"According to a new analysis, about 55% of the observed variation in longevity across a population is attributable to genetics - challenging previous estimates of 10-25%. Researchers say that earlier numbers were much too low because they did not effectively separate deaths caused by extrinsic factors, such as accidents, from intrinsic ones such as the gradual decline of organ function. Not all intrinsic causes of death are equally heritable, the researchers found - and the results don't indicate a genetically encoded 'destiny' for lifespan, because so much is determined by environment and lifestyle choices."
"Scientists have identified a distinctive brain-wave pattern that marks the slide into unconsciousness during general anaesthesia with the drug propofol. Data taken from people about to have surgery show that, as anaesthesia takes hold, a specific type of activity in brain areas such as the parietal cortex and deeper structures slips out of synchronicity. If verified in studies that gather deep-brain data, and use other anaesthetics, this shift could serve as a biomarker of loss of consciousness that doctors could use to avoid sedating patients too deeply - or not deeply enough."
About 55% of the observed variation in longevity across a population is attributable to genetics, substantially higher than earlier estimates of 10–25%. Earlier estimates underestimated genetic contribution because they did not effectively separate extrinsic causes of death, such as accidents, from intrinsic causes like gradual organ decline. Different intrinsic causes of death show varying heritability, and a large environmental and lifestyle influence prevents a genetically encoded destiny for lifespan. Distinctive brain-wave patterns mark the transition into propofol-induced unconsciousness and could become biomarkers to calibrate anaesthetic depth. AI systems such as MOSAIC aim to accelerate small-molecule synthesis and reduce manual trial-and-error in drug discovery.
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