Why is it in the News?

Google Deepmind has unveiled the third major version of its “AlphaFold” artificial intelligence model, designed to help scientists design drugs and target diseases more effectively.

About AlphaFold 3:

• AlphaFold 3 is a major advancement in artificial intelligence created by Google's DeepMind in collaboration with Isomorphic Labs.
• It's essentially a powerful tool that can predict the structures and interactions of various biological molecules such as:
• Predict structures of biomolecules: Unlike previous versions that focused on proteins, AlphaFold 3 can predict the 3D structure of a wide range of molecules, including DNA, RNA, and even small molecules like drugs (ligands).
  • This is a significant leap in understanding how these molecules function.
• Model molecular interactions: AlphaFold 3 goes beyond just structure prediction.
  • It can also model how these molecules interact with each other, providing valuable insights into cellular processes and disease mechanisms.

The potential applications of AlphaFold 3 are vast. It has the potential to revolutionize fields like:

• Drug discovery: By understanding how drugs interact with their targets, researchers can design more effective medications.
• Genomics research: AlphaFold 3 can help scientists understand the function of genes and how mutations can lead to disease.
• Materials science: By modelling the interactions between molecules, scientists can design new materials with specific properties.
• AlphaFold 3 is a significant breakthrough and is freely available for non-commercial use through AlphaFold Server.
• This makes this powerful tool accessible to researchers around the world,  potentially accelerating scientific advancements.

Why in the News?

An elusive echidna feared extinct after disappearing for six decades has been rediscovered in a remote part of Indonesia, on an expedition that also found a new kind of tree-dwelling shrimp.

About Attenborough's long-beaked echidna:

• Attenborough's long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi), also known as Sir David's long-beaked echidna or the Cyclops long-beaked echidna.
• It is an egg-laying mammal native to the Cyclops Mountains in the northern Indonesian region of Papua.
•  It is one of three species of long-beaked echidna, and is the smallest and most threatened of the three.
• The echidna was named after naturalist Sir David Attenborough.
• The echidna is a nocturnal animal, and it is most active at night.
• It spends its days sleeping in burrows, and it emerges at night to forage for food.
• The echidna's diet consists of ants, termites, beetles, and other insects.
• Attenborough's long-beaked echidna is classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN.

Why in the News?

Over the past two decades, as genome sequencing technologies have become increasingly accessible, scientists have made significant strides in understanding the applications of Cell-free DNA.

Regarding Cell-free DNA:

• In the human body, a significant portion of the DNA in the genome is safely enclosed within cells, safeguarded by specific proteins to prevent degradation.
• However, in various circumstances, certain DNA fragments are liberated from their confines and can be found outside the cells, circulating in body fluids.
• These minute fragments of nucleic acids are commonly referred to as cell-free DNA (cfDNA).

How Cell-free DNA is generated/released?

• The generation and release of Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) can occur through various mechanisms.
• One such process is when a cell undergoes cell death, leading to the degradation of nucleic acids and subsequent release of cfDNA.
• The degradation of cfDNA is influenced by a diverse set of processes, resulting in variations in the amount, size, and origin of cfDNA.
• Furthermore, this release of cfDNA can be associated with different biological processes, including those essential for normal development, the progression of certain cancers, and various other diseases.
•  The generation and release of cfDNA can be triggered by a range of situations and processes, making it a versatile biomarker with potential implications in various health conditions.

Applications of Cell-free DNA (cfDNA):

• One of the most prevalent uses of cfDNA is in non-invasive prenatal testing, where it aids in screening fetuses for specific chromosomal abnormalities.
• Also, cfDNA serves as a valuable tool for comprehending human diseases and leveraging this knowledge to enhance diagnosis, monitoring, and prognosis.
• cfDNA plays a crucial role in understanding the rejection of transplanted organs by the body.
• It shows promise as a potential biomarker for various neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, neuronal tumors, stroke, and traumatic brain injury.