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Genetics is the study of genes, which are the basic units of inheritance that contain the blueprint for life, from determining the way that organisms look to every physiological process that occurs within them. Advances in genetics have come a long way since the discovery of the double helix of DNA in 1953. Scientists can now sequence the entire genetic code of thousands of people on a large scale to pinpoint genes that are associated with specific diseases and flag them as targets for drug development. Likewise, enzymes from bacteria can be used to modify genes for a plethora of purposes, including healthcare and farming.
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Science history: 'Father of modern genetics' describes his experiments with pea plants — and proves that heredity is transmitted in discrete units — Feb. 8, 1865
Gregor Mendel described his experiments with pea plants and proved that genes are transmitted in discrete units, with certain fundamental laws of inheritance.
These genes were thought to lead to blindness 100% of the time. They don't.
New research finds that retinal diseases thought to map one-to-one to genetic mutations are more complicated than that.
DNA from ancient viral infections helps embryos develop, mouse study reveals
A stretch of viral DNA in the mouse genome gives cells in early-stage embryos the potential to become almost any cell type in the body.
Leonardo da Vinci's DNA may be embedded in his art — and scientists think they've managed to extract some
In a first, scientists have extracted DNA from a Renaissance-era drawing attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, but they can't be sure that the genetic material belongs to the Italian polymath.
5 genetic 'signatures' underpin a range of psychiatric conditions
A study suggests psychiatric disorders can share the same genetic signatures and that they may stem from shared biological mechanisms.
Woman had her twin brother's XY chromosomes — but only in her blood
Doctors discovered a woman had "blood chimerism" after examining the chromosomes of cells from different parts of her body.
James Watson, controversial co-discoverer of DNA's structure, dies at 97
James Watson, who co-won the Nobel Prize for discovering DNA's structure, was a towering and controversial figure in science.
Unique gene variants in the Turkana people of Kenya may help them survive harsh desert heat
Scientists discovered genetic variants in the Turkana that help conserve water in deserts, but these variants may now raise disease risks in urban settings, early data suggest.
Genetics: How do we inherit traits from our ancestors?
Discover interesting facts about how traits are passed down over generations through DNA.
A tragic gene therapy death that stalled the field for a decade — Sept. 17, 1999
Sept. 17, 1999: Jesse Gelsinger died after receiving a gene therapy treatment to treat a liver disease. The death sparked an investigation and caution around gene therapy, which ultimately stalled the field for years.
