4 lessons the US learned from the COVID-19 pandemic
The long-term lessons America learns from the coronavirus pandemic will spell life or death.
19 January, 2021
- As the US commences its early stages of COVID-19 vaccinations, Michael Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell Health, argues that now is not the time to relax. "There are lessons to be learned by systems like ours based upon our experience," says Dowling, adding that "we know what these lessons are, and we're working on them."
- The four major takeaways that Dowling has identified are that the United States was unprepared and slow to react, that we need a domestic supply chain so that we aren't relying on other countries, that there needs to be more domestic and international cooperation, and that leadership roles in public health must be filled by public health experts.
- If and when another pandemic hits (in the hopefully distant future), the country—and by extension the world—will be in a much better place to deal with it.
Learn more about Northwell's pandemic response here.
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The scent of sickness: 5 questions answered about using dogs – and mice and ferrets – to detect disease
Could medical detection animals smell coronavirus?
14 January, 2021
Leon Neal/Getty Images
As COVID-19 continues to spread worldwide, scientists are analyzing new ways to track it.
<p> One promising approach is <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-020-03149-9" target="_blank">training dogs to detect people who are infected</a> by smelling samples of human urine or sweat. Research scientist Glen Golden, who has trained dogs and ferrets to detect avian flu in birds, explains why certain animals are well suited to sniff out sickness.</p><h2>1. Which species have a nose for disease?</h2><p>Some animals have highly developed senses of smell. They include rodents; dogs and their wild relatives, like wolves and coyotes; and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-mustelids-2058294" target="_blank">mustelids</a> – carnivorous mammals such as weasels, otters and ferrets. These species' brains have three or more times more functional olfactory receptor neurons – nerve cells that respond to odors – than species with less keen smelling abilities, including humans and other primates. </p><p>These neurons are responsible for detecting and identifying volatile olfactory compounds that send meaningful signals, like smoke from a fire or the aroma of fresh meat. A substance is volatile if it changes readily from liquid to gas at low temperatures, like the acetone that gives nail polish remover its fruity smell. Once it vaporizes, it can spread rapidly through the air.</p><p>When one of these animals detects a meaningful odor, the chemical signal is translated into messages and transported throughout its brain. The messages go simultaneously to the olfactory cortex, which is responsible for identifying, localizing and remembering odor, and to other brain regions responsible for decision-making and emotion. So these animals can detect many chemical signals over great distances and can make rapid and accurate mental associations about them. </p>
<h2>2. How do researchers choose a target scent?</h2><p>In most studies that have used dogs to detect cancer, the dogs have identified physical samples, such as skin, urine or breath, from patients who either have been diagnosed with cancer or have <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2004.04.008" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">undiagnosed cancer at an early stage</a>. Scientists don't know what odor cue the dogs use or whether it varies by type of cancer.</p><p>The U.S. Department of Agriculture's <a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/wildlifedamage/programs/nwrc" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">National Wildlife Research Center</a> in Colorado and the <a href="https://monell.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Monell Chemical Senses Center</a> in Pennsylvania have trained mice to detect <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0075411" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">avian influenza in fecal samples from infected ducks</a>. Bird flu is hard to detect in wild flocks, and it <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/avian-in-humans.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">can spread to humans</a>, so this work is designed to help wildlife biologists monitor for outbreaks.</p><p>The Kimball lab at Monell taught the mice to get a reward when they smelled a confirmed positive sample from an infected animal. For example, mice would get a drink of water when they traveled down the arm of a Y-shaped maze that contained feces from a duck infected with avian influenza virus.</p><p>By chemically analyzing the fecal samples, researchers found that the concentration of volatile chemical compounds in them changed when a duck became infected with bird flu. So they inferred that this altered smell profile was what the mice recognized.</p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0UxLt3yugUA?wmode=transparent&start=0"></iframe><p>Members of the mustelid family, such as ferrets, badgers and otters, have highly developed senses of smell. Here a wolverine sniffs out frozen meat buried deep in the snow.</p><p>Building on that work, we've trained ferrets and dogs to detect avian influenza in fowl, such as wild ducks and domestic chickens, in a collaborative study between Colorado State University and the National Wildlife Research Center that is currently under review for publication.</p><p>With ferrets, we started by training them to alert, or signal that they had detected the target odor, by scratching on a box that contained high ratios of those volatile compounds and to ignore boxes that contained low ratios. Next we showed the ferrets fecal samples from both infected and noninfected ducks, and the ferrets immediately began alerting to the box containing the fecal sample from an infected duck.</p><p>This approach is similar to the way that dogs are trained to detect known volatile odors in explosives or illegal drugs. Sometimes, though, we have to let the detector animal determine the odor profile that it will respond to.</p>
<h2>3. Can animals be trained to detect more than one target?</h2><p>Yes. To avoid confusion about what a trained animal is detecting, we can teach it a different behavioral response for each target odor.</p><p>For example, the dogs in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's <a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/wildlifedamage/programs/nwrc/sa_spotlight/sniffing+out+disease" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wildlife Services Canine Disease Detection Program</a> respond with an aggressive alert, such as scratching, when they detect a sample from a duck infected with bird flu. When they detect a sample from a white-tailed deer infected by the prion that causes <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/prions/cwd/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">chronic wasting disease</a>, they respond with a passive alert such as sitting down.</p><p>Research at the University of Auburn has shown that dogs can remember and respond to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-020-01362-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">72 odors during an odor memory task</a>. The only limitation is how many ways a dog can communicate about different odor cues.</p>
<h2>4. What kinds of factors can complicate this process?</h2><p>First, any organization that trains animals to detect disease needs the right type of laboratory and equipment. Depending on the disease, that could include personal protection equipment and air filtering.</p><p>Another concern is whether the pathogen might infect the detection animals. If that's a risk, researchers may need to inactivate the samples before they expose the animals. Then they need to see whether that process has altered the volatiles that they are teaching the animals to associate with infection.</p><p>Finally, handlers have to think about how to reinforce the desired response from detection animals in the field. If they are working in a population of mostly noninfected people – for example, in an airport – and an animal doesn't get a chance to earn a reward, it may lose interest and stop working. We look for animals that have a strong drive to work without stopping, but working for a long time without reward can be challenging for even the most motivated animal.</p>
<h2>5. Why not build a machine that can do this?</h2><p>Right now we don't have devices that are as sensitive as animals with well-developed senses of smell. For example, a dog's sense of smell is <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2005.07.009" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">at least 1,000 times more sensitive than any mechanical device</a>. This could explain why dogs have detected cancer in tissue samples that have been <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2004.04.008" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">medically cleared as not cancerous</a></p><p>We also know that ferrets can detect avian flu infection in fecal samples before and after laboratory analysis shows that the virus has stopped shedding. This suggests that for some pathogens, there may be changes in volatiles in individuals who are infected but are asymptomatic.</p><p>As scientists learn more about how mammals' sense of smell works, they'll have a better chance of creating devices that are as sensitive and reliable in sniffing out disease.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/151832/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation"></p><p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/glen-j-golden-1186384" target="_blank">Glen J. Golden</a>, Research Scientist/Scholar I, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/colorado-state-university-1267" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Colorado State University</a></em></p><p>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-scent-of-sickness-5-questions-answered-about-using-dogs-and-mice-and-ferrets-to-detect-disease-151832" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">original article</a>.</p>
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How New York's largest hospital system is predicting COVID-19 spikes
Northwell Health is using insights from website traffic to forecast COVID-19 hospitalizations two weeks in the future.
14 January, 2021
Credit: Getty Images
- The machine-learning algorithm works by analyzing the online behavior of visitors to the Northwell Health website and comparing that data to future COVID-19 hospitalizations.
- The tool, which uses anonymized data, has so far predicted hospitalizations with an accuracy rate of 80 percent.
- Machine-learning tools are helping health-care professionals worldwide better constrain and treat COVID-19.
<p>One of the most devastating aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic has been unpredictability. The nation's health systems—especially those in hard-hit areas like New York City—have had to adapt to sudden surges of COVID-19 cases, all while dealing with limited resources, existing patients, and a novel virus that's still not fully understood.</p><p>But what if health systems were able to forecast COVID-19 hospitalizations two weeks before they occur? Northwell Health, the largest health care system in New York state, recently deployed a predictive tool that does just that.</p><p>Northwell Health's <a href="https://www.northwell.edu/northwell-website-patterns-predict-covid-19-cases" target="_blank">surveillance dashboard</a> is able to predict COVID-19 hospitalizations by using insights from machine learning. In March, Northwell Health's Customer Insights Group developed an algorithm that's been mining data from online traffic to the Northwell.edu website, which has received more than 20 million hits since March.<strong></strong></p><p>The algorithm collects data through 15 different indicators, each of which reflects the online behavior of the website's visitors. For example, the tool analyzes metrics such as the length of time users spend on certain pages, searches for emergency department wait times, and specific symptoms users search for. Combined, this information translates into something like the "public mood" of the website on any given day.</p>
<blockquote>Since Northwell Health began using the predictive tool in September, it's predicted COVID-19 hospitalizations with an accuracy of about 80 percent.</blockquote>
<p>To understand how this mood relates to future COVID-19 cases, Northwell Health began comparing its data with a timeline of COVID-19 hospitalizations across 23 hospitals and nearly 800 outpatient facilities and in the metro New York area. This enabled the Customer Insights Group to see patterns of online activity that precede future increases or decreases in hospitalizations.</p><p>Since Northwell Health began using the predictive tool in September, it's predicted COVID-19 hospitalizations with an accuracy of about 80 percent.</p><p>"This is really the first tool that I've been exposed to that gives me a sort of guestimate of what two weeks from now may look like," said Dr. <a href="https://www.northwell.edu/find-care/find-a-doctor/emergency-medicine/dr-eric-scott-cruzen-md-mba-11346068" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Eric Cruzen, </a>chief medical informatics officer of Northwell's emergency medicine services and chair of the emergency department at Lenox Health Greenwich Village in Manhattan.</p><p>"Even if the data can provide an idea of whether to expect an increase, decrease, or stasis, that's valuable. Because every day we're working to estimate what tomorrow's going to bring. Any tool that's going to shed light on that is a good tool in my book."</p>
The value of forecasting
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTA0Njk2OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMzM2NDQzOH0.rid9regiDaKczCCKBsu7wrHkNQ64Vz_XcOEZIzAhzgM/img.jpg?width=980" id="2bb93" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="31345afbdf2bd408fd3e9f31520c445a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1546" data-height="1056" />Northwell emergency departments use the dashboard to monitor in real time.
Credit: Northwell Health
<p>One unique benefit of forecasting COVID-19 hospitalizations is that it allows health systems to better prepare, manage and allocate resources. For example, if the tool forecasted a surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations in two weeks, Northwell Health could begin:</p><ul><li>Making space for an influx of patients</li><li>Moving personal protective equipment to where it's most needed</li><li>Strategically allocating staff during the predicted surge</li><li>Increasing the number of tests offered to asymptomatic patients</li></ul><p>The health-care field is increasingly using machine learning. It's already helping doctors develop <a href="https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/early/2020/06/09/dc19-1870" target="_blank">personalized care plans for diabetes patients</a>, improving cancer screening techniques, and enabling mental health professionals to better predict which patients are at <a href="https://healthitanalytics.com/news/ehr-data-fuels-accurate-predictive-analytics-for-suicide-risk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">elevated risk of suicide</a>, to name a few applications.</p><p>Health systems around the world have already begun exploring how <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7315944/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">machine learning can help battle the pandemic</a>, including better COVID-19 screening, diagnosis, contact tracing, and drug and vaccine development.</p><p>Cruzen said these kinds of tools represent a shift in how health systems can tackle a wide variety of problems.</p><p>"Health care has always used the past to predict the future, but not in this mathematical way," Cruzen said. "I think [Northwell Health's new predictive tool] really is a great first example of how we should be attacking a lot of things as we go forward."</p>Making machine-learning tools openly accessible
<p>Northwell Health has made its predictive tool <a href="https://github.com/northwell-health/covid-web-data-predictor" target="_blank">available for free</a> to any health system that wishes to utilize it.</p><p>"COVID is everybody's problem, and I think developing tools that can be used to help others is sort of why people go into health care," Dr. Cruzen said. "It was really consistent with our mission."</p><p>Open collaboration is something the world's governments and health systems should be striving for during the pandemic, said Michael Dowling, Northwell Health's president and CEO.</p><p>"Whenever you develop anything and somebody else gets it, they improve it and they continue to make it better," Dowling said. "As a country, we lack data. I believe very, very strongly that we should have been and should be now working with other countries, including China, including the European Union, including England and others to figure out how to develop a health surveillance system so you can anticipate way in advance when these things are going to occur."</p><p>In all, Northwell Health has treated more than 112,000 COVID patients. During the pandemic, Dowling said he's seen an outpouring of goodwill, collaboration, and sacrifice from the community and the tens of thousands of staff who work across Northwell.</p><p>"COVID has changed our perspective on everything—and not just those of us in health care, because it has disrupted everybody's life," Dowling said. "It has demonstrated the value of community, how we help one another."</p>
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How to help dogs and cats manage separation anxiety when their humans return to work
Has lockdown made your pet extra clingy?
02 January, 2021
Photo by Ga on Unsplash
When one of my co-workers found out about a tiny, orphaned kitten that needed a home a few months ago, he didn't hesitate to adopt it.
<p> He says his new companion helped make the months of COVID-19 isolation at home much less stressful.</p><p>He is not alone. Animal shelters and breeders across the country have <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/08/12/adoptions-dogs-coronavirus/" target="_blank">reported</a> <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-the-coronavirus-pet-adoption-boom-is-reducing-stress-138074" target="_blank">record numbers of dog and cat adoptions</a> in recent months.</p><p>But after my co-worker returned to work, he says his adorable kitten started <a href="https://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/behavioral/can-cats-have-separation-anxiety" target="_blank">urinating on the kitchen counter</a> while he was away.</p><p>Another friend is worried about how her dog will react when she returns to the office. Her big, goofy Labrador retriever follows her everywhere, even to the bathroom. When she leaves to run a quick errand, <a href="https://www.insider.com/prevent-separation-anxiety-in-dogs" target="_blank">the dog sits by the back door and whines</a>, awaiting her return.</p><p>What should these pet owners do?</p>
<h2>The problem with sudden changes in routine</h2><p>A change in routine, such as suddenly being alone for many hours every day, is a major cause of <a href="https://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/javma.2003.222.1526" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">separation anxiety for both dogs and cats</a>.</p><p>Separation anxiety is more than a little whimpering when you head out the door. It's <a href="https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/separation-anxiety" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">major, unwanted behavior</a> that happens every time you leave or are away.</p><p>For <a href="https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2001.219.467" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">dogs</a> and <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/pdf/S0960-9822(19)31086-3.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">cats</a>, this can mean excessive pacing, barking or howling, whimpering or self-grooming as you get ready to leave. In some cases it can mean urinating or defecating around the house, often in places where scents linger, such as on bedding or rugs, or destroying household items in your absence. Extreme clinginess or neediness is another symptom.</p><p>Separation anxiety won't go away on its own, and it can be difficult to get rid of entirely. But there are ways to manage it. As a <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=X6pGNp8AAAAJ&hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">clinical veterinarian and professor</a>, I am often asked to help people find ways to ease their pets' anxiety.</p>
<h2>What not to do</h2><p>First, it's important to understand that it's not about you – <a href="http://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00499" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">it's about your pet</a>. Your dog or cat is not trying to teach you a lesson or get revenge. Animals don't act out of spite.</p><p>Instead, it's a signal of extreme distress and frustration that should be approached like any other medical ailment. Your pet doesn't want to experience separation anxiety any more than you want to experience its consequences.</p><p>For this reason, punishment is never the answer. For one thing, your pet won't connect the punishment with something that happened hours – or even a few minutes – earlier. And punishment may only exacerbate your pet's anxiety and stress.</p><p>Similarly, going to the opposite extreme by <a href="https://vvma.org/resources/Documents/Pike-Common%20anxiety%20disorders%20notes.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">praising or giving affection</a> when your pet is suffering anxiety also will make the problem worse.</p><p>The goal is to create a balanced relationship so your pet tolerates being alone. First, get your pet checked out by a veterinarian to rule out physical conditions, such as a urinary tract infection <a href="https://www.vetsmall.theclinics.com/article/S0195-5616(18)30131-1/fulltext#secsectitle0075" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">if your pet urinates in inappropriate places</a>.</p><p>Next, make sure your pet gets plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. For dogs, this may mean a long run or brisk walk every day. <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0141907" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Getting exercise shortly before you leave the house</a> may put your dog in a more relaxed state while you're gone. It's harder to feel stressed when the endorphin levels are elevated. For cats, this could mean a change of environment by being outdoors in a safe, enclosed area such as a "<a href="https://www.countryliving.com/life/kids-pets/a35760/catios-trend/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">catio</a>."</p>
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTE0ODAyNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3MjgwMjEwM30.S_uvs9D2AfXDGBAtEewANvtM8fgHEIY_oga5j4xaDR4/img.jpg?width=1245&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C0&height=700" id="e2d37" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7f2f5705c11ead08092212f4efe6141a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="How to treat separation anxiety in pets." data-width="1245" data-height="700" />
Photo by bradley pisney on Unsplash
<h2>Treating separation anxiety with behavior change</h2><p>Here, we're talking about your behavior. The goal is to make your absence <a href="https://www.dovepress.com/canine-separation-anxiety-strategies-for-treatment-and-management-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-VMRR" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">seem like no big deal</a>. Making a fuss over your pet when you leave or arrive home only makes matters worse. If you treat it like it's routine, your pet will learn to do the same.</p><p>Try to <a href="https://www.bsavalibrary.com/content/chapter/10.22233/9781905319879.chap14" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">figure out when your pet starts to show signs of anxiety</a> and turn that into a low-key activity. If it's when you pick up your handbag, for example, practice picking it up and putting it back down several times over a few hours. Similarly, get dressed or put on your shoes earlier than usual but stay home instead of leaving right away. Try starting your car's engine and then turning it off and walking back inside.</p><p>Next, practice short absences. When you're at home, make it a point to spend some time in another room. In addition, leave the house long enough to run an errand or two, then gradually increase the time that you're away so that being gone for a full day becomes part of the family routine.</p><h2>Changing the environment</h2><p>Boredom makes separation anxiety worse. Providing an activity for your pet while you're gone, such as a puzzle toy stuffed with treats, or simply hiding treats around the house will make your absence less stressful. Other options for dogs and cats include <a href="https://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/156/17/533" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">collars and plug-in devices that release calming pheromones</a>.</p><p>To maintain your bond while you're gone, place a piece of clothing that you have worn recently in a prominent place, such as on your bed or couch, to comfort your pet. Similarly, you can leave the TV or radio on – there are even special programs just for pets – or set up a camera so you can observe and interact with your pet remotely. Some of these come equipped with a laser pointer or treats you can dispense.</p>
<h2>Using supplements or medication</h2><p>In some severe cases, when the animal harms itself or causes property damage, medication or supplements might be necessary. These alter the brain's neurotransmitters to create a sense of calm.</p><p>While some are readily available without a prescription, it's a good idea to <a href="https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2000.217.342" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">get advice from your veterinarian</a> to determine which are safest and most effective for your pet's situation. Medication can help reduce the anxiety, making it easier for the pet to learn new coping skills. <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gary_Landsberg/publication/238722221_S25B_Diagnosing_and_Treating_Canine_Separation_Anxiety/links/5591540b08ae15962d8e1358.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">A behavior modification plan accompanying the use of medication</a> can help manage this problem.</p><p>Separation anxiety is difficult for both you and your pet. But a few simple changes can make a huge difference as life returns to some semblance of normal.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/148301/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation"></p><p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lori-m-teller-1162487" target="_blank">Lori M Teller</a>, Clinical Associate Professor, Veterinary Telehealth, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/texas-aandm-university-1672" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Texas A&M University</a>.</em></p><p>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-help-dogs-and-cats-manage-separation-anxiety-when-their-humans-return-to-work-148301" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">original article</a>.</p>
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Chemists discover the mix that likely originated life on Earth
Scientists find that an RNA-DNA mix may have created the first life on our planet.
30 December, 2020
Credit: Adobe Stock
- New study shows that RNA and DNA likely originated together.
- The mixture of the acids are believed to haveproduced Earth's first life forms.
- The molecules were created with the help of a compound available in planet's early days.
<p><span style="background-color: initial;">How did life on Earth originate? Chemists claim to have found the exact ingredients of the primordial soup that resulted in the plethora of creatures we see in the world today. A new study shows that the compound </span><span style="background-color: initial;">diamidophosphate (DAP) possibly mixed together the strands of the original DNA. The research is also further support for the emerging view that DNA and RNA molecules first appeared together, courtesy of the same chemical reactions, and their mixture possibly produced the planet's initial life forms.</span></p><p>The single-stranded RNA, or ribonucleic acid, can be found in all living cells, carrying instructions from DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) that lead to the synthesis of proteins. The study says the compound DAP, potentially available widely in Earth's early days, strung together DNA from building blocks called deoxynucleosides. A <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nchem.2878" target="_blank">2017 study</a> by the same team showed this process responsible for creating the first RNA strands. </p>
<p><span style="background-color: initial;">The new study's senior author Ramanarayanan Krishnamurthy, associate professor of chemistry at Scripps Research, <a href="https://www.scripps.edu/news-and-events/press-room/2020/20201223-krishnamurthy-dna.html" target="_blank">called</a> the finding "an</span> important step toward the development of a detailed chemical model of how the first life forms originated on Earth."</p><p>Krishnamurthy and his colleagues make their case for an explanation of life's origins that differs from the popular "<a href="https://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/ellington_03" target="_blank">RNA World"</a> hypothesis that proposes RNA was the first replicator, with DNA eventually being created by RNA life forms. To Krishnamurthy's team, RNA molecules are too "sticky" – while they can attract other RNA strands, they may not be so efficient at separating from them. This liability could prevent RNA from replicating, a key process of life. </p>
DNA vs RNA
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="da10f8cfd35fb631bd6f1064fb05440d"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JQByjprj_mA?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>The chemists behind the new study believe that "chimeric" strands mixing DNA and RNA molecules fostered replication because they could separate with greater ease.</p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"Now that we understand better how a primordial chemistry could have made the first RNAs and DNAs, we can start using it on mixes of ribonucleoside and deoxynucleoside building blocks to see what chimeric molecules are formed—and whether they can self-replicate and evolve," Krishnamurthy <a href="https://www.scripps.edu/news-and-events/press-room/2020/20201223-krishnamurthy-dna.html" target="_blank">explained</a>.</p>
<p>The researchers believe their work could have a wide variety of uses, leading to enzyme-free artificial synthesis of DNA and RNA, vital to COVID-19 tests, and possibly in many other applications.</p><p>Check out the study published in the chemistry journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.202015910" target="_blank">Angewandte Chemie</a><em>.</em></p>
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