BBC
Sex before you’re born: Early organism, ancient human cousin, had kinky mating rituals
Until now, little was known about the biology of Fractofusus, which lived in the ocean 565 million years ago. But new research ...
Ebola epidemic continues in West Africa, off media’s radar
When I told people earlier this month that I was off to West Africa again to cover the Ebola outbreak, ...
GM moths could offer non-toxic pest control option for vegetables
A genetically modified moth could help curb a major pest of vegetable crops around the world, research suggests. The diamondback ...
Facts behind celiac disease and gluten intolerance
Millions of people around the world are giving up gluten. I know why I stopped buying traditional bread and cakes, ...
DNA ark: Concerns about mass species extinction prompts scientists to collect genes
An ambitious project was launched last week to collect the genomes of the planet's major plant groups within the next two ...
Do our genes dictate how much sleep we need each night?
What would you do if you had 60 days of extra free time a year? Ask Abby Ross, a retired ...
Organic seed development lags biotech in developing pest controlling varieties
Rearranging veggie genes is big business, and we're not even talking about biotechnology. Private companies and university researchers spend hundreds ...
Unique GM wheat that repels pests naturally by giving off odor worked in lab, failed in tests
A strain of genetically modified wheat developed in the UK has failed to repel pests as intended in field trials. In ...
Neanderthal ancestors closer than previously thought, new fossil evidence shows
Modern humans and Neanderthals interbred in Europe, an analysis of 40,000-year-old DNA suggests. The study suggests an early Homo sapiens ...
Jumping genes make your genome not quite human
What if a gene from an insect insinuated itself straight into your DNA? What if more than a hundred genes ...
GM crops: One divisive issue that stands in way of US-EU free trade deal
Food safety is a major stumbling block in EU-U.S. talks aimed at creating the world's biggest free trade zone. The ...
New genetic test unveils history of viral infections
US researchers claim to have developed a single test that is able to identify past exposure to every known human ...
Lack of genetic diversity in coffee could lead to end of morning cup
Two billion cups of coffee are drunk around the world every day and 25 million families rely on growing coffee ...
Could organic farming’s benefit of biodiversity complement conventional fields?
Organic farms act as a refuge for wild plants, offsetting the loss of biodiversity on conventional farms, a study suggests ...
New therapy could greatly improve lives of cystic fibrosis patients
A "groundbreaking" cystic fibrosis therapy could profoundly improve patients' quality of life, say doctors. Patients often die before their 40s ...
Can a genetic test tell you what sport you should play?
My family and I - husband Kenny and my children, Lois and Reuben - sent off a swab to be ...
Threat of antibiotic resistance causing serious concern for future disease outbreaks
The National Risk Register of Civil Emergencies says such an outbreak could be expected to hit 200,000 people - and ...
UK’s DNA database intended to fight crime, but does it trample civil liberties?
Since 1995, the genetic information from DNA samples taken by police across the UK has been added to a database, ...
Could mitochondria DNA editing be a more sound alternative to three-person IVF?
Salk Institute scientists used specifically engineered molecular scissors to snip out mutations in embryos, leaving healthy DNA intact. They hope ...
Primate sleep patterns help explain human evolution
Watching an orangutan sleep is like watching a giant, orange baby slumbering sweetly. These huge great apes like to get ...
Texas boy discovers dinosaur fossil near shopping mall
Sometimes, big discoveries are made in the most unlikely circumstances. A 5-year-old boy in Mansfield, Texas has now become a ...
Mountain gorillas’ genome sequenced in hope of saving declining species from extinction
Mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) are among the most iconic endangered species in the world and, as such, have become ...
Mandatory pre-marital genetic testing prevents disease, and marriages in Saudi Arabia
In the past year, about 165,000 couples have decided not to get married after receiving test results showing "genetic incompatibilities", ...
Anus is no laughing matter: How unlikely organ shaped animal evolution
The anus is one of the most important parts of many animals; an essential structure that changes how an organism’s ...
23andMe to employ wealth of genetic data in research for cures
Personal genetics firm 23andMe is planning to use its database of health information to research possible cures for a range ...
Genes play larger role in autism than previously thought
Autism is caused by genetic make-up in 74-98 percent of cases, a Medical Research Council study of 516 twins indicates. The King's ...
Technique used for GM mosquitos could be used to target agricultural pests
Back in the 1950s, two American scientists came up with a revolutionary idea to eliminate a longstanding scourge of livestock ...
Obesity linked to our nervous system
The team scoured DNA libraries of more than 300,000 people, constructing the largest-ever genetic map of obesity. Looking for consistent ...