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Research Institute (<keyword id="20370739" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cmfri" source="keywords">CMFRI</keyword>) have successfully deciphered the genome of the <keyword id="23138296" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="asian-green-mussel" source="Orion">Asian green mussel</keyword> (Perna viridis), a discovery poised to revolutionise the understanding of this vital <keyword id="662896" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="marine-species" source="Orion">marine species</keyword>. This is the first-ever <keyword id="184804" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="chromosome" source="Orion">chromosome</keyword> level genome sequencing of a marine invertebrate species from India. Earlier, CMFRI had come out with a similar genome finding for Indian oil sardine. The Asian green mussel, Kallummakkaya in local parlance, is an important aquaculture species in the family Mytilidae contributing substantially to molluscan aquaculture. CMFRI's research found that the mussel's genome contains 723.49 Mb in size and is anchored into 15 chromosomes, according to a CMFRI release here on Thursday. The research was published in the journal Scientific Data by Nature Group. "The development will be a game-changer in boosting sustainable mussel aquaculture in the country, as this research will help gain insights into its growth, reproduction and disease resistance", said Dr Grinson George, Director of CMFRI. The findings will benefit the aquaculture sector by improving genomic selection and breeding practices, leading to enhanced productivity and resilience in fisheries, he added. A team of researchers from CMFRI led by Principal Scientist Dr Sandhya Sukumaran carried out this study with funding support from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), New Delhi. The team includes Dr A Gopalakrishnan, V G Vysakh, Dr Wilson Sebastian, Dr Lalitha Hari Dharani, Dr Akhilesh Pandey, Dr Abishek Kumar and Dr J K Jena. According to scientists, this will help develop new strategies to combat diseases in the mussel. "Genomic investigations on this species are vital to understand genes, gene combinations and signaling pathways leading to the parasitic diseases, which constitute a major threat to Asian green mussel aquaculture in India causing substantial mortalities in farms," said Dr Sandhya Sukumaran. According to the scientists, the genome assembly of green mussels will emerge as a valuable tool for exploring <keyword id="6355291" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cancer" source="Orion">cancer</keyword> mechanisms and developing new therapeutic strategies. "A total of 49654 protein-coding genes were identified, including 634 genes associated with the cancer pathway and 408 genes associated with viral carcinogenesis. This indicates that this species is a novel model organism for cancer research," Sukumaran said. This advancement promises to significantly enhance our understanding of cancer pathways and facilitate the discovery of novel treatments, she added. Apart from its aquaculture prospects, Asian green mussels play a vital role as a bio-monitor as it is capable of accumulating heavy metals and other environmental pollutants in large quantities. Understanding the genome assembly will provide valuable information about the genomic pathways involved in response to pollutants. "The genetic markers to be developed from this research could be used to monitor pollutants in aquatic bodies, a significant milestone in safeguarding the aquatic environment," Sandhya said. Scientists believe that the genome decoding of this species would enhance knowledge regarding the effect of environmental pollutants on biological systems, as this bivalve is adaptable to local environmental stressors like variations in pH, temperature, salinity and air exposure.

CMFRI scientists crack genetic code of Asian green mussel

In an astonishing breakthrough, scientists in India have <keyword id="23249685" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="genetically-engineered-bacteria" source="keywords">genetically engineered bacteria</keyword> capable of performing <keyword id="23249686" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mathematical-operations" source="keywords">mathematical operations</keyword>. Researchers from the <keyword id="23249687" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Saha-Institute-of-Nuclear-Physics" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics">Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics</keyword> (SINP) in Kolkata have demonstrated that clusters of bacterial cells can add, subtract, and even identify prime numbers between 0 and 9. This accomplishment marks a crucial step toward the development of biocomputers—computational devices made from <keyword id="23206086" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="living-cells" source="keywords">living cells</keyword> that could revolutionise how we think about computing in the future. <h2>A history of <keyword id="23249688" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="biological-computing" source="keywords">biological computing</keyword> </h2>The concept of using living cells for computation is not entirely new. Over the past two decades, researchers worldwide have explored the potential of biological systems to perform computational tasks. The first major breakthroughs came in the early 2000s when scientists developed synthetic biology techniques to engineer cells with logic gates—the fundamental components of digital computers. These biological logic gates allowed simple operations such as "AND," "OR," and "NOT," mimicking the operations seen in silicon-based processors. Following this, scientists advanced by using various microbes, such as <keyword id="22608696" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="E-coli" source="keywords">E. coli</keyword> and yeast, to perform basic mathematical operations like addition and subtraction. Researchers were able to construct networks of genes and proteins within the cells, programming them to respond to specific chemical inputs. While these early studies were promising, the computational tasks performed by cells were relatively simple and far from rivalling the capabilities of modern microprocessors. However, SINP's latest research takes a significant step forward by using a more sophisticated approach. The integration of artificial neural network concepts with genetic engineering enabled these bacterial cells to solve more complex and abstract problems, such as identifying prime numbers — tasks traditionally considered the domain of human brains or advanced computers. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="103532224" title="Scientist engineered bacteria to generate electricity from wastewater" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> <h2>Turning <keyword id="6376020" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bacteria" source="Orion">bacteria</keyword> into living machines </h2>The research team modified the E. coli genomes, incorporating 14 distinct genetic circuits, to create different bacterial types. These bacteria can be combined and arranged in liquid environments to execute various computational functions. In one set of experiments, the scientists were able to get them to add, subtract, and solve ten different computational problems, including determining prime numbers between 0 and 9. The bacteria's ability to answer yes-or-no questions, like "Is 4 a prime number?" or "Is 7 a prime number?" was particularly astonishing. When the bacteria were questioned chemically, they responded by secreting proteins that indicated their answers — green for "yes" and red for "no." This development underscores their capacity to function as living computers. The implications of this research are immense, not only for computational science but also for fundamental biology. “Mammalian cells make decisions all the time, and we currently have very little understanding of this decision-making process,” said Mohit Kumar Jolly, assistant professor at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. This study offers fresh insights into biological decision-making and could open new avenues for understanding how living organisms process information. As scientists continue to explore the computational power of living cells, the possibilities are endless. Bacteria, once considered simple organisms, may well hold the key to the future of computing. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="110909568" title="A living computer? This AI made from interconnected &amp;quot;mini-brains&amp;quot; requires a million times less power than ChatGPT!" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

Did you know that genetically engineered bacteria can do math?

A new study has uncovered genes that could be related to <keyword id="21415597" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="heart-conditions" source="keywords">heart conditions</keyword> and <keyword id="20097972" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Alzheimers-disease" source="keywords">Alzheimer's disease</keyword>, suggesting that the two could have similar origins. Researchers said that evidence increasingly links people having the heart condition with a quicker <keyword id="20097971" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cognitive-decline" source="keywords">cognitive decline</keyword> and a 26% increased risk of dementia, affecting one's memory and thinking, and interfering with daily activities. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. <keyword id="20849758" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronary-artery-disease" source="keywords">Coronary artery disease</keyword> is a condition in which blood flow to the heart is restricted due to narrowing of blood vessels. Even abnormal levels of fat in blood and inflammation could be possible shared risk factors between having coronary artery disease and developing Alzheimer's disease, the researchers at Edith Cowan University, Australia said. However, the processes underlying the link remain unclear. In this study, they employed genetic methods to examine the intricate relationship between heart disease and Alzheimer's disease. The team chose to study seven heart disease-related factors, such as coronary artery disease and angina, and 13 lipids, including cholesterol - both 'good' and 'bad'. Previous studies have long suggested lipids to play a role in the development of Alzheimer's disease, they said. "Our comprehensive analysis reveals a significant and positive global genetic correlation between Alzheimer's disease and three <keyword id="22817116" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lipid-traits" source="keywords">lipid traits</keyword>: LDL ('bad' cholesterol), triglycerides, and total cholesterol," the authors wrote in the study published in the <keyword id="22817118" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="International-Journal-of-Molecular-Sciences" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="International Journal of Molecular Sciences" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="International Journal of Molecular Sciences">International Journal of Molecular Sciences</keyword>. This suggests that certain lipids, not all, may have a more direct genetic link with Alzheimer's disease, they said. However, many of the lipids that the authors studied were genetically related with coronary artery disease. "Specifically, we found significant genetic correlations between coronary artery disease traits and lipid profiles such as HDL, LDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol, aligning with the existing literature that underscores the genetic interplay in <keyword id="22817117" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cardiovascular-risk-factors" source="keywords">cardiovascular risk factors</keyword>," they wrote. By applying genetic approaches to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between Alzheimer's disease and coronary artery disease, we have uncovered novel insights into the underlying mechanisms linking these conditions, corresponding author Emmanuel Adewuyi, from Edith Cowan University, said.

Genetic connections between Alzheimer's disease, heart conditions found, notes recent study

<ul class="summary-list"><li>In my 20s, I was a model and started to lose my hair; I blamed my dad's genetics.</li><li>I started taking medication to slow my hair thinning, which had bad side effects. </li></ul>I often think about my father's impact on my life — from cultivating an adventurous mindset and entrepreneurial spirit to influencing how I now parent <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lonely-empty-nester-sons-went-to-college-2023-8">my son</a>.For many men, one of these reflections — as once was mine — is something seemingly trivial yet profoundly impactful: their hairline. When my hair started thinning in my 20s, I feared I was taking after <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/born-after-dads-first-kids-improved-older-father-2024-6">my father</a>, who's mostly bald.It's a common cultural assumption that we inherit our hair fate from our fathers. But as someone who dedicated nearly a decade to understanding <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/androgenic-alopecia-hair-loss-woman-beauty-2024-5">hair health</a>, I now believe we shouldn't blame our dads for our hairlines.<h2 id="dddb1419-73a5-453d-ba60-0a6c883e5c5d">I had to navigate my own hair health challenges</h2>When my hair started to thin, I was modeling to put myself through engineering school. I was juggling a hectic career alongside my own <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/work-friends-are-over-remote-jobs-gen-z-relationships-pandemic-2024-6">personal relationships</a> and commitments. Unsurprisingly, you are acutely aware of your appearance as a model. So when I noticed shedding after running my hands through my hair, I was terrified. I literally started counting the number of hairs I was losing on a daily basis. You're expected to lose around 80, and I was losing double that.I got flashes of my own father's experience and couldn't help but think that I was destined to follow suit. I recall speaking to him around this time — it wasn't a conversation we'd had previously — and learning for the first time how young he was when he started losing his hair.Afraid I would be doomed to the same fate as the men in my family before me, I turned to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dermatologists-using-blood-pressure-drug-oral-minoxidil-treat-hair-loss-2022-8">prescription hair drugs</a>. I ended up taking prescription drugs for nearly eight years. While it provided some benefits at first, the significant side effects — decreased libido and sexual dysfunction — made me seriously question whether the health costs were worth it. My confidence plummeted, and it started affecting my relationships and self-esteem. This experience, while challenging, was the catalyst needed to pursue a drug-free, holistic solution to tackle my own thinning hair.When beginning to navigate the world of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/beauty/thinning-hair">hair thinning</a>, I quickly learned that the assumption of genetic inevitability is only part of the story. Yes, genetics play a role, but they are far from the whole picture. Our hair is a window into our overall health, and it's impacted by many external factors like stress, nutrition, hormones, and more. This was a transformative realization for me, and I believe it can empower many men.<h2 id="a9bf3d20-14d9-4fac-bd9d-0ba6318defde">There are lesser known external factors that impact your hair health</h2>Stress, for example, is one major factor in hair health. If not managed, stress can impact our bodies in various ways, including our hair. It disrupts the hair growth cycle, leading to increased hair shedding and slower growth. When I reflect now, it's obvious that my hair thinning in those stressful early years of building my career was exacerbated by all the demands I was putting on my body and mind. By taking a whole-body approach and supporting my diet, exercise, sleep, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/mental-health/stress-relief">stress managemen</a>t, I improved my hair health and quality significantly.Since becoming a parent to a son of my own in 2022, I have an even greater appreciation for the interconnection of our body systems and the importance of a holistic approach to well-being. Parenthood is a beautiful and life-changing experience, but it also opened my eyes to how many stressors can impact your health. It wasn't until the early days of fatherhood that I could clearly see sleep — or lack thereof — was taking a toll on both my mental and physical health. Consistent <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sleep-loss-deprivation-america-reasons-health-inequality-economic-stress-money-2024-5">lack of sleep</a> felt like one continuous bad hair day, and I had the increased hair shedding to prove it. It became even more critical to prioritize self-care from a whole-body perspective.<h2 id="340e24ba-e2eb-4c28-83af-748f5ed121f0">I hope my son feels empowered to take things into his own hands</h2>Now that I have a son of my own, I think about the lessons I want to instill in him. I aim to lead by example and hope my own prioritization of a health-forward lifestyle provides a positive influence. He's just <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/single-mother-toddlers-graduated-masters-degree-2024-6">a toddler</a> now and has an incredible head of hair, so it's hard to picture otherwise. It is also impossible to predict the future or what technology will be at our fingertips in 20-odd years. But should he one day experience thinning or shedding, I hope he feels empowered to take things into his own hands — and not entirely blame me.So, to all the sons out there starting to scrutinize their widening part lines or depleting crown coverage, my advice is this: Don't just accept your supposed "genetic fate." You have the power to take control of your hair health through <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/live-to-100-centenarian-lifestyle-choices-study-2024-6">lifestyle factors</a> like diet, exercise, quality sleep, and stress management. Your dad may have contributed to some genetic factors, but you dictate just how much those genes get expressed through your lifestyle choices.Make hair health a priority. Follow a hair-healthy regimen, and you may be surprised by your results — no matter what may have been passed down through the generations.Giorgos Tsetis is the co-founder and CEO of Nutrafol, a hair growth and skin health supplement brand.

I'm a hair health expert, and I want men to stop blaming their fathers for thinning hair. Genetics is only half the story.

Williams syndrome is the genetic condition that makes people pathologically friendly &mdash; in a lonely world

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Scientists have found a mutation in our DNA that snipped our tails off.</li><li>The mutation may have allowed our ancestors to walk upright.</li></ul>We may have finally figured out why we begin developing tails in the womb — and why we lose them at around eight weeks of gestation.A single genetic tweak that occurred among our ancestors 25 million years ago means humans today are unable to grow a tail, according to a new study.This tweak to our genetic makeup may have given us<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/human-evolution-myths-2023-3"> evolutionary advantages</a>, such as being able to walk upright — but it came at a cost.Researchers believe it could be behind a birth defect called spina bifida that still affects babies.<div type="image" title="Langur monkeys" height="4000" width="6000" msid="108211571" hostid="261" sizebytes="2290370"></div><h2>A long-standing mystery</h2>Humans' ancestors started off with a tail, but about 25 million years ago, they dropped the appendage, leaving it to other tree-dwelling primates like monkeys.But it's not like we've completely lost the ability to make a tail. Human fetuses start growing a tail in the womb, but after about eight weeks they lose it leaving behind only the coccyx, a nub at the end of the spine where the tail used to be.That we still have the genes to make a tail, but our bodies refuse to make it, has long puzzled scientists.Scientists knew that a gene called TBXT was involved in the snipping of the tail. Mutations to this gene are linked to shortened tail phenotypes in tailed animals. It's what gave us the Manx cat, a breed of cat without a tail, for instance.But they couldn't figure out why our genetic makeup made us tail-less. A team of scientists at the NYU Langone and Grossman School of Medicine say they have finally cracked it.<div type="image" title="A Manx cat kitten, which doesn't have a tail, follows a human foot." height="2848" width="4272" msid="108211573" hostid="261" sizebytes="287690"></div><h2>Wandering DNA snipped off our tails</h2>The solution, they found, was in a type of "jumping gene" called an Alu element. These types of DNA sequences are known for moving around the genome.Scientists found two Alu elements around a part of the TBXT gene, called Exon 6. The insertion of these DNA sequences seemed to result in the loss of a tail.Scientists tested their findings by inserting Alu sequences in mice. They found they sometimes had shortened tails or no tails at all.<div type="image" title="Eight mice are shown side by side. The two right-hand side mice have no tail at all." height="304" width="459" msid="108211574" hostid="261" sizebytes="12890"></div>It's still not clear exactly how the mutation leads us to be tail-less, Miriam Konkel and Emily Casanova, two experts who commented on the work but were not involved in the study, said <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=1b121b36b6c46a2724eea8129fd1c4d8844e8e6de951f06cd36de8a2504815c5&amp;postID=65e598b568a8d2c26bf09ef8&amp;postSlug=dna-mutation-snipped-human-tails-25-million-years-cost-study-2024-3&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fd41586-024-00309-z.epdf%3Fno_publisher_access%3D1%26r3_referer%3Dnature">in an opinion piece</a> in Nature.There could still be other factors at play in the formation of a tail that could be working with the Alu elements in the TBXT gene.Still, the work is "deeply compelling" and offers "a new chapter in the tale of our tail," Konkel and Casanova said.Their findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=720c65fc01081c2608f13e089330d9cdca72356374090a3ab1cd92ffccaf1f5e&amp;postID=65e598b568a8d2c26bf09ef8&amp;postSlug=dna-mutation-snipped-human-tails-25-million-years-cost-study-2024-3&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fs41586-024-07095-8">Nature on February 28</a>. A version of the study, published before it passed the scrutiny of peers, was previously published on the online server arXiv in 2021.<h2>A missing tail that comes with a cost</h2>While the work provides an unprecedented look into why humans are the way they are, it also exposes a sinister shadow of the mutation.Scientists found that adding the Alu sequences to the TBXT gene in mice didn't only truncate their tails, it also gave them an unusually high level of a defect in the neural tube, a structure which later turns into the nerves in the spine and the brain.In humans, that defect is known for producing spina bifida, which is when the baby's spinal cord doesn't completely close, leaving a bit of the spine and some nerves exposed on the back. This can lead to paralysis or incontinence. It is fairly common, affecting <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/spinabifida/data.html">about one in 2,000 births in the US </a>every year.Some scientists argue that it was a necessary sacrifice in our quest to stand up. They say, for instance, that a tail would have hindered the delicate balance that keeps us on our feet.Others, however, aren't sure it's that simple.<div type="image" title="A philogenetic tree shows the evolution of primates" height="668" width="830" msid="108211577" hostid="261" sizebytes="24016"></div>Early research now suggests we may have lost our tails while we were still in trees, and that a tail could have helped, rather than hindered, our two-legged lifestyle, said Konkel and Casanova.It's possible, these scientists say, that the mutation arose when humans' and apes' ancestors were isolated from other groups. They claim the loss of the tail was less of an evolutionary boon as it was a bizarre trait our ancestors kept because they didn't mix with primates with tails at the time."We apparently paid a cost for the loss of the tail, and we still feel the echoes," Itai Yanai, a study author and graduate researcher at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.science.org/content/article/jumping-gene-may-have-erased-tails-humans-and-other-apes-and-boosted-our-risk-birth">previously told Science magazine</a>."We must have had a clear benefit for losing the tail, whether it was improved locomotion or something else," said Yanai.

A single genetic tweak caused human ancestors to lose their tails 25 million years ago — but it came at a cost      

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Hackers stole the data of millions of 23andMe customers in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/23andme-data-stolen-hacked-sold-dark-web-2023-10">data breach in October</a>.</li><li>The hackers used previously compromised login credentials to access the data.</li></ul>Over the past few months, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/future-healthcare-dna-genetic-testing-23andme-2018-12">genetic testing giant 23andMe</a> has been investigating exactly how the data of millions of its users was compromised in a data breach back in October. Now, after being hit by a <a target="_blank" href="https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/privacy/data-breach/23andme-hit-with-another-class-action-lawsuit-over-data-breach/">series of class action lawsuits</a> from victims of the breach, the company is reportedly turning the blame back to the users — telling them they should have been more cautious about recycling their login credentials. "Users negligently recycled and failed to update their passwords following these past security incidents, which are unrelated to 23andMe," the company told a group of victims in a letter initially <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/01/03/23andme-tells-victims-its-their-fault-that-their-data-was-breached/">reported by TechCrunch</a>. "Therefore, the incident was not a result of 23andMe's alleged failure to maintain reasonable security measures under the CPRA." The CPRA — otherwise known as the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/prop-24-privacy-california-data-tracking-facebook-google-2020-11">California Privacy Rights Act</a> — strengthened security measures for consumers to stop businesses from sharing their personal information. The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/23and-me-hack-data-breach-personal-data-2023-12">hackers initially got access to around 14,000 accounts</a> using previously compromised login credentials, but they then used a feature of 23andMe to gain access to almost half of the company's user base, or about 7 million accounts, the company previously told Business Insider. One 23andMe customer impacted by the breach told TechCrunch that it's "appalling that 23andMe is attempting to hide from consequences instead of helping its customers."The legal parties representing the victims aren't thrilled with the company's response either. "Rather than acknowledge its role in this data security disaster, 23andMe has apparently decided to leave its customers out to dry while downplaying the seriousness of these events," Hassan Zavareei, one of the lawyers representing the victims who received the letter from 23andMe, told TechCrunch. He and 23andMe did not respond to Business Insider's requests for comment.Following the breach, the company asked all its users to reset their passwords and set up additional security measures like two-factor authentication, <a target="_blank" href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/addressing-data-security-concerns">according</a> to its website. It also noted that it now requires all new and existing customers to log in to their accounts using two-step verification.In October, the company said the results of its preliminary investigation showed no indication of a data security incident within its systems. The company has reiterated that through the investigation.

Genetic testing giant 23andMe is reportedly turning the blame back on its customers for its recent data breach

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Our genetics play a big role in how easy we find it to gain and lose weight. </li><li>But it's possible to be a healthy weight despite your genes, an expert in the genetics of obesity said.</li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/intermittent-fasting-high-protein-diet-lost-weight-kept-off-2024-1">Losing weight and keeping it off</a> is tough, but just how tough depends on your genes, according to a scientist who studies the genetics of obesity. But it's still possible to make healthy changes to your body even if your biology predisposes you to habits such as overeating.A person's genetics are probably the biggest influence on why and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-eat-junk-food-without-binging-using-diet-hack-2024-1">how much a person eats</a>, professor Giles Yeo, principal research associate at the University of Cambridge Institute of Metabolic Science, told the Just One Thing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001tscq">podcast</a> on January 3.Our biology impacts body weight in multiple ways, from giving us a preference for sweet treats versus veggies to suppressing or ramping up our appetites when stressed out or making one person <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/burn-fat-build-muscle-by-eating-more-food-lift-weights-2023-11?r=US&amp;IR=T">require more food to feel full </a>and satisfied than another.All of these factors mean that losing weight is a lot harder for some than it is for others.But, Yeo said: "Your genes do not determine who you are. They set a set of possibilities, but you can do something about it."Yeo shared four tips for healthy, sustainable weight loss, regardless of your genes.<h2>Find a diet that you can stick to</h2>Yeo's top tip for losing weight is finding a diet that's healthy and you can stick to."There are diets which work very very well for some people but have absolutely no effect on other people. Or other people can't stick to them," he said.Any diet that allows you to absorb fewer calories will get you to lose weight, he said, but he recommended most people try and eat more protein, a lot more fiber, and fewer refined carbohydrates.His recommendation mirrors the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mediterrean-diet-healthiest-best-overall-2024-1?r=US&amp;IR=T">Mediterranean diet,</a> which has been voted the healthiest way to eat by US News &amp; World Report for seven years in a row.<h2>Don't focus on calories alone</h2>To lose weight, you have to be in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/diet-nutrition/benefits-of-calorie-deficit-diet?r=US&amp;IR=T">calorie deficit</a>, meaning you're burning more calories than you consume. But what you eat matters even more because calorie counts on packaging can be misleading, Yeo said.Calories can tell you how much energy is in a food or drink, but nothing about its nutritional value, which is important, he said. For example, 200 calories of protein will keep you feeling full for much longer and provide you with more nutrients than 200 calories of a chocolate bar high in refined sugar.Equally, the amount of calories the body absorbs differs depending on what we've eaten. Yeo explained that the body extracts fewer calories from protein than sugar because it's more chemically complex and takes more time to digest. "Protein calories are 30% wrong everywhere," he said on the podcast.The way that food is prepared matters, too. The body is able to absorb more calories from corn, for example, if it's broken down and made into a tortilla than if it's eaten straight off the cob, Yeo said.<h2>Exercise doesn't really help you lose weight</h2>Although excellent for our overall health, exercise is actually not a very good weight-loss tool, partly because it's hard to burn off a significant amount of calories, and it also leaves you feeling hungry, Yeo said.Research suggests working out makes up only about 5% of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-exercise-doesnt-help-you-lose-weight-chart-fat-loss-2023-1?r=US&amp;IR=T">energy we burn in a day</a>, while the rest mostly comes from simply living. It can however be beneficial in helping you keep weight off once you've lost it.This is because when you lose weight, your metabolic rate — or the amount of energy your body needs to perform basic functions —drops, but when you exercise, it temporarily rises again. "So it begins to increase your metabolic rate at least temporarily during the day, which takes away some of this effect of the weight loss metabolic rate drop," Yeo said.If you find that exercise reduces your stress levels, he said, it may also help you keep off weight if you're someone who's likely to reach for food when worry hits.<h2>Focus on your health over your appearance</h2>People want to lose weight for lots of reasons but a common motivation is to fit into societal beauty ideals. This can prove to be a weak motivator in the long run though, and doesn't necessarily benefit your health, Yeo said.Instead, he thinks we should all try and focus more on our health and the many tangible benefits of healthy eating and exercise, such as improved mood, better sleep, and higher energy levels."If you take care of your health, your weight will take care of itself," he said.

You Searched For "Genetic" and got 8 results

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