genetics & genomics

Subjects

Results

Wikimedia Commons, Bluerasberry

Rare Alleles Rise with Population

By Megan Scudellari

As the human population expands, the number of rare genetic variants dramatically increases.

Wellcome Images, Mark Lythgoe & Chloe Hutton

Doubled Gene Boosted Brain Power

By Sabrina Richards

Human-specific duplications of a gene involved in brain development may have contributed to our species’ unique intelligence.

Telomeres

Six Threats to Chromosomes

By Ed Yong

Researchers identify two new DNA repair systems, in addition to four that were already known, that can attack unprotected telomeres.

05_12_long-litF

The Sugar Lnc

By Sabrina Richards

Genes that react to cellular sugar content are regulated by a long non-coding RNA via an unexpected mechanism.

MOHAMED A. F. NOOR: Earl D. McLean Professor & Associate Chair,  Department of Biology, Duke UniversityDuke university, Chris Hildreth

Burgers and Flies

By Megan Scudellari

Inspired by Darwin, Mohamed Noor has uncovered the molecular dance by which a single species becomes two.

Wikimedia Commons

Illegal Genes

By Bob Grant

California mulls a state law that would criminalize the unauthorized sharing, storing, or analyzing of genetic data.

iStock, alengo

Genomics Boom Continues

By Jef Akst

A new report estimates that the genomics research tools market will be worth nearly $9 billion by 2016.

Flickr, MJ/TR (´・ω・)

Inferring DNA from RNA

By Jef Akst

A new technique to derive DNA information from non-DNA sources, such as RNA, threatens the anonymity of genetic database donors.

An Anopheles stephensi mosquito, which can carry P. falciparumWikimedia Commons, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Malaria Drug Resistance Spreading

By Bob Grant

A genomic analysis reveals a crucial detail in drug-resistant strains of the malaria parasite that are on the move in Southeast Asia.

Wikimedia Commons, Fir0002/Flagstaffotos

Lab Studies Lie about the Clock

By Megan Scudellari

Fly circadian behavior is dramatically different in natural environments than in the lab.