Washington, Nov 6: In a new study, researchers have discovered the first gene, called CNTNAP2, linked with a common childhood language disorder, known as specific language impairment (SLI).

The discovery of the CNTNAP2 gene, which has recently been implicated in autism, may act as a crucial genetic link between the two disorders.

SLI is the most common language disorder, in which children develop unexplained difficulties in producing and understanding language

Washington, November 6: University of Pittsburgh researchers are apparently excited about the identification of a brain region that responds to more than one type of anti-psychotic drug, as the feel that it could expand the options for controlling schizophrenia.

The researchers say that their findings are the first to illustrate that the orbitofrontal cortex—a brain region responsible for cognitive activity such as decision making—could be a promising target for developing future antipsychotic drugs, even those that have very different mechanisms of action.

New Delhi, Nov 6: Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft Corp. and the champion of global health issues such as AIDS, said he hopes that the US President-elect Barack Obama will be able to deliver on Washington''s healthcare commitments.

Gates, who is on a visit to New Delhi, was optimistic about Obama''s efforts to tackle global health issues, saying he has "shown a lot of interest" and would "drive improvements in those areas".

Washington, Nov 5: A new genetic research has suggested that the extinction of the native rat species of Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean in 1908, was caused by a pathogen carried by Eurasian black rats.

The pathogen was unleashed when Eurasian black rats jumped ship onto the island at the turn of the 20th century, causing extermination of two endemic species, namely Rattus macleari and R. nativitatis.

This study is the first to demonstrate extinction in a mammal because of disease, supporting the hypothesis proposed a decade ago that “hyperdisease conditions”—unusually rapid mortality from which a species never recovers—can lead to extinction.

Washington, November 5: Gwyneth Paltrow left very little to the imagination when she arrived at the premier of Two Lovers in Paris.

Washington, Nov 5: A new genetic research has suggested that the extinction of the native rat species of Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean in 1908, was caused by a pathogen carried by Eurasian black rats.

The pathogen was unleashed when Eurasian black rats jumped ship onto the island at the turn of the 20th century, causing extermination of two endemic species, namely Rattus macleari and R. nativitatis.

This study is the first to demonstrate extinction in a mammal because of disease, supporting the hypothesis proposed a decade ago that “hyperdisease conditions”—unusually rapid mortality from which a species never recovers—can lead to extinction.