DNA

A paper in nature shows that fathers pass down mutations to their babies at a higher rate than mothers, says guest commentator Robert Martin.

Why Males Are Biology's Riskier Sex

11:46am January 30, 2018

by Robert D. Martin

New data have confirmed major differences in mutation rates between the sexes — showing that children inherit more mutations from their dads than from their moms, says guest commentator Robert Martin.

There's an explosion of interest in personalized diet approaches and at-home test kits are popping up everywhere.

Personalized Diets: Can Your Genes Really Tell You What To Eat?

9:56am January 22, 2018

by Allison Aubrey

There's an explosion of interest in personalized diet approaches and at-home test kits are popping up everywhere. Part of the approach includes analyzing your DNA, but genes can only tell us so much.

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Darwin sits in front of Shrewsbury Library in England, which was formerly a school he attended.

Science

Altering A Species: Darwin's Shopping List

5:10pm January 15, 2018

by Jimena Canales

Few scientific discoveries have caused as much excitement as that of editing our genes; yet we owe some of the most stunning wonders around us to old-fashioned breeding practices, says Jimena Canales.

Ben and Tara Stern relax at home in Essex, Md. Ben was diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2016. After conventional treatment failed to stop the tumor, Ben tried an experimental drug.

For Now, Sequencing Cancer Tumors Holds More Promise Than Proof

3:17pm January 15, 2018

by Richard Harris

Sequencing the DNA of cancer tumors to help pinpoint treatment is an emerging element of precision medicine. While patients and doctors alike want these tests, they often don't benefit patients.

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The Google Doodle for January 9, 2018 honors Har Gobind Khorana.

The Man In The Google Doodle: From Poor Villager To Nobel Prize Winner

4:27pm January 09, 2018

by Angus Chen

He's the biochemist Har Gobind Khorana, who discovered the grammar that organizes DNA. But first he had to overcome the accent and mannerisms of his Indian village.

Volunteer Greg Ruegsegger is outfitted with monitors, a catheter threaded into a vein and a mask to capture his breath in an experiment run by Joyner to measure human performance.

Will Gathering Vast Troves of Information Really Lead To Better Health?

6:05pm December 28, 2017

by Richard Harris

Hundreds of millions of dollars are pouring into research labs in an effort to collect genetic information on a million people. But some skeptics say the focus should be on humans themselves, not DNA.

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The street where the body of Jeffrey Young was found in Dallas.

National

Why A Man Declared Innocent Can't Get Out Of Prison

4:36pm December 06, 2017

by Barbara Bradley Hagerty

Benjamine Spencer's case illustrates how difficult it can be for some prisoners in Texas to prove they did not commit a crime without new and unassailable evidence, such as DNA.

Bacterial cells can now read a synthetic genetic code and use it to assemble proteins containing man-made parts.

Scientists Train Bacteria To Build Unnatural Proteins

6:25pm November 29, 2017

by Richard Harris

Bacteria engineered with an expanded genetic alphabet can produce novel proteins, which could lead to the development of new drugs.

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Martha (right), the last known passenger pigeon, died in 1914. Her preserved body is now on display at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.

Science

Why Did The Passenger Pigeon Go Extinct? The Answer Might Lie In Their Toes

4:55pm November 16, 2017

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

Billions of these birds once flew over North America, but the last known passenger pigeon died in 1914. To try to figure out what happened, scientists analyzed DNA from the toes of birds in museums.

One of the most famous African dog breeds, the basenji is closely related to street dogs found throughout West Africa.

Dogs And People Have More In Common Than You Might Think

5:46pm October 13, 2017

by Michaeleen Doucleff

It looks like dog DNA has evolved in lockstep with our DNA. A new study finds evidence in Nigeria's street dogs.