“Decades ago, when the original selenium functions were discovered, [the scientists] didn’t have a lot of genome sequences to work with,” said Chase Kayrouz, a graduate student in the Seyedsayamdost ...

In my youth, I spent an unreasonable amount of time questioning why A-level chemistry was a prerequisite for medical school.

Selenium is present in two forms - as selenomethionine in plant foods and selenocysteine in animal proteins. Selenium is necessary for the function of the thyroid gland and the development of DNA.

This is the primary mechanism by which selenium can help biological functions. There are at least 25 genes encoding for selenoproteins in humans, some of which are essential in development.

Pork provides high-quality protein and is an excellent source of several B vitamins, which help the body produce energy.