SCIENCE AND TECH
There are many reasons why people choose to get DNA tests. Maybe they want to confirm a parental relationship, maybe they want to know about their ancestors or maybe they’re just curious about their genetic makeup. Regardless of the reason, there are a plethora of DNA testing services available on the market these days and for the average consumer, it might be a little confusing.
How is one better than the other? How do you know which is right for you? In the midst of all the chaos of the DNA testing markets, here are a few tips to guide your choice.
- Choose Based on Your Needs:
While the term DNA testing is rather vague, there are many reasons why this testing is done and you should consider this before choosing a service. For example, some DNA37 tests are specifically designed to break down your ancestry and tell you what your genetic makeup is. Some are specifically designed to confirm the paternity or maternity of specific people or confirm familial relationships. Some are also designed to give a breakdown of their genetic predisposition for health reasons.
This is one of the most important things you should consider. Choosing a DNA testing service for familial relationships will not be of any use to you if your primary reason for testing is to find out your genetic makeup. Before you patronize any service, conduct research on the type of DNA testing they do and make sure it is in line with your needs.
- Consider Price:
Depending on the service you use, DNA testing might be quite expensive or rather cheap. If you are getting a test done…
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Researchers found that four out of five women over the age of 30 were living with a chronic health condition, and that the HIV-negative population and older people — especially those over 50 — bore the higher burden of undiagnosed or poorly controlled non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.
The study was co-led by Emily Wong, M.D., a resident faculty member at the Africa Health Research Institute, or AHRI, in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Wong is also an assistant professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Medicine and an associate scientist in the UAB Center for AIDS Research.
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Of the 8,000 members surveyed, 871 completed the online questionnaire. The survey was conducted from May 14 through June 8 and has a confidence level of 95 percent +/- 3 percent
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Developed by creative agencies Colle McVoy and SKDK, the PSAs use a combination of humor, sports and social gatherings to encourage Americans to continue wearing masks until they've been fully vaccinated
By Sandy Di Angelis / Associate WriterThe Ad Council, in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), launched a series of public service announcements (PSAs) emphasizing the importance of mask wearing until you’re vaccinated. The campaign, supported by a grant from The Rockefeller Foundation, is an extension of the national “Mask Up America” campaign, which throughout the pandemic has aimed to increase compliance and acceptance of wearing masks and face coverings as one of the main prevention behaviors in order to slow the spread of COVID-19, and including vaccination, social distancing, and hand washing.
In early May, the CDC eased a number of mask guidelines, stating that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a face mask or stay six feet apart from others in most settings. While America is currently in a sprint to get 70% of U.S. adults at least one shot by July 4th, roughly 50% of the US population still has not received at least one dose. For these individuals, it is still critical for them to continue masking up until vaccinated in order to protect themselves and loved ones from COVID-19. For the most current recommendations and guidance on face masks, click here.
Developed by creative agencies Colle McVoy and SKDK, the PSAs use a combination of humor, sports and social gatherings to encourage Americans to continue wearing masks until they’ve been fully vaccinated.
“At such a critica point in the COVID-19 pandemic and as many people are unsure about whether or not to continue masking up, these PSAs…
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Following careful review and deliberation, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is taking important steps that will allow a critically needed supply of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 Vaccine to be made available.
The agency is announcing that it is authorizing for use, under the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, two batches of vaccine drug substance manufactured at the Emergent BioSolutions facility in Baltimore. Before making this decision, the FDA conducted a thorough review of facility records and the results of quality testing performed by the manufacturer. Based on this review and considering the current COVID-19 public health emergency, the FDA concluded these batches are suitable for use. While the FDA is not yet ready to include the Emergent BioSolutions plant in the Janssen EUA as an authorized manufacturing facility, the agency continues to work through issues there with Janssen and Emergent BioSolutions management.
The FDA’s decision to include these two batches of vaccine drug substance in the EUA for the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine means that Janssen vaccine made with this drug substance can be used in the U.S. or exported to other countries. A condition on any export of these batches, or of vaccine manufactured…
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