A dangerous #Ecoli strain has emerged; a small #mutation may explain its rise
A sweeping genetic analysis by researchers at #CDC suggests a tiny mutation in one of the #bacteria's molecular weapons may be behind the strain's rise. The mutation the CDC researchers found was in one of these #T3SS effectors, a protein called #EspW. The CDC researchers suggest this could help E. coli when it's on #lettuce and other #produce.
https://arstechnica.com/health/2025/05/a-dangerous-e-coli-strain-has-emerged-a-small-mutation-may-explain-its-rise/

A quotation from Marcus Aurelius

Constantly observe everything coming into being through change, and accustom yourself to the thought that universal nature loves nothing so much as to change the things that are and to create new things in their likeness. For everything that exists is, in a sense, the seed of what will arise from it.
 
[Θεώρει διηνεκῶς πάντα κατὰ μεταβολὴν γινόμενα καὶ ἐθίζου ἐννοεῖν, ὅτι οὐδὲν οὕτως φιλεῖ ἡ τῶν ὅλων φύσις ὡς τὸ τὰ ὄντα μεταβάλλειν καὶ ποιεῖν νέα ὅμοια. σπέρμα γὰρ τρόπον τινὰ πᾶν τὸ ὃν τοῦ ἐξ αὐτοῦ ἐσομένου.]

Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180) Roman emperor (161-180), Stoic philosopher
Meditations [To Himself; Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν], Book 4, ch. 36 (4.36) (AD 161-180) [tr. Hard (2011 ed.)]

Sourcing, notes, alternate translations: wist.info/marcus-aureleus/2668…

This paper using gene sequences to track linguistic 'capacity' is from a #Chomskyite perspective (eg Tattersall among authors) pinning #language #evolution to #genetic #mutation!

But even chimps and bonobos have significant 'capacity' so the key question would be #social conditions which liberate that capacity.

We know from the #ochre record that #ritual culture had become #PanAfrican by 140,000 years ago. This date needs to catch up! They have shell beads in Morocco already.

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1503900/full

#Birdflu - infected San Bernardino County dairy #cows may have concerning new #mutation, https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-03-12/study-shows-widespread-h5n1-bird-flu-infection-in-cattle

A genetic mutation has appeared in dairy cows that could make the virus more deadly and transmissible. Scientists say dairy herds in San Bernardino County are the likely source. Since the outbreak was first reported in dairy cows last March, 70 people have been infected and one person has died.

#H5N1 #mutation {E627K in PB2} detected in #US dairy #herds prompts #caution on #pandemic potential, https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202503/13/WS67d287d2a310c240449daa18.html

SACRAMENTO, the #USA -- Scientists are sounding the alarm about a concerning genetic mutation of the #H5N1 bird flu virus, recently identified in four dairy cow herds, as this mutation could increase the risk of mammal-to-mammal transmission and disease severity.