‘Brainwashing’ parasites inherit a strange genetic gap
Field Museum researchers found that the gene responsible for making the tiny cellular hairs is missing in these parasitic worms.
Tag: genetics
Cells have some clever tricks for copying DNA
This article was originally featured at Knowable Magazine. Every person starts as just one fertilized egg. By adulthood, that single cell has turned into roughly 37 trillion cells, many of which keep dividing to create the same amount of fresh human cells every few months. But those cells have a formidable challenge. The average dividing […]
Scores of critical lab tests fall into a regulatory void. The FDA is trying to close it.
Lab-developed tests like prenatal screenings have become increasingly popular, all while escaping the bulk of federal scrutiny over marketing and accuracy. Now, the FDA is beginning the process of imposing regulations on these kinds of tests.
Men lose Y chromosomes with age, and it might increase their risk of bladder cancer
It’s common for men to lose the Y chromosome in their cells as they age. But a new study finds a strong link to bladder cancer, and a potential therapy for it.
We probably have big brains because we got lucky
How did humans evolve bigger brains? A close look at the HERs genes and DNA structure reveals that mutations could have been the key.
What rockfish genes can teach humans about living past 100
Some rockfish species can live up to 200 years—and their genetics could help us treat age-related diseases.
Oldest DNA ever sampled paints a lush portrait of a lost Arctic world
eDNA, or environmental DNA, has helped reconstruct an entire ecosystem in northern Greenland, dating before the ice ages.
Biofluorescent snailfish brave Arctic waters with built-in antifreeze
A tiny snailfish species living in Greenland contains high levels of antifreeze proteins that allow it to survive subzero temperatures.
A centuries-old horse tooth holds clues to the mystery of the Chincoteague ponies
Ancient DNA from the 16th-century tooth indicates the horse was most closely related to the famous Chincoteague pony breed.
A super-sharp gene editing tool could tackle high cholesterol and other common ailments
A clinical trial has started for a new gene editing tool, similar to CRISPR, that aims to lower “bad” cholesterol in adults.