Latest in Science
The Hindu
18 minutes ago
- Science
- The Hindu
The peopling of the Indian subcontinent
How and from where did we, the people of India, come from? Based on genetic analysis of 25 diverse groups in India, a paper in 2009 titled 'Reconstructing Indian Population History', jointly authored by David Reich and colleagues from Harvard and MIT in the US and K. Thangaraj and Lalji Singh from CCMB Hyderabad, provided strong evidence for two ancient genetically divergent populations, which are ancestral to most Indians. I recommend the reader download the paper and see Figure 1 (shown above) and read Table 1 of the paper. How divergent are we? One group called 'Ancestral North Indians' (ANI) is genetically close to people from West Asia, Central Asia, and Europe. A higher proportion of ANI ancestry is predominantly found in the people in the northern states of India. The other, 'Ancestral South Indians (ASI)', is distinctly different from ANI and is of East Eurasian origin. In a more detailed analysis, they analysed ancient genome-wide data from over 500 individuals from Central Asia and Northern South Asia, and concluded that ASIs are direct descendants who live in tribal groups in South India. All these migrations by the ANIs and ASIs seem to have come about over 3,000-4,000 years ago. There is thus an admixture of North Indian and South Indian (also called Dravidian) people across the country. Groups with ANI ancestry ranging from 39-71% are seen in traditional (so-called) upper caste people across the country. But people with distinct ASI ancestry are seen in some South Indian states. However, the true ASIs, also named AASI, are the Adivasis of the Andaman-Nicobar Islands, who had migrated from the East Asian-Pacific regions over 60,000 years ago, and don't mix socially or genetically with Indian mainlanders. A recent paper in Cell pointed out that all people of Indian descent have their roots in a single, large migration that happened when humans travelled out of Africa around 50,000 years ago. Note the term 'upper caste' mentioned above in the Harvard-CCMB papers. When did the 'caste system' arise? It has been discriminatory for over 2,000 years among the Hindus. In its four-tier system, way at the bottom are the Adivasis. Inter-caste marriages are seldom practised, and if they are, they can lead to violence. Ethnicity and haplotypes A 2003 paper from Prof. P.P. Majumder's group looked at ethnicity using what are called 'haplogroups', which are genetic markers of common parentage (paternal or maternal) shared within a social group. The paper pointed out that haplogroup details of various populations across India provide insights into the caste system of India, with certain ancestral components being highest in tribes, somewhat less in lower castes, and least in upper castes. This system of ethnicity is slowly changing with time, particularly in educated classes, with democracy and modernisation of the country. As people began going to schools and colleges, learning more languages and moving beyond their native places for jobs and other opportunities, inter-caste and inter-regional marriages have begun rising. According to the 2011 Census, inter-caste marriages were about 6% and inter-faith ones about 1%. It is likely these numbers will have risen significantly, particularly among urban groups, when the forthcoming 2027 Census offers the numbers. The author is grateful to Dr Thangaraj for his advice and critique of the manuscript.
The Star
19 minutes ago
- Health
- The Star
Advancing post-transplant care
Triumphant: Dr Sharifah Shahnaz with her award. SURGERIES carry the risk of infections – including transplants. In Malaysia, where cytomegalovirus (CMV) prevalence is high, hospitals face the challenge of CMV infections following haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Recognising this, Dr Sharifah Shahnaz Syed Abd Kadir, a consultant haematologist at Hospital Ampang, conducted research on the topic, which she recently presented at the 28th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Malaysian Society of Transplantation. Her effort clinched first prize in the Best Paper Oral Presentation category, earning her a trophy, a certificate, and a cash prize of RM1,000. Themed 'Compassion to Cure: The Transplant Journey', the conference, held from May 22 to 24 at a hotel in Selangor, convened experts and scholars committed to improving transplantation outcomes. Dr Sharifah Shahnaz – a third-year Doctor of Philosophy (Medical Science) student at the Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) M. Kandiah Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences – expressed gratitude for the honour. 'This award affirms the significance of our work in advancing transplant-related care, especially in resource-limited settings. 'It motivates me to pursue impactful research that bridges immunology and clinical practice, and opens doors to collaboration and further innovation,' she said in a press release. Titled Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infection/Disease and CMV-Specific Cell-Mediated Immunity (CMI) after Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation (SCT) in a High CMV Seropositivity Rate Population, Dr Sharifah Shahnaz's research project involved a study at Hospital Ampang, where she followed 72 transplant patients and employed the QuantiFERON-CMV assay to evaluate immune responses post-transplant. Her research found that early impaired immunity and the presence of gut graft-versus-host disease were key predictors of CMV infection – insights that could significantly inform post-transplant care. These findings underscore the importance of immune monitoring and point towards the integration of immunological markers into clinical risk models for better patient outcomes. Her success is also a reflection of the mentorship provided by her supervisors, Assoc Prof Dr Leong Pooi Pooi and Emeritus Prof Dr Cheong Soon Keng from UTAR, as well as Dr Tan Sen Mui from Hospital Ampang, the press release read. It added that the achievement illustrates UTAR's ongoing commitment to fostering high-calibre medical research that addresses real-world healthcare challenges.
Daily Mail
19 minutes ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Common breast cancer treatment could reduce risk of developing Alzheimer's, research suggests
Women who undergo a common breast cancer treatment may have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, research suggests. The neurodegenerative disorder – which affects memory, thinking and behaviour – impacts more than 900,000 people in the UK. There is currently no cure and most cases of the condition are not linked to genetics. But scientists in South Korea have found that breast cancer patients treated with radiotherapy were significantly less likely to go on to develop Alzheimer's than women who hadn't received the treatment. Around one in seven women in the UK will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. More than 70 per cent will be treated with radiotherapy, which uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumours. To investigate whether cancer treatment affects Alzheimer's risk, researchers at Samsung University analysed health records of more than 250,000 women. Around 70,000 were breast cancer survivors who had undergone surgery and treatment between 2010 and 2016. They found those who received radiotherapy were 8 per cent less likely to develop Alzheimer's than women who either hadn't had the treatment or had never had breast cancer. 'Based on these findings, we hypothesise that the risk of Alzheimer's dementia could be lowered shortly after cancer treatment,' said lead author Dr Su-Min Jeong. However, he added that this apparent protective effect faded with time. 'It may equalise as the survival period increases,' he said. Researchers believe radiotherapy may have anti-inflammatory or neuroprotective effects. It's also been shown to reduce levels of two types of brain cells linked to inflammation in Alzheimer's. Other theories suggest radiation may interfere with the formation of amyloid plaques – abnormal protein clumps found in the brains of Alzheimer's patients – or influence the immune system.
The Star
21 minutes ago
- Science
- The Star
Prof's AI tools take top honours
Beaming: Prof Lim (centre) celebrating his double gold win with Ai3D PLT collaborators Phang (left) and Haiwei Zuo (right). IN every problem lies an opportunity to solve it. True to this spirit of invention, Prof Garenth Lim King Hann devised solutions to two problems he identified in sports training and elderly healthcare. What followed were innovations with the potential to transform both fields – earning him recognition at the recent International Invention, Innovation, Technology Competition & Exhibition (ITEX 2025). Prof Lim – a lecturer at Curtin University Malaysia's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering – won two gold medals for 'Ai3D-CAMS' and 'AMEND (Assessment of Memory and Eye Movements for Neurodegenerative Diseases)'. Both innovations were developed through the varsity's artificial intelligence (AI) spin-off, Ai3D PLT – a company Prof Lim co-founded with Dr Jonathan Phang Then Sien and Dr Basil Andy Lease. Ai3D-CAMS is a portable, AI-driven 3D motion capture system designed for precision sports like archery. Unlike traditional systems, it requires no physical markers and offers real-time, voice-controlled motion analysis – empowering athletes to train independently while giving coaches instant insights into micro-movements, posture and technique. 'Its portability and ease of use make Ai3D-CAMS a game-changer – not just for elite athletes, but also for schools, community clubs and national teams,' said Prof Lim in a press release. AMEND is a mixed reality-based tool that turns cognitive testing into a simple, non-invasive game. Using eye-tracking and interactive tasks, it helps detect early signs of memory loss or attention deficits, potentially identifying Alzheimer's before symptoms become critical. 'We are turning complex screenings into engaging experiences that can be done in any clinic or care home. 'AMEND could significantly advance early diagnosis and improve outcomes in elderly care,' Prof Lim explained. Both inventions are part of Ai3D PLT's mission to drive industrial innovation using AI and 3D technology across sectors like sports, healthcare and energy. 'We are not just inventing – we are solving real-world problems and making advanced technology accessible,' said Prof Lim. ITEX 2025, held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from May 29 to 31, showcased over 900 innovations from 15 countries. Themed 'The Power of STEAM and AI', the event celebrated forward-thinking technologies that merge science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) with AI.
The Star
22 minutes ago
- Science
- The Star
UM finds key life-building molecule in space
Teamwork: (From left) Affan Adly Nazri, Dr Zulfazli Rosli and Nursyazela from RCL Star Formation Group and Prof Zamri. In a breakthrough that challenges long-held scientific assumptions, researchers from Universiti Malaya (UM) have detected a key life-building molecule – formaldehyde (H2CO) – in one of the most hostile environments in our galaxy: near the Milky Way's centre. Led by the Radio Cosmology Research Laboratory (RCL) under the Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics Research (CAAR), the UM team observed formaldehyde in dense molecular clouds just 0.2 kiloparsecs from the galactic core – a region long considered too violent and unstable to support the chemistry needed for life. The discovery, made using a 25-metre radio telescope in Nanshan, China, suggests life's building blocks may be more resilient than previously believed. This finding was recently accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal, a Tier-1, Web of Science-indexed journal. This, said Nursyazela Badrina, lead author of the study, changes how we think about the boundaries of where life could potentially emerge. 'Formaldehyde is essential in forming sugars and amino acids – key components of RNA and proteins. Finding it so close to the galactic centre forces us to reconsider the limits of the so-called Galactic Habitable Zone (GHZ),' she said in a press release dated July 4. The GHZ refers to areas in a galaxy where conditions are thought to support life. Nanshan Telescope, China. Typically, the centre of the Milky Way has been excluded due to intense radiation from the supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*, and frequent supernovae. But the UM discovery raises the possibility that complex molecules – and perhaps life – can exist even in these high-risk environments. The milestone is part of a decade-long collaboration between UM and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), formalised in 2015. RCL head Prof Dr Zamri Zainal Abidin said the success was the result of combining Malaysia's strength in molecular spectroscopy with CAS's world-class radio telescope facilities. 'This is not just a scientific achievement; it's a testament to the power of international collaboration, and signals Malaysia's rising role in global space science,' said Prof Zamri. Building on this momentum, UM is spearheading Malaysia's first national radio astronomy facility in collaboration with the Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA). The project aims not only to advance scientific research but also to train the next generation of Malaysian astrophysicists through new postgraduate programmes. 'We are not only building telescopes – we are building a future. This initiative will help retain local talent and create a thriving space science ecosystem in Malaysia,' Prof Zamri added. The team's next steps include studying other complex molecules like methanol in the same region, potentially uncovering further evidence that life's chemical precursors are more widespread than ever imagined. This landmark discovery opens up exciting possibilities in the search for life in the universe – and puts Malaysia on the map as a growing force in space science.
