Biochemistry

52 UC San Diego Researchers Are Most Highly Cited in Their Fields – UC San Diego Health

Fifty-two faculty members and researchers at the University of California San Diego are among the worlds most influential in their fields. The Web of Science Group, an information and technology provider for the global scientific research community, compiled its2019 Highly Cited Researcherslist of more than 6,000 scientists from around the world whose studies were among the top 1% of most-cited publications in their field over the past 11 years.

The number of highly cited researchers from UC San Diego increased by 13% over last years number of forty-six. The listing covers 21 fields of study as well as a cross-field category for researchers who are widely cited across multiple fields. UC San Diego had researchers listed in 14 fields, with the most cited in cross-field (23), followed by molecular biology and genetics (5), clinical medicine (4) and social sciences (4).

UC San Diego has some of the most dedicated, brilliant and hard-working faculty and researchers in the world. Their inclusion on the list of highly cited researchers is a measure of their impact in their respective fields of study as they continue to advance the frontiers of knowledge, said Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla.

Of particular note is Director for the Center of Microbiome Innovation Rob Knights inclusion in three separate areas of study (biology and biochemistry, environment and ecology, microbiology). Out of 6,216 highly cited researchers, only 11 were cited in three fields, making Knight part of a super elite 0.3% of those listed.

There were also 23 Nobel laureates on the list, one of whom, Roger Tsien, was a distinguished professor of both Pharmacology in the School of Medicine and of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UC San Diego until his death in 2016. He shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with two others in 2008 for discovering and developing green fluorescent protein.

David Pendlebury, Senior Citation Analyst at the Web of Science Groups Institute for Scientific Information said that the highly cited researchers create gains for society, innovation and knowledge that make the world healthier, richer, more sustainable and more secure.

It is especially encouraging to see not only the number of highly cited researchers at the university, but the broad range of fields in which they are cited. It really speaks to the fact that UC San Diego conducts groundbreaking research across a wide range of disciplines, said Vice Chancellor for Research Sandra A. Brown. I congratulate everyone on their excellent research and contributions.

The 52 UC San Diego faculty members named by Web of Science and the fields of study in which they were cited are:

Gregory Aarons,social sciences

Ludmil Alexandrov, molecular biology and genetics

David Brenner,cross-field

Kristin Cadenhead,psychiatry/psychology

Kelli Cain, social sciences

Shu Chien, cross-field

Don Cleveland,neuroscience and behavior

Seth Cohen,chemistry

Pieter Dorrestein,cross-field

Mark Ellisman, cross-field

Mark Estelle,plant and animal science

Michael Folger, cross-field

Anthony Gamst, cross-field

Christopher Glass,molecular biology and genetics

Uri Gneezy,economics and business

Antonio Gonzalez, microbiology

Kun-Liang Guan,molecular biology and genetics

Trey Ideker,cross-field

Michael Karin,molecular biology and genetics

Arthur Kavanaugh,clinical medicine

Dusan Keres, space science

Rob Knight,(listed in 3 fields) biology and biochemistry, environment and ecology, microbiology

Razelle Kurzrock, clinical medicine

Lisa Levin, cross-field

Irene Litvan, neuroscience and behavior

Rohit Loomba, clinical medicine

Prashant Mali, biology and biochemistry

Eliezer Masliah, cross-field

Victor Nizet, cross-field

Jerrold Olefsky,cross-field

Bernhard Palsson,biology and biochemistry

Veerabhadran Ramanathan,cross-field

Bing Ren,molecular biology and genetics

Jeremy Rich, cross-field

Douglas Richman,cross-field

Michael Sailor,cross-field

James Sallis,social sciences

William Sandborn,clinical medicine

Bernd Schnabl, cross-field

Julian Schroeder,plant and animal science

Terrence Sejnowski, cross-field

Claude Sirlin, cross-field

Murray Stein,psychiatry/psychology

Steffanie Strathdee, cross-field

Roger Tsien, cross-field

Ming Tsuang,psychiatry/psychology

Joseph Wang,chemistry

Shang-Ping Xie,geosciences

Gene Yeo, cross-field

Kun Zhang, cross-field

Liangfang Zhang,cross-field

Yunde Zhao, plant and animal science

Shu-Hong Zhu, social sciences

You can read about Web of Sciences methodology on their website.

UC San Diegos Studio Ten 300 offers radio and television connections for media interviews with our faculty. For more information, email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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52 UC San Diego Researchers Are Most Highly Cited in Their Fields - UC San Diego Health

Biochemistry

Meet the Researcher: Riqiang Yan, Neuroscience – UConn Today

When he first entered college, Riqiang Yan wanted to be a doctor. But he soon changed paths when he realized how exciting the research tract was.

When I had just graduated high school, I was kind of nave. I didnt know much about the field until I came to college and became more fascinated by the research, Yan says. I wanted to make knowledge in the science part.

Yan began doing research during his undergraduate thesis project, which was trying to develop a new drug formulation for ulcer treatment at Shanghai Medical University. He was so interested in the project that he continued working on it even after his graduated, which was very unusual at that time for a student who otherwise could have enjoyed time off during the summer break. Yan credits Prof. Yuanming Ma () with providing him that opportunity, and guided him toward the research career path he eventually followed. Following this experience, Yan received his masters degree in biochemistry at Shanghai Medical University and went on to earn his Ph.D. in biochemistry at the University of Kentucky.

Yan is now one of the worlds leading Alzheimers disease researchers. He is a professor and chairman of UConn Healths Department of Neuroscience, leading discovery efforts at UConns School of Medicine. Yan came to UConn from the Cleveland Clinic in 2018. He established the first research program focused on studying Alzheimers and other forms of neurodegenerative disease in hopes of potentially discovering effective treatments.

Yans arrival at UConn also ushered in a host of research collaboration opportunities across the School of Medicine and its departments of neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry, neurobiology, the Center on Aging, and brain investigators at the University, as well as with the Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine on UConn Healths campus.

Cutting-Edge Alzheimers Research

Now a preeminent scholar in the field, Yan didnt start out doing Alzheimers research. At the beginning of his independent research career, Yan was studying inflammation in lung diseases for global pharmaceutical company Pharmacia & Upjohn. When the companys priorities changed, Yan shifted over to Alzheimers research. The neurodegenerative disease that affects an estimated 5.5 million Americans has no known cure.

I ended up in Alzheimers research by accident, Yan says. It was a very exciting time because we had so many unknown questions about Alzheimers disease to explore.

That accident turned out to be extremely productive. One year after making the switch, Yan made a breakthrough discovery.

In 1999, Yan and several other groups of researchers simultaneously discovered that an enzyme known as BACE1 plays a crucial role in the processes that lead to the onset of Alzheimers disease. BACE1 cleaves amyloid precursor proteins which give rise to beta amyloid. This peptide is the main component of plaques on brain cells, one of the culprits for causing Alzheimers disease.

From there, researchers from multiple pharmaceutical and biotech companies began developing trials of BACE1 inhibitors in hopes of stopping the effects of BACE1s activity. However, all these trials failed. While these failures were frustrating, they taught scientists an important lesson about this key enzyme; not only does BACE1 activity lead to Alzheimers disease, it is also responsible for ensuring parts of normal neural activity. By blocking it completely, the treatments did more harm than good.

Things Are Not So Simple

We still dont have a drug, Yan says, 20 years after the original discovery. These early trials with BACE1 failed because if you simply inhibit it, it interferes with necessary brain functioning. Its challenging.

Yan reflects that this is one of the most challenging aspects of his research. The human body is not simple, and neither are the diseases that afflict it. Before we can develop an effective treatment for Alzheimers disease, we need to understand how it works at a basic molecular level.

Many times, you will find out things are not so simple, Yan says. We need to understand the biology before we can have an effective drug.

Most recently, Yan published a paper in the Journal of Experimental Medicine about the role of CX3CL1, a transmembrane protein, on Alzheimers disease. Yan found that CX3CL1 is cleaved by BACE1. He also found that an overexpression of the C-terminal fragment of CX3CL1 can reduce amyloid deposition and neuron loss in mice with Alzheimers disease. This is the first time its been shown that the C-terminal CX3CL1 can aid adult neurogenesis which directly combats the neurodegeneration of Alzheimers disease.

This development of knowledge underscores the role of academic researchers in eventual drug discovery, Yan says. Developing knowledge about diseases and the workings of the human body is the foundation for future drugs.

Were in academia. Our main focus is to understand the molecule first before we try to develop a compound, Yan says.

If researchers or pharmaceutical companies go into drug trials without this critical understanding, they could encounter many harmful side effects. With a better understanding of the science behind the disease, such side effects could be better anticipated and even avoided.

Yan says researchers can help pharmaceutical companies develop more effective drugs by working in tandem with industry partners.

We may not be able to compete with the pharmaceutical companies directly in some cases, but we can do something to help the companies develop better drugs, Yan says. And thats whats more important to us.

Follow UConn Research on Twitter & LinkedIn.

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Biochemistry

The promise of terpenoids for human health – Varsity

Mangoes contain high quantities of Vitamin A, which is a type of terpenoid. BRIGITTE TOHM/UNSPLASH | IMAGE HAS BEEN CROPPED

The word terpenoid is not only limited to rhyming with words such as meteoroid, avoid, and steroid it also symbolizes organic compounds produced by plants that offer significant medicinal and pharmacological benefits to humans.

In a review paper, U of T scientists explored the vast role that these chemicals play in our everyday lives.

Co-authors Dr. Michael Phillips, an assistant professor at UTMs Department of Biology; and Matthew Bergman, a graduate student at the same department, discussed thefindings of this review with The Varsity.

Relevance of terpenoids

The presence of terpenoids can be found all around us. Vitamin A is an example, along with the chemical that is key to the unique smell of pine.

The review explained that terpenoids can attract pollinators, repel herbivores, or attract herbivore predators. This has broad impacts on fields such as agriculture.

Terpenoids also feature heavily in cannabis. Specialized terpenoids include well-known compounds such as cannabidiol also known as CBD and tetrahydrocannabinol THC.The compounds have been used for their psychoactive, anxiolytic and anesthetic effects for thousands of years, according to the co-authors.

The ability to make these terpenoids evolved as a result of selective pressures imposed by animals on plants. A great sense of irony lies in the fact that these chemical compounds, which often serve as plant defence compounds against herbivorous insects, possess fortuitous uses in medicine.

The reason that these compounds are biologically active in humans is in part due to the fact that our proteins are made up of exactly the same amino acids as the plant proteins, noted Phillips.

Applications of the review

Phillips hopes to use his review partly as a teaching tool but also [to] summarize the literature that is important for [his] field.

Bergman also spoke aboutthe implications that his research would have on non-specialists in biology. Theres a lot of interest right now in medicinal plants and theres a lot of confusion surrounding what are the active constituents, he said.

By conducting the review, Bergman hopes to eliminate some of this confusion.This is important because theres a connection between [our research] and what [consumers] find in the grocery store, added Phillips.

The future of terpenoid research

In many cases, terpenoid-based medications could hold promise in health care, by virtue of the fact of how much common ancestry we share with herbivores that terpenoids evolved to affect, noted Phillips.

While many terpenoids represent potentially beneficial compounds for humans, the testing process is painstaking and resource intensive, according to the review. This process is further obstructed by the fact that many [terpenoids] are produced in small amounts, and only in response to elicitation.

Additionally, while the amount of plant terpenoids that can be screened for therapeutic applications is still unknown, it likely surpasses over 100,000 variants, according to the co-authors. With a review of terpenoids completed, researchers now have a tool to develop plans for further research in the field of plant biochemistry.

Tags: Biochemistry, botany, Chemistry, medicine, organic chemistry, Science

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The promise of terpenoids for human health - Varsity

Biochemistry

FDA-approved drug to prevent organ rejection may slow skin aging – News-Medical.net

The search for youthfulness typically turns to lotions, supplements, serums and diets, but there may soon be a new option joining the fray. Rapamycin, a FDA-approved drug normally used to prevent organ rejection after transplant surgery, may also slow aging in human skin, according to a study from Drexel University College of Medicine researchers published in Geroscience.

Basic science studies have previously used the drug to slow aging in mice, flies, and worms, but the current study is the first to show an effect on aging in human tissue, specifically skin - in which signs of aging were reduced. Changes include decreases in wrinkles, reduced sagging and more even skin tone -- when delivered topically to humans.

As researchers continue to seek out the elusive 'fountain of youth' and ways to live longer, we're seeing growing potential for use of this drug. So, we said, let's try skin. It's a complex organism with immune, nerve cells, stem cells - you can learn a lot about the biology of a drug and the aging process by looking at skin."

Christian Sell, PhD, senior author and associate professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the College of Medicine

In the current Drexel-led study, 13 participants over age 40 applied rapamycin cream every 1-2 days to one hand and a placebo to the other hand for eight months. The researchers checked on subjects after two, four, six and eight months, including conducting a blood test and a biopsy at the six- or eight-month mark.

After eight months, the majority of the rapamycin hands showed increases in collagen protein, and statistically significant lower levels of p16 protein, a key marker of skin cell aging. Skin that has lower levels of p16 has fewer senescent cells, which are associated with skin wrinkles. Beyond cosmetic effects, higher levels of p16 can lead to dermal atrophy, a common condition in seniors, which is associated with fragile skin that tears easily, slow healing after cuts and increased risk of infection or complications after an injury.

So how does rapamycin work? Rapamycin blocks the appropriately named "target of rapamycin" (TOR), a protein that acts as a mediator in metabolism, growth and aging of human cells. The capability for rapamycin to improve human health beyond outward appearance is further illuminated when looking deeper at p16 protein, which is a stress response that human cells undergo when damaged, but is also a way of preventing cancer. When cells have a mutation that would have otherwise created a tumor, this response helps prevent the tumor by slowing the cell cycle process. Instead of creating a tumor, it contributes to the aging process.

"When cells age, they become detrimental and create inflammation," said Sell. "That's part of aging. These cells that have undergone stress are now pumping out inflammatory markers."

In addition to its current use to prevent organ rejection, rapamycin is currently prescribed (in higher doses than used in the current study) for the rare lung disease lymphangioleiomyomatosis, and as an anti-cancer drug. The current Drexel study shows a second life for the drug in low doses, including new applications for studying rapamycin to increase human lifespan or improve human performance.

Rapamycin -- first discovered in the 1970s in bacteria found in the soil of Easter Island - also reduces stress in the cell by attacking cancer-causing free radicals in the mitochondria.

In previous studies, the team used rapamycin in cell cultures, which reportedly improved cell function and slowed aging.

In 1996, a study in Cell of yeast cultures which used rapamycin to block TOR proteins in yeast, made the yeast cells smaller, but increased their lifespan.

"If you ramp the pathway down you get a smaller phenotype," said Sell. "When you slow growth, you seem to extend lifespan and help the body repair itself - at least in mice. This is similar to what is seen in calorie restriction."

The researchers note that, as this is early research, many more questions remain about how to harness this drug. Future studies will look at how to apply the drug in clinical settings, and find applications in other diseases. During the current study, the researchers confirmed that none of the rapamycin was absorbed in the bloodstream of participants.

There are two pending patents on this technology, both of which have been licensed to Boinca Therapeutics LLC., of which Sell, Ibiyonu Lawrence, MD, an associate professor of Internal Medicine in the College of Medicine, are shareholders.

Source:

Journal reference:

Chung, C.L., et al. (2019) Topical rapamycin reduces markers of senescence and aging in human skin: an exploratory, prospective, randomized trial. Geroscience. doi.org/10.1007/s11357-019-00113-y.

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FDA-approved drug to prevent organ rejection may slow skin aging - News-Medical.net

Genetics

Rapid genetic test traces spread of fungus that kills frogs, reveals new strain in Southeast Asia – Mongabay.com

Protecting frogs against the invisible killer called chytrid was never going to be easy. The fungus has already wiped out more species than any other known disease. But a recent study of the worldwide spread of the fungus shows that the task will be even harder than scientists expected.

The study is the first to use skin swabs from amphibians to identify the major strains of the fungus. Researchers found regions where strains could combine into deadly hybrids. They also found a previously unknown variant in Southeast Asia, which has not yet spread globally.

The findings, published Sept. 23 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, show that ecologists will need to track these distinct fungal variants to protect frogs more fully. Mutations in the fungus make it a moving target in much the same way as the ever-shifting influenza virus.

There [are] amazing, last vestiges of really diverse amphibian communities, said environmental scientist Erica Bree Rosenblum of the University of California, Berkeley, senior author of the study. If we can protect them from having a really deadly chytrid strain, that would be great.

Chytrid infects the thin, moist skin frogs use to absorb water and balance their levels of sodium, chloride and potassium. An infected frog, unable to maintain a steady heartbeat, will die of a heart attack. The fungus then releases spores into the water to infect the next frog. This deadly cycle is responsible for the decline of more than 500 amphibian species. About 90 species have gone extinct in the past 50 years, ecologists believe, including Australias Mount Glorious torrent frog (Taudactylus diurnus), last seen in 1979.

Some chytrid variants are deadlier than others. However, most genetic tests only reveal whether any fungus is present. The current way to identify the lineage of a fungus is to sequence its entire genome, a time-consuming step.

Rosenblums team, including first author Allison Byrne at UC Berkeley, devised a less laborious approach: a genetic test that works on small amounts of low-quality DNA. They tested 222 frog skin swabs from six continents and 24 countries. The massive international collaboration mobilized 30 co-authors.

The tests uncovered a new variant in China, Indonesia and the Philippines, which fits scientists understanding that the disease probably started in Asia. Researchers also found variants in unexpected places. For example, a lineage previously reported in Europe and Africa also turned up on frogs in Latin America.

This paper has been a long time coming, said evolutionary biologist Timothy James of the University of Michigan, who was not involved in the study. It validates some hypotheses and shows the way forward.

Many regions hosted multiple strains of the fungus. In some cases, frogs with different variants lived within meters of each other. That proximity worries Rosenblum. Strains could form deadlier hybrids in places like Brazil, where American bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) are farmed as pets and food. The new skin swab genetic test could allow officials to screen shipments of frogs before they go overseas, Rosenblum has proposed.

The teams approach could also help scientists learn how chytrid became so deadly to begin with. Museum samples have shown that the fungus existed on frogs collected in the early 1900s. However, mass die-offs didnt begin until the 1970s. Museum archives, examined with the new test, could identify what changed: from tweaks in the genetics of the fungus to the rise of international amphibian trade and global travel.

The effects of globalization for disease transmission around the world are so palpable, Rosenblum said. If were worried about moving diseases around the world for our own species, then we should also be worried about moving diseases around the world for other species.

Citation

Byrne, A. Q., et al. (2019). Cryptic diversity of a widespread global pathogen reveals expanded threats to amphibian conservation.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,116(41), 20382-20387. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1908289116

Jonathan Wosen (@JonathanWosen) is a graduate student in the Science Communication Program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Other Mongabay stories produced by UCSC students can be found at https://news.mongabay.com/list/ucsc/

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Rapid genetic test traces spread of fungus that kills frogs, reveals new strain in Southeast Asia - Mongabay.com

Genetics

Fargo woman credits her 108 years to genetics and healthy living – INFORUM

FARGO At Bethany Retirement Living on South University Drive, 108-year-old Helene Sandvig walked to her own birthday party on Monday, Nov. 25.

Sandvig lives independently, walks on her own and has sharp memories about her life on a farm near Leonard, N.D.

Many have asked the former country school teacher, Sunday school superintendent and 4-H Club leader what her secret is to living a long life.

She has a very practical explanation.

"Everyone asks me and I say it is in the genes," Sandvig said. "My folks lived to be into their 90s and two of my brothers lived over 90. But of course, we worked hard and kept healthy and busy."

Since Sandvig has no immediate family, Bethany organized the party with Sandvig's friends and old neighbors.

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Fargo woman credits her 108 years to genetics and healthy living - INFORUM

Genetics

Representatives of Fulgent Genetics to Participate in the Piper Jaffray 31st Annual Healthcare Conference – Yahoo Finance

TEMPLE CITY, Calif., Nov. 25, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fulgent Genetics, Inc. (FLGT) (Fulgent Genetics or the company), a provider of comprehensive genetic testing and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) solutions, today announced that its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ming Hsieh, Chief Financial Officer Paul Kim, and Vice President of Commercial Operations Brandon Perthuis are scheduled to participate in the 31st Annual Piper Jaffray Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel in New York, New York.

These representatives of the company will participate in a question-and-answer session with the host analyst beginning at approximately 12:30 p.m. ET.

A live webcast of the question and answer session will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Fulgent Genetics website at ir.fulgentgenetics.com. A replay of the webcast will be accessible at ir.fulgentgenetics.com beginning approximately one hour following the completion of the event.

About Fulgent Genetics

Fulgent Genetics is a technology company with a focus on offering comprehensive genetic testing to provide physicians with clinically actionable diagnostic information they can use to improve the quality of patient care. The company has developed a proprietary technology platform that allows it to offer a broad and flexible test menu and continually expand and improve its proprietary genetic reference library, while maintaining accessible pricing, high accuracy and competitive turnaround times. The company believes its test menu offers more genes for testing than its competitors in todays market, which enables it to provide expansive options for test customization and clinically actionable results.

Investor Relations Contacts:The Blueshirt GroupNicole Borsje, 415-217-2633, nborsje@blueshirtgroup.com

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Representatives of Fulgent Genetics to Participate in the Piper Jaffray 31st Annual Healthcare Conference - Yahoo Finance

Genetics

The Secret To Longevity Could Be Genetics – Medical Daily

Japan has the worlds oldest population, with 28 percent of all citizens comprising of elderly people above the age of 65. The secret to longevity lies not only in their healthy diet and lifestyle choices, but is influenced by a specific set of genes. Yes, the reason the country has 146 people over the age of 110 (referredto as supercentenarians) is simply good genes. This factor enabled them to stave off cancer and other deadly diseases for more than a century.

A new study conducted by the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Science (IMS) and Keio University School of Medicine in Japan sought to understand the genetics behind aging in supercentenarians by analyzing single-cell RNA sequencing.In the paperthat was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the scientists investigated the immune cells of seven supercentenarians and made comparisons to the five subjects with ages between 50 and 80 years.

Researchers looked at 41,208 cells altogether from the elders with ages over 110, and 19,994 cells in the control group. The two cells part of the bodys immune response, which are B-cells and T-cells, were studied.It was found that B-cells had a lower count in the supercentenarians, while T-cells were at the same number in both groups.

However, the major finding was that supercentenarians had more of a particular subset of T-cells, namely CD4 T-cells that are capable of killing harmful cells, which wasonly possible by cytotoxic CD8 T-cells until then. In fact, 80 percent of the T-cells were composed of CD4 markers, whereas 10 to 20 percent of the T-cells had the marker in people of ages between 50 and 80.

The secret to aging may lie in your genes. Photo courtesy of Pexels

Since T-cells with CD8 markers are known to be cytotoxic, this means the CD4 markershad changed to acquire the new function, as per the researchers. This was not the case with the relatively younger subjects, this was the single most unique genetic characteristic of supercentenarians.

"This research shows how single-cell transcription analysis can help us to understand how individuals are more or less susceptible to diseases. CD4-positive cells generally work by generating cytokines, while CD8-positive cells are cytotoxic, and it may be that the combination of these two features allows these individuals to be especially healthy," Piero Carninci, IMS Deputy Director, said.

To understand the unusual phenomenon better, the researchers further studied the cells of two older participants, only to find another interesting fact about the CD4 T-cells: They had descended and multiplied from a single ancestral cell.

"We believe that this type of cells, which are relatively uncommon in most individuals, even young, are useful for fighting against established tumors, and could be important for immunosurveillance. This is exciting as it has given us new insights into how people who live very long lives are able to protect themselves from conditions such as infections and cancer," Carninci added.

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The Secret To Longevity Could Be Genetics - Medical Daily

Genetics

Some of the top DNA kits are deeply discounted for Black Friday – here’s a break down of each one – Business Insider India

$99.99 (Originally $199) [You save $99.01]

The 23andMe kit is one of the most in-depth at-home DNA tests you can take. Not only will it break down your ancestry, but it will also discover your genetic health risks for diseases like Parkinson's or Alzheimer's, carrier traits for diseases like Cystic Fibrosis and Sickle Cell, report on your wellness with details like sleep patterns and lactose intolerance, and other genetic traits. If you're only interested in learning your ancestry you can buy the genetics kit for $20 off.

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Some of the top DNA kits are deeply discounted for Black Friday - here's a break down of each one - Business Insider India

Human Behavior

11 Ways Young Actors Can Be Productive This Holiday Season – Backstage

Photo Source: Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Its everyones favorite time of year. Holidays, travel, family, food, chaos. Its what lifes about. So what better place to learn about human behavior than at a large family gathering or traveling with Aunt Beth, Uncle Billy, and their three children? Perhaps youre stuck in the airport due to a weather delay and your flight is canceled. Turn lemons into lemonade this holiday season and work on developing new characters by people watching, try learning a new accent while waiting, tap into some newfound emotions, be observant, or just be thankful.

With a week to a month off for some, theres enough time to learn a new skill, get introspective with journaling, or give back with community service. Here are some ideas for how young performers can stay active and productive this holiday season.

1. Participate in community service.Instead of receiving gifts this year, give the gift of service. Volunteer at a soup kitchen on Thanksgiving or Christmas, collect gifts for the needy, or participate in a cabaret or performance with a group at a nursing home or hospital. The best way to feel good about yourself is to do feel good things.

2. Go to a museum.One of my favorite plays is Tina Howes Museum, an absurd comedy in which 40 characters react to several art exhibits. No matter where you live there are probably many different types of museums. Have fun watching how others react to art and each other while getting your own inspiration from another art form.

3. See theater.With time off from work or school, its a great time to catch up on live theater. You dont have to live in NYC to see a good play. Professional companies tour many cities across the country and there are plays being produced at your local regional or community theater. Heres a tip if you plan to visit New York. If you want reasonably priced seats to a sold out show, just go to the box office and ask. Seats are released daily and you might just get lucky and score a ticket to Hamilton without paying tourist surcharges.

5 Things You Can Do to Further Your Career During the Holidays

4. Catch up on movies.Who doesnt like seeing a blockbuster movie? If you dont want to spend the money or just feel like hunkering down at home, Im sure your streaming devices have an old flick playing youve never seen. Some of my favorite recommendations for young actors are Paper Moon, Whiplash, Splash, and Blast from the Past.

5. Read! I have a stack of plays to read this holiday season. When reading new playwrights work I often find great scenes and monologues to recommend to my students. Plays read much faster than novels so what are you waiting for!

6. Enjoy nature. We all get bogged down by lifes daily distractions. Embrace this opportunity as you take some quiet time for yourself or with your family. Whether hiking or cross country skiing, enjoy the outdoors and the beauty and solace it brings.

7. Do a puzzle.Not only is doing a puzzle good for brain building, but its a great way to bond with family and friends and get your mind off work.

8. Create a business action plan.Acting is a business and like most successful businesses you need a strategic action plan to succeed. Make sure to check self-submission sites such as Backstage daily so you dont miss out on casting opportunities. Be current with your picture and resume, and start work on your demo reel footage. Create lists of casting directors who accept headshots and resumes, and scour the internet for workshop and performance opportunities.

How to Manage Your Child Actor

9. Write a monologue. Looking for the perfect monologue? Recall a funny or moving story in your life and take pen to paper and start writing. Remember truthful, honest, and real narratives will be the most powerful.

10. Write thank you notes.Its not called Thanksgiving for nothing. Seize the opportunity to remind your child of how many people work to help them have a career.

11. Create a vision board.Who says resolutions dont stick? With plenty of time to plan for the coming year, the holiday break can be a great opportunity to organize your ambitions and make sure youre ready for the next cycle of auditions and classes. Vision boards can really help motivate you for your work as an actor and remind you of your goals, making it more likely that youll find success in whatever areas you decide to pursue. So what are you waiting for? Grab some scissors and get crafting!

Ready to get cast? Check out Backstages kids auditions!

The views expressed in this article are solely that of the individual(s) providing them,and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Backstage or its staff.

Denise Simon is a New York-based acting coach and career consultant who has been involved in the entertainment industry for more than 30 years as an actor, teacher, director, casting director and personal talent manager.

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11 Ways Young Actors Can Be Productive This Holiday Season - Backstage