DNA of bacteria that live in the body passed from mother to child
Traits such as eye color and height are passed from one generation to the next through the parents’ DNA, right?…
Medicos find altered gene expression in anorexia nervosa patients
A new report in the International Journal of Eating Disorders is the first to show that the longer someone suffers…
Short men living longer
Shorter men live longer, according to new research that shows shorter men were more likely to have a protective form…
Mug shots from DNA possible, say scientists
DNA can already tell us the sex and ancestry of unknown individuals, but now an international team of researchers is…
Smoking linked to ADHD in future generations
Florida State University scientists investigating neurobehavioral disorders say that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) could be an environmentally induced health…
Genetics play no role in disease risk, claims controversial new study
Genes have been implicated in influencing everything from our sexual orientation to our risk of cancer, but a new paper…
Scientists link DNA to marital satisfaction
Wedded bliss or a miserable marriage? Researchers at UC Berkeley and Northwestern University say that a gene involved in the…
Novel epigenetic messaging system found in sperm
A dad’s exposure to stress leaves a lasting impression on his sperm, say researchers who have been investigating a never-before-seenepigenetic…
Genetic circuit balances individual freedom and collective good
An intriguing investigation of bacterial genetic circuitry suggests that even the simplest creatures can make difficult choices that strike a…
Couch potatoes born that way
Research from the University of Missouri (UM) indicates certain genetic traits may predispose people to being more or less motivated…
Can nicotine transmit disease through multiple generations?
Nicotine creates heritable epigenetic marks on the genome, say Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute scientists who contend that a grandparent’s…
Quadruple helix DNA discovered in human cells
Cambridge University researchers have published a paper in Nature Chemistry showing that four-stranded “quadruple helix” DNA structures exist within the…
Leadership can be an inherited trait, study finds
Using a large twin sample, an international research team found that a quarter of the observed variation in leadership behaviors…
Evidence for HIV in humans in distant past
HIV may have affected humans for much longer than is currently believed, according to a scientist who says that the…
Epigenetics might explain evolutionary puzzle of homosexuality
Epigenetics – how gene expression is regulated by temporary switches, called epi-marks – appears to be a critical and overlooked…
DNA fluidity has “profound implications” for genetic screening, say Yale scientists
The idea that every cell in our body contains identical DNA is incorrect, with scientists discovering that genetic variations are…
Twin-study shows eating disorders influenced by genetics
Genetics may make some women more vulnerable to the pressure of being thin, say Michigan State University researchers who also…
Semen protein acts as “master regulator” in females
Working with fruit-flies (Drosophila melanogaster), University of East Anglia scientists have observed “remarkable” changes in female gene expression after exposure…
Nicotine receptor gets blame for Internet addiction
Internet addiction has a physiological basis, according to German researchers who say a variant of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor makes…
First genetically evolved semiconductors created
By directing the evolution of silicateins, the proteins responsible for the formation of silica skeletons in marine sponges, scientists at…
Single gene mutation responsible for modern humans
Scientists believe that the appearance of a partial, duplicate copy of a gene, occurring around the time that the Australopithecus…
Genes a good predictor of social status
Scientists using an experimental approach to observe how gene expression patterns correlate with social dominance claim that gene expression can…
Gender behaviors directly manipulated
Uncovering the individual genes that are directly influenced by testosterone and estrogen has allowed University of California, San Francisco scientists…
Immune system ruse nixes peanut allergy
For the first time, Northwestern University researchers have turned off a life-threatening allergic response to peanuts by tricking the immune…
“It’s not all in the genes,” say epigenetic code-breakers
“Genes are not destiny,” say the Salk Institute scientists who have been delving into the epigenetic code that allows organisms…
Studies slam DIY genetic tests
The direct-to-consumer genetic tests offered by deCODEme and 23andMe give inaccurate predictions of disease risks and regulatory authorities should consider…
Potent anti-aging mechanism identified
How well the integrity of our DNA is maintained is a critical factor in determining how our bodies age. Now,…
Breeder or worker? Scientists search for the genes that drive societies
In order understand the evolution of complex societies; researchers are sequencing the genomes of social insects to decipher which genes…
Colored light used to control brains of GM animals
Optogenetics researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have achieved unparalleled control over the brain circuits in laboratory animals by…