A new research tool developed at USC promises to speed dramatically the hunt for disease-causing genes by reconstructing gene layouts. The ExonPCR technique uses a series of 'yes' or 'no' answers, similar to the parlor game '20 Questions,' to narrow down possibilities and solve the riddle.
The 'Mugspot' software module automatically analyzes video images to pick out passers-by, tracking their heads for identification. Developed at USC and Bochum University, it uses an unusual approach mimicking the brain's visual cortex to recognize faces in substandard lighting conditions.
Researchers have developed a new method to find human genes by using analogous genes from other species, offering a more accurate approach than existing techniques. The method has been tested on nearly 100 genes, with 40 out of 47 mammalian reconstructions being perfect and 94-97% accurate in the remaining cases.
Geochronologist Richard Ku's analysis of Peking Man fossils reveals they date back to at least 400,000 years ago, significantly older than previous estimates. This finding sheds new light on human evolution and challenges current understanding of the species' origins.