Scientist bravo 9ja

27/07/2025

This image illustrates the remarkable evolution of ancient Greek sculpture across three distinct periods. Around 530 BC, during the Archaic period, statues were rigid and symmetrical, with stylized features like the "Archaic smile" and patterned, rope-like hair. These figures appeared more symbolic than lifelike. By 470 BC, in the Early Classical or "Severe Style" period, sculptures became more realistic, showing clearer anatomical structure and more natural facial expressions. Hair was depicted with greater texture, and the overall stance of the figures began to loosen. Finally, by 340 BC, during the Late Classical period, Greek sculpture reached a pinnacle of realism. Hair appeared soft and curly, facial expressions were rich with emotion, and body posture conveyed fluidity and individuality. This artistic journey reflects a broader philosophical shift—one that placed the human form, with all its beauty and complexity, at the center of cultural and aesthetic ideals.

27/07/2025

In a groundbreaking discovery, DNA analysis of a 4,400-year-old Egyptian official’s skeleton, found in the Nuwayrat necropolis of Middle Egypt, has revealed that 77.6% of his ancestry traces back to ancient Moroccan populations from the Neolithic period. The remainder of his genetic profile aligns with early Mesopotamian farmers. This revelation offers an entirely new perspective on the genetic makeup of ancient Egyptians and reshapes our understanding of population movements in antiquity.
The individual, believed to be an elite official during Egypt’s Old Kingdom, demonstrates that ancient Egypt was not an isolated civilization, but rather a cultural and genetic crossroads. The strong genetic link to Morocco suggests that early North African populations were more mobile and interconnected than previously thought. These results point to long-distance migratory and trade networks that predate written records, revealing a more intricate web of interactions between early African and Middle Eastern societies.
The preservation of the official’s remains enabled scientists to reconstruct his full genome an extraordinary achievement for such ancient material. This rare genetic data helps fill major gaps in the historical record, illustrating how genetics can uncover hidden dimensions of ancient identities and civilizations. It also highlights how elite classes in Egypt may have been shaped by diverse lineages, challenging simplistic narratives of cultural purity and pointing instead to a rich and dynamic ancestry.

27/07/2025

Meet “Denny” — the ancient hybrid who rewrote human history.
She lived 90,000 years ago in Central Asia and was the daughter of two entirely different human species. Her DNA revealed something never seen before: a Neanderthal mother and a Denisovan father. Discovered in a Siberian cave in 2012, Denny is the first known direct offspring of a cross-species union—and she’s forcing scientists to rethink everything about early human evolution.

26/07/2025

GeneXpert Test for Tuberculosis (TB)
________________________________________
1. Objective:
The objective of the GeneXpert test was to detect the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) DNA and rifampicin resistance in clinical samples (e.g., sputum), using automated real-time PCR.
________________________________________
2. Principle:
The GeneXpert test was based on nucleic acid amplification (real-time PCR). The system amplified MTB DNA and simultaneously detected mutations in the rpoB gene region associated with rifampicin resistance. The process was fully automated within a closed cartridge to reduce contamination.
________________________________________
3. Materials:
• GeneXpert machine
• GeneXpert MTB/RIF cartridge
• Sample reagent (buffer)
• Sputum sample (or other clinical specimen)
• Vortex mixer
• PPE (gloves, lab coat, mask)
________________________________________
4. Procedure:
1. A fresh sputum sample was collected in a sterile container.
2. Sample reagent was added in a 2:1 ratio to the sputum and shaken for 10–15 minutes.
3. The treated sample was transferred into the GeneXpert cartridge.
4. The cartridge was loaded into the GeneXpert machine.
5. The machine automatically performed DNA extraction, amplification, and detection.
6. Results were displayed on the screen within ~2 hours.
________________________________________
5. Result:
• MTB Detected / Rifampicin Resistance Detected
• MTB Detected / Rifampicin Resistance Not Detected
• MTB Not Detected
• Invalid / Error / No Result (if issues occurred)
________________________________________
6. Uses:
• It was used for rapid diagnosis of pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB.
• It detected rifampicin resistance, indicating possible multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB).
• It guided early treatment decisions in suspected TB patients.

21/07/2025

21/07/2025

Scientists grew real human skin on robots — and it heals like ours

Japanese bioengineers have created a first-of-its-kind living skin for robots — and it's not silicone. It’s made from actual human cells. This breakthrough from the University of Tokyo marks a major leap toward truly lifelike androids, with real touch sensitivity, self-healing ability, and even natural skin folds that mimic human expression.

The researchers used human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes to grow a bilayered tissue sheet. But instead of just pasting it on, they invented a “perforation-anchor” technique — tiny V-shaped holes in the robot’s surface that act like artificial pores. These allow the skin to grip and stretch around moving joints, something never achieved with biohybrid systems before.

Most astonishingly, this living skin can self-heal. When cut, it forms a blood-clot-like scab and regenerates tissue, just like real skin. In lab tests, after injury, the skin fully closed over wounds within days — while retaining flexibility around knuckles and elbows. That’s never been done on synthetic platforms.

This isn’t just for humanoid robots. Bioengineers envision next-gen medical dummies that respond to procedures like a human body. Even prosthetics with living outer layers could restore touch to amputees — not just electronically, but biologically.

But many ethical questions follow. Could skin-bearing machines trigger emotional confusion? Should “living” machines be treated differently? The team has begun collaborations with bioethicists and philosophers before scaling further.

Still, this fusion of life and machine opens a new category in robotics: not just bioinspired, but bio-integrated. And that might be what it takes for humans and machines to truly connect.

~ Chris Matheka

Chris Matheka

21/07/2025

Some Essential Bioengineering & Genetics Terminology:

1. CRISPR-Cas9– A gene-editing tool that allows for precise modification of DNA sequences.

2. Gene Expression– The process by which information from a gene is used to produce a functional product, like a protein.

3. PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)– A technique used to amplify DNA segments for analysis.

4. Transfection– The introduction of nucleic acids into cells to study gene function or produce proteins.

5. Gel Electrophoresis– A method used to separate DNA, RNA, or proteins based on size and charge.

6. Metagenomics– The study of genetic material obtained directly from environmental samples, often used to analyze microbial communities.

7. RNA Sequencing (RNA-Seq)– A technique to study the quantity and sequences of RNA in a sample.

8. Plasmids– Small circular DNA molecules used in genetic engineering and cloning.

9. Gene Knockout– A method of deactivating a gene to study its function.

10. Haplotypes– A group of alleles in an organism inherited together from a single parent.

11. Biomarkers– Biological indicators used to detect or monitor diseases or conditions.

12. Allele– A variant form of a gene located at a specific position on a chromosome.

13. Epigenetics– The study of heritable changes in gene function that do not involve changes in the DNA sequence.

14. Recombinant DNA– DNA molecules formed by laboratory methods to bring together genetic material from multiple sources.

15. Vector– A vehicle, often a plasmid or virus, used to deliver genetic material into a cell.

13/07/2025

🧬 4,500-Year-Old DNA Unlocks Secrets of Ancient Egypt! 🇪🇬

Sealed inside a ceramic funerary pot for over four millennia, the skeleton of an ancient Egyptian man has yielded something incredible — the oldest complete genome ever recovered from Egypt’s Old Kingdom period.

Thanks to its remarkable preservation, scientists have now sequenced his DNA, allowing them to reconstruct his face and gain stunning new insights into life during the age of the pyramids.

This breakthrough opens a powerful window into Egypt's distant past like never before.


Abdullahi Ashiru Funtua

28/06/2025

Check out Scientist bravo 9ja’s video.

28/06/2025

Sunderland Scientists Develop Drugs to Combat Liver Fibrosis

University of Sunderland’s Dr. Maria Teresa Borrello leads research on two experimental drugs, DR-3 and FDR2, targeting HDAC6 to fight liver fibrosis.

Published in The FEBS Journal, these drugs reduce inflammation and block hepatic stellate cell activation, curbing scar tissue buildup.

Lab tests show DR-3 and FDR2 selectively inhibit HDAC6, lowering fibrogenic gene expression and collagen production while boosting α-tubulin acetylation.

Ex vivo human liver slice tests confirm reduced fibrosis markers with no toxicity, hinting at reversal potential. 🌟

Impacting two million UK patients, often diagnosed late, liver fibrosis lacks treatments. The British Liver Trust hails the findings as transformative.

Though not yet in human trials, these drugs could revolutionize liver care worldwide.