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In caste-ridden India, genetic isolation may be harmful to health

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8 years ago

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]~By Dinesh C Sharma

The occurrence of genetic diseases in certain subpopulations in India and other countries in South Asia is well known. Indian scientists now suspect that this could be due to genetic isolation caused by endogamous marriages over generations.

Endogamous marriages – meaning people marrying within a subpopulation based on caste, gotra, language or culture – lead to reduced genetic variation. They are different from marriages among close relatives (consanguineous marriages) – which is also prevalent in parts of South India.   

In genetics, the phenomenon of a small number of ancestors giving rise to many descendants is known as ‘founder event’ or a population bottleneck. A study of anthropologically different subpopulations in South Asia has revealed that many of them are a result of strong ‘founder events’. In each of such groups, large stretches of DNA originates from a common founder in the last about 100 generations.

There is less genetic variation because these subpopulations have lived in genetic isolation despite co-living with other groups for centuries due to various factors including caste. Such populations are vulnerable to recessive genetic diseases (in which an offspring gets disease-causing genes from both parents). This risk, researchers say, is very different from that due to marriages among close relatives.

The study, led by scientists at Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), appeared in scientific journal Nature Genetics on Tuesday. Scientists analysed samples from over 2800 individuals from over 275 distinct South Asian populations belonging to various social and linguistic groups from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. They developed an algorithm to quantify impact of ‘founder events’ in each group based on stretches in DNA shared from a common founder over generations.

“We found that 81 out of 263 unique South Asian groups, including 14 groups with estimated census sizes of over a million, have a strong founder event,” said Dr Kumarasamy Thangaraj, who led the study along with David Reich of Harvard Medical School.  These large population groups with founder events include Gujjar (Jammu & Kashmir), Baniyas (UP), Pattapu kapu (AP), Vadde (AP), Yadav (Puducherry), Kashtriya Aqnikula (AP), Naga (Nagaland), Kumhar (UP), Reddy (Telangana), Kallar (TN), Brahmin Manipuri (Manipur), Arunthathiyar (TN) and Vysya (Telangana).

Researchers have highlighted the problem through example of Vysya population which has size of more than 3 million. The Vysyas have about 100-fold higher rate of a metabolic disorder called Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) deficiency compared to other groups. Such people are highly sensitive to anesthesia administered prior to surgery.

“The next step would be to identify specific recessive diseases among various subpopulations and identify genes responsible for them,” Dr Thangaraj told India Science Wire. The research can have significant public health applications, as has been done with some population groups like Ashkenazi Jews, Finns, Amish, Hutterites, Sardinians, and French Canadians in the West. Once recessive genetic diseases specific to different groups are mapped, preventive steps like prenatal testing, premarital counseling and screening can help decrease burden of such diseases in communities.

The team of researchers came from Columbia University; Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Manipal University; Centre for Human Genetics, Bangalore; Mangalore University; Fetal Care Research Foundation, Chennai; Amity University, Noida; Genome Foundation, Hyderabad; Anthropological Survey of India, Kolkata; and Birbal Sahani Institute of Paleosciences, Lucknow. The research was funded by Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). (India Science Wire)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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HP launches new range of Copilot+ AI laptops in India

This enables AI functionalities to operate offline, ensuring faster processing and enhanced data privacy—a boon for users in India’s fast-evolving digital landscape.

Published

6 days ago

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April 24, 2025

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HP has unveiled an exciting new lineup of Copilot+ PCs in India, introducing four laptops crafted to deliver cutting-edge AI experiences directly on the device. Launched under the HP EliteBook, ProBook, and OmniBook series, these models cater to a wide range of users, from corporate professionals to creative minds like graphic designers and content creators.

Powered by processors from Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm, these laptops feature dedicated Neural Processing Units (NPUs) that perform 40 to 55 trillion operations per second. This enables AI functionalities to operate offline, ensuring faster processing and enhanced data privacy—a boon for users in India’s fast-evolving digital landscape.

The laptops come loaded with HP’s AI-driven tools, including the AI Companion, myHP software, and Poly Camera Pro, designed to streamline productivity and elevate communication. These tools offer real-time file analysis, crystal-clear voice output, and smart camera features for seamless video calls, making them ideal for both professional and creative tasks.

The EliteBook series, starting at Rs 87,440, targets business users with models like the EliteBook 8 and 6 series, alongside the ProBook 4. These machines boast extended battery life, robust security features, and noise-cancellation technology for distraction-free meetings. Meanwhile, the OmniBook series, priced from Rs 78,999, is tailored for content creators and collaborative professionals. This range includes the OmniBook Ultra 14, 5 16, 7 Aero 13, and X 14, offering versatility for dynamic workloads.

HP’s AI Companion enables offline file searches, saving time for busy users. The Poly Camera Pro transforms video calls with multi-camera support, background effects, and streaming-ready features, while Poly Audio ensures clear conversations by filtering out background noise and balancing volume levels.

“India is poised to lead the global AI revolution, with its vibrant talent pool and dynamic growth,” said Ipsita Dasgupta, Managing Director of HP India. “Our expanded Copilot+ portfolio empowers everyone—from entrepreneurs to students—with AI tools to thrive in this new era.”

These Copilot+ PCs will soon be available through HP’s online store and retail partners across India, promising to redefine how Indians work and create.

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Samsung Galaxy S25 FE may skip chip upgrade, could reuse Exynos 2400e

Samsung’s next Fan Edition smartphone, the Galaxy S25 FE, is likely to feature the same Exynos 2400e processor as last year’s model, according to new leaks.

Published

7 days ago

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April 23, 2025

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Samsung

Samsung appears to be following a conservative route for its upcoming Galaxy S25 FE, with reports suggesting that the smartphone will feature the same Exynos 2400e chipset used in last year’s Galaxy S24 FE. While the tech giant has not officially confirmed the device’s launch, leaks hint that the handset—codenamed R13—is already under development.

According to internal code seen by the media, the Galaxy S25 FE carries the codename siop_r13s_s5e9945, confirming its chipset as Exynos 2400/2400e. This is the same processor seen in the Galaxy S24 FE, indicating that Samsung may skip a processor upgrade this year.

If accurate, this decision places the S25 FE behind newer premium chipsets like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, Snapdragon 8 Elite, and MediaTek Dimensity 9400, potentially making the device less powerful in comparison to flagship competitors in 2025.

The Galaxy S25 FE is expected to launch towards the end of Q3 or early Q4 2025, as a more affordable variant of the Galaxy S25 series. Much like its predecessor, it will likely aim to strike a balance between performance and price, appealing to cost-conscious consumers.

Last year’s Galaxy S24 FE, launched in September 2024, came at a price of Rs. 59,999 for the 8GB + 128GB model. It featured a 6.7-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, 50MP triple rear camera, 10MP selfie camera, 4700mAh battery, and support for Galaxy AI features. If Samsung follows suit, the S25 FE could retain many of these specifications, making only minor hardware or software tweaks.

The report also mentions that the Indian variant of the Galaxy M36 5G may be powered by the Exynos 1380 chipset, the same one used in the Galaxy M35 5G. This suggests Samsung might be keeping things uniform across its mid-range portfolio for 2025.

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iQOO Z10 5G, Z10x 5G launched in India: Check prices, features, and more

Customers can benefit from a ₹2,000 instant discount or an exchange offer, effectively reducing the prices to ₹19,999, ₹21,999, and ₹23,999, respectively.

Published

3 weeks ago

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April 11, 2025

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Vivo’s sub-brand, iQOO, has unveiled two exciting additions to its affordable Z series in India: the iQOO Z10 5G and iQOO Z10x 5G. Both smartphones are designed with exceptional battery performance in mind, boasting impressive capacities of 7,300mAh for the Z10 and 6,500mAh for the Z10x.

Pricing details: 

The iQOO Z10 begins at ₹21,999 for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage model. The price increases to ₹23,999 for the 8GB RAM with 256GB storage variant, while the top-tier version with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage is available for ₹25,999. Customers can benefit from a ₹2,000 instant discount or an exchange offer, effectively reducing the prices to ₹19,999, ₹21,999, and ₹23,999, respectively.

The iQOO Z10x 5G is more budget-friendly, priced at ₹13,499 for the 6GB RAM and 128GB storage version. The 8GB RAM variant with the same storage costs ₹14,999, and the 256GB storage model, paired with 8GB RAM, is priced at ₹16,499. Additionally, a ₹1,000 instant bank discount is also available as a part of the launch promotions.

Specifications highlights: 

The iQOO Z10 features a vibrant 6.77-inch Full HD AMOLED display with a swift 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 5000 nits. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor, offering either 8GB or 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM and storage options of 128GB or 256GB UFS 2.2. Running on Funtouch OS 15 based on Android 15, it is equipped with a remarkable 7,300mAh battery that supports fast 90W charging. The camera setup includes a 50MP Sony IMX882 primary camera and a 32MP front-facing shooter for selfies.

On the other hand, the iQOO Z10x sports a 6.72-inch Full HD+ IPS LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1050 nits peak brightness. It runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor and comes with configurations of 6GB or 8GB RAM and 128GB or 256GB UFS 3.1 storage. The device packs a 6,500mAh battery with 44W fast charging and features a 50MP primary camera paired with an 8MP selfie camera, making it a solid choice for photography enthusiasts on a budget.

With competitive pricing and robust specifications, the iQOO Z10 and Z10x offer excellent options for users seeking powerful smartphones without breaking the bank.

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