Can a cheek swab screen for 7,442 genetic disorders?
SugarStrings says its proprietary machine learning-based crawler identifies novel mutations with 94.89% accuracy, allowing it to analyse genetic data across more diverse populations.
Hello,
Amaravati is getting India's first dedicated Quantum and AI University campus. The university, which will focus on quantum tech, AI, semiconductors and other emerging deeptech fields, will be built on 8.5 acres at a proposed investment of Rs 730.7 crore over five years.
Meanwhile, from non-metro markets to 10-minute deliveries, ecommerce platforms scored big this Rakshabandhan. Meesho recorded a 36% year-on-year growth in orders, with consumers in non-metro markets accounting for nearly three-fourths of the platform’s festive orders.
Last-minute shoppers scouted for deals on quick commerce apps. Flipkart Minutes says it saw a threefold increase in festive shopping this year. According to the company, Gen Z shoppers accounted for more than 40% of customers during the festive period. Rakhi was the fastest-growing category, registering 20X growth, while maang tikkas recorded 4X growth.
Elsewhere, Ola Electric has launched its new electric scooter, the S1Z, at a starting price of Rs 79,999. The company said it has opened bookings for the scooter and deliveries are expected to begin in December.
Lastly, the wait for a fresh look at Grand Theft Auto 6 is finally over. Streaming platforms struggled to handle huge demand for the first official preview of the game, sending shares of Take-Two, the game maker’s parent company, higher in premarket, CNBC reported.
In today’s newsletter, we will talk about
- A simple cheek swab to detect genetic disorders
- Sarvam’s Vivek Raghavan, Adalat AI’s Utkarsh Saxena on TIME100 AI
Here’s your trivia for today: Which business communications app was originally created as an internal chat tool for a gaming company named Tiny Speck?
In focus
A simple cheek swab to detect genetic disorders
Founded in 2023, SugarStrings takes its name from DNA’s deoxyribose sugar backbone. The startup is on a mission to map individual genetic disease risks through a single, comprehensive DNA test.
SugarStrings’ flagship product, HealthString, is a DNA sequencing test that analyses a cheek swab sample to screen for disorders in a single test.
Key takeaways:
- HealthString screens for 7,442 disorders, including 188 hereditary cancers and 302 cardiovascular diseases.
- SugarStrings says its proprietary machine learning-based crawler identifies novel mutations with 94.89% accuracy, allowing it to analyse genetic data across more diverse populations.
- The company began operations in the last financial year, and has served around 100 clients while validating its technology with more than 1,800 patients.
Technology
Sarvam’s Vivek Raghavan, Adalat AI’s Utkarsh Saxena on TIME's 2026 list
Ten Indians and Indian-origin leaders have made TIME's 2026 list of the 100 most influential people in artificial intelligence. Names in the fourth annual TIME100 AI edition released on August 27, include Sarvam AI co-founder Vivek Raghavan and Adalat AI co-founder Utkarsh Saxena, representing breakthroughs across foundational AI, semiconductors, healthcare, and governance.
Key takeaways:
- Arvind Krishna, Chairman and CEO of IBM, appears under Leaders and is one of 17 listmakers on TIME's worldwide cover. Born in Andhra Pradesh and an IIT Kanpur graduate, Krishna has led IBM since 2020.
- Suchi Saria, Founder and CEO of Bayesian Health, is under Innovators for her work applying machine learning to clinical decision-making and patient deterioration prediction.
- Sanjay Mehrotra, Chairman, President and CEO of Micron Technology, is under Innovators. Micron's high-bandwidth memory has become one of the constrained inputs in the AI hardware supply chain.
News & updates
- Cheese diplomacy: The US reportedly has objections towards Mexico's new trade deal with the European Union, which extends special protections to European products whose names are tied to specific regions, such as Parmigiano Reggiano, feta and manchego. It also gives the EU legal recourse against violations.
- Lawsuit: Walmart has settled a US government lawsuit accusing the retailer of supporting an opioid epidemic by unlawfully dispensing prescriptions from its pharmacies, the Department of Justice said on Friday.
Which business communications app was originally created as an internal chat tool for a gaming company named Tiny Speck?
Answer: Slack
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