Genetics

  1. Genetics

    New tools reveal new truths about fungi, flies, antibiotics

    In the newsroom, any story about a new scientific method faces an uphill battle. In this issue are a number of stories that feature how science is done.

    By
  2. Health & Medicine

    Gene variant, processed meat linked to boost in cancer risk

    In people with a specific variation of a gene on chromosome 10, eating processed meat is associated with an increased risk of developing colon cancer.

    By
  3. Genetics

    Gene activity sets humans apart from extinct hominids

    Differences in gene activity caused by DNA methylation distinguish modern people from Neandertals and Denisovans.

    By
  4. Genetics

    Down’s syndrome goes beyond chromosome 21

    A genetic analysis suggests that the DNA changes linked to Down's syndrome happen on all chromosomes, not just the 21st.

    By
  5. Microbes

    One giant leap for zit-causing microbes

    A bacterium that lives on humans and causes acne also hopped to domesticated grapevines and relies on the plant for crucial DNA repairs.

    By
  6. Genetics

    Modern hunter-gatherers’ guts host distinct microbes

    A healthy collection of gut bacteria depends on the environment in which people live and their lifestyle, research shows.

    By
  7. Life

    How cells keep from popping

    The protein SWELL1 stops cells from swelling so much that they burst, a new study shows.

    By
  8. Genetics

    Five mutations could make bird flu spread easily

    Handful of alterations can turn H5N1 bird flu into virus that infects ferrets through the air.

    By
  9. Health & Medicine

    Changes in kids’ genomes linked to chronic stress

    In a study of 40 nine-year-old boys, kids from underprivileged backgrounds had telomeres that were 19 percent shorter than those of boys from more privileged environments.

    By
  10. Genetics

    Feedback

    Readers ask about Neandertal genes and electricity-generating spores and react to a fusion milestone.

    By
  11. Genetics

    Bank voles provide clue to prion disease susceptibility

    A protein from bank voles makes mice susceptible to disorders that wouldn’t otherwise infect them.

    By
  12. Genetics

    Neandertal legacy written in Europeans’ fat metabolism

    DNA inherited from Neandertal interbreeding may have helped people adjust to Europe’s environment.

    By