Tag Archives: unknown-genetic

Depressed People Really Do See a Gray World

“Researchers at the University of Freiburg in Germany had previously shown that people with depression have difficulty detecting black-and-white contrast differences. In new research, published in the journal Biological Psychiatry, the team had 40 patients with major depression and 40 healthy individuals view a sequence of five black-and-white checkerboards of different contrasts. Meanwhile, the researchers measured the pattern electroretinogram, which is similar to anelectrocardiogram (ECG) of the retina of the eye. The depressed patients had dramatically lower retinal responses to the varying black-and-white contrasts than healthy individuals. The results held regardless of whether patients were taking antidepressants. “These data highlight the profound ways that depression alters one's experience of the world,” said Dr. John Krystal, editor of the journal. “The poet William Cowper said that 'variety's the very spice of life,' yet when people are depressed, they are less able to perceive contrasts in the visual world. This loss would seem to make the world a less pleasurable place.” http://www.livescience.com/culture/depressed-people-see-gray-world-100720.html added by: DeliaTheArtist

Black British couple shocked by ‘miracle’ blonde, white baby

A BLACK British couple have spoken of their amazement after their baby girl was born white, with blue eyes and blonde hair. Doctors say baby Nmachi Ihegboro is not an albino and attribute her appearance to an unknown genetic mutation. Nmachi, whose name means “Beauty of God” in the Nigerian couple's homeland, has confused genetics experts because neither of her parents has any mixed-race family history. Dad Ben Ihegboro said: “The first thing I said was 'What the flip?' We both just sat there after the birth staring at her for ages – not saying anything. “She doesn't look like an albino child anyway – not like the ones I've seen back in Nigeria or in books. She just looks like a healthy white baby.” He added, “My mum is a black Nigerian, although she has a bit fairer skin than mine. But we don't know of any white ancestry. We wondered if it was a genetic twist. But even then, what is with the long curly blonde hair?” Mr Ihegboro was quick to quell any murmurings of infedility, saying: “My wife is true to me. Even if she hadn't been, the baby still wouldn't look like that.” Mum Angelaadmitted that she was “speechless” when she first saw her baby girl, who was delivered by C-section. “I thought, 'What is this little doll?' She's beautiful, and I love her. Her color doesn't matter. She's a miracle baby. But still, what on earth happened here?” she said. Nmachi is now at home in Woolwich, southeastern London, with siblings Chisom and Dumebi. Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/black-british-couple-shocked-by-miracle-blo… added by: eden49