Human Spotlight
A virus hitched a ride in our ancestors genome, and changed human brains forever
Long ago, part of one virus's genome merged with the human genome. Now it's in each of us, helping to ...
Synthetic biology research could be impacted by Nagoya Protocol
A new report shows the uncertainty surrounding the Nagoya Protocol, passed by the UN in 2010, could impact American research ...
Is limb regeneration science fiction? Maybe not
Limb regeneration remains the stuff of science fiction for humans, but an accidental discovery suggests people may yet be able ...
Depression makes cells age faster
Even when adjusted to account for excluded lifestyle differences, a recent study shows that depressed patients have shorter telomeres, a ...
With just a few genetic changes, new species are able to evolve
By analyzing two closely related species of butterflies, scientists at the University of Chicago have found that it only takes ...
Twin study suggests politics and genetics go together
You may have your mom's laugh, and your dad's nose, but do you also inherit your parents' political leanings? A ...
Do the benefits of synthetic biology outweigh the risks?
In 2010, scientists created the world’s first synthetic life form. With this staggering achievement came the inevitable ethical and philosophical ...
You can’t control your child’s destiny through genetics
With the rise of prenatal genetic testing and the new techniques for editing DNA, you'd think we'd be able to ...
Speculation over insect photo shows human bias in interpreting nature
Does this photo show some sort of insect hybrid that is part ant, part fly, part spider? Recent speculation has ...
Critics urge caution over UK genome project call for volunteers
British researchers are looking for volunteers to have their genome sequenced and made publicly available; critics warn about the loss ...
Precision gene editing paves way for monkey models of genetic disease
A new precise technique for editing genes may allow researchers to to create genetically modified monkeys and develop treatments for ...
Your allergies may save your life
According to new research, allergies may have evolved in order to save lives by forcing sufferers to reject and expel ...
Always catching colds? Blame it on your socioeconomic status
New research says that low socioeconomic status is correlated with shorter telomere length and, interestingly, a higher propensity for getting ...
Mutations in the brain
Not all genetic mutations are harmful. New research shows that mutations within neurons may be incredibly common, and even sometimes ...
Genetic clues in mammals could unlock secret to anti-aging
For years, scientists have studied how to combat old age. Now, new research suggests that genetic clues in mammals with ...
Federal court confirms stance on patenting genes, invalidates Down syndrome test patent
A federal judge has invalidated a patent for testing for Down syndrome, confirming a Supreme Court ruling in June that ...
Are we headed for universal genome screening at birth?
Nearly all of the 4 million babies born every year in the United States undergo newborn screening for genetic disease ...
Who deserves the Nobel for sequencing the human genome?
There's a political angle to having the 10th anniversary celebration for the human genome in 2013: it implies the NIH ...
Scientists invent new technique for DNA repair
Researchers from the Berkeley Lab have invented a new technique for detecting and repairing errors in the genetic code, which ...
Gene-silencing could suppress genetic defect that causes Down syndrome
A team of researchers has demonstrated that the genetic defect that causes Down syndrome could be suppressed using the gene-silencing ...
Is HIV the hero that’ll help gene therapy rise above the hype?
We're seeing some successes in gene therapy, but cost remains an issue. Could a modified version of HIV save the ...
Project Einstein: Are there genes for mathematical genius?
An entrepreneur in gene-sequencing wants to find out what genes are linked to mathematical ability ...
Genome hacker builds largest-ever family tree
To help scientists investigate inheritance, so-called genome hacker Yaniv Erlich has built family tree with over 13 million people, using ...
UK education advisor faces criticism for possible advocation of eugenics
For many, the term "eugenics" conjures images of Nazi-run concentration camps and other horrific instances of science gone wrong. So, ...
How personal genomics is like Michelangelo’s David
Personal genomics is awash in stories of genetic discoveries that turned out to be weak or wrong, yet the field ...
Genetic modification may help tobacco find new life as health savior and biofuels source
For decades, tobacco has been maligned as a source of diseases. But in recent years, scientists using genetic modification have ...
Scientists find genetic basis for slow metabolism, obesity
For the first time, scientists have identified a genetic mutation associated with two major contributors to obesity: increased appetite and ...
