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A fossilized mammoth tusk sitting in a grassy field during sunset
Woolly Mammoth Genomes Reveal Genetic Adaptations to Cold
Researchers identified mutations in genes that may be involved in fat regulation, fur growth, and morphology.
Woolly Mammoth Genomes Reveal Genetic Adaptations to Cold
Woolly Mammoth Genomes Reveal Genetic Adaptations to Cold

Researchers identified mutations in genes that may be involved in fat regulation, fur growth, and morphology.

Researchers identified mutations in genes that may be involved in fat regulation, fur growth, and morphology.

SNP

illustration of many DNA strands
Doppelgängers Similar in Looks and DNA: Study
Sophie Fessl, PhD | Aug 30, 2022 | 3 min read
Look-alikes are also more likely to share lifestyle traits.
Colorful DNA strands
Scans of Sundry Variant Types Uncover Autism-Linked Genes
Chloe Williams, Spectrum | Aug 19, 2022 | 5 min read
Troves of sequencing data reveal genes tied to autism through different variant types, providing a more complete picture of the condition’s genetic roots and new clues to its heterogeneity.
multicolor DNA sequencing gel
Genetic Mutations Can Be Benign or Cancerous—a New Method to Differentiate Between Them Could Lead to Better Treatments
Ryan Layer, The Conversation | May 27, 2022 | 5 min read
Tumors contain thousands of genetic changes, but only a few are actually cancer-causing. A quicker way to identify these driver mutations could lead to more targeted cancer treatments.
stone panel depicting a horselike animal led by ropes around the neck
Ancient Mesopotamians Bred Horselike Hybrids
Chris Baraniuk | Jan 14, 2022 | 4 min read
A genomics study reveals the parentage of a long-mysterious creature called a kunga, the earliest-known hybrid animal bred by humans.
a smiling woman standing between a much taller man and woman
Protein Size Matters
David Adam | Sep 23, 2021 | 3 min read
A study probes how genetic duplications that can swell protein length influence human traits such as height and kidney function.
artistic drawing of neuron filled with tau proteins
Genes for Alcohol Use Disorder and Alzheimer’s Risk Overlap: Study
Emma Yasinski | Aug 24, 2021 | 4 min read
Genetic, transcriptomic, and epigenetic data reveal molecular mechanisms tying these disorders to each other and to immune disfunction.
COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus, pandemic, transmission, superspread, genome, virus, tracking, Biogen, Massachusetts
Thousands of Coronavirus Infections Stemmed from a Biotech Event
Amanda Heidt | Aug 26, 2020 | 3 min read
Officials had initially linked 97 cases to a single conference held by Biogen in February in Boston, but a new study tracking viral genomes suggests the number may be as high as 20,000.
DNA Could Thwart Trade of the World’s Most Trafficked Mammal
Diana Kwon | Aug 6, 2020 | 4 min read
Pangolins are poached for their scales and meat, leading researchers to develop a set of molecular tools to help track and mitigate the trade.
Accuracy of Genotyping Chips Called into Question
Grace Browne | Jul 24, 2019 | 4 min read
Chips used by some direct-to-consumer genetic testing firms display a false positive rate of upwards of 85 percent when screening for rare variants, a new study finds.  
MyHeritage Launches Health-Related Genetic Test, Ignites Debate
Catherine Offord | Jul 9, 2019 | 8 min read
Its screen for selected variants of some disease-linked genes gives customers an incomplete picture of their risk—do they know?
Putative Gay Genes Identified, Questioned
Jef Akst | Dec 7, 2017 | 2 min read
A genomic interrogation of homosexuality turns up speculative links between genetic elements and sexual orientation, but researchers say the study is too small to be significant. 
Genetic Risk Factors for Breast Cancer Identified
Ashley P. Taylor | Oct 23, 2017 | 4 min read
Researchers identify 72 novel genetic variants associated with breast cancer risk.
A Database of Genetic Differences Among Lab Mice
Ashley P. Taylor | Aug 7, 2017 | 4 min read
Researchers have catalogued mutations in the coding regions of 36 of the most important mouse strains.
Mutation vs. Mutation
Kerry Grens | Nov 3, 2016 | 1 min read
Yeast study finds many instances—often among related genes—in which a mutation in one gene cancels the negative effects of a mutation in another.
CRISPR Corrects Sickle Cell-Causing Gene in Human Cells
Kerry Grens | Oct 13, 2016 | 2 min read
Once implanted in mice, the edited stem cells produced normal hemoglobin.
Genetic Connections Among Human Traits
Anna Azvolinsky | May 16, 2016 | 3 min read
A study identifies genetic variants that are linked to multiple phenotypes.
GWAS IDs “Morning People”
Catherine Offord | Feb 3, 2016 | 1 min read
In a large genome-wide association study, researchers from 23andMe locate 15 DNA regions associated with people’s preferences for early morning starts.
Fraction of SNPs Can Affect Fitness
Kerry Grens | Jan 21, 2015 | 1 min read
A point mutation analysis of the entire human genome finds that alterations to as many as 7.5 percent of nucleotides may have contributed to humans’ evolutionary split from chimpanzees.
Reduced Risk?
Molly Sharlach | Oct 22, 2014 | 2 min read
A genome-wide association study identifies a SNP that could help explain the relatively low rates of breast cancer among Latina women.
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