Ancestry & Evolution
The desire to understand our origins is primal. By examining our DNA over successive generations through the evolutionary process of inherited characteristics of human and animal populations–as well as from those species from which humans share a common ancestry–we can decipher our individual and collective past and develop medical innovations for the future.
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10 traits we share with ancient Neanderthals
While Neanderthals are long-extinct (and possibly a subspecies of modern humans), archaeology is proving that they had a lot in ...
Are we alone? If not, why hasn’t anyone dropped by Earth for a visit?
Scientists disagree on the probability that advanced extraterrestrials exist somewhere in the universe. Among the biggest arguments against aliens is ...
Man’s best friend: Evolutionary history of dogs could shed light on cancer, epilepsy in both species
An evolutionary tree of more than 161 dog breeds has been mapped out by geneticists, showing which types are closely ...
The big chill: Evolution heats up when Earth’s climate cools down
While natural selection is a big part of evolution, the theory now embraces much more than that...In a recent investigation, ...
Inheritance of epigenetic modifications observed through 14 generations in roundworms
To a degree, our lineage dictates how our genes are expressed, how we look, age, and live. However, a recent study ...
‘Hobbit’ origins? It’s unlikely that tiny species evolved from ancestor of modern humans
Researchers who studied the bones of Homo floresiensis, a species of tiny human discovered on the Indonesian island of Flores ...
Two halves better than one: Why our brain evolved to be symmetrical
The human brain evolved to have two halves — and a new review of previous research suggests that this dual ...
Cracking da Vinci’s DNA code: 2 discovered bones open possibilities
Italian researchers say that they have found two “relics” belonging to Leonardo da Vinci, which may help in sourcing the ...
I’ll do it tomorrow: Procrastination may have evolved as survival mechanism
If you like to put things off or surf the internet instead of getting work done, you might be able ...
Dad genes: Being a good father may be genetic
[A] team of Harvard researchers has located specific DNA segments that influence paternal behaviors, the closest scientist have come to finding the “dad genes” ...
Epigenetics Around the Web: Evolution of instincts — How ‘real’ is behavioral plasticity?
A researcher's decision to broadcast his controversial hypothesis about the evolution of instincts is irresponsible, and a study throws cold ...
Status climb with caution: Social mobility may take a toll on our DNA
'Moving on up' is a cherished American value (and important in other societies, too). But there could be a cost ...
Behold the octopus: Problem solver, tool user and now, gene editor
The more we learn about octopuses and squids, the more mysterious they become. The ability to edit their own RNA ...
Ethiopian Jewry: Genetics of the Beta Israel muddied by historical slave ownership
Rarely mentioned by academics is the fact that Ethiopian Jews historically owned slaves. From a genetics perspective, it means this ...
Why humans have larger penises and smaller testicles than other great apes
[While humans have a much longer and wider penis than the other great apes[, human] testicles are rather small...The relative size ...
Dutch, Croatians and other populations with tall men genetically linked to prehistoric mammoth hunters
Men from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Netherlands, Croatia, and Montenegro are, on average, the tallest in the world, according to ...
Searching for Jesus’ DNA: Scientists probe ancient relics
In 2010, Kasimir Popkonstantinov discovered what he believes are the bones of one of the most famous of all saints: ...
How does promiscuity in females impact evolution?
Darwin’s original ideas about sexual selection were based largely on males competing for mates, either by fighting among themselves or ...
Are we ready, without professional help, to decide what to do when our genes tell us we have a potential disorder?
The FDA's decision to allow 23andMe to offer consumers disease screening has triggered a debate over whether the public is ...
DNA test limits: Current direct-to-consumer tests provide only a glimpse into our ancestry
In a recent story that made headlines, a woman’s DNA test showed she was a descendant of a lost tribe ...
Why we sleep less as we age
It’s a known fact that as we age, we sleep less. But the reasoning behind this phenomenon is poorly understood ...
Precision medicine could revolutionize healthcare in Africa, but obstacles abound
Although scientists worldwide have been pushing for ways to improve health care by tailoring diagnostics and treatment to the environment, ...
Ancient skeleton offers proof of deep roots of Pacific Northwest tribes
The Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest have always claimed to have deep roots in the region. Now, an ancient ...
Epigenetics Around the Web: No, income inequality does not cause epigenetic changes, botching Lamarck, and more
A psychology professor claims that income inequality is causing epigenetic changes and a Huffington Post article on climate change and ...
Human de-extinction: If we disappear from the planet, should our species be revived?
It's a tough call, but maybe not, according to a panel of five experts who debated "de-extinction" during the annual ...
Survival of humans and other complex life linked to natural gene transfer between ancient microorganisms
One of the most pivotal moments in Earth's history was the evolution of the photosynthetic life that suffused air with ...
Mosquitoes evolving resistance to nets designed to quash spread of malaria
In the last ten years or so, more than a billion insecticide-treated bed nets have been distributed across the world ...
