Guidelines set for ancient DNA research
Fueled by technological advancements, ancient DNA research has grown by leaps and bounds over the last decade. From the first full ancient genome published in 2010 to the more than 4,000 analyzed today, the DNA collected from ancient human remains has advanced researchers’ understanding of the origins and history of human populations around the world. […]
New type of microbiome-directed food boosts growth for malnourished children
A new study shows that a therapeutic food designed to repair the gut microbiomes of malnourished children is better than standard therapy in supporting their growth. The research, published online April 7, 2021, in The New England Journal of Medicine, was a collaboration between Washington University School of Medicine and the International Centre for Diarrhoeal […]
Specific bacteria help explain stunted growth in malnourished children
A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has shown that specific bacteria living in the upper small intestines of malnourished children play a causal role in stunted growth and other damaging side effects of malnutrition. The knowledge could lead to better therapies for such children. The gut microbiome has a […]
Singapore’s financial capability and asset building project expands to nationwide scale
In January 2017, the Next Age Institute (NAI) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) began the Singapore Financial Capability and Asset Building (SG FCAB) initiative. The goal of the initiative is to develop Singaporean social workers’ knowledge and skills for working with vulnerable low-income families on their household finances. The second phase involved a […]
Research collaboration sheds light on ancient populations
An international team of scholars has pooled their expertise to generate the largest study of ancient DNA published to date. Michael Frachetti, professor of archaeology in Arts & Sciences at Washington University, is co-senior author of the study, which was published in the journal Science. Genome-wide DNA information was ethically sourced from 523 ancient humans at archaeological […]
WashU doctors address mental health crisis among Rohingya refugees
More than 900,000 Rohingya refugees live in sprawling, overcrowded camps in Bangladesh, not far from the border with Myanmar. Their plight is the result of a violent campaign against them by Myanmar’s security forces that U.N. investigators say showed evidence of the gravest crimes under international law, including genocide. The refugees are victims of, and […]
Genetic diversity in Thailand’s purple rice
Kenneth M. Olsen, professor of biology in Arts & Sciences, worked with collaborators at Chiang Mai University in Thailand to examine the genetic repercussions of a longstanding practice by individual farmers of saving and replanting purple rice. The study, published in the journal Economic Botany, shows that these traditional farming practices help preserve the genetic […]