographic
For a slice of Parisian charm without the crowds, consider Quebec City
Craving the romance of Paris without the jet lag or legions of other people? The City of Light welcomed nearly 30 million visitors in 2023, and even more admirers plan to travel there since the 2024 Summer Olympics and reopening of the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Canada's Québec City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with French roots, emanates European elegance yet welcomes about a fraction of the visitors as Paris. Flights from the United States clock much shorter times too, providing travelers with Old World charm minus the travel fatigue. French, British, and North American cultures weave together in this walkable, refined city. 'Québec City is French-speaking, but it's North American, and it's unique,' says David Mendel, an author and historian who has lived in Paris and has also resided in Old Québec for almost 50 years. French language, heritage, and architecture Cobblestone pedestrian streets wind past candlelit cafes and shops adorned with yellow awnings and overflowing flower boxes. Seventeenth-century stone buildings topped with steep, mansard roofs huddle around every corner. Cafe seating spills into walkways and French voices lilt on the breeze. You might think you're in Paris because Québec City was founded by Europeans and largely built by Europeans, explains Mendel. Québec City, one of North America's oldest European settlements, is a major draw for visitors who relish its quaint public squares and cobblestone streets, absent of skyscrapers. Photograph by Renaud Philippe, The New York Times/Redux The fortified upper town remains the only completely preserved walled city north of Mexico. Photograph by Enrico Della Pietra, Alamy Stock Photo The Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec was founded in 1647 and is on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. Photograph by George Pachantouris, Getty Images Erected as the capital of New France, the French empire in North America from the 1600 to 1700's, Québec City stands on a promontory. Port of Québec, the oldest in Canada, connects the St. Lawrence River to the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean for global trade. Considered to be the world's most photographed hotel, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac beams proudly from the cliff with its copper roof, circular and polygonal towers and turrets, and dormer windows. Canadian Pacific Railway built this beauty in the French 'Châteauesque' style to encourage tourism. Narrow streets and public squares hug the winding topography. The fortified upper town remains the only completely preserved walled city north of Mexico. In fact, this enchanting municipality looks so much like Europe that it stunt-doubled for France in the 2002 movie Catch Me If You Can. What to see in Québec City Travelers can cover a lot of ground in a few days, as most of the major sights in Québec City lie within a few miles walk of the city center. Stroll Old Québec for boutique shopping in Quartier Petit-Champlain and art gallery and antique perusing on Rue Saint-Paul. With a star-shaped citadel above, Plaines d'Abraham urban park commemorates where the French and British fought for the fate of New France. Similar to its European big sister, Québec City also boasts a Notre-Dame. The white stone, Neoclassical structure remains the first Catholic cathedral north of Mexico and contains one of seven holy doors in the world. 'Walk through the courtyard archway and you'll feel like you're suddenly in Europe,' says Mendel. 'While Québec City brims with history, it is very much alive, with some institutions still functioning in the same locations since the 1600s.' People can toboggan down Dufferin Terrace during the city's annual winter carnival. Photograph by Yvette Cardozo, Alamy Stock Photo Strøm Nordic Spa has numerous treatments available, including plunge pools, saunas, and flotation pools. Photograph by Bianca Des Jardins via Strøm Nordic Spa While Québec City may be chillier than Paris in winter, Canadians know how to champion the cold. The Québec Winter Carnival warms hearts with its spirited ice canoe races, frosty snow baths, and spiced Caribou drinks—a mulled wine best enjoyed between mittened hands. Toboggan down Dufferin Terrace or listen to the crunch of ice crashing in the St. Lawrence River as you're enveloped in steam at the Strøm Nordic Spa. Visitors to Old Québec feel like they've been transported inside a snow globe during the holiday season. Michelin-starred cuisine In 2025, the province of Québec became Canada's third destination to receive Michelin ratings. Photograph by Hemis, Alamy Stock Photo The French onion soup at Bistro Le SAM is topped with bubbly Le 1608 de Charlevoix cheese. Photograph by DFMotion via Bistro Le SAM In May 2025, the province of Québec became Canada's third destination to receive Michelin ratings, after Vancouver and Toronto. François-Emmanuel Nicol, the chef at renowned restaurant Tanière3, wrote the letter that encouraged Michelin to deploy its anonymous inspectors. His AAA Five-Diamond, Relais & Château restaurant impresses, foraged Indigenous ingredients married with French cooking techniques, and this May earned him two Michelin stars. 'In France, the culinary scene is huge with classics like wild game,' Nicol says. 'Québec has its own clout. With farmland all around the city and access to wild ingredients, foraging is a huge part of the Québec identity.' Diners rave about the gastronomically transcendent tasting menu, which can be savored in stone cellar vaults. 'We play on the fact that Québec is the perfect middle, basically between North American and European cultures with its French influence,' says Frédéric Cyr, culinary director at Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. Beyond poutine and maple syrup, you'll find Québec is also known for nutty cheeses and sweet strawberries. Don't miss the French onion soup blanketed by bubbly Le 1608 de Charlevoix cheese at Bistro Le SAM. Chefs rely on close relationships with small suppliers on the adjacent isle, Île d'Orléans, where 95 percent of the land is still devoted to agriculture. Epicurean tours While Paris is flanked by islands with historical buildings, farms flourish on Quebec City's Île d'Orléans. Take a tour with Concierge du Terroir to sample sparkling wines and orchard delights like apple nachos. Even those with a petite sweet tooth will want to taste test the black currant vanilla swirl soft serve at Cassis Monna & Filles as well as the indulgent, Belgian chocolate-cloaked ice cream at Chocolaterie de l'Île d'Orléans. Frantz Noël, co-owner of Conciergerie du Terroir, has also lived and worked in Paris. He explains that Québec City buzzes with a similar cafe culture to the French capital, but in a more relaxed fashion with patio chairs facing each other instead of out to the street. Tours to the island often start at Montmorency Falls, where the cascading commences nearly 100 feet higher than Niagara Falls. Where to stay Auberge Saint-Antoine, a boutique, museum hotel educates with artifacts from three centuries of Québec history on display. Just like a fairytale, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac enchants with its stenciled ceilings, crackling fireplaces, and views of the Saint Lawrence River. For a cooler experience, travelers turn to North America's only ice hotel: About 20 miles northeast of Old Québec, Hôtel de Glace is constructed each winter with a new artistic theme. Hold hands in hot tubs under the stars, then snuggle up in sleeping bags on ice beds inside igloos. Cortney Fries (pronounced 'freeze') is an award-winning, Chicago-based freelance writer who specializes in family travel, outdoor adventure and wellness. Over the past decade, Cortney has covered hiking in Alaska, sleeping in an ice hotel, swimming with manatees, whitewater rafting the New River Gorge, ziplining in Costa Rica and kayaking in Tenerife. She's always up for an adventure and believes that you should definitely try anything that makes you slightly nervous.
