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On Wednesday, the central government paved the way for easy introduction of genome edited crops. The government has clearly distinguished such crops from genetically modified crops and has prescribed relatively easier norms for their introduction. The Indian Express explains what genome editing is and how it is different from genetically modified crops.

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A decade ago, scientists in Germany and the US discovered a technique which allowed them to cut DNA strands and edit genes. For agriculture scientists this process allowed them to bring about desired changes in the genome by using site directed nuclease (SDN) or sequence specific nuclease (SSN). Nuclease is an enzyme which cleaves through nucleic acid the building block of genetic material.

Advanced research has allowed scientists to develop the highly effective clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeat (CRISPR) -associated proteins based systems. This system allows for targeted intervention at the genome sequence. This tool has opened up various possibilities in plant breeding. Using this tool, agricultural scientists can now edit genome to insert specific traits in the gene sequence. Depending on the nature of the edit that is carried out, the process is divided into three categories SDN 1, SDN 2 and SDN 3.

SDN1 introduces changes in the host genomes DNA through small insertions/deletions without introduction of foreign genetic material. In the case of SDN 2, the edit involves using a small DNA template to generate specific changes. Both these processes do not involve alien genetic material and the end result is indistinguishable from conventionally bred crop varieties. On the other hand, SDN3 process involves larger DNA elements or full length genes of foreign origin which makes it similar to Genetically modified organisms (GMO) development.

Genetically modified organisms (GMO) involves modification of the genetic material of the host by introduction of a foreign genetic material. In the case of agriculture, soil bacteria is the best mining source for such genes which are then inserted into the host genome using genetic engineering. For example, in case of cotton, introduction of genes cry1Ac and cry2Ab mined from the soil bacterium Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT) allow the native cotton plant to generate endotoxins to fight pink bollworm naturally. BT Cotton uses this advantage to help farmers naturally fight pink bollworm which is the most common pest for cotton farmers.

The basic difference between genome editing and genetic engineering is that while the former does not involve the introduction of foreign genetic material, the latter does. In the case of agriculture, both the techniques aim to generate variants which are better yielding and more resistant to biotic and abiotic stress. Before the advent of genetic engineering, such variety improvement was done through selective breeding which involved carefully crossing plants with specific traits to produce the desired trait in the offspring. Genetic engineering has not only made this work more accurate but has also allowed scientists to have greater control on trait development.

Across the world, GM crop has been a topic of debate, with many environmentalists opposing it on the grounds of bio safety and incomplete data. In India, the introduction of GM crops is a laborious process which involves multiple levels of checks. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), a high power committee under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, is the regulator for introduction of any GM material and in case of agriculture multiple field trials, data about biosafety and other information is necessary for getting the nod before commercial release of any GM crop. Till date the only crop which has crossed the regulatory red tape is Bt cotton.

Scientists both in India and across the world have been quick to draw the line between GM crops and genome edited crops. The latter, they have pointed out, has no foreign genetic material in them which makes them indistinguishable from traditional hybrids. Globally, European Union countries have bracketed genome edited crops with GM crops. Countries like Argentina, Israel, US, Canada, etc have liberal regulations for genome edited crops.

Last year, a group of eminent agricultural scientists had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi voicing their concern about what they said was a move to put the issue of genome edited crops to the back burner. Back then, the central government had invited suggestions and objections from states and Union Territories about the issue and put on hold field trials of such crops. The signatories, many of whom were Padma awardees, had categorically said that the variants developed through SDN1 and SDN2 techniques do not have any alien DNA and as such can be treated as other hybrids.

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On Wednesday, the Environment Ministry put a lid to the topic by issuing fresh guidelines. The Wednesdays notification has exempted SDN 1 and SDN 2 genmoe from the same and instead it would rely on reports of Institutional Biosafety Committee to exclude exogenous genetic material.

The institutional biosafety committees are expert committees constituted under the Act to deal with research and release of GM material. Such committees would now be entrusted to certify that the genome edited crop is devoid of any foreign DNA This would be a less cumbersome and time consuming process for commercial release of genome edited crops.

Original post:
Explained: What is genome editing technology and how is it different from GM technology? - The Indian Express

San Antonio Zoo is in discussions with Colossal Laboratories & Biosciences on several projects, one of which is the return of the Woolly Mammoth through DNA de-extinction technology. The ultimate goal is for Woolly Mammoths to be re-introduced to the wild to decelerate the melting of arctic permafrost, prevent greenhouse emissions trapped within the permafrost layer, revert now-overshrubbed forest into natural arctic grasslands, and more. San Antonio Zoo could be the first location of this genetically engineered elephant-mammoth hybrid.

One of Colossals main goals is the de-extinction of species. According to leading scientists, on average, 30,000 species are being driven to extinction. That is 6 per hour, 150 per day, and up to 55,000 per year. The United Nations has declared that 1 million plants and animal species are threatened with extinction.

CRISPR, the most advanced, applicable technique in genetic engineering, is an engineered cellular technology used for recognizing and cutting a specific code of DNA inside the nucleus. In mammalian cells, such as an elephant or a Woolly Mammoth, CRISPR works with an enzyme called Cas9 to modify genes. A CRISPR-Cas9 complex will use a single guide RNA from CRISPR to guide and recognize a specific sequence of DNA, where the Cas9 molecule will cleave those strands that are complementary to the CRISPR sequence. This allows for the reinsertion of the laboratory-engineered DNA, giving the ability to insert cold-resistant characteristics into elephant DNA. Ultimately, leading to the de-extinction of the Woolly Mammoth.

Our goal is to have our first calves in the next four to six years, said Austinite tech entrepreneur Ben Lamm, Cofounder of Colossal. This is going to change everything.

There are times when technology and nature collide - however, through DNA work and the de-extinction science behind Colossal, this is a time when nature and humankind will benefit, said Tim Morrow, President & CEO of San Antonio Zoo. Through this science, we hope to find a vaccine for EEHV, a virus that strikes elephants, and restore a balance to nature by saving and de-extincting species on the brink.

Prior to reintroduction into the wild, San Antonio Zoo is positioning itself to utilize zoo grounds on the west side of Highway 281 with a landbridge, similar to the recently opened Hardberger Park Land Bridge, to allow the Woolly Mammoths to have access to large acreage as well as viewability for guests in the current elephant habitat.

According to Colossal, genetic engineering is used to help humanity advance treatments for genetic disorders, gene therapies, DNA fingerprinting, vaccines, and pharmaceutical products. Additional applications include sustainable plant and animal food production, diagnosing diseases and conditions, medical treatment improvement, and producing vaccines and other useful drugs. Genetic engineering applications for animals include advancing human health, enhancing food production, reducing environmental impact, optimizing animal health and welfare, and producing cutting-edge industrial applications.

Other world-bettering uses include eradicating malaria, organ donorship, and of course, the slowing of and reversal of the extinction of a species. To learn more about Association of Zoos & Aquariums program Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) visit: http://www.aza.org/safe-species

To learn more about International Elephant Foundation programs visit: https://elephantconservation.org/

Colossal Background presented by CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/13/world/woolly-mammoth-resurrect-deextinction-scn/index.html

Visit: San Antonio Zoo

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San Antonio Zoo In Discussions on Woolly Mammoth Project - iHeart

CRISPR and molecular engineering company scheduled to join panel discussing gene editing innovations

ALAMEDA, Calif., April 01, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Scribe Therapeutics Inc., a molecular engineering company creating the most advanced technologies for CRISPR-based genetic medicine, today announced its participation in the Goldman Sachs The New Guard: Privates Leading The Disruption In Healthcare conference.

Benjamin Oakes, CEO and co-founder of Scribe Therapeutics, will join the "Gene Editing: Moving from Molecular Scissors to Pencils" panel on Thursday, April 7, 2022 at 10 a.m. ET in New York, NY.

About Scribe Therapeutics

Scribe Therapeutics is a molecular engineering company focused on creating best-in-class in vivo therapies that permanently treat the underlying cause of disease. Founded by CRISPR inventors and leading molecular engineers Benjamin Oakes, Brett Staahl, David Savage, and Jennifer Doudna, Scribe is overcoming the limitations of current genome editing technologies by developing custom engineered enzymes and delivery modalities as part of a proprietary, evergreen platform for CRISPR-based genetic medicine. The company is backed by leading individual and institutional investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Avoro Ventures and Avoro Capital Advisors, OrbiMed Advisors, Perceptive Advisors, funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., funds managed by Wellington Management, RA Capital Management, and Menlo Ventures. To learn more about Scribes mission to engineer the future of genetic medicine, visit http://www.scribetx.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220401005137/en/

Contacts

Thermal for Scribe TherapeuticsKaustuva Dasmedia@scribetx.com

Excerpt from:
Scribe Therapeutics to Participate in Upcoming Goldman Sachs The New Guard: Privates Leading the Disruption in Healthcare Investor Conference - Yahoo...

On the heels of some important firsts this past year, xenotransplantation grafting animal organs into humans is on the cusp of crossing over into new territory: human trials.

In January, University of Maryland surgeons transplanted a pig heart into a 57-year-old man, who survived two months. And last fall, New York University doctors implanted pig kidneys into recently deceased individuals to show there wouldnt be immediate rejection of the organs. As exciting as these procedures were for researchers who have been trying to make xenotransplantation a reality, they highlighted the slow pace of clinical development, which has been stalled in primate studies for decades.

In order to move from preclinical work in monkeys to FDA-approved clinical trials in people, the transplant community will need to adjust its definition of success, Robert Montgomery, director of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, said Thursday at the 2022 STAT Breakthrough Science Summit in New York City.

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Standard human-to-human organ transplants have remarkable success rates for some organs. A year after a kidney transplant, 95% of recipients are still alive, said Montgomery, who performed the pig-to-human kidney procedures last year. Xenotransplantation will necessarily take time to get to that same level, he said. Were going to have the equivalent of an Apollo One disaster.

But the current success rates are an unfair standard for xenotransplantation, he said, because they ignore the thousands who die of organ failure every year without being able to get a transplant. I think the reason weve been in the non-human primate model for 30 to 40 years is just that. That the step into humans has been so encumbered with the idea that you have to get equipoise or some type of an equivalent outcome, he said. But to me its apples to oranges. What were really talking about is the organ shortage.

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Were talking about the half of people who get listed [for a transplant] who die thats what we should be comparing this to, not to the success of the half that are lucky and get opportunity like myself and my brother to live.

Montgomery himself had to be resuscitated from seven episodes of cardiac arrest before he made it on the list to await a donor heart. He eventually received a heart transplant, as did one of his brothers, but he said the risk-reward calculation for venturing into human xenotransplant trials should include patients who died at every step in the process.

Every patient that dies on the waitlist, we should be just as aware of that death as someone who dies in the ICU after they get a heart transplant or a kidney transplant, he said.

In the case of kidney disease, the estimated 800,000 patients in the U.S. with end stage illness have two options: a transplant, which is unavailable to many, or dialysis, which is not a permanent solution, noted Megan Sykes, a Columbia University transplant immunobiologist who has pioneered methods for reducing cross-species organ rejection.

We have a temporary lifeline for people with end stage renal failure, but it really is temporary, said Sykes.

There are also reasons to believe xenotransplantation could work better in human trials than in monkeys, the panelists said. For one, monkeys used in research are smaller than adult humans, and are complicated to take care of. They are sensitive to therapies, and dont respond to certain immunosuppressant drugs that work well in humans. Plus, if organs could be more readily available than they currently are, fewer transplant recipients would be on their death bed, increasing the likelihood of a good outcome, Sykes said.

The transplants into the recently deceased patients at NYU offers a better proxy for live human transplants than the monkeys. Still, researchers cant monitor the success of such transplants long-term. So, we wouldnt be able to tell the patients exactly [the prognosis] unless we do the living cases and monitor for a year or two, said Insoo Hyun, director of research ethics at the Harvard Medical School Center for Bioethics.

The pig organs used in the recent transplants come from genetically edited pigs developed by Revivicor, intended to prevent organ rejection and make them safer for humans. Scientists have spent years fine-tuning and layering edits to the animal genes, but its still an open question how much genetic engineering is necessary, or if less is more, the panelists said. Montgomerys group used pig organs with one edit, while the Maryland team transplanted a pig organ with 10 edits.

Sykes wants the field to take a step back and assess how valuable or harmful each genetic tweak is. The Food and Drug Administration may be more receptive to organs with fewer edits.

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Xenotransplantation trials will require adjusting expectations, experts say - STAT

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Synlogic, Inc.(Nasdaq: SYBX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing medicines for metabolic and immunological diseases through its proprietary approach to synthetic biology, today announced that data from its phenylketonuria (PKU) and homocystinuria (HCU) programs will be highlighted in two poster presentations at the Society for Inherited Metabolic Disorders (SIMD) 43rd Annual Meeting being held April 10-13, 2022 in Orlando, Florida.

Poster Presentations:

Abstract title (#70): Activity of SYNB1353, an Investigational Methionine-Consuming Synthetic Biotic Medicine, in an Acute Nonhuman Primate Model of Homocystinuria. Description: This presentation includes preclinical findings for SYNB1353, Synlogics drug candidate for HCU announced in November 2021, and shows significant blunting of plasma methionine and plasma homocysteine in response to an oral methionine load. Presenter: Mylene Perreault, PhD, SynlogicAbstract title (#74): Comparison of Phenylalanine Absorption in Healthy Volunteers and PKU Patients in the Synpheny-1 Study. Description: This presentation includes clinical data regarding the activity of SYNB1618 and SYNB1934, drug candidates in development for PKU, in metabolizing and reducing post-meal plasma levels of phenylalanine (Phe). Presenter: Marja Puurunen, MD, PhD, Synlogic

The poster presentations will be available in the Scientific Posters section of the Presentations and Publications page on the Synlogic website on April 11, 2022.

AboutSynlogic

Synlogicis a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing medicines through its proprietary approach to synthetic biology. Synlogics pipeline includes its lead program in phenylketonuria (PKU), which has demonstrated proof of concept with plans to start a pivotal, Phase 3 study in the second half of 2022, and additional novel drug candidates designed to treat homocystinuria (HCU) and enteric hyperoxaluria. The rapid advancement of these potential biotherapeutics, called Synthetic Biotics, has been enabled by Synlogics proprietary, reproducible, target-specific drug design.Synlogicuses programmable, precision genetic engineering of well-characterized probiotics to exert localized activity for therapeutic benefit, with a focus on metabolic and immunologic diseases.Synlogicis also working with Roche in a research collaboration focused on the discovery of a novel Synthetic Biotic for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and with Ginkgo Bioworks to include additional undisclosed preclinical assets, combining Synlogics approach to Synthetic Biotics with Ginkgos Codebase and Foundry services. For additional information visit http://www.synlogictx.com.

About SYNB1353

SYNB1353 is a novel orally administered, non-systemically absorbed drug candidate designed to consume methionine in the gastrointestinal tract thereby lowering homocysteine levels in patients with homocystinuria (HCU). HCU is an inherited disorder characterized by high levels of homocysteine and risks including thromboembolism, lens dislocation, skeletal abnormalities, developmental delay, and intellectual disability. Treatment options for HCU are currently limited due to efficacy and tolerability. SYNB1353 is currently in IND-enabling studies and was developed as part of a research collaboration withGinkgo Bioworks.Synlogicholds worldwide development and commercialization rights to SYNB1353, which is expected to begin clinical development and report Phase 1 data in healthy volunteers in H2 2022.

About SYNB1618 and SYNB1934

SYNB1618 and SYNB1934 are orally administered, non-systemically absorbed drug candidates being studied as potential treatments for phenylketonuria (PKU), a genetic disease caused by potentially neurotoxic levels of the amino acid phenylalanine (Phe). Treatment options for PKU are currently limited due to efficacy and safety, with an estimated 80% of US patients remaining in need of treatment, and many of those who are treated in need of additional Phe-lowering. Synlogic designed drug candidates to reduce levels of Phe in people with PKU using precision genetic engineering of the well-characterized probiotic E. coli Nissle. Findings to date support the potential for an efficacious, safe, convenient, and flexible treatment option for PKU, and SYNB1618 has received both Orphan Drug and Fast Track designations by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Both drug candidates are being studied in the Phase 2 SynPheny-1 study, with initiation of the Phase 3 program expected to begin in H2 2022.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" that involve substantial risks and uncertainties for purposes of the safe harbor provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release regarding strategy, future operations, clinical development plans, future financial position, future revenue, projected expenses, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. In addition, when or if used in this press release, the words "may," "could," "should," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "predict" and similar expressions and their variants, as they relate toSynlogic,may identify forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the potential ofSynlogic'sapproach to Synthetic Biotics to develop therapeutics to address a wide range of diseases including: inborn errors of metabolismand inflammatory and immune disorders; our expectations about sufficiency of our existing cash balance; the future clinical development of Synthetic Biotics; the approachSynlogicis taking to discover and develop novel therapeutics using synthetic biology; and the expected timing ofSynlogic'sclinical trials of SYNB1618, SYNB1934, SYNB1353 and SYNB8802 and availability of clinical trial data. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including: the uncertainties inherent in the clinical and preclinical development process; the ability ofSynlogicto protect its intellectual property rights; and legislative, regulatory, political and economic developments, as well as those risks identified under the heading "Risk Factors" inSynlogic'sfilings with theSEC. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release reflectSynlogic'scurrent views with respect to future events.Synlogicanticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its views to change. However, whileSynlogicmay elect to update these forward-looking statements in the future,Synlogicspecifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representingSynlogic'sview as of any date subsequent to the date hereof.

SOURCESynlogic, Inc.

Media Contact: Bill Berry Berry & Company Public Relations 212-253-8881; bberry@berrypr.com

Investor Contact: Andrew Funderburk Kendall Investor Relations 617-914-0008; afunderburk@kendallir.com

Original post:
Synlogic to Present Data on Phenylketonuria and Homocystinuria Programs at the Society for ... - KULR-TV

This is a new monthly column that will run down five interesting deals every month that may have flown under the radar.

This month, there were more than 2,000 funding deals given out to VC-backed companies globally, so its easy to miss some that are pretty intriguing.

Every month, well try to run down some that caught our attention here at Crunchbase News. These arent the largest rounds (we already do that) and they may not be from the biggest-named investors (we already do that too). Its just what we found interesting, quirky, notable or maybe a little off-the-wall, which brings us to .

Colossal Biosciences: The Dallas-based company closed a $60 million Series A led by Thomas Tull and At One Ventures. What caught our eye is that this isnt just a normal bioscience firm battling diseaserather its trying to solve de-extinction! Yes, like resurrection biology! (Which Hollywood has shown always turns out poorly, i.e. the whole Jurassic Park franchise).

The companywhich launched five months agois using genome engineering technologies to find a practical working model of de-extinction that will focus on the goal of the restoration and rewilding of functional woolly mammoths to the tundra. Colossal said bringing back mammoths would allow for a better understanding of evolutionary change in other species, and that genetic engineering applications also will help enhance food production and reduce environmental impact.

The other thing that piqued our interest about this were the investors. Thomas Tullof Legendary Entertainment (speaking of movies) and investment firm Tulco famegaming company Animoca Brands, Paris Hilton and several other investors from a variety of areas. A pretty eclectic bunchbut then again, maybe that fits in with the mission.

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Beewise: Speaking of saving species, lets talk about the bees. Insight Partners clearly wants to. The huge New York-based private equity/venture firm led an $80 million Series C into Israel-based Beewise, a robotics company that is focused on saving bees from climate change.

The companys proprietary robotic beehivethe Beehomehelps increase pollination capacity and honey production while also helping defend against threats like pesticides and pests. It also is thermally regulated and can even help feed the bees. The company said its tech can help reduce bee mortality by 80 percent, increase yields 50 percent, and eliminate approximately 90 percent of manual labor.

According to the EPA, more than 30 percent of honeybee colonies are disappearing each yeara rate that represents a risk to global food chains. Maybe thats why investors found this deal so sweet and have already poured more than $120 million into Beewise since it was founded in 2018.

Nautilus Labs: The New York-based maritime tech company closed a $34 million Series B this month. The companys tech is pretty cool, as it uses machine-learning to try to help ocean shippers lower emissions and fuel waste while also maximizing commercial returns. In its release on the raise, the company said shipping accounts for 3 percent of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissionsGHGevery year. While that may not seem like a lot, if the industry does not change, its estimated that number will balloon to 17 percent by 2050.

While the maritime shipping industry and the tech around it is intriguing, the other reason the round made this list is who led the investmentM12 and the Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund. Thats right, Microsofts venture fund and its climate fund both made investmentssimultaneously. Thats the first time that has ever happened. Seems odd, but maybe Microsoft is just really interested in the maritime shipping space.

Pixxel: Yes, everybody seems to be launching satellites nowadays. But Palo Alto, California-based Pixxels earth-imaging tech puts a little different spin on it and is launching the first of its hyperspectral satellites as part of SpaceXs upcoming April Transporter-4 mission.

The company closed a $25 million Series A led by Radical Ventures this month, and will use the cash to advance its earth-imaging microsatellites, which the company says have 50x higher resolution than existing multispectral counterparts. Pixxels hyperspectral imaging allows it to collect data beyond just the visible light spectrum and across about 40x more wavelengths, which could include infrared and ultraviolet frequencies.

The fuller imaging would be able to do more thingsincluding monitor methane emissions or disease outbreaks across agricultural lands. Combining space, moving beyond the visible light spectrum, and helping solve real-world problems can get a company on this list.

Finless Foods: Admittedly, non-sea seafood is not brand new, but it still seemingly gets fewer headlines than faux meat and cheeseand certainly startups that focus strictly on it generally get less attention.

Emeryville, California-based Finless, which creates both cell-cultured and plant-based tuna, closed a $34 million Series B led by Hanwha Solutions this month. Its current focus is the bluefin tuna due to specific pressures on that industry and also its popularity.

Finless is part of the growing number of foodtech companies attracting investor interest as more start to worry about sustainability and food supply. According to Crunchbase numbers, investment into foodtecheverything from fake meat to vertical farmingreached a record $12.8 billion globally in 2021, double the amount of 2020.

Illustration: Dom Guzman

Stay up to date with recent funding rounds, acquisitions, and more with the Crunchbase Daily.

Original post:
5 Interesting Startup Deals You May Have Missed In March: Restoring The Woolly Mammoth, Faux Seafood And Lots Of Bees - Crunchbase News

One bite of the vegan ceviche at San Francisco restaurant West of Pecos is an eerie experience. The slippery cubes feel like raw tuna, with a similar briny, oceanic flavor. But they actually consist of bamboo, pea protein and algae, produced by a process that its creator, a local food tech startup, wont disclose.

The faux fish dish is a sign that the plant-based food industry is moving far beyond veggie burgers and soy nuggets. While the main players are focused on replacing products made from beef, chicken and pork, several new Bay Area companies are branching out. Theyve been quietly developing products, such as a surprisingly gamy lamb alternative, for years before finally hitting the market.

Analysts say the industry is at a turning point, and consumer demand for more variety is high. In 2021, retail sales of plant-based foods grew by 6.2% over the previous year, according to data released by the Plant Based Foods Association, the Good Food Institute and data technology company Spins. The year saw $1.4 billion in vegan meat sales the same as 2020, but 74% more than three years ago.

Meanwhile, investment in food tech is surging: The industrys deal value from mergers and acquisitions more than doubled from $6 billion in 2020 to $13.1 billion in 2021, according to a new report from Deloitte. Investors pooled more than $2 billion into plant-based proteins in 2021, said Heather Gates of Deloitte, with the industry expected to surpass $15 billion in value by 2026.

Fascinated by the food technology world, West of Pecos owner Tyler MacNiven said hed been searching for the first great vegan tuna when he heard about Current Foods, formerly known as Kuleana.

I was shocked at how convincing it was, he said. Its not the same (as tuna) but when its surrounded by accompanying flavors, the texture is so close.

The plant-based cerviche is served at West of Pecos in San Francisco. It pairs raw vegan tuna from Current Foods with corn, avocado and chipotle.

Current Foods CEO Jacek Prus said he entered the plant-based seafood realm because relatively few companies were tackling it. While its easy to find faux fish sticks and vegan crab cakes, whole cuts are rare. Prus said his company uses novel machinery and a secret process to turn bamboo fiber into a fillet.

West of Pecos became the first Bay Area restaurant to carry the tuna in November and is seeing rising sales every month, MacNiven said. Diners can expect the tuna-less tuna and a smoked salmon-esque product in more restaurants this year, Prus said, and the company is in the process of building a production facility in San Francisco.

Other plant-based meat options abound as well. The new vegan lamb from San Franciscos Black Sheep Foods, for example, is more widely available: tucked into wraps at Greek mini-chain Souvla, as a kebab topped with pickled persimmon at high-end Indian restaurant Rooh, and paired with labneh at a couple of Peninsula locations of Israeli spot Orens Hummus.

San Francisco mini chain Souvla was the first restaurant to carry plant-based lamb from Black Sheep Foods.

Black Sheep co-founder Sunny Kumar sees opportunity in wild game. After perfecting lamb it took 2 years to develop the first version he plans to tackle duck and wild boar.

To make the lamb, Black Sheep takes animal tallow from Tunis lamb, a New Zealand breed, through a biopsy to understand its fat and mouthfeel. The company determines which flavor compounds it needs to replicate, and then finds plants that produce those compounds as well. Black Sheep then sources those compounds from plants, ending up with a ground meat-like product bulked up with pea protein.

At first, Kumar said, his team put in all of the compounds before realizing they could actually improve the flavor of lamb. They could skip the pastoral, barnyard notes while still making sure you get the lamb burps, he said. Were not going to be shy.

Vegan lamb meatballs are served at Chezchez in San Francisco. The lamb comes from new food tech company Black Sheep Foods.

At hip San Francisco wine bar Chezchez, chef Timmy Malloy serves the lamb in meatball form with a spiced tomato sauce and garbanzo beans. He said he likes trying different vegan burgers. But at no point do I bite into them and think, This is cow, he said. Tasting Black Sheep, I went cross-eyed.

Perhaps the most stunning animal-free product being made in the Bay Area right now is the mozzarella from New Culture in San Leandro. While there are plenty of plant-based cheese outfits, theyre typically unable to produce the meltable, stretchy quality of real cheese. Thats because they lack casein, one of the proteins in cheese that co-founder Matt Gibson said allows milk to curdle.

New Cultures mozzarella melts because it contains real casein, though no cows are involved. Instead, the company uses microbes, genetic engineering and fermentation.

Microbes already produce proteins can we convince microbes to produce casein for us? said co-founder Inja Radman.

Pizza comes out of the oven with melted, animal-free mozzarella from New Culture.

The process called precision fermentation is an emerging sector of the food tech world. Its also used by Berkeleys Perfect Day, though that company is focused on whey, which can produce milk and cream cheese. Animal-free dairy is seeing rapid growth, according to Deloittes Gates, with $90 million invested in companies focused on vegan cheese in 2021.

New Cultures cheese is already virtually indistinguishable from real dairy. Raw, its bouncy and mildly sweet. In a 750-degree oven, it bubbles like lava in just one minute, sticking to a pizza wheel as its cut. The company is talking to San Francisco pizzerias, with plans to debut next year.

In Gibsons view, nut-based cheeses arent winning enough people over. He argued that the current array of plant-based foods is a stepping stone to better products. The only problem is these products wont reach the masses quickly, he said. It takes time to scale up; Black Sheep, for example, produces about 500 pounds in 90 minutes, which is already not enough to meet the demand from the many Indian, Middle Eastern and African restaurants that have been waiting for a lamb option, according to Kumar.

For now, however, there are still a lot of burgers. Theyll remain the industrys core, said Julie Emmett, the Plant Based Food Associations senior director of marketplace development. At the same time, theres the boredom factor, she said, with consumers wanting to see new options across every category.

August Schuchman, executive chef West of Pecos, sprinkles salt as he prepares the plant-based cerviche, using vegan tuna from Current Foods.

Despite promising sales data for the overall industry, not all players are finding continued success. Beyond Meat made headlines last fall when its stock fell by 48%. Some major chains are removing or looking into dropping the companys vegan meats, citing a niche market. Adam Parrish, a partner with Deloitte, chalked it up to larger food manufacturers entering the scene.

Some plant-based companies have done better. Some have had challenges, he said. Certainly, the competition is increasing.

And with those new competitors pitching themselves to Bay Area restaurants, the default vegan menu item may no longer be Impossible Burger in the not-too-distant future. MacNiven of West of Pecos said hes seeing a steady rise in diners scanning his menu specifically for plant-based options.

The tidal wave of plant-based customers, its coming. We feel it, he said. Everyone with a head start now is very wise.

Janelle Bitker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: janelle.bitker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @janellebitker

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The Bay Area food tech industry is creating more than vegan burgers. Heres whats next - San Francisco Chronicle

Cari Humphry

Twelve graduate startup teams across North America will compete this spring in the third annual Heartland Challenge, a competition designed to simulate the process of raising venture capital for a high-growth enterprise.

"The Walton College is proud to host this outstanding international competition face to face in Bentonville this year," said Matt Waller, dean of the Walton College and Sam Walton Leadership Chair.

"We are grateful for the generous support of the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation and other sponsors across our region, who share our commitment to bolstering entrepreneurship in the Heartland."

This year's cash prize pool has grown to more than $110,000, with the overall winner collecting $50,000. The second place team will receive $25,000; third place, $10,000; and fourth place, $5,000.

New for 2022 is an Investor Roundtable event, sponsored by Cadron Capital Partners, that will provide $3,000 awards to the winners of each of three roundtable events. This event, held alongside the main competition, will engage the student founders in informal discussions with active investors, simulating the experience of meeting in a restaurant or airport without the benefit of formal pitch decks or other materials. Additional special awards will be provided by sponsors Delta Solar, Atento Capital, Wright, Lindsey and Jennings, Natural Capital, John Chamberlin and Cannon Capital.

First and second place winners in the elevator pitch competition decided by an audience vote win $3,000 and $2,000, respectively.

The final round of the main competition will be livestreamed. To receive a link to view the event, please registerhere.

Past winners have included technology startups focused on the music industry and improving cancer detection. Having competed during years of the competition that were held virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions, the founders of both companies will be in attendance this year to share their post-competition experiences and join in the Startup Expo.

Aurign, a music publishing startup from Georgia State University, took home first place in 2020, securing $50,000 for their idea of using blockchain technology to securely file music-publishing documents.

NurLabs, a graduate student startup team from the University of California at Los Angeles, won the 2021 Heartland Challenge. The team, which developed a patent-pending, non-traditional, non-invasive liquid biopsy platform to detect cancer earlier, used its winnings to expand the size and scope of a lung cancer study.

NurLabs founder Sumita Jonak said, "The Heartland Challenge is a gem. I'm incredibly honored that NurLabs was recognized and validated by the no-nonsense investor panels as a viable medtech company. It gave me the confidence to push onward."

The 12 semi-finalist teams include:

About the U of A Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation:The Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation creates and curates innovation and entrepreneurship experiences for students across all disciplines. Through the Brewer Family Entrepreneurship Hub, McMillon Innovation Studio, Startup Village, and Greenhouse at the Bentonville Collaborative, OEI provides free workshops and programs including social and corporate innovation design teams, venture internships, competitions and startup coaching. A unit of the Sam M. Walton College of Business and Division of Economic Development, OEI also offers on-demand support for students who will be innovators within existing organizations and entrepreneurs who start something new.

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Student Startup Teams to Compete For $110000 Cash Prize Pool in U of A's Heartland Challenge - University of Arkansas Newswire

Food allergies are a serious, life-threatening condition. From a nut allergy to an aversion to kiwi, the consumption of food that triggers an inflammatory response in the human body has led to countless hospitalisations and deaths globally. The inflammation often stops air from reaching the lungs, creating a deadly window for a personto receive medical intervention.

So, have allergies been understand throughout US medical history? The shocking answer, given their extreme outcomes, is no. Did you know that allergies were only perceived as a serious medical condition in the USaround fifty to sixty years ago?

Then, by 1996, institutions and researchers began creating intensive rules and policies about how to protect those individuals from allergens. Self-identified food allergies, fuelled by a rise in social media, have led to a lot of confusion too.

However, as new foods are basically created via genetic engineering or introduction of new food sources in diets, what we know about allergens may change. As GMOs and Novel Foods are developed, how strict is the scrutiny over their potential allergens especially where they intersect into an existing product, used by thousands of people?

The new biotech proteins created by companies were required, under the newly built US laws around food, to be tested against existing allergens. They were then able to be identified as a risk or not, for the <2% of the population who have debilitating levels of food allergy.

Now, scientists are looking at how allergens interact with the varieties of crop that are made possible by GMO.

To find out more about this, read the words of Rick Goodman, an expert on this development at the Food Allergy Research and Resource Programme.

Editor's Recommended Articles

Originally posted here:
Should we test for differences in allergen content between varieties of crops and animal species? - Open Access Government

image:The ARDD Meeting 2022 will be hosted on August 29 - September 2, 2022 view more

Credit: Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Limited

March 31, 2022 -- Joris Deelen, Ph.D., will present the latest research on the topic Identification and functional characterisation of genetic variants linked to human longevity at the worlds largest annual Aging Research and Drug Discovery conference (9th ARDD). Dr. Joris Deelen is the Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing.

"Previous research on the genetics of human longevity has shown that this trait is likely mainly determined by rare genetic variants. Therefore, the work in my group is currently focused on the functional characterisation of rare genetic variants identified in long-lived individuals. I recently obtained an ERC Starting Grant and a Longevity Impetus Grant to support this work." said Joris Deelen, Ph.D., Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing.

Joris Deelen obtained his Ph.D. at the Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands in2014. In 2016, he joined the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing as a postdoctoralresearcher where he was promoted to Research Group Leader in 2020. The work in his groupfocusses on the establishment of novel human aging studies in Cologne to determine theefficacy of previously identified biomarkers of aging in clinical studies. The main focus is onbiomarkers that have been identified in large-scale international collaborations of human studies using omics-based approaches, such as metabolomics.

The conference proceedings of the ARDD are commonly published in peer-reviewed journals with the talks openly available at http://www.agingpharma.org. Please review the conference proceedings for 2019, 2020 and 2021https://www.aging-us.com/article/203859/text .

Aging is emerging as a druggable condition with multiple pharmaceuticals able to alter the pace of aging in model organisms. The ARDD brings together all levels of the field to discuss the most pressing obstacles in our attempt to find efficacious interventions and molecules to target aging. The 2022 conference is the best yet with top level speakers from around the globe. Im extremely excited to be able to meet them in person at the University of Copenhagen in late summer. said Morten Scheibye-Knudsen, MD, Ph.D., University of Copenhagen.

Aging research is growing faster than ever on both academia and industry fronts. The ARDD meeting unites experts from different fields and backgrounds, sharing with us their latest groundbreaking research and developments. Our last ARDD meeting took place both offline and online, and it was a great success. I am particularly excited that being a part of the ARDD2022 meeting will provide an amazing opportunity for young scientists presenting their own work as well as meeting the experts in the field. said Daniela Bakula, Ph.D., University of Copenhagen.

Many credible biopharmaceutical companies are now prioritized aging research for early-stage discovery or therapeutic pipeline development. It is only logical to prioritize therapeutic targets that are important in both aging and age-associated diseases. The patient benefits either way. The best place to learn about these targets is ARDD, which we organize for nine years in a row. This conference is now the largest in the field and is not to be missed, said Alex Zhavoronkov, Ph.D., founder and CEO of Insilico Medicine and Deep Longevity.

Building on the success of the ARDD conferences, the organizers developed the Longevity Medicine course series with some of the courses offered free of charge at Longevity.Degree covered in the recent Lanced Healthy Longevity paper titled Longevity medicine: upskilling the physicians of tomorrow.

About Aging Research for Drug Discovery Conference

At ARDD, leaders in the aging, longevity, and drug discovery field will describe the latest progress in the molecular, cellular and organismal basis of aging and the search for interventions. Furthermore, the meeting will include opinion leaders in AI to discuss the latest advances of this technology in the biopharmaceutical sector and how this can be applied to interventions. Notably, this year we are expanding with a workshop specifically for physicians where the leading-edge knowledge of clinical interventions for healthy longevity will be described. ARRD intends to bridge clinical, academic and commercial research and foster collaborations that will result in practical solutions to one of humanity's most challenging problems: aging. Our quest? To extend the healthy lifespan of everyone on the planet.

About Scheibye-Knudsen Lab

In the Scheibye-Knudsen lab we use in silico, in vitro and in vivo models to understand the cellular and organismal consequences of DNA damage with the aim of developing interventions. We have discovered that DNA damage leads to changes in certain metabolites and that replenishment of these molecules may alter the rate of aging in model organisms. These findings suggest that normal aging and age-associated diseases may be malleable to similar interventions. The hope is to develop interventions that will allow everyone to live healthier, happier and more productive lives.

About Deep Longevity

Deep Longevity has been acquired by Edurance RP (SEHK:0575.HK), a publicly-traded company. Deep Longevity is developing explainable artificial intelligence systems to track the rate of aging at the molecular, cellular, tissue, organ, system, physiological, and psychological levels. It is also developing systems for the emerging field of longevity medicine enabling physicians to make better decisions on the interventions that may slow down, or reverse the aging processes. Deep Longevity developed Longevity as a Service (LaaS) solution to integrate multiple deep biomarkers of aging dubbed "deep aging clocks" to provide a universal multifactorial measure of human biological age. Originally incubated by Insilico Medicine, Deep Longevity started its independent journey in 2020 after securing a round of funding from the most credible venture capitalists specializing in biotechnology, longevity, and artificial intelligence. ETP Ventures, Human Longevity and Performance Impact Venture Fund, BOLD Capital Partners, Longevity Vision Fund, LongeVC, co-founder of Oculus, Michael Antonov, and other expert AI and biotechnology investors supported the company. Deep Longevity established a research partnership with one of the most prominent longevity organizations, Human Longevity, Inc. to provide a range of aging clocks to the network of advanced physicians and researchers. https://longevity.ai/

About Endurance RP (SEHK:0575.HK)

Endurance RP is a diversified investment group based in Hong Kong currently holding various corporate and strategic investments focusing on the healthcare, wellness and life sciences sectors. The Group has a strong track record of investments and has returned approximately US$298 million to shareholders in the 21 years of financial reporting since its initial public offering. https://www.endurancerp.com

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.

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Joris Deelen to present at the 9th Aging Research & Drug Discovery Meeting 2022 - EurekAlert

Texas is a huge beef state. In fact, it is one of the leading beef-producing states in the country. Right here in Victoria County alone, we have about 60,000 mother cows in production that add about $30 million to the agricultural income. All these mother cows require the right genetics to produce and achieve herd goals.

Many folks overlook the importance of bull genetics, and selection is crucial for herd genetic success. You cant tell everything you need to know about a bull just by looking at him. There are more tools than ever at your disposal in the beef industry. We will explore just a few in this article.

When looking for a new herd sire, many bull buyers get lost in all the data and acronyms that go along with selling purebred bulls today. In the past, most buyers evaluated bulls just by looking at them or by comparing them with other bulls in the pen. Today, bull breeders have a lot more data to offer buyers who want it, in addition to those who still like to just look.

Initially, that data included birth, weaning and yearling weight, adjusted for the sex of the calf; since males are heavier, and for the age of dam, due to the influence of milk production higher in older cows, lower in younger ones. Similarly, records on other traits such as carcass, fertility, longevity and docility were also collected.

About 60 years ago, it was realized that bulls and females could be evaluated for their actual genetic value in these traits. Each animal in the breed could be selected on their true genetic merit. These values were called Expected Progeny Differences or EPD. The EPD is calculated for each trait and for each animal in the breed. The EPD is reported in the units of the trait measured, for example pounds for weight. Each EPD also has an accuracy value that tells you how close the EPD really is to the animals true genetic value. It has made accurate selection to improve performance very easy.

Using DNA, beef cattle geneticists have been using genetic markers to improve the accuracy of the EPDs from young animals, especially young bulls, so that they can be selected earlier for traits of importance. They are called Genomic EPD or GE-EPD. Now, even young animals can be selected and used reliably to improve our genetics. This earlier selection also reduces bull development costs since the better bulls are identified earlier and more average and below average bulls are culled. Selecting younger bulls will improve selection success by reducing the amount of time between when a bull is selected for breeding and his calves actually hit the ground.

Select bulls using EPDs to improve traits that are of economic value to your operation. Select bulls that have a good health program and have passed a breeding soundness examination.

For more information, please call the Victoria County Extension Office at (361) 575-4581.

Matt Bochat is a County Extension Agent Ag/Natural Resources Victoria County Texas A&M Agrilife Extension.

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Herd genetics begins with the bull | Agriculture | victoriaadvocate.com - Victoria Advocate

LeBron James has had a spectacular individual season, despite what his team record states at the moment. The Lakers are well under .500 and are at massive risk for missing the play-in tournament, which is their only chance at making the playoffs. For a player at age 37, the goal would be to win at least one more championship before returning. But LeBron James is no ordinary player, and certainly no ordinary 37-year-old.

The King already has 4 NBA championships to his name, and even if he does not win another one, he is already one of the top-5 players to have ever played the game. After all, look at his incredible career. James has won 4 titles, 4 Finals MVPs, 4 MVPs, and made a spectacular 18 All-Star appearances. No player has been great for as long as LeBron has, a testament to his ability to take care of his body and also his almost inhuman genetics.

As a result, LeBron James is considered the single greatest player of all time to much of the younger audience. While Michael Jordan tends to dominate the GOAT debates, LeBron James certainly has his supporters, and for good reason. Recently, we saw LeBron James pass Karl Malone to become the 2nd greatest scorer in NBA history. He is getting closer to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at the top spot, and he will likely pass the legendary center next year.

If LeBron James becomes the all-time leading scorer, his status in the GOAT debate greatly increases and he might have an even stronger argument for being the greatest player ever, and here are the reasons why.

Other than LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the name most mentioned when discussing the greatest challenges to Micahel Jordans throne as the GOAT. While his 6 NBA titles and 6 MVPs are his greatest achievements, the fact that he is the all-time leading scorer tends to boost him in the rankings. For LeBron James, having his name etched in record books for being the all-time leading scorer is the single greatest advertisement for the legendary player.

The reason is simple. Even for the millions of people who are not aware of professional basketball, seeing LeBron James holding the number one spot among all-time scorers would convince them that he is the greatest ever without looking into details. Of course, LeBrons career is also backed up with other extraordinary achievements. Shaquille ONeal mentioned it himself, if and when LeBron James becomes the all-time leading scorer in NBA history, he should be considered the GOAT.

As reported, Shaquille O'Neal says LeBron James can become the GOAT if he surpasses Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the all-time scoring list:

Hes got four rings and he becomes the highest scorer in the NBA history. Hes the best ever, ONeal said. Aint nothing you can say.

Shaq continued:

I know what hes doing, ONeal said while eating some roast beef. Championships are great, but hes trying to pass Kareem up. Thats what he is doing. I know exactly what hes doing. Cause now if you pass Kareem up, it aint no talk about who the best player ever is.

Basketball is about scoring more points than the opponent, and if LeBron did that better than everyone else, he will convince millions of people he is the GOAT.

No player in NBA history has played so well for so long as the great LeBron James. The King is in his 19th season and is averaging the third-most points of his career at age 37. James is not only an elite scorer and passer but always seems to find ways to dominate a game and control the outcome. Most pundits and fans refer to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the man who played so well into his late 30s and early 40s, but LeBron James has surpassed him in that regard.

The King always seems to find a way to have his name in the record books and is also competing for the scoring title alongside Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo. LeBron is somehow playing as if he is 10 years younger on the offensive end of the court, and is putting up spectacular performance after spectacular performance. We will never see the likes of LeBron James again, and his incredible longevity keeps boosting his status in the eyes of casual fans and younger audiences who are becoming more aware of professional basketball.

LeBron James becoming the all-time leading scorer would be a great thing for his career, because it will give him an amazing addition to an untouchable resume. James has 4 NBA titles and 4 Finals MVPs with 3 teams, the only player to ever achieve that. He will also become the all-time leading scorer and the only player in the exclusive 10k points, 10k assists, and 10k rebounds club. James also has 4 MVP awards (tied for 3rd most) and 18 All-Star appearances (tied for 1st alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar).

The King also has 17 All-NBA appearances which will be 18 by the end of the year, which is already the most in NBA history. Adding in a scoring title, and possibly a second one coming this year, LeBron is in a league of his own when it comes to longevity awards and accolades. Even if LeBron James played so long at such a high level, he has somehow dominated the game better than everyone else at his age and experience level.

It will also be extremely impressive if James is able to capture his second scoring title at age 37, along with the all-time record next year. LeBron is not considered a natural scorer, yet still broke records by scoring the ball at an elite level at his age and breaking the record for most points scored. LeBron has also spoken about how he feels disrespected as an all-time great scorer during an episode of The Shop:

When they talk about the best scorers of all time, they never mention my name, James said during the shows episode. It pisses me off.

Clearly, James is not happy bout being disrespected as a scorer, even if he is one of the most unselfish superstars ever:

Im not like a natural scorer, James explained. I love getting my guys involved, Ive always been that way.

The King can also find solace in the fact that by breaking the all-time scoring record, his name will have to be mentioned alongside Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the most dominant scorer ever whether he is naturally inclined to score or not.

To many fans, especially the younger audiences, LeBron James is already the GOAT without the all-time record in points scored. But capturing that record would convince many more people that we are witnessing the best player ever because that is yet another unbreakable record to his name. Being 1st in points scored, 1st in All-NBA selections, 2nd in All-Star selections, 2nd in Finals MVP awards, and 3rd in MVP awards is truly astonishing because he is in a league of his own.

Even if there are people who are not convinced that James is the GOAT, there is no doubt a lot of them will admit that The King will surpass a ton of competitors such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar once he claims the scoring record. As mentioned, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the name most mentioned when discussing the greatest challenges to Micahel Jordans throne as the GOAT. Kareems all-time scoring record tends to boost him in the rankings, an achievement that will firmly belong to James. With Kareem out of the way, there is only one man standing in James way before becoming the GOAT, Michael Jordan.

Obviously, Michael Jordan did not play as long as LeBron James. The Chicago Bulls legend missed out on 4 NBA seasons due to 2 separate retirement phases, and he even only played 17 games following his first season back from his first retirement. That meant, Jordan only had 12 NBA seasons where he was playing consistent basketball at a professional level. That is way off the 19 seasons that LeBron has played, which is why he fails to compare in many of the longevity accolades.

James has more All-Star appearances (18 vs. 14), more All-NBA appearances (17 vs. 11), and is also a greater all-time scorer. These accolades are hard to argue against because it shows LeBron James had a longer sustained career than the legendary Bulls guard. Of course, Jordan supporters will be quick to point out that James does not have as many championships and Finals MVPs as Jordan (6 vs. 4).

While James will likely never catch Jordan in championships won, he has surpassed him in almost every other individual category pertaining to longevity. He is not the scorer that Jordan is as a purely offensive weapon (Jordan has 10 scoring titles), but James has more total points scored and more total stat totals including assists and rebounds. While there will be a massive portion of the NBA fanbase who will prefer Jordans 6 NBA titles, LeBrons scoring record adds yet another unbreakable record to The Kings name.

LeBron James: 4

Michael Jordan: 6

There arent many winners better than Michael Jordan, as he ranks 6th all-time in championships won as a player. Of course, he always performed on the brightest stage of them all and it is likely that LeBron James will never catch Jordan. The King does have 4 titles with 3 teams, meaning he had to move around the league a few times to win them.

LeBron James: 4

Michael Jordan: 6

With Jordan being the best player in every Finals series he played in, he has the edge in Finals MVPs as well. MJ dominated the Finals, never competing in a Game 7 and killing off the competition in 6 games and less. LeBron was also the best player in the series he played in, capturing 4 Finals MVPs in his Finals appearances, although he holds a poor 4-6 record.

LeBron James: 4

Michael Jordan: 5

LeBron James probably should have won more MVP awards, because he is arguably the greatest regular-season player considering his statistics and accolades. The same could be said for Michael Jordan because he was arguably the best player in the league by the end of his first season. James cuts it close, but once again, MJ has the nod in another accolade.

LeBron James: 0

Michael Jordan: 1

LeBron James was an elite defender in his prime, showcasing his talent on the defensive end when he played for the Miami Heat alongside two other All-Stars. Thanks to the presence of Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, James was able to focus on defense a little bit more and could defend all five positions when asked to. But he is not Michael Jordan on defense, and quite frankly, very few are. Jordan captured the elusive Defensive Player of the Year award while James has not.

LeBron James: 1

Michael Jordan: 10

LeBron James could earn the scoring title this year, a great achievement for a pass-first player as he will join the likes of Kobe Bryant, Shaquille ONeal, and Carmelo Anthony with two. But he is well off of Jordans 10 scoring titles, and nobody except Wilt Chamberlain (7) comes close. We will never see a dominant scorer like Mike again, and he has the edge over The King.

LeBron James: 18

Michael Jordan: 14

LeBron James has had a longer career and is the greatest 37-year-old player ever. No player has played as great for as long as LeBron, and he has a whopping 18 All-Star appearances. Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has more with 19. Jordan had 14 All-Star appearances, a respectable number, but he did not play as long as The King.

LeBron James: 17

Michael Jordan: 11

LeBron James will likely make his 18th All-NBA Team appearance this season, and he is already in a league of his own. Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar all have 15 All-NBA appearances, meaning James is the leading man by far. Jordan only has 11 All-NBA appearances, mainly because he did not last 19 seasons at a superstar level as LeBron did. James has the nod in a very important category here.

LeBron James: 6

Michael Jordan: 9

LeBron was a defensive beast in his prime, but he never really had sustained excellence on that end of the floor as MJ did. Jordan made 9 All-Defensive Teams, and only 5 players had more (Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Scottie Pippen). Once again, James was excellent defensively but Jordan was the better defender.

LeBron James: 3

Michael Jordan: 3

LeBron James is one of the greatest All-Star Game performers, capturing the MVP award 3 times. Michael Jordan also captured the All-Star Game MVP 3 times, meaning he and LeBron James are tied for 2nd all-time with Oscar Robertson and Shaquille ONeal joining them. Only Kobe Bryant and Bob Pettit are ahead of them with 4 awards.

LeBron James: 1

Michael Jordan: 1

LeBron James had one of the best rookie seasons ever, considering the extreme pressure on The King. At age 19, James dropped averages of 20.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 5.9 APG and certainly met expectations by winning Rookie of the Year. Jordan also won Rookie of the Year, posting sublime averages of 28.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG, and 5.9 APG. No doubt, Jordan had the better rookie season.

LeBron James: 37,024

Michael Jordan: 32,292

Michael scored over 32k points in his career and did the bulk of the damage during his incredible 13-year span before his second retirement. Had he played longer without missing nearly 5 seasons with retirement, Jordan could have broken Kareem Abdul-Jabbars record. But LeBron has played longer and has been at an elite level for 19 seasons, as he has more points than MJ.

LeBron James: 10,202

Michael Jordan: 6,672

The King is a 69 behemoth so it is natural for him to have more total rebounds than Michael Jordan. James has a career average of 7.5 RPG, ahead of Michael Jordans average of 6.2 RPG. Over 19 seasons, James has accumulated over 10,000 rebounds as he is part of the exclusive 10k points, 10k rebounds, and 10k assists club. Michael had over 6,000 rebounds in his own career but falls short of James.

LeBron James: 10,041

Michael Jordan: 5,633

As one of the most talented passers ever and a natural playmaker, LeBron James has almost doubled the number of assists as MJ. The King is a pass-first player and is among the best floor generals to have ever played the game. MJ hardly had any weaknesses as a player, but his playmaking is the closest to a weakness. Not because he could not pass, but because he was a natural scorer with the ability to take every shot down the floor.

LeBron James: 2,135

Michael Jordan: 2,514

LeBron James trails Michael Jordan in total steals because the legendary Bulls guard had a career average of 2.3 SPG. James held a career average of 1.6 SPG, and despite playing longer, he could not generate more steals than MJ. Jordan is one of the best defenders ever, so this comes as no surprise.

LeBron James: 1,041

Michael Jordan: 893

LeBron James, as a forward with a large frame, blocked over 1,000 shots in his career. That is an amazing number for a non-big man because ball-handlers are often not known for their shot-blocking ability. Amazingly enough, Michael Jordan was not far off LeBrons total blocks despite playing fewer games and fewer seasons.

LeBron James: 4,782

Michael Jordan: 2,924

Since LeBron James is a pass-first player who handles the ball on almost every possession, it is natural for him to have over 4,000 turnovers. After all, James ranks 1st all-time in turnovers but shares the top-5 with Karl Malone, John Stockton, Russell Westbrook, and Kobe Bryant who were/are ball-dominant stars. Jordan has a lot of turnovers, but LeBron has many more.

LeBron seems to have the edge over Michael Jordan in terms of longevity related accolades including total statistics and more All-Star and All-NBA Teams. But in terms of prime talent and dominance, it is hard to argue LeBron over Jordan.

Michael won more with the Bulls, staying with one team for his career. James had to move a few times to win his titles and often had the deck stacked in his favor. Jordan also seems to have a heavier weight towards his accolades as he has more championships, Finals MVPs, MVPs, scoring titles, and a Defensive Player of the Year.

LeBrons individual statistics will always be greater than Jordans because of his incredible longevity but Mike will find solace in the fact that he always prioritized winning over statistics.

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LeBron James Can Become The GOAT: He Surpassed Michael Jordan In Almost Every Category Except Championships, MVP Awards And Finals MVPs - Fadeaway...

Brings blood biometrics, DNA insights together with activity, heart rate, sleep data from Apple Watch to provide personalized nutrition, lifestyle Action Plan

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InsideTracker, the leading truly personalized performance and nutrition system, today announced the availability of Apple Watch integration on its top-performing iOS personalized health app. By bringing together blood biometrics, DNA insights and Apple Watch data including workouts, daily activity, resting heart rate (RHR) and sleep duration, the InsideTracker app delivers sophisticated, science-backed nutrition and lifestyle recommendations never before available in real-time, right to Apple Watch devices.

Key Features

The Deepest Understanding from the Inside OutExercise, RHR and sleep directly affect biomarker levels. With InsideTracker's Apple Watch integration, users can track and analyze blood, fitness and sleep data all in one place, giving a clearer picture of how physiological and biomarker data is interconnected, unlocking new ways to improve health.

More Precise, Personalized RecommendationsThe more data InsideTracker has to work with, the more personalized a user's recommendations become. Each time Apple Watch registers a new, completed activity, InsideTracker progress updates in real-time, fine-tuning the personalized Action Plan.

New, Real-Time ProTipsProTips provide daily, laser-focused nuggets of wisdom that are personalized based on a user's information, backed by science and curated by InsideTracker's registered dietitians. Using data synced from Apple Watch, the integration unlocks hundreds of new ProTips on actions you can take to improve your exercise, RHR and sleep duration.

"InsideTracker is the only system that integrates this level of activity tracking with blood, DNA and lifestyle data, and we're excited to unlock these precision wellness and longevity benefits for 100 million Apple Watch users," said Dr. Gil Blander, co-founder and chief scientific officer, InsideTracker.

To unlock the integration, InsideTracker users with an Apple Watch can download the updated InsideTracker app with Apple Watch integration from the App Store starting today, then log into their InsideTracker account to connect their device.

Apple Watch users without an existing InsideTracker account can visit InsideTracker.com and select the plan that's right for them, provide a blood sample at a local Quest lab, via home kit or upload results from a recent physician-ordered test, then download the app to receive their blood test results, sync with their device and create a science-backed Action Plan to help them reach their personal health and wellness goals.

About InsideTrackerFounded in 2009 by top scientists from acclaimed universities in the fields of aging, genetics and biology, InsideTracker is a truly personalized nutrition and performance system. InsideTracker's mission is to help people add years to their lives and life to their years by optimizing their bodies from the inside out. By analyzing the body's data from blood, DNA and fitness trackers, InsideTracker gives a crystal-clear picture of what's going on inside, along with a science-backed action plan for improving your health and becoming your best self. Read our peer-reviewed papers inScientific Reportsand Current Developments in Nutrition.

Follow InsideTracker on Instagram, Twitterand Facebook.

Media Contact:Heather Hawkins[emailprotected](415) 598-8662

SOURCE InsideTracker

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InsideTracker x Apple Watch, Better Paired Together to Deliver Personalized Health Insights, Science-Backed Guidance for Human Optimization - PR...

Do you enjoy snacking on dried apricots or dried cranberries? Since dried fruit is basically fruit that is void of water, this means that you can get the same nutritional benefits of "regular fruit" minus the hydration. According to Healthline, dried fruit is really good for you because it contains all kinds of fiber, antioxidants, and micronutrients. That means it might lower your blood pressure levels, balance out your blood sugar, and keep you regular, and, because dried fruit is naturally sweet, it can also help to curb your appetite for processed sugar.

Dried fruits can be good for your breasts because they arehigh in phytoestrogen (plant-based compounds that mimic estrogen), as noted by an article published inPhytotherapy Research. As you age and your body loses estrogen, consuming phytoestrogen foods can potentially boost your estrogen levels so that you look more youthful and radiant breasts included. Dried fruit is one of the sweetest ways to keep your breasts looking younger for longer. Science can totally back this up!

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10 Foods That Are Awesome When It Comes To Breast Health - The List

I take lions mane with a daily microdose of psychedelic, and B6 to switch on the brain and getmore ideas, says writer Catherine Frenette, ofthe effects of her supplements regime. I did it allthrough writing my latest book: I had a short deadline and needed to stay at my desk. It absolutely worked. Without doubt, Im working better.

Tired, unfocused brain in need of a boost? The traditional recourse coffee is, it turns out, very pre-pandemic. A stimulant made for 2019s office-worker world, when we were all just striving to keep up, its ashort-term fix that burns through your adrenal reserves and leaves you, ultimately, depleted. Nowadays, thats not good enough. Enter the latest nootropics cognitive enhancers that will take users up and up, and could support brain function and health in the long term.

Unlike coffee, these new nootropics, or smart drugs, nourish the brain without cashing in on its energy reserves. The brain is the bodys most hungry organ, consuming 20per cent of our energy, so it is vital that it is well fed. Stimulants such as coffee, Adderall or study drug Modafinil operate by robbing Peter to pay Paul: increasing dopamine while simultaneously depleting reserves.

We thinkitsnormal to be tired andforget things. Thats not normal. Weshould be feeling better

There is much debate about which nootropics to take, how to take them and how much to take. In online forums, the nootropic hive mind bandies about options that include amino acids like L-theanine and glutamine, thesalt magnesium threonate, nutrients citicoline and phosphatidylserine, adaptogenic herbs such as rhodiola and Bacopa, or the ubiquitously trending cordyceps.

Everybody wants to know about brain biohacking rightnow, reports Dr Tamsin Lewis, founder of Wellgevity,a personalised preventative healthcare service.Everything starts with the brain. If you can changeyour neurochemistry you movedifferently, you interact differently, the whole filterto your day changes. Lewis, whobegan trying nootropics following a head injury,believes plenty of improvement can be gained, butcounsels: Theresno one-size-fits-all everyones baseline functionis different.Shealso cautions that some supplements are notdosedcorrectly or do not include their ingredients in a bioavailable form its important to look for clarity when it comes to dosages.

Lewis recommends to her patients personalised blends of intravenous ingredients, including B vitamin complex and alpha lipoic acid. She says the latter is agreat enhancer of mitochondrial function, naturally increasing levels of glutathione [an amino acid involvedin cell repair]. It can make your brain feel veryclear for a good few weeks.

Another compelling ingredient is Cognizin, a version ofcholine, which is a compound derived from food, particularly eggs. It promotes the production of phospholipids, which make up the membranes of our neural cells. Studies of Cognizin demonstrate up to a 25percent increase in attention, memory and focus in patients versus a placebo. It is an ingredient available in brain-boosting supplements from Qualia to Mind Lab Pro. JulianLee, CEO of green tech business Binding Solutions, began taking Cognizin as one of the ingredients in the super-supplement Lyma. I have remarkably better energy and focus during theday, he reports. Things have really shifted. Im50 andin very good health and spirits I feel much younger than my age.Mentally, clear as a whistle.

If you can changeyour neurochemistry you movedifferently, you interact differently, the whole filterto your day changes

Over at Matt Roberts Evolution in Mayfair, where longevity doctors, physiotherapists and microdosing and psychedelic experts operate in tandem, a 60-something client is emerging from an intravenous glutathione infusionto treat her brain fog. Glutathione cleans out her cells, explains clinician nurse Michelle Gundry. We thinkitsnormal to be tired andforget things. Thats not normal. Weshould be feeling better. MattRoberts Evolution also hascoffee on the menu, butwitha difference: Mushroom coffee, confirms Roberts, madewith cordyceps to give youthe kick you need withoutthecomedown.

Medicinal mushrooms such as lions mane show someevidence of supporting neural health and cognition. Roberts recommends magnesium threonate for sleep (goodsleep is essential for brain recovery and memory)and the supplement NAD, which is essentially niacin (a vitamin B3 extract), or its more hardcore sister, NMN. NADmay increase human-growth hormone response andtherefore the ability of the bodys cells to regenerate. Watch how you take NMN, though, he says, as it needs to be attached to a fat molecule to be absorbable. Like almost everyone else I spoke to, Roberts cites gut health inthe form of a diet rich in plants and fermented foods asa key element in the quest to improve brain function andadaptability.

Neuroplasticity is also on the mind of Clinique La Prairie, the Swiss health and beauty brand, which declares ita fundamental aspect of healthy ageing. Cognition, says Professor Bogdan Draganski, a neuroscientist at the University Hospital of Lausanne and a member of CLPs scientific committee, is a key target for biohackers or neurohackers, as he calls them. Last year, Clinique La Prairie came out with its own health supplement range, Holistic Health. It has been formulated with the patented nootropic Cognivia, which showed a nine per cent increase in numeric working memory.

Much of the interest in neurohacking is fuelled by the work of key professors at Stanford, Harvard and Yale. Neuroscience professor Andrew Huberman at Stanford School of Medicine is one such guru, as is Harvard professor of genetics David Sinclair. Both publish their work daily on social media and have amassed huge followings. Sinclair believes its possible not onlyfor us tohalt cellular decline but to reverse it. Huberman recommends easy hacks such as 30minutes of sunlight every morning to set the circadian rhythm and put you in control of your nervous system.

Huberman also likes to publish his stack, which is how wellness nerds referto their supplement regime. On a recent podcast he listedhis latest, which included eating foods that are rich inomega-3s and/or supplementing with omega-3s to get 2-3gof the fatty acid EPA per day; phosphatidylserine, alipid-like compound abundant in meat and fish; choline, which helps in modulating brain circuits; and creatine asupplement the fitness-obsessed use to bulk up, but which is good fuel for the brain at least 5g a day, he said.

The science is changing all the time, says James Heagney, gym director of KX health club in South Kensington, where Chelseas most ambitious wellness disciples go forworkouts. We follow the research to choose not justthe nutrients gaining in popularity but those that havescientific backing.

Heagney is currently looking at dopaminergic supplements for focus and concentration, the amino acid tyrosine to improve alertness, and adaptogens like gingko and holy basil. As a 4am riser, and with two young children to wrangle, Heagney is laser-focused on his own stack. Increased performance and cognition is where its at, he says. Brain function is everything in the body.

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The secret to making your brain work better - Financial Times

If youre feeling overwhelmed, the solution might be REST and were not talking about a nap.

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services.Policy

REST is shorthand for restricted environmental stimulation therapy. The meditation technique is connected to the use of water-filled sensory deprivation tanks, where you float in dark silence, removed from external stimuli.

The idea behind float therapy is to enter a state of relaxation that puts your mind and body at ease. Heres the question, though: Does the concept sink or swim?

Lets find out with integrative medicine specialist Irina Todorov, MD.

The world is filled with distractions that can overload your senses. When you enter a sensory deprivation tank and close the hatch, youre sealed off from those pesky outside influences and distractions.

The tank is dark and quiet, giving your eyes and ears a welcome rest. The chamber is filled with a shallow pool of water saturated with Epsom salt, offering buoyancy that helps you effortlessly float.

The temperature of the water and chamber is set to match your skin temperature, too, allowing you to better mesh with your surroundings.

The intent is to give you a break and let you reset, says Dr. Todorov. Youre removing the clutter and noise and distractions of daily life. Everything is stripped away. Its just you, untethered.

The feeling of weightlessness that comes with floating heightens that sense of detachment from the world. Essentially, it creates an environment where youre not even bound by the laws of gravity.

By not really touching a hard surface, it helps complete that feeling of disconnect, explains Dr. Todorov.

So, why would you want to slip into a sensory deprivation tank and float around for 30 minutes to an hour? Well, here are a few reasons.

Researchers found that a float therapy session can help decrease:

On the flip side, studies also show that feelings of optimism often increase following float therapy. Those good vibes can work to enhance creativity, focus and even help boost athletic performance.

Dr. Todorov traces the positive results of sensory deprivation tank therapy to setting aside time to just be mindful and in the moment. Its all about giving yourself the time to break away and mentally reset, she says.

A clear mind can help put ZZZs within reach. A 2016 study found that float therapy can have significant beneficial effects for sleep difficulties, in addition to reducing symptoms of general anxiety disorder.

Feeling better mentally can translate into feeling better physically. Studies show that sessions in a sensory deprivation tank can reduce the perceived intensity of severe chronic pain from aching muscles.

Researchers attributed the results to the drop in stress and an overall feeling of relaxation that soothed tense muscles.

Its the mind-body connection, says Dr. Todorov. Pain increases anxiety and stress, and the situation can spiral. But if you can control that stress, the pain level can come down a little bit and make you more comfortable.

If youve been reading this article and thinking theres absolutely no way you could spend 30 minutes to an hour inside a dark tank well, youre not alone. Its definitely not for someone who has feelings of claustrophobia, says Dr. Todorov.

Sensory deprivation tanks also arent recommended if you have:

Meditation comes in many varieties and forms, says Dr. Todorov. If youre open to using a sensory deprivation tank, theres little risk in giving float therapy a try as part of a mindfulness program.

Different people find different ways to manage stress, notes Dr. Todorov. Float therapy is just another option to consider.

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Could You Benefit From Sensory Deprivation Tank Therapy? - Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

This article was originally published here

Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2022 Apr 1. doi: 10.1007/s11916-022-01028-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: While most women with migraine improve during pregnancy, a subset may remain unchanged or even become more severe. Given the limited evidence for the use of prescription medications during pregnancy, many look to other treatment modalities. We seek to review complementary and integrative medicine, procedural interventions, and neurostimulation to empower women with safe and effective treatment options during pregnancy.

RECENT FINDINGS: Migraine treatment during pregnancy remains controversial. While evidence is limited, prospective and retrospective reviews, as well as clinical experience support the use of nutraceuticals, procedural interventions, and neurostimulation during pregnancy when the appropriate risks and benefits are weighed. Empowering patients with information on complementary and integrative medicine, as well as non-systemic and interventional treatments, may help to reduce anxiety and headache burden during pregnancy. Various nutraceuticals have shown promise for the preventive management of migraine. Non-systemic interventions such as trigger point injections and peripheral and sphenopalatine nerve blocks offer effective treatment options with minimal side-effects. Options for neurostimulation have expanded in recent years and may offer safe and effective non-pharmacologic options for the management of migraine. It is imperative that providers do not minimize migraine during pregnancy and become aware of the treatment modalities available to help guide women through this experience.

PMID:35362816 | DOI:10.1007/s11916-022-01028-8

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Integrative, Interventional, and Non-invasive Approaches for the Treatment for Migraine During Pregnancy - DocWire News

When you're feeling worked up, its always better to take a pause in order to figure out what your body needs before you say or do something you'll regret. (You're never too old for a nap or a snackand that may be just what your body needs.) To do this efficiently, therapists often recommend the HALT method as an excellent way to tame emotions and create calmness by addressing basic human needs in order to prevent taking out your frustrations on someone else.

HALT stands for:

The HALT method is based around the premise that youre more likely to make poor, highly emotional decisions when hungry, angry, lonely, or tired. The purpose is to help us identify these experiences when we are tempted to engage in a negative behavior and to instead address the underlying issue, says Kassondra Glenn, LMSW, a social worker and addiction specialist at Diamond Rehab.

HALT comes from the recovery community, however it can be applied to many scenarios beyond addiction. At its core, it is a mindfulness technique that promotes greater emotion regulation by building awareness around the root of urges, says Glenn.

The HALT method addresses how states of being and human needs might be linked to making hasty decisionswith words, actions, and thoughts. People are less likely to think clearly or practically when in distress.

The purpose of the HALT tool is to help us feel better when we are not feeling great emotionally, and its often used when we're feeling upset or emotionally off-centered, says physician and integrative medicine specialist Catherine Uram, MD.

Use the HALT method by asking yourself what seems off about your body and mindset. If you notice you are not feeling like your usual self, you can go through the HALT acronym, questioning whether youre hungry, angry, lonely, or tired in any given moment.

Asking these questions brings more self-awareness. You'll see what causes you to feel unlike yourself, which guides you toward having more emotional regulation and keeping a more centered, peaceful state of being," says Dr. Uram.

With more control over your emotions, youre better able to prevent hostility toward others while fostering a better sense of perspective and rationality.

When hungry, you tend to make hasty, emotional decisions, rather than use logic, as your body cries out for food and your stomach grumbles. This is because our blood glucose (blood sugar) can be lower than usual, affecting our physiology, how we think, feel and therefore make decisions, says Dr. Uram.

The connection between hunger and lack of control over emotions is that when we don't have enough energy, and need to replete with food, we do not have enough energy to physiologically regulate emotions and how theyre handled. This results in uncomfortable feelings that we sometimes do not want to investigate, which we label a bad mood, when were actually getting upset because of hunger and that our body and mind do not have enough physical energy to function optimally, says Dr. Uram.

It is well-researched that human behavior changes when we are hungry, where hunger causes us to value the short term over the long term and leads to hastiness with decisions. Chemicals released in our brain also change when we are hungry, to chemicals which then heighten anger, in response, says Glenn.

The best action plan is to identify hunger signals (rumbling stomachs, headaches, irritability, etc.), and then find food as soon as possible. Oftentimes we must eat before taking any further action to alleviate discomfort, because sufficient calories and glucose are physically foundational for any mood improvements to occur, says Glenn.

If hunger is the cause, it's best to eat something nutritious, like vegetables, fruits, nuts, or seeds, to bring physiology back to baseline, rather than bombarding your body with large meal. Foods high in sugar made provide a short-term fix before backfiring, leaving you feeling even moodier.

An example of satiating this urge first would be if you discovered the cause of feeling not well emotionally was hunger, you could take a momentary break from whatever you are doing, eat a handful of nuts or dried fruits, rest and enjoy them as much as you can, while your body and brain come back to baseline, called homeostasis, says Glenn.

Then eat a meal, or add on to your snack, with slow speed and mindfulness to help you think more clearly and to feel calmer. As your body and brain are coming back into homeostasis, you will think more clearly and feel calmer, avoiding hasty remarks and snappiness and alleviating uncomfortable moods, says Glenn.

We often act out when angry because anger conjures up a lot of physical and emotional reserves, which make it difficult to settle mentally, emotionally, and physically, and so instead our bodies respond with a fight-or-flight response, says Dr. Uram.

Anger is a normal human emotion, but unless managed, it can lead to poor decision making in the moment. Anger promotes impatience and stimulates chemicals in the brain, like adrenaline, and when we act out in anger, the amygdala, which is the part of the brain responsible for processing strong emotion and threat stimuli, also becomes involved, says Glenn. The connection between the two can be tricky to navigate, and the amygdalas involvement can be too strong at times and take over.

Use the HALT method by recognizing that youre angry, and then choosing to use mindfulness to rest, with exercises that bring self-awareness, acknowledgement and a sense of calm. Glenn recommends deep breathing, sending energy into the feet, or touching fingertips together one-by-one as three simple techniques with potential to regulate anger quickly and with ease by bringing more attention to the present moment and anger.

Another way to use the HALT method to target anger is to work out, which will release stress. Running, walking, or some other form of vigorous exercise can be helpful, because when we are angry, we have increased adrenaline and glucose, so intense exercise allows us to put it to good use physically, rather than keeping it all pent up inside, to then explode outwards, says Dr. Uram.

People are wired to seek belonging, so when youre feeling lonely, it may lead to depression and anxiety, as well as making decisions without connecting to yourself and your authenticity or power. There are multiple ways to feel lonelywe can feel as though we haven't found our group, and we can also feel as though we are disconnected from ourselves, says Glenn.

When you're feeling lonely, HALT helps you handle emotions better and avoid taking them out on others. It gets you a little uncomfortable by urging you to use self-reflection to address the root of your loneliness and the ways in which you can improve your sense of community and attract love, says Dr. Uram.

Use the HALT method by reaching out to someone with whom you feel you can be your authentic self. Meeting face-to-face, if possible, can reduce the loneliness youre feeling. Connection promotes nervous system co-regulation, which allows us to move from depressed/anxious back toward our baseline, says Glenn.

Practice self-connection, especially if the identified feelings of loneliness are centered on disconnection from the self, as it can be beneficial to engage in an activity that puts us back in touch, says Glenn. You might try yoga and meditation, exercising, reading a book, painting, or another hobby you enjoy.

Going for a walk alone outdoors for some fresh air is another way to feel more connected to your surroundings and yourself. Connection with ourselves allows for increased emotional identification and processing, explains Glenn.

Without physical energy, its hard to maintain enough mental energy and focus for clarity of thinking and good judgment. Tiredness causes us to feel foggier and increases stress around making decisions, causing those decisions to be more rash, says Glenn.

Use the HALT method by prioritizing tasks and checking off items accordingly, but also by prioritizing sleep. Once we've paused and identified tiredness, prioritizing the tasks we need to complete and decisions we need to make can decrease stress levels, says Glenn. We are letting ourselves off the hook and acknowledging that we don't need to do everything right now, Glenn continues. A break might signify sleep, a vacation, a walk outside, an episode of your favorite television show or even simply sitting in silence for a brief pause, just for yourself.

Tiredness is your body telling you that it needs rest. Pause current tasks, engage in something relaxing and enjoyable, or take a nap or go to bed, if you havent been sleeping well and need to catch up.

The HALT method is a beneficial tool for people with anger management issues or chronic stress, for couples who are struggling to connect intimately or communicate well, and for those recovering from addiction. It requires greater self-awareness and ability to pause before doing things hastily to reflect and center themselves first.

In general, HALT requires us to pause before choosing our next action and this pause creates space in which we can identify core emotions and choose a less harmful route, says Glenn. This is helpful for anger and stress management, with couples, and in addiction recovery, as theres possibility for intense emotions and negative urges, and thats where HALT and use of mindfulness helps us slow down, says Glenn.

It's important to remember that the HALT method is just one tool to manage stress, and that it is not a cure-all or a technique to be used in every scenario. It can be useful to talk to a professional who specialized in the area(s) in which youre struggling to determine whether the HALT method is right for you.

If you or someone you know is struggling, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year support for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders.

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Heres How To Use the HALT Method To Figure Out Why Youre So Grumpy - Well+Good

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Mayor To Remove Homeless In 2 Weeks + NYPD Guilty Of Misconduct - Patch

The moral status of the embryo is a controversial and complex issue. The main viewpoints are outlined below.

1. The embryo has full moral status from fertilization onwardsEither the embryo is viewed as a person whilst it is still an embryo, or it is seen as a potential person. The criteria for personhood are notoriously unclear; different people define what makes a person in different ways.

Development from a fertilized egg into to baby is a continuous process and any attempt to pinpoint when personhood begins is arbitrary. A human embryo is a human being in the embryonic stage, just as an infant is a human being in the infant stage. Although an embryo does not currently have the characteristics of a person, it will become a person and should be given the respect and dignity of a person.

An early embryo that has not yet been implanted into the uterus does not have the psychological, emotional or physical properties that we associate with being a person. It therefore does not have any interests to be protected and we can use it for the benefit of patients (who ARE persons).

The embryo cannot develop into a child without being transferred to a womans uterus. It needs external help to develop. Even then, the probability that embryos used for in vitro fertilization will develop into full-term successful births is low. Something that could potentially become a person should not be treated as if it actually were a person. A candidate for president is a potential president, but he or she does not have the rights of a president and should not be treated as a president.

2. There is a cut-off point at 14 days after fertilizationSome people argue that a human embryo deserves special protection from around day 14 after fertilization because:

3. The embryo has increasing status as it developsAn embryo deserves some protection from the moment the sperm fertilizes the egg, and its moral status increases as it becomes more human-like.

There are several stages of development that could be given increasing moral status:

1. Implantation of the embryo into the uterus wall around six days after fertilization.2. Appearance of the primitive streak the beginnings of the nervous system at around 14 days.3. The phase when the baby could survive if born prematurely.4. Birth.

If a life is lost, we tend to feel differently about it depending on the stage of the lost life. A fertilized egg before implantation in the uterus could be granted a lesser degree of respect than a human fetus or a born baby.

More than half of all fertilized eggs are lost due to natural causes. If the natural process involves such loss, then using some embryos in stem cell research should not worry us either.

We protect a persons life and interests not because they are valuable from the point of view of the universe, but because they are important to the person concerned. Whatever moral status the human embryo has for us, the life that it lives has a value to the embryo itself.

If we judge the moral status of the embryo from its age, then we are making arbitrary decisions about who is human. For example, even if we say formation of the nervous system marks the start of personhood, we still would not say a patient who has lost nerve cells in a stroke has become less human. (But there is a difference between losing some nerve cells and losing the complete nervous system - or never having had a nervous system).

If we are not sure whether a fertilized egg should be considered a human being, then we should not destroy it. A hunter does not shoot if he is not sure whether his target is a deer or a man.

4. The embryo has no moral status at allAn embryo is organic material with a status no different from other body parts.

Fertilized human eggs are just parts of other peoples bodies until they have developed enough to survive independently. The only respect due to blastocysts is the respect that should be shown to other peoples property. If we destroy a blastocyst before implantation into the uterus we do not harm it because it has no beliefs, desires, expectations, aims or purposes to be harmed.

By taking embryonic stem cells out of an early embryo, we prevent the embryo from developing in its normal way. This means it is prevented from becoming what it was programmed to become a human being.

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Embryonic Stem Cell Research: An Ethical Dilemma