China science, technology news summary -- Jan. 5-Xinhua

China science, technology news summary -- Jan. 5

Source: Xinhua

Editor: huaxia

2022-01-05 20:31:30

BEIJING, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The following is a summary of published science and technology news of China.

XPLORER PRIZE

The Xplorer Prize, one of China's highest grants for young scientists, will set up a new category of medical science starting from 2022.

A non-government award, the prize was initiated by Tencent Chairman and CEO Ma Huateng, together with a number of renowned scientists in 2018. It aims to support full-time Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao-based science professionals aged 45 or below engage in fundamental science and cutting-edge technology research.

CHINA'S AMUR TIGER

Chinese researchers have discovered that although China's wild Amur tiger population is experiencing rapid growth, there are risks of inbreeding.

Researchers from the Northeast Forestry University discovered that the recovering population is at risk of inbreeding given its small population. They said the species' inbreeding status has not yet been evaluated, and the relationship between inbreeding and health in wild animals remains poorly understood.

Based on 150 genetic samples collected from the main Amur tiger habitats in China, the study published in the journal Animal Conservation analyzed the population's inbreeding level, major histocompatibility complex polymorphism, parasitic infections, and gut microbial structures and functions, and then explored the influence of inbreeding on these traits.