A team of researchers from Duke University found that the hypoglossal canal, which controls tongue movement, is larger in humans and Neanderthals than in apes and proto-humans. This discovery challenges the theory that human speech may not have arisen until around 40,000 years ago.
A human clinical trial of an edible vaccine has shown promising results, indicating that consumption can result in immunity to specific diseases. The vaccine was tested on volunteers who ate genetically altered potatoes and showed a significant immune response, with antibodies found in both blood and stool samples.
Scientists at UNC Chapel Hill and Bern University have developed a new RNA repair technique to block defective processing in cells' messenger RNAs. This method has shown promising results in increasing healthy protein production and could potentially treat or even cure beta thalassemia.
Researchers have shown that an edible vaccine can safely trigger significant immune responses in humans. Ten of the 11 volunteers who ingested transgenic potatoes had fourfold rises in serum antibodies, and six developed intestinal antibodies. The study demonstrates a potential solution for reducing vaccine burden in developing countries.
Researchers at Jefferson Medical College have found a way to inhibit the hepatitis B virus by blocking its envelope creation, resulting in a dramatic drop in viral levels. The discovery may provide new leads for treating chronic HBV and HCV infections in humans.