Genetics : Science World Report

Sep 13, 2013 04:25 PM EDT

Fruit Flies Exhibit Sex-Dependent Inheritance of Lifespan

A new study by German-Swedish researchers looks at previous assumptions by both biologists and physicians regarding the genetic risks of various diseases.

Sep 04, 2013 04:01 PM EDT

Synthetic Biology: Easier Way to Control Genes a Major Step

New method for turning genes on and off could enable more complex synthetic biology circuits.

Aug 14, 2013 03:14 PM EDT

Genetic Arms-Race With Mutual Benefits

When you hear the word ”mutations“, you probably think of something negative like heritable diseases. But mutations also mean genetic diversity and are at the centre of evolution. Researchers have now uncovered a surprisingly sophisticated system that balances protection from harmful mutations a...

Aug 08, 2013 04:28 PM EDT

New High-Tech Laser Method Allows DNA to Be Inserted 'Gently' Into Living Cells

Many methods already exist for doing this, but they tend to be clumsy and destructive, not allowing researchers to precisely control how and when they insert the DNA or requiring them to burn through large numbers of cells before they can get it into one.

Aug 05, 2013 12:42 PM EDT

Genetic Mutations Don't Always Determine Disease Development

It's not just about nature; it's also about interactions. A new study on genetic mutations has shown how these variances don't always determine whether or not a person develops a disease. The findings could allow researchers to better predict whether or not a pre-disposed individual will have a dise...

Aug 02, 2013 08:23 AM EDT

Genetic Adam and Eve Lived Together: DNA Reveals Common Ancestor

Scientists may have tracked down the origins of the biblical Adam--sort of. By studying the Y chromosomes of men from many different populations, researchers have discovered that their male most recent common ancestor (MRCA) lived sometime between 120,000 and 156,000 years ago.

Jul 30, 2013 03:32 PM EDT

Breakthrough in Detecting Single DNA Mutations Could Help Treat Tuberculosis, Cancer

Researchers have developed a new method that can look at a specific segment of DNA and pinpoint a single mutation, which could help diagnose and treat diseases such as cancer and tuberculosis.

Jul 23, 2013 09:29 PM EDT

Controlling Genes With Light

New technique can rapidly turn genes on and off, helping scientists better understand their function.

Jun 24, 2013 08:22 PM EDT

Kinky Genes: How We Fit Three Meters of DNA Into a Cell Nucleus

When scientists first decided to sequence the human genome, it seemed an impossibly large and complicated challenge. A decade since achieving this aim, scientists are faced with a similarly overwhelming challenge: understanding the folding of a human’s entire genetic data into a tiny cell nucleus.

Jun 18, 2013 11:50 AM EDT

Snowflake, the Rare Albino Gorilla, Was Inbred: Uncle and Niece Mated

With his pure white fur and pink skin, the rare albino gorilla, Snowflake, was quite the sight to see until he died of skin cancer in 2003. Now, scientists may have tracked down the reason behind his rare albinism. Snowflake may have been the result of inbreeding--the copulation between a niece and ...

Jun 10, 2013 11:53 AM EDT

The Future of the Human Race: Our Faces will Look like Anime Characters in 100,000 Years

What will the human race look like in the next 100,000 years? It turns out that we'll look a bit like anime characters--at least according to one scientist.

Jun 05, 2013 04:39 PM EDT