DNA and Genes
Latest about Genetics

Genes from tiny viruses can turn bacteria into superbugs
By Nicoletta Lanese published
Phages, or viruses that infect bacteria, pressure bacteria to evolve quickly.

As little as 1.5% of our genome is 'uniquely human'
By Rachael Rettner published
The portion of DNA that's unique to modern humans is enriched for genes involved with brain development.

Cannabis originated in China, genetic analysis reveals
By Tom Metcalfe published
Cannabis, the source of marijuana, originated in northwest China, where local strains are most like the original strain of cannabis cultivated more than 12,000 years ago.

Scientists may have cracked the mystery of da Vinci’s DNA
By Ben Turner published
The artist's remains are reportedly buried in France's Chateau d'Amboise. Now, scientists are one step closer to identifying them.

These 12 individuals have a rare genetic quirk that prevents 'self-eating' in cells
By Nicoletta Lanese published
"Self-eating" allows cells to recycle their broken internal machinery.

Humans might be making genetic evolution obsolete
By Cameron Duke published
A new study on human cultural evolution argues that humans evolve much faster as cultures than as individual organisms, molding our genes in the process.

Mysterious East Asians vanished during the ice age. This group replaced them.
By Laura Geggel published
People who lived in East Asia since at least 40,000 years ago disappeared during the ice age.

Scientists puzzled by 'unexplained excess mass' lurking in human chromosomes
By Brandon Specktor published
Human chromosomes weigh about 20 times heavier than the DNA within them. So where's all this extra mass coming from?
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