Showing posts with label DNA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DNA. Show all posts

Friday, March 6, 2009

Mystery of Anastasia -- Daughter of the Last Czar -- Solved

Confusion reigned for 90 years about a possible surviving daughter of Czar Nicholas II, the last Imperial ruler of Russia. Now a report reveals how modern investigators established that neither Anastasia nor the czar's other children found a fairy tale ending. Bolsheviks killed Czar Nicholas II, Empress Alexandra, and their 5 children in 1918.

DNA analysis linked a known grave for most of the murdered Romanov family with two human remains found in 2007. Russian authorities confirmed the discovered bodies as the last missing children in mid-2008, after getting results from labs in Russia, the U.S. and U.K.

read more | digg story

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Copper door handles kill 95% of superbugs in hospitials


Making door handles, taps and light switches from copper could help the country beat superbugs, scientists say. A study found that copper fittings rapidly killed bugs on hospital wards, succeeding where other infection control measures failed.

A study found that copper fittings rapidly killed bugs on hospital wards, succeeding where other infection control measures failed.

In the trial at Selly Oak hospital, in Birmingham, copper taps, toilet seats and push plates on doors all but eliminated common bugs.

It is thought the metal 'suffocates' germs, preventing them breathing. It may also stop them from feeding and destroy their DNA.

Lab tests show that the metal kills off the deadly MRSA and C difficile superbugs.

It also kills other dangerous germs, including the flu virus and the E coli food poisoning bug.

Although the number of cases of MRSA and C difficile is falling, the two bugs still claim thousands of lives a year.

read more | digg story