Gene Enhancers Give Human Face Its Final Look
When you look at yourself in the mirror, do you ever wonder why you look the way you do? Do you also wonder what biological processes were at work when it came time to shape and sculpt your face, which is as individual and unique as a fingerprint? The answer is in a little snippet […]
Studies Provide Fresh Insight into the Ancestry of Early Europeans
Two recently released studies have shed new light on ancient Europeans. Taking maternally-inherited mitochondrial DNA samples from bones and teeth of the skeletons of 364 people who lived about 5,000 years ago in what is now Central Europe, researchers in one study said that they were able to reconstruct the first detailed genetic history of […]
Whales Get Sunburned Too
Anyone who has experienced the searing pain of sunburn knows that too much sun can wreak havoc on your skin. Turns out that our fellow mammal, the whale, can also tan and get sunburn. A study published in ‘Scientific Reports, from the publishers of the journal Nature, reveals the sun produces an increase in pigment […]
Living Microorganisms Found High Above Earth
Scientists have discovered a considerable number of living microorganisms, including bacteria, in the middle to upper regions of the troposphere, the region of our atmosphere that’s about seven to 20 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. Researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology said their findings might help other scientists learn more about the role microorganisms […]
Study: A Person’s DNA Isn’t Always Identical
Prevailing wisdom holds that every cell in the body contains identical DNA. But Yale researchers say they examined skin stem cells and found a number of genetic variations in a variety of skin tissue. The study, published in Nature, could have profound implications for genetic screening. “We found that humans are made up of a […]
Ancient Dog Mystery Remains Unsolved
Exactly where man’s best friend came from remains a mystery. Thousands of years of cross-breeding have made it difficult for scientists to trace the ancient genetic roots of today’s dogs. Still, British researchers gave it a try. They recently compared genetic data from 1,375 modern-day dogs, from 35 different breeds, to global archeological records of […]