Genetics

News

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.

DNA molecules are first formed as a long string of single-stranded DNA in which the sequence of interest is repeated several times

Jun 05, 2013 04:39 PM EDT

New Method of Mass-Producing High-Quality DNA

A new method of manufacturing short, single-stranded DNA molecules can solve many of the problems associated with current production methods.

Jun 04, 2013 04:12 PM EDT

'Junk DNA' Plays Active Role in Cancer Progression, Researchers Find

Scientists at The University of Nottingham have found that a genetic rogue element produced by sequences until recently considered ‘junk DNA’ could promote cancer progression.

Cocoa Helps Obese People Control Inflammation Related Diseases

Jun 03, 2013 03:18 PM EDT

Now Sequenced Genome of Cacao Plant Reveals Markers For Better Taste and Higher Yield

The freshly sequenced genome of the most commonly cultivated cacao plant in the world is revealed in the open access journal Genome Biology this week. Researchers have utilised high quality DNA sequences to demonstrate the usefulness and quality of the sequence to identify genetic markers that can ...

May 31, 2013 11:31 PM EDT

Genetic Engineering Alters Mosquitoes' Sense of Smell

In one of the first successful attempts at genetically engineering mosquitoes, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) researchers have altered the way the insects respond to odors, including the smell of humans and the insect repellant DEET. The research not only demonstrates that mosquitoes can be ...

May 20, 2013 02:19 PM EDT

Genetic Screening Can Reveal Hidden Risk For Coronary Heart Disease

Finnish researchers have shown that genetic marker information can improve risk evaluation of coronary heart disease. The study comprised over 24,000 Finnish subjects and was led by Professor Samuli Ripatti.

Apr 27, 2013 11:56 PM EDT

Eight Wound-Healing Genes Identified, With Healing Potential for Skin

Eight genes never before suspected to play a role in wound healing, called into action near the areas where wounds occur, have been identified by biologists at UC San Diego.

Mar 15, 2013 02:11 PM EDT

Just Because Science Can, Should We Bring Mammoths Back into Existence?

Could we be visiting a real life Jurassic Park sometime soon in the future? Scientists have the capabilities of genetically engineering long extinct species such as the woolly mammoth, passenger pigeon or other extinct species but the topic for discussion at a conference later on Friday, is should t...

Feb 26, 2013 04:46 PM EST

Chief Architects Guiding Epigenetic Switching of Genes Identified

In a breakthrough discovery that could open up whole new possibilities in fighting cancer, researchers now discovered the control mechanism that dynamically reprograms our genome.

Tuberculosis Vaccine a New Drug to Fight Type 1 Diabetes

Feb 14, 2013 03:46 PM EST

Cure for Type 1 Diabetes With Gene Therapy Demonstrated

With a single session of gene therapy, researchers at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) have completely cured type 1 diabetes in dogs, involving the introduction of a “glucose sensor” into a muscle. Gene therapies seems to be on track to be the cure that didn't exist before for comple...

Feb 11, 2013 11:36 AM EST

Light Activates Pain Nerve Cells With New Compound Tested by Scientists

Researchers searched for and found a compound that lets nerve cells, located anywhere on the body outside the eyes, react to light. Massachusetts General Hospital's David Kokel and colleagues identified the drug-like molecule named "optovin", which elicits movements in mice and fish when exposed to ...