Author: rahil abdi

A new study found that chronic wasting disease can sometimes spread silently, with infectious prions present even in animals that show no symptoms. While there is no confirmed human risk, researchers say the disease’s ability to evolve and spread across species warrants close attention. Scientists uncovered a hidden side of chronic wasting disease: infectious prions may spread unnoticed, raising new questions as the fatal wildlife disease continues to expand. Chronic…

A major mouse study found that some inherited traits are passed down through epigenetic changes that break the classic rules of genetics. Researchers discovered hundreds of cases where these chemical DNA marks behaved unexpectedly, including some that seemed to emerge out of nowhere. They also identified the first known naturally occurring paramutation in a mammal, hinting that environmental influences may play a larger role in inheritance than scientists realized. Genetic…

Researchers have identified a group of natural compounds from a Brazilian tree that show promising activity against the virus responsible for COVID-19. The compounds, known as galloylquinic acids, were extracted from the leaves of Copaifera lucens Dwyer, a species native to Brazil’s Atlantic Forest. Laboratory findings suggest these molecules can interfere with the virus in several different ways, offering a broader approach than many existing antiviral strategies. The research focused on Copaifera…