Uncombable hair is a real genetic diagnosis
Uncombable hair syndrome, also called spun-glass hair, gives children dry, frizzy, often fair hair that won't lie flat however much it is brushed. Under a microscope the shafts are triangular or grooved instead of round. In 2016 researchers traced it to mutations in three genes needed to build the hair shaft: PADI3, TGM3 and TCHH. Most cases are autosomal recessive, and the hair usually improves with age.
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Basmanav FBÜ et al. Am J Hum Genet 2016;99:1292–1304Newborns can produce milk too
Milk secretion from newborn breasts is sometimes called 'witch's milk'. One nursery and follow-up study documented it in both sexes, including otherwise normal infants still producing milk at two months.
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Madlon-Kay DJ. American Journal of Diseases of Children 1986. PubMed PMID: 3946357Polio's laboratory breakthrough
In 1949, Enders, Robbins and Weller grew poliovirus in human muscle and other tissue in the laboratory. That culture breakthrough helped pave the way towards a polio vaccine.
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Nobel Prize: John F. Enders—FactsA rhyme remembered before birth
In a fetal-learning study, mothers stopped reciting a familiar rhyme at 34 weeks. A heart-rate response to that rhyme was still evident at 38 weeks—even when a stranger's recording delivered it.
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Krueger C, Garvan C. Infant Behav Dev 2014;37:162–173Babies worked to hear mum's voice
In a classic experiment, newborns could change their sucking pattern to trigger either their mother's recorded voice or another woman's. They learnt to trigger their mother's voice more often.
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DeCasper AJ, Fifer WP. Science 1980. PubMed PMID: 7375928Feeding can also soften procedural pain
Breastfeeding has been studied as pain relief during newborn procedures, not just as nutrition. A Cochrane review examined randomised trials using physiological responses and validated pain scores.
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Shah PS et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012. PubMed PMID: 23235618Tiny treadmill, immediate steps
Six seven-month-old infants who rarely stepped spontaneously all began alternating steps when supported over a moving treadmill. The experiment challenged the idea that the early stepping mechanism simply disappears.
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Thelen E. Child Development 1986. PubMed PMID: 3802974The newborn's first feeding sequence
Video recordings of term newborns placed skin-to-skin revealed an organised progression towards feeding: alertness, limb movements and rooting, crawling, licking the areola, then suckling and sleep.
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PubMed: Newborn behaviour to locate the breast when skin-to-skinCarrot juice changes milk's flavour
Researchers detected a sensory change in breast milk about 2–3 hours after mothers drank carrot juice. In the same research, recent exposure through milk was followed by lower intake of carrot-flavoured cereal—not greater intake.
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PubMed: Experience with a flavor in mother's milk modifies acceptance of flavored cerealApgar began as a one-minute scorecard
Virginia Apgar's original published score assessed babies one minute after birth. Her 1953 paper assigned points for breathing, pulse, colour, muscle tone and response to stimulation.
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Apgar V. Current Researches in Anesthesia and Analgesia 1953;32:260–267Even newborn cries have melody
A study comparing French and German newborns found different cry melodies: the French group more often used rising contours, while the German group favoured falling ones. The authors linked this to the speech heard before birth.
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PubMed: Newborns' cry melody is shaped by their native languageA breast scent can guide movement
In an experiment on a warming bed, more newborns moved towards and reached a pad carrying their mother's breast scent than a clean pad. The scent was presented without other maternal cues.
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Varendi H, Porter RH. Acta Paediatr 2001;90:372–375You're all caught up
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