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113 results for "genetics"
Scientists at UT Austin mapped the protein networks of a billion-year-old organism that gave rise to all complex life, uncovering hundreds of genes connected to human diseases. The breakthrough has already helped identify genetic causes of three rare disorders.
Scientists have confirmed that 8% of human DNA comes from ancient viruses that infected our ancestors millions of years ago. Some of those viral leftovers now perform a crucial job: helping build the placenta that makes pregnancy work.
A Costa Rican resort just launched a bee genetics laboratory to strengthen pollinator populations threatened by climate change. The pilot program could create a replicable model for protecting the ecosystems that keep forests alive.
Scientists just proved that Homo erectus, our ancient ancestor from nearly 2 million years ago, isn't an evolutionary dead end after all. Proteins from 400,000-year-old teeth reveal genetic traces that survive in millions of people living today across Asia and the Pacific.
Scientists discovered that plants with extra copies of their entire genome survived Earth's biggest catastrophes, including the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs. This genetic quirk could help crops weather our changing climate today.
Scientists discovered that Homo erectus, once thought extinct without descendants, passed genes to people living today. Ancient tooth proteins reveal a 400,000-year-old genetic thread connecting our most distant ancestors to modern Southeast Asians.
Scientists discovered tiny genetic "switches" that shaped human language ability before we split from Neanderthals. These ancient regulators still influence how we learn and use language today.
Indigenous Quechua people in the Peruvian Andes developed a genetic superpower that helps them digest starch better than almost anyone on Earth. The secret lies in their ancient relationship with the potato, which they domesticated thousands of years ago.
Scientists have created the first global map of how genetics and geography shape everything from aging to gut health. The groundbreaking study could transform how doctors treat patients from different backgrounds.
Scientists discovered that many plants carry extra sets of chromosomes, a genetic quirk that could help them adapt to climate change and other environmental disasters. This natural superpower gives plants flexibility that humans don't have.
Scientists extracted proteins from 400,000-year-old teeth and discovered evidence that our ancient ancestor Homo erectus may have interbred with other human relatives, passing genes that still exist in some people today. This breakthrough shows how modern humans carry traces of ancestors who walked the Earth hundreds of thousands of years ago.
Most medical research has studied only European DNA, leaving African populations invisible in health databases despite having the world's greatest genetic diversity. Scientists across nine African countries just sequenced over 1,000 genomes from underrepresented groups, potentially unlocking millions of new genetic discoveries.
Scientists have successfully bred sheep that naturally produce 18% less methane, giving farmers a proven tool to cut emissions right now. The best part? It works within farming practices already in place.
Scientists matched vitamins to genetic diseases and discovered that vitamin B3 dramatically extends survival in mice with NAXD deficiency, a disorder that usually kills children within months. This genetics-first approach could unlock safe, affordable treatments for dozens of rare genetic diseases.
Scientists developed technology that traces hundreds of cancer mutations back to shared control switches, potentially simplifying treatment. The breakthrough could mean one therapy targeting multiple genetic causes instead of treating each mutation separately.
A microscopic creature from an Oxford pond uses genetic code in a way never seen before, turning biology's universal "stop signs" into working parts. The accidental discovery shows nature is far more creative than we thought.
A tiny organism from an Oxford pond uses DNA in a way scientists have never seen before, reassigning two genetic "stop signs" to build proteins instead. The accidental discovery reveals nature's flexibility and hints at countless genetic surprises still waiting in the microscopic world.
A collapsed cave ceiling in Mexico created a unique laboratory where blind and sighted fish of the same species now live side by side, showing scientists how evolution works in real time. Researchers discovered key genes responsible for eye development by studying this rare natural experiment.
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A groundbreaking study of nearly 600 adults reveals that staying active through hobbies like reading, exercising, and socializing has a stronger link to brain health than genetic risk factors. The research shows that what you do in midlife matters more than family history when it comes to protecting your memory.
Only 1% of the 61 million Americans with disabilities have access to life-changing service dogs. Researchers are partnering with Canine Companions to solve the genetics puzzle and train more dogs for those waiting.
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