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Blood test developed that could speed up diagnosis of rare diseases in babies

23 mai 2025 à 16:46

Scientists say new approach means effects of many genetic mutations can be analysed at once and yield results in days

A new blood-based test that could help speed up diagnoses for children born with rare genetic disorders has been developed by researchers in an effort to provide answers – and treatments – sooner.

Rare genetic disorders include a host of conditions, from cystic fibrosis to diseases relating to the mitochondria – the powerhouses of our cells. However, getting a diagnosis can be arduous.

Like a Tom Cruise stunt: hawk uses traffic patterns to target prey

The Guardian

Par :Nicola Davis Science correspondent

23 mai 2025 à 06:00

Researcher records Cooper’s hawk in New Jersey making use of pedestrian crossing and line of cars while hunting

It is a tactic worthy of Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt: wait until a beeping pedestrian crossing indicates a traffic queue has formed then use the line of cars as cover to reach your target. But this isn’t a scene from Mission: Impossible – it’s the behaviour of a young hawk.

The discovery is not the first time birds have been found to make use of an urban environment. Crows, for example, are known to drop foods such as walnuts on to roads for cars to crush them open.