mutation

Why this COVID-19 spike is different: Current U.S. mutated version much more infectious than first wave virus but no more deadly
[A new COVID-19] mutation makes the virus more likely to infect people but does not seem to make them any ...

Infographic: How COVID-19 mutated to infect the world
A change in the virus was appearing again and again. This mutation, associated with outbreaks in Europe and New York, ...

Are vaccines immunity ‘silver bullets’ to protect us against COVID-19? It depends on how quickly the coronavirus mutates.
Recent studies on COVID-19 mutation rates have revealed promising data that has given scientists across the globe a boost in ...

The coronavirus isn’t mutating quickly. That could mean a one-time vaccination against it
The coronavirus is not mutating significantly as it circulates through the human population, according to scientists who are closely studying ...

Trouble dragging yourself to the gym? It could be your genes
It’s long been thought that some people find exercising easier than others. While some will happily jog off to the ...

Could a pill make you need less sleep? This genetics research suggests it could happen
We all wish we could get by on less sleep, but one father and son actually can—without suffering any health ...

‘Short sleepers’: People with this genetic mutation need less sleep than the rest of us
[T]hanks to a mother and daughter who share a rare genetic mutation—and who routinely need just six hours of sleep ...

Game of chance: What role does pure ‘bad luck’ play in developing cancer?
Two-thirds of the gene mutations that cause cancer are due to random chance, according to a new study. But environmental ...

Viewpoint: Why science hasn’t given us a cure for cancer: We’re still ‘trying to understand it’
Each permutation of cancer requires a different approach, therapy, or method of management ...

Do China’s controversial CRISPR babies illustrate the need for an ‘undo button’?
Will CRISPR-in-the-clinic come with a fail-safe mechanism? ...

Rapid mutation: Why future Mars’ colonists could evolve into a ‘completely different species’
In a new interview with Inverse, evolutionary biologist and Rice University professor Scott Solomon thinks it’s worth asking what will happen to Mars colonists in ...

Naturally mutating corn pollen genes may lead the way to higher-yielding crops
Pollen genes mutate naturally in only some strains of corn, according to Rutgers-led research that helps explain the genetic instability ...

Marathon gene? Ancient CMAH mutation may have made us better runners
When Eliud Kipchoge broke the tape at the Berlin Marathon [in September]—setting a new world record by 78 seconds—he and his fellow ...

Extraterrestrial life may have different chemistry, but evolutionary forces will be Earth-like
If the forces of natural selection have shaped the development of life on Earth, there's no reason to believe those ...

Inuit Paradox: Can we all eat lots of fat without weight gain or heart disease?
It used to be "French paradox" now it's Inuits: Eat lots of fat and never gain weight or have heart ...

Link between inflammation and cancer
People with chronic inflammatory conditions may be more susceptible to DNA-induced cell mutations which could contribute to getting cancer ...

Is there a genetic switch that causes ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease)?
We don't know the causes of ALS in most patients, but about 10 percent of cases are thought to be ...