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Even bacteria’s DNA can affect your offspring

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DNA

Washington: The bacteria living inside your body can influence certain traits such as behaviour and weight and researchers have now found that these traits can pass from mother to offspring through bacterial DNA.

DNA of bacteria can pass a trait to offspring in a way similar to the parents’ own DNA, the findings showed.

It is already known that traits such as eye colour and height are passed from one generation to the next through the parents’ DNA.

“This suggests we may need to substantially expand our thinking about their (bacteria’) contributions, and perhaps the contributions of other microorganisms, to genetics and heredity,” said co-senior author Herbert Virgin IV from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Most bacteria are commensal, which means they do not cause harm and often confer benefits.

This is the first study to show that bacterial DNA can pass from parent to offspring in a manner that affects specific traits such as immunity and inflammation, the researchers noted.

The researchers linked commensal bacteria in mice to the animals’ susceptibility to a gut injury. Mice with certain inherited bacteria are susceptible to the injury, which is caused by exposure to a chemical.

Female mice pass the bacteria to their offspring, making them vulnerable to the injury. Others carrying different bacteria are less susceptible.

The study appeared online in the journal Nature.

Corona

Covid toll in Karnataka is a worrying sign for state government

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Even though Karnataka recorded the lowest number of Covid deaths in April since the virus struck first in 2020, the state is recording a rise in the positivity rate (1.50 per cent). Five people died from the Covid infections in April as per the statistics released by the state health department. In March, the positivity rate stood around 0.53 per cent. In the first week of April it came down to 0.38 per cent, second week registered 0.56 per cent, third week it rose to 0.79 per cent and by end of April the Covid positivity rate touched 1.19 per cent.

on an average 500 persons used to succumb everyday in the peak of Covid infection, as per the data. Health experts said that the mutated Coronavirus is losing its fierce characteristics as vaccination, better treatment facilities and awareness among the people have contributed to the lesser number of Covid deaths.

During the 4th and 6th of April two deaths were reported in Bengaluru, one in Gadag district on April 8, two deaths were reported from Belagavi and Vijayapura on April 30. The first Covid case was reported in the state in March 2020 and three Covid deaths were recorded in the month. In the following month 21 people became victims to the deadly virus, and May 2020 recorded 22 deaths. The death toll recorded everyday after May crossed three digits. However, the third wave, which started in January 2

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