Op-Ed Contributor: Our Genes, Their Secrets
Why the Supreme Court's ruling on gene patents is only a partial victory for DNA-data sharing.
From the NYTimes News-2013-6-19:8:5:1
News Analysis: Poking Holes in Genetic Privacy
People providing DNA for research have generally been assured of their privacy, but now there are signs that they can, in fact, be identified by their DNA alone, or even by the way their cells use it.
From the NYTimes News-2013-6-18:14:6:4
Dot Earth Blog: A Reality Check on a Plan for a Swift Post-Fossil Path for New York
A journal that published an ambitious plan for New York State to go fossil free in a few decades now runs a critique.
From the NYTimes News-2013-6-18:14:6:3
Ash genome reveals fungus resistance
Scientists sequence the genome of a type of ash tree which is resistant to the deadly fungal disease sweeping the country.
From the BBC News-2013-6-18:14:6:1
Paracyclist 'has no fat under skin'
Budding Paralympic cyclist Tom Staniford has no fat on his face or his limbs as a result of a rare genetic mutation that has finally been diagnosed by sequencing his genome.
From the BBC News-2013-6-18:14:6:2
Ancient armoured fish had 'abs'
Ancient armoured fish had complex musculature - including abdominal muscles - the discovery of uniquely preserved tissue on Australian placoderm fossils has revealed.
From the CBC News-2013-6-14:14:6:1
Police Agencies Are Assembling Records of DNA
Local law enforcement agencies have moved into what had been the domain of the F.B.I. and state crime labs, and the trend is expected only to accelerate after a recent Supreme Court decision.
From the NYTimes News-2013-6-14:8:5:2
Observatory: 120,000-Year-Old Tumor in Neanderthal Rib
A tumor found in the rib of a 120,000-year-old Neanderthal specimen is the earliest of its kind in the human fossil record, a new study reports.
From the NYTimes News-2013-6-14:8:5:1
Medieval leprosy skeletons sequenced
The genetic code of leprosy-causing bacteria from 1,000-year-old skeletons has been laid bare, showing the bug has hardly changed over the past millennium.
From the BBC News-2013-6-13:20:6:1
U.S. Supreme Court rules human DNA cannot be patented
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that companies cannot patent parts of naturally-occurring human genes, a ruling that could profoundly affect the emerging and lucrative medical and biotechnology industries.
From the CBC News-2013-6-13:14:6:2
US Supreme Court bans DNA patents
Human genes may not be patented, but artificially copied DNA can be intellectual property, the US Supreme Court rules unanimously.
From the BBC News-2013-6-13:14:6:1
The outbreak of a novel coronavirus in the Middle East is not only raising worldwide health concerns but is triggering questions about the ability of organizations to patent the genetic sequences of diseases for potential profit.
From the CBC News-2013-6-12:14:6:1
Observatory: 120,000-Year-Old Cancer in Neanderthal Rib
A tumor found in the rib of a 120,000-year-old Neanderthal specimen is the oldest occurrence of the disease in the human fossil record, a new study reports.
From the NYTimes News-2013-6-10:14:6:1
'De-extinction' of woolly mammoth possible in 30 to 50 years
Hendrik Poinar, a professor of evolutionary genetics at Hamilton's McMaster University who has mapped the genome of the woolly mammoth, is working on a process called "de-extinction."
From the CBC News-2013-6-7:14:6:1
VIDEO: Pliosaurus named for 'Kevs of the world'
A man from Dorset who found the fossil of what is thought to be most powerful creature ever - has had it officially named after him.
From the BBC News-2013-6-7:8:5:1
GM salmon in wild might produce bold hybrids
There might be potential risks if genetically modified salmon escape into the wild, indicates a new study from Memorial University in Newfoundland and Labrador.
From the CBC News-2013-6-6:14:6:2
Study reveals how birds lost penises
New research sheds light on why some birds have lost their penises over the course of evolution.
From the BBC News-2013-6-6:14:6:1
Neanderthal clues to cancer origins
A Neanderthal living 120,000 years ago had a cancer that is common today, according to fossil evidence.
From the BBC News-2013-6-6:8:5:1
U.S. investigating rogue GM wheat found in Oregon field
U.S. authorities are still trying to figure out how a genetically-modified wheat strain that was never approved for commercial use ended up in a field in Oregon.
From the CBC News-2013-6-5:20:6:2
VIDEO: Fossil could be 'ancestor of humanity'
A fifty five million year old fossil could provide crucial evidence of the earliest phases of human evolution
From the BBC News-2013-6-5:20:6:1
Accord Aims to Create Global Trove of Genetic Data
The aim is to put the vast and growing collection of data on genetic variations and health into databases open to researchers and doctors all over the world.
From the NYTimes News-2013-6-5:14:6:3
Oldest primate fossil reveals tiny 'cousin' of human ancestor
New fossil evidence of the earliest complete skeleton of an ancient primate suggests it was a hyperactive, wide-eyed creature so small you could hold a couple of them in your hand - if only they would stay still long enough.
From the CBC News-2013-6-5:14:6:4
Palm-Size Fossil Resets Primates' Clock, Scientists Say
A nearly complete skeleton of a creature that weighed less than an ounce dials back the primate fossil record by eight million years, paleontologists report.
From the NYTimes News-2013-6-5:14:6:2
Primate fossil is oldest yet found
A 55-million-year-old, mouse-sized fossil from China provides remarkable new insights into the origin of primates, the broad grouping of animals that also includes humans.
From the BBC News-2013-6-5:14:6:1
Rediscovered frog is 'living fossil'
The Hula painted frog, which was recently rediscovered after being declared extinct, has been reclassified as a "living fossil".
From the BBC News-2013-6-4:14:6:1
Connecticut Approves Qualified Genetic Labeling
The law would not take effect unless four other states, at least one of which shares a border with Connecticut, passed similar regulations.
From the NYTimes News-2013-6-4:8:5:2
Teeth unveil our ancestors' diet
New analysis of teeth from extinct fossils finds that our forbearers expanded their diets about 3.5 million years ago.
From the BBC News-2013-6-4:8:5:1
Observatory: New Fossil Reveals Oldest Known Avian Creature
The discovery of a pheasant-size fossil has prompted a re-examination of the entire lineage.
From the NYTimes News-2013-6-3:20:6:1
Woolly mammoth discovery raises exciting possibilities
The recent discovery of a well-preserved woolly mammoth carcass and mammoth blood on a Siberian Island has the potential to "raise the ceiling" on scientific research on extinct species, say Canadian researchers who work with mammoth DNA.
From the CBC News-2013-5-31:20:6:1
Japan Suspends Some Imports of U.S. Wheat
After a genetically altered crop was found on an Oregon farm, Japan suspended some imports.
From the NYTimes News-2013-5-31:8:5:2
Fossil shows how turtle got a shell
How the turtle shell evolved has puzzled scientists for years, but new research sheds light on how their hard shells were formed.
From the BBC News-2013-5-31:8:5:1
Matter: Mountain Populations Offer Clues to Human Evolution
When people moved to high altitudes, they experienced natural selection that has reworked their biology and allowed them to cope with low oxygen levels.
From the NYTimes News-2013-5-30:8:5:1
Genetically Engineered Wheat Found in Oregon Field
The presence of the herbicide-resistant wheat, a type developed by Monsanto but never approved, could threaten exports of American wheat.
From the NYTimes News-2013-5-29:20:6:1
Bird ancestor reshuffles fossil pack
What may be the earliest creature yet discovered on the evolutionary line to birds has been unearthed from the famous fossil beds of Liaoning, China.
From the BBC News-2013-5-29:14:6:1
AUDIO: Is being fat 'in your genes'?
The UK's leading biomedical research funders are joining forces to confront what many now regard as the epidemic of obesity. The Today programme's science correspondent Tom Feilden reports.
From the BBC News-2013-5-29:8:5:2
GM salmon can breed with wild fish
The potential risks of genetically modified fish escaping into the wild are highlighted in a new study.
From the BBC News-2013-5-29:8:5:1
Mom's obesity surgery may help her children
Genes linked to obesity-related health problems worked differently in younger siblings of women who had weight-loss surgery than in their older brothers and sisters
From the CBC News-2013-5-27:20:6:1
The Scan: Tasting Words; DNA Art; Neuroscience on the Small Screen
A look at coming events at the intersection of science and culture.
From the NYTimes News-2013-5-27:14:6:1
Food Companies Seeking Ingredients That Aren't Gene-Altered
Consumers are driving a movement toward labeling food products made from genetically modified organisms, and food producers are responding.
From the NYTimes News-2013-5-27:8:5:1
Google Street View captures Galapagos Islands
Few have explored the remote volcanic islands of the Galapagos archipelago, an otherworldly landscape inhabited by the world's largest tortoises and other fantastical creatures that inspired Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.
From the CBC News-2013-5-24:14:6:1
Genetics of white tigers pinpointed
Chinese scientists trace the rare white colouration in Bengal tigers to a single change in a gene that affects a host of animals, including humans.
From the BBC News-2013-5-23:14:6:1
VIDEO: 'Worrying declines' for UK species
A major new report from 25 wildlife organisations, assessing the state of Britain's Nature, is warning that many species of wildlife are facing extinction in the UK unless urgent action is taken.
From the BBC News-2013-5-23:8:5:1
From Neanderthal Molar, Scientists Infer Early Weaning
Patterns of barium in the fossil tooth of a child indicate that breast-feeding ended after 1.2 years, researchers say - much sooner than in modern nonindustrial populations.
From the NYTimes News-2013-5-22:14:6:1
Wildcat extinction 'in 24 months'
A scientist who has developed a genetic test to identify pure Scottish wildcats says the species could be extinct within two years.
From the BBC News-2013-5-22:8:5:1
Xbox launch Tuesday highly anticipated
Microsoft's next-generation Xbox expected to be revealed Tuesday, and anticipation for the entertainment console's latest evolution is running high.
From the CBC News-2013-5-20:14:6:1
Matter: Dogs: From Fearsome Predator to Man's Best Friend
Scientists are zeroing in on some of the genes that were crucial to the rewiring of canine brains in the transition from wolves to domesticated dogs.
From the NYTimes News-2013-5-16:14:6:1
Cloning Is Used to Create Embryonic Stem Cells
Researchers fused skin cells with donated human eggs to create human embryos that were genetically identical to the person who provided the skin cells.
From the NYTimes News-2013-5-15:20:6:1
DNA reveals origin of Minoan culture
Europe's first advanced civilisation had a local origin and was not imported from outside the continent, according to a new study.
From the BBC News-2013-5-15:14:6:3
Tigers 'lacking variety' in mates
India's tigers face extinction due to a collapse in the variety of their mating partners, say Cardiff University researchers.
From the BBC News-2013-5-15:14:6:2
Milestone in medical human 'cloning'
Human cloning is used to produce early embryos, marking a "significant step" for medicine, say US scientists.
From the BBC News-2013-5-15:14:6:1
Q&A: Can Scientists Change the Shape of Hair Follicles?
Researchers have been researching genes and other factors that might determine whether you have straight, curly or wavy hair, but they are not close to developing a medical intervention.
From the NYTimes News-2013-5-13:20:6:1
Genetic Connections: Seeking Clues to a Heart Killer in the DNA Binding a Family
Scientists are studying the DNA of the Del Sontro family for mutations or aberrations, hoping to see if genetics can explain why heart disease strikes apparently healthy people.
From the NYTimes News-2013-5-13:8:5:1
US to return dinosaurs to Mongolia
The US is to return more than a dozen illegally smuggled dinosaurs to Mongolia, following the return on Monday of a Tyrannosaurus skeleton.
From the BBC News-2013-5-11:8:5:1
Op-Ed Contributors: Save the Wolves of Isle Royale National Park
Not meddling with nature is central to America's modern wilderness tradition, but should we make an exception to save a population of wolves from extinction?
From the NYTimes News-2013-5-9:8:5:2
The great dinosaur stampede that never was?
The great dinosaur stampede that never was?
From the BBC News-2013-5-9:8:5:1
A Dream of Glowing Trees Is Assailed for Gene-Tinkering
A project to create a plant that glows in the dark, potentially leading the way for trees that can replace streetlamps, has been denounced for tinkering with genes.
From the NYTimes News-2013-5-8:8:5:2
Ancient bone-headed dinosaur found
Scientists have announced the discovery of a new species of bone-headed dinosaur, which is the oldest in North America, and possibly the world.
From the BBC News-2013-5-8:8:5:1
Little dome-headed dinosaur discovered in Alberta
A newly identified species of dome-headed dinosaur roughly the size of a large dog once roamed the plains of southern Alberta, a team of Canadian scientists announced Tuesday.
From the CBC News-2013-5-7:14:6:2
US returns stolen Mongolia dinosaur
The US returns a 70-million-year-old dinosaur skeleton which was smuggled from Mongolia and auctioned for more than a million dollars.
From the BBC News-2013-5-7:14:6:1
Christian de Duve, Nobel-Winning Biochemist, Dies at 95
Dr. de Duve, a Belgian biochemist whose discoveries shed light on genetic disorders like Tay-Sachs disease, shared the 1974 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with two others.
From the NYTimes News-2013-5-6:20:6:2
Out There: A Glossy Science Magazine or Living Fossil?
Though the graveyard of journalism is littered with popular science magazines, a new one emerges, Nautilus, with the goal of being "a New Yorker version of Scientific American."
From the NYTimes News-2013-5-6:20:6:1
P.E.I. fossil footprints could be 290 million years old
A geology student from Halifax is investigating a set of fossil tracks he found on the South Shore of P.E.I. that may be 290 million years old.
From the CBC News-2013-5-3:14:6:2
Dot Earth Blog: DNA from Tiger Scat Aids Conservation Efforts in Nepal
Tiger scat offers DNA traces that can help conserve Nepal's struggling tiger population.
From the NYTimes News-2013-5-3:14:6:1
Study Finds No Single Cause to Honeybee Deaths
Pesticides, parasites, poor nutrition and a lack of genetic diversity are blamed for a phenomenon known as colony collapse disorder.
From the NYTimes News-2013-5-2:20:6:1
DNA Studies Lend Weight to New Way of Looking at Cancer
A major new study provides the best evidence yet that cancer will increasingly be seen as a disease defined by its genetic fingerprint rather than by the organ where it originated.
From the NYTimes News-2013-5-1:20:6:1
Novelties: In Cancer Treatment, New DNA Tools
Cancers have long been categorized by the tissue where they originate in the body, but new tools and tests are helping doctors tailor treatment to specific gene mutations.
From the NYTimes News-2013-4-28:8:5:2
Mountain wild ponies breed 'unique'
The wild Carneddau ponies of Snowdonia are a unique breed which need to be protected, say scientists after a genetic study.
From the BBC News-2013-4-28:8:5:1
VIDEO: Kew reorders plant collection
The lengthy process of re-categorising plants through their DNA rather than their physical appearance is well under way at the Kew Gardens Herbarium.
From the BBC News-2013-4-26:20:6:1
François Jacob, Geneticist Who Pointed to How Traits Are Inherited, Dies at 92
Dr. Jacob was a French war hero whose combat wounds forced him to change his career paths from surgeon to scientist, a pursuit that led to a Nobel Prize in 1965.
From the NYTimes News-2013-4-26:8:5:1
GM salmon company losses mounting
AquaBounty, which is hoping to put its genetically modified salmon on grocery store shelves soon, is finding its net losses are growing as it waits for U.S. FDA approval.
From the CBC News-2013-4-25:14:6:3
DNA: the 'smartest' molecule in existence?
How DNA packs two metres of genetic information into every cell
From the BBC News-2013-4-25:14:6:2
Memorial for DNA pioneer Crick
An engraved stonework memorial to DNA pioneer Francis Crick is unveiled at his former college at the University of Cambridge.
From the BBC News-2013-4-25:14:6:1
In Pictures: The story behind DNA's double helix
The story of DNA's discovery told in pictures
From the BBC News-2013-4-25:8:5:1
Human extinction warning from Oxford
The institute studying how humans could become extinct
From the BBC News-2013-4-24:8:5:1
Making of Europe unlocked by DNA
DNA sequenced from nearly 40 ancient skeletons has shed light on the complex prehistoric events that created the present day European population.
From the BBC News-2013-4-23:14:6:1
Genetic study finds salmon refuge
An area of coastal waters around North-West France is identified as a site for a previously unknown ice-free refuge for salmon during the Ice Age.
From the BBC News-2013-4-23:8:5:1
Mind: Zeal for Play May Have Propelled Human Evolution
Studies of children are looking at how they let their imagination run free to make and find unlikely connections.
From the NYTimes News-2013-4-22:20:6:1
Anna Merz, Protector of Black Rhinos, Dies at 81
Mrs. Merz founded a wildlife reserve in Kenya that has helped the black rhinoceros come back from the brink of extinction.
From the NYTimes News-2013-4-22:8:5:2
Patients' Genes Seen as Future of Cancer Care
Hospitals are spending heavily to develop "precision medicine" treatments for cancer based on the special, even unique characteristics of the patient's genes.
From the NYTimes News-2013-4-22:8:5:1
Dinosaur 'fills fossil record gap'
Dinosaur fossils unearthed in Madagascar are of a new species that roamed the Earth around 90 million years ago, say US researchers.
From the BBC News-2013-4-19:8:5:1
'Living fossil' fish's genome decoded
Scientists have decoded the DNA of a celebrated "living fossil" fish, gaining new insights into how today's mammals, amphibians, reptiles and birds evolved from a fish ancestor.
From the CBC News-2013-4-17:20:6:1
Coelacanth DNA May Tell How Fish Learned to Walk
Scientists have decoded the genome of the endangered lobe-finned fish that was long believed extinct until a specimen was found in South Africa in 1908.
From the NYTimes News-2013-4-17:14:6:2
Genome of 'living fossil' sequenced
The genome of the coelacanth fish - a "living fossil" - is sequenced by scientists.
From the BBC News-2013-4-17:14:6:1
Justices Mull Patents on Human Genes
The Supreme Court on Monday struggled to find a narrow way to rule on whether human genes can be patented, in a case that will shape future research.
From the NYTimes News-2013-4-16:8:5:2
Tulip trees are 'molecular fossils'
The "extraordinary level of conservation" of the tulip tree's mitochondrial genome redefines our understanding of flowering plants' evolution, say researchers.
From the BBC News-2013-4-16:8:5:1
Major moments in genetic science
From pea plants to Dolly and the human genome, the evolution of genetic research
From the CBC News-2013-4-15:20:6:2
A Conversation With Eric D. Green: The Human Genome Project, Then and Now
A decade ago this week, scientists announced that they had completed the Human Genome Project. Eric D. Green, director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, discussed what that accomplishment meant and what is coming next.
From the NYTimes News-2013-4-15:20:6:1
US court hears gene patents case
The US Supreme Court hears arguments questioning whether the human genome can be claimed as intellectual property.
From the BBC News-2013-4-15:14:6:1
Question over human gene ownership before U.S. high court
The U.S. Supreme Court will begin hearing arguments today about whether it's really legal to patent human genes and whether a company with a patent can restrict testing and treatment.
From the CBC News-2013-4-15:8:5:2
As Court Considers Gene Patents, Case May Overlook Relevant Issues
The Supreme Court is poised to take up the question of whether human genes can be patented. But some say advances in the field may blunt the impact of its ruling.
From the NYTimes News-2013-4-15:8:5:1
DNA Project Aims to Make Public a Company's Data on Cancer Genes
Researchers are asking cancer clinics to hand over Myriad Genetics' test results so they can more easily interpret the risk posed by mutations of two breast cancer genes.
From the NYTimes News-2013-4-13:8:5:1
DNA pioneer's Nobel Prize auctioned
The Nobel Prize won by British scientist Francis Crick for his discovery of DNA - the "secret of life" - sells for $2.3m at a New York auction.
From the BBC News-2013-4-11:14:6:1
GMO fears do not 'translate to the average consumer'
Farmers across Canada were up in arms this week, protesting the possible introduction of genetically modified alfalfa into the country, but for the average Canadian consumer, it seems that the issue of bioengineered foods barely registers on their radar.
From the CBC News-2013-4-11:8:5:2
Crick DNA letter sells for $5.3m
A letter written by scientist Francis Crick to his son describing his discovery of DNA is sold at auction for $5.3m (£3.45m).
From the BBC News-2013-4-11:8:5:1
Rare dinosaur fossil bed reveals growth inside eggs
A Canadian-led group of paleontologists is getting a detailed look at how baby dinosaurs developed inside their eggs, by examining an ancient fossil bed full of embryos.
From the CBC News-2013-4-10:14:6:2
Insight into life in a dinosaur egg
Scientists gain a remarkable insight into the very earliest stage of dinosaur development - their life inside the egg.
From the BBC News-2013-4-10:14:6:1
Report Calls for Broad Changes in Science Education
New curriculum standards, which at least 26 states have pledged to consider, take a firm stand on climate change and evolution and emphasize hands-on learning.
From the NYTimes News-2013-4-9:20:6:2
Blacks and Whites Have Same Altered Genes, Alzheimer's Study Finds
Researchers found that older African-Americans with Alzheimer's were slightly more likely to have one gene, ABCA7, that is thought to confer risk for the disease.
From the NYTimes News-2013-4-9:20:6:1
Rhino horn DNA database introduced
A new DNA database is being set up to hold genetic information on all the rhinoceros horn in the UK in an attempt to stop its theft and trade.
From the BBC News-2013-4-9:14:6:1
VIDEO: Rhino horn DNA database introduced
A new DNA database of rhino horn is being set up in the UK after a spike in the number of criminal incidents.
From the BBC News-2013-4-9:8:5:4
'Deadly' prostate cancer gene find
Men with prostate cancer and an inherited BRCA2 gene mutation have the most aggressive form of disease, research reveals.
From the BBC News-2013-4-9:8:5:3
Leukaemia tracked 'back to the womb'
Scientists say they have traced the root genetic cause of leukaemia back to life in the womb.
From the BBC News-2013-4-9:8:5:2
Eco-change triggers rapid evolution
Changes to their surroundings can trigger "rapid evolution" in species as they adopt traits to help them survive in the new conditions, a study shows.
From the BBC News-2013-4-9:8:5:1
Profiles in Science: Elizabeth Blackburn: Molecular Biologist Charts Her Own Course
A Nobel-winning molecular biologist explores the connections of emotional stress, health and DNA.
From the NYTimes News-2013-4-8:20:6:1
VIDEO: Fossils reveal racehorse weakness
Comparing modern racehorses with their ancient ancestors
From the BBC News-2013-4-4:8:5:1
5 major moments in cellphone history
Forty years ago today, Motorola engineer Martin Cooper made the world's first public call from a mobile phone. To celebrate this anniversary, CBC News looks at the evolution of the handheld device, from "the brick" to its sleeker and more powerful recent incarnations.
From the CBC News-2013-4-3:8:5:1
Scientists find government justification of new environmental policy unfounded
Recent efforts by the Canadian government to curb the time allowed for +environmental reviews over fears of adverse impact on economic development are misguided and +unnecessary, according to research by scientists at the University of Toronto.
From the CBC News-2013-4-2:9:19:1
Observatory: Tarsiers Hint Primates Developed Color Vision at Night
A genetic examination of tarsiers indicates that the saucer-eyed primates developed three-color vision when they were still nocturnal.
From the NYTimes News-2013-4-1:20:6:1
Loch's new beaver given DNA test
The first wild beaver in more than 400 years is trapped at a Perthshire nature reserve in order to perform health checks and a DNA test.
From the BBC News-2013-3-28:8:5:1
Mountain pine beetle's genome decoded
The days of the mountain pine beetle gnawing, unchecked, through the forests of B.C. and north-central Alberta could be numbered, thanks to a microscopic breakthrough.
From the CBC News-2013-3-27:14:6:2
DNA test reveals cancer risk markers
More than 80 genetic markers that can increase the risk of developing breast, prostate or ovarian cancer have been found in the largest study of its kind.
From the BBC News-2013-3-27:14:6:1
Darwin letters reveal emotional side
A collection of previously unpublished letters by Charles Darwin reveal a highly emotional side to the naturalist.
From the BBC News-2013-3-27:8:5:1
No longer kids stuff: the evolution of video games
For kids who've grown up with game consoles equipped with motion-sensing technology, it's difficult to imagine that only a generation ago, playing video games meant popping a quarter in an arcade machine in the corner of a restaurant.
From the CBC News-2013-3-26:14:6:2
VIDEO: British butterflies hit by 2012 weather
Several species of British butterflies face extinction in some areas because of last year's extremely wet weather.
From the BBC News-2013-3-26:14:6:1
Why such a fuss about extinction?
Extinction has always been with us - but is it always a bad thing?
From the BBC News-2013-3-25:8:5:1
Atlantic Canadian mega-volcanoes blamed in mass extinction
The major extinction that paved the way for the rise of the dinosaurs was caused by the eruption of massive volcanoes in what is now Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, the northeastern U.S. and Morocco, a new study says.
From the CBC News-2013-3-22:20:6:1
VIDEO: Giant pterosaur fossil unveiled in Brazil
Palaeontologists unveil the reconstructed skeleton and fossilised remains of a giant pterosaur which used to rule the skies over Brazil millions of years ago.
From the BBC News-2013-3-22:14:6:1
An Epic Gathering of the Ocean's Leviathans
The remarkable story of the evolution of whales will be displayed at the American Museum of Natural History.
From the NYTimes News-2013-3-21:8:5:1
Cell Therapy Shows Promise for Acute Type of Leukemia
Genetically altering a patient's immune cells has, for the first time, produced remissions in adults with a virulent blood cancer. In one patient, the disease vanished in eight days.
From the NYTimes News-2013-3-20:20:6:1
VIDEO: Girl has pterosaur named after her
A nine-year-old girl has had a prehistoric creature named in her honour after fossilised bones she found turned out to be an undiscovered species.
From the BBC News-2013-3-20:14:6:1
Francis Ruddle, Who Led Transgenic Research, Dies at 83
Dr. Ruddle, one of the first scientists to map genes' locations on specific human chromosomes, helped lay the groundwork for the Human Genome Project.
From the NYTimes News-2013-3-20:8:5:2
Prehistoric beast named after girl
A nine-year-old girl from the Isle of Wight has a prehistoric flying beast whose fossilised bones she found named after her.
From the BBC News-2013-3-20:8:5:1
Reviving extinct species within reach, says researcher
Scientific advances in recent years have created a new field called de-extinction. The TEDx event was organized because researchers say it is time to begin a public discussion of how de-extinction projects can happen responsibly.
From the CBC News-2013-3-19:14:6:1
Researchers Report on Work to Bring Back Extinct Frog
It could be years before scientists succeed in bringing species back from extinction, but they are thinking of ways to give new life to creatures like woolly mammoths and frogs.
From the NYTimes News-2013-3-19:8:5:1
The Scan: Genetic Art, Whale Hearts and Morality
A look at coming events at the intersection of science and culture.
From the NYTimes News-2013-3-18:20:6:1
Big fish catches 'mean smaller fish'
Scientists warn that a rethink on fishing is needed after finding that catching big fish triggers a rapid change in genes - leading to fewer, smaller fish stocks.
From the BBC News-2013-3-18:8:5:1
How bed bugs 'dodge insecticides'
A genetic study provides an insight into the tricks that these bugs are using to evade insecticides.
From the BBC News-2013-3-14:14:6:1
Ancient phallus-shaped worm described
Scientists report the discovery of a peculiar, phallus-shaped creature found in a Canadian fossil bed.
From the BBC News-2013-3-14:8:5:1
Phallus-shaped acorn worms resolve fossil mystery
A beach-dwelling sea creature has stubbornly kept the same phallus-shaped form from the time of the trilobytes through the rise and fall of the dinosaurs to the present day, suggests a study that identifies a mystery fossil in the Canada's Burgess Shale.
From the CBC News-2013-3-13:20:6:1
VIDEO: Tasmanian devil cancer vaccine 'close'
Researchers say they are now a step closer to developing a vaccine for a contagious cancer which is driving the Tasmanian devil towards extinction.
From the BBC News-2013-3-12:14:6:1
Observatory: Biltong Meat Often Mislabeled, Study Finds
Using DNA analysis of the popular South African cured meat snack, researchers found two-thirds of the samples mislabeled, including kangaroo, as well as pork and lamb, called ostrich.
From the NYTimes News-2013-3-11:20:6:2
Remarkable Creatures: Solving the Puzzles of Mimicry in Nature
Analyzing the DNA of dangerous butterflies who copy other unpalatable species, scientists have found that some shared color-controlling genes, signaling past interbreeding.
From the NYTimes News-2013-3-11:20:6:1
Major Grocer to Label Foods With Gene-Modified Content
Whole Foods, the first retailer in the country to require such labeling, said all foods sold in its stores would need to be labeled within five years.
From the NYTimes News-2013-3-9:8:5:1
Ash fungus genetic code unravelled
British scientists decode the DNA of the fungus attacking Europe's ash trees, offering hope that a way of stopping the epidemic can be found.
From the BBC News-2013-3-8:8:5:1
VIDEO: Ancient camel fossils found in Arctic
A Canadian scientist has discovered bone fragments which confirm that the ancestors of modern camels once roamed the country's Arctic region.
From the BBC News-2013-3-7:14:6:1
DNA ancestry 'astrology' claim
Scientists describe some services provided by companies tracing ancestry using DNA as akin to astrology.
From the BBC News-2013-3-7:8:5:1
Camel Fossil Found in Canada's Arctic
A paper published in Nature Communications details the 2006 discovery of the fossilized remains of a giant camel in Canada.
From the NYTimes News-2013-3-6:8:5:2
Fencing off lions 'could save them'
Using fences to separate lions from humans could help to save them from extinction, a report suggests.
From the BBC News-2013-3-6:8:5:1
Giant camel fossil found in Arctic
The fossilised remains of a giant species of camel have been unearthed in Canada's High Arctic.
From the BBC News-2013-3-5:14:6:1
Herschel telescope to go blind
Europe's Herschel space telescope, which has helped transform our understanding of star birth and galaxy evolution, is expected to cease operations this month.
From the BBC News-2013-3-5:8:5:1
'Extinction crisis' focus for CITES
Delegates from 178 countries will review the convention on international trade in endangered species (CITES) amidst an unprecedented extinction crisis.
From the BBC News-2013-3-2:20:6:1
Horsemeat found in four new products
Four beef products sold by Bird's Eye, Taco Bell and catering supplier Brakes are found to contain horse DNA, the Food Standards Agency says.
From the BBC News-2013-3-1:14:6:1
Study Finds Genetic Risk Factors Shared by 5 Psychiatric Disorders
A large genetic study has identified common glitches involved in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism, major depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
From the NYTimes News-2013-3-1:8:5:1
Thriving cancer's 'chaos' explained
The way cancer cells can make a completely chaotic mess of their genetic code in order to thrive has been explained by UK researchers.
From the BBC News-2013-2-28:8:5:1
Supreme Court Hears Arguments on DNA Sampling
“I think this is perhaps the most important criminal procedure case that this court has heard in decades,” Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. said.
From the NYTimes News-2013-2-27:8:5:2
Spiral-toothed fossil mystery solved
An ancient spiral-toothed fish has been reconstructed from fossil evidence by scientists.
From the BBC News-2013-2-27:8:5:1
Stuxnet nuclear sabotage malware's evolution revealed
An earlier version of malware designed to sabotage Iran's nuclear program has been discovered, uncovering new information about the development of the sophisticated cyber-weapon.
From the CBC News-2013-2-26:20:6:1
Letters: Benefits of DNA Testing (1 Letter)
A letter to the Editor.
From the NYTimes News-2013-2-25:20:6:2
A DNA Lesson, From the Expert's Pen
A letter from Francis Crick to his son, Michael, two weeks after solving the DNA puzzle in 1953, is the first written description of the code and is being put up for auction.
From the NYTimes News-2013-2-25:20:6:1
Evolution takes a similar course each time, study suggests
Evolution is surprisingly predictable and its course seems relatively unaffected by chance events, a new study on bacteria suggests.
From the CBC News-2013-2-22:14:6:1
VIDEO: Eddie Izzard: 'I'm 2.8% Neanderthal'
While using comedian Eddie Izzard's DNA to trace the migration of his ancestors out of Africa and into Europe, geneticist Dr Jim Wilson has discovered that Izzard is 2.8% Neanderthal.
From the BBC News-2013-2-19:20:6:1
DNA Analysis, More Accessible Than Ever, Opens New Doors
As the cost of genetic sequencing plunges, more people, especially parents, are using it to find disease-causing mutations.
From the NYTimes News-2013-2-18:20:6:3
Books: Napoleon Chagnon's War Stories, in the Amazon and at Home
The anthropologist Napoleon A. Chagnon tries to answer questions about human evolution in his 35-year study of the Yanomamö of Venezuela and Brazil.
From the NYTimes News-2013-2-18:20:6:2
The Week: Drugging Fish, Naming a Moon and More
“The Week” highlights recent developments in health and science news and glances at what's ahead. In this column: help for the blind and a gene mutation that may explain the appearance of East Asians.
From the NYTimes News-2013-2-18:20:6:1
Artificial finger grips evolution
A machine that runs an artificial finger across different types of surface is being used to investigate the evolutionary origins of the pattern of ridges on the ends of our digits.
From the BBC News-2013-2-17:8:5:1
Tests by food giants find horse DNA
Catering giant Compass Group and Whitbread, one of Britain's largest hotel chains, have found horse DNA in products sold as beef, it emerges.
From the BBC News-2013-2-15:20:6:1
EU launches wider horsemeat tests
EU member states plan to start testing immediately for horse DNA in processed beef foods and to detect an illegal medicinal drug in horsemeat.
From the BBC News-2013-2-15:14:6:1
AUDIO: Fifth of reptiles facing extinction
A zoological researcher told BBC Radio 5 live Breakfast that a fifth of the world's reptiles could face extinction.
From the BBC News-2013-2-15:8:5:2
Reptiles face risk of extinction
Almost a fifth of the world's reptile species are at risk of extinction, according to scientists.
From the BBC News-2013-2-15:8:5:1
Studying Recent Human Evolution at the Genetic Level
Researchers have identified a mutation in a critical human gene as the source of several distinctive traits that make East Asians different from other races.
From the NYTimes News-2013-2-14:20:6:1
McMaster researchers shed light on origin of important human fossil
Researchers at McMaster have helped to unlock a mystery surrouding an ancient humanoid fossil that was discovered in a Serbian cave: its approximate age.
From the CBC News-2013-2-14:14:6:1
Shetlanders wanted for DNA research
Scientists are looking to recruit 2,000 Shetlanders for a study into the link between DNA and potentially fatal conditions.
From the BBC News-2013-2-14:8:5:2
EU urges DNA tests of processed beef
The EU urges members to conduct random DNA tests on processed beef for three months, to tackle a widening scandal over mislabelled horsemeat.
From the BBC News-2013-2-14:8:5:1
How to track an 'invisible' animal
Scientists are using DNA tricks to study the secrets of rare, shy and hard-to-reach species.
From the BBC News-2013-2-12:8:5:1
Observatory: More DNA Tests to Confirm Skeleton Is Richard III's
Mitochondrial DNA, passed through the female line, helped identify the remains of a skeleton as Richard III's, but firmer proof will come from matching the Y chromosome.
From the NYTimes News-2013-2-11:20:6:1
Twins' DNA dilemma for French police
Police investigating a series of sexual assaults in the French city of Marseille have arrested identical twins, but do not know which one to charge.
From the BBC News-2013-2-11:8:5:1
'Closest' dinosaur extinction date
Researchers revisit the timings of a massive impact 66m years ago and the demise of the dinosaurs, finding firmer evidence that they coincided in time.
From the BBC News-2013-2-8:8:5:3
Earliest mammal ancestor pinpointed
Researchers using a vast database of physical and genetic data determine the ancestor of all placental mammals was small, furry and probably ate insects.
From the BBC News-2013-2-8:8:5:2
UK 'lags behind' on DNA forensics
Cross-border co-operation on terrorism and crime will be compromised unless the UK updates the technology it uses for DNA profiling, experts warn.
From the BBC News-2013-2-8:8:5:1
Hamster-sized mammal topped our family tree
Scientists have unveiled a detailed portrait of the earliest ancestor of dogs, horses, humans and all other mammals that don't lay eggs or carry their young in a pouch - even though it hasn't yet been found in the fossil record.
From the CBC News-2013-2-7:20:6:2
Common Ancestor of Mammals Plucked From Obscurity
A lowly occupant of the fossil record, Protungulatum donnae, is the most likely common ancestor of the mammalian family tree that includes mankind, scientists said.
From the NYTimes News-2013-2-7:20:6:1
Extinction: Beyond dinosaurs and dodos
How extinction has helped other creatures flourish
From the BBC News-2013-2-7:8:5:1
Scientists testing for 'giant gene'
How common is genetic blip which can spawn giants?
From the BBC News-2013-2-6:14:6:1
Green Blog: Peeking Into the Sex Lives of Endangered Turtles
Genetic research reveals a surprisingly high level of monogamy and paternal diversity in hawksbill sea turtles, hinting that populations may be on the rise.
From the NYTimes News-2013-2-6:8:5:1
Neanderthals, humans may have missed each other
A new study casts doubt on the idea that modern humans and Neanderthals co-existed - and possibly even interbred - for millennia.
From the CBC News-2013-2-4:20:6:2
Pigeons, a Darwin Favorite, Carry New Clues to Evolution
Genetic scientists are using pigeons to study the mutations that produce radically new kinds of anatomy.
From the NYTimes News-2013-2-4:20:6:1
Canadian's DNA helps ID King Richard III's bones
A Canadian carpenter says he's stunned that his DNA helped solve a 500-year-old mystery that stumped British historians for centuries.
From the CBC News-2013-2-4:14:6:1
Richard III dig skull image shown
An image of a skull which historians believe could be that of Richard III is released ahead of DNA test results being announced.
From the BBC News-2013-2-3:20:6:1
Novelties: Knome's New Machine to Aid Labs in Genomic Analysis
A new computer, made by a company called Knome, is the size of a file cabinet and can filter a person's genetic information, possibly yielding insights into cancer or other diseases.
From the NYTimes News-2013-2-3:8:5:1
Beliefs: Seeing Darwin Through Christians' Eyes
For the religious, evolution continues to divide more than 150 years after “On the Origin of Species.”
From the NYTimes News-2013-2-2:8:5:1
Pigeon DNA gives up fancy secrets
Scientists sequence the genome of the pigeon and pinpoint the DNA responsible for the head-crests seen in some fancy birds.
From the BBC News-2013-2-1:8:5:1
F.D.A. Approves Genetic Drug to Treat Rare Disease
The Food and Drug Administration approved Kynamro, a new drug that not only treats a rare inherited disorder, but does so using a technology that can shut off specific genes that cause disease.
From the NYTimes News-2013-1-30:8:5:1
SCIENCE: A Life in Science: Hopi Hoekstra
An interview with Hopi Hoeskstra, a leading researcher in the cutting edge field of genetics of behavior.
From the NYTimes News-2013-1-28:20:6:4
Deer mice make an appealing subject of genetic studies because they are widely prevalent and that they have adapted to their environments in both coat color and behavior in tunnel-making.
From the NYTimes News-2013-1-28:20:6:3
Profiles In Science | Hopi E. Hoekstra: Tracing the Roots of Behavior in DNA
Studying how deer mice build their burrows, a team at Harvard led by Hopi Hoekstra is getting closer to understanding how genes control complicated behavior.
From the NYTimes News-2013-1-28:20:6:2
A Conversation With Nick Goldman: Using DNA to Store Digital Information
Researchers, whose goal is to store the equivalent of a million CDs in a gram of DNA, have developed a technique with an error-correction software, successfully storing and retrieving 739 kilobytes of data.
From the NYTimes News-2013-1-28:20:6:1
3 Years After Inception, a DNA Technique Has Yielded Little Success for Police
Investigators have used partial match DNA to locate criminals in more than two dozen cases in New York City, but law enforcement officials said they knew of no cases solved because of a lead generated by the technique.
From the NYTimes News-2013-1-28:8:5:1
Feathered dinosaur offers clues
A newly-discovered feathered dinosaur pre-dates those that birds were thought to have evolved from, a palaeontologist claims
From the BBC News-2013-1-25:8:5:1
New Mutations Discovered in Melanomas
The changes are in regions that control genes, not in the genes themselves, and they are exactly the type caused by exposure to ultraviolet light.
From the NYTimes News-2013-1-24:20:6:1
Shakespeare sonnets encoded in DNA
Researchers have stored 154 Shakespeare sonnets, a photo, a scientific paper, and a 26-second sound clip from Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech in a tiny strand of synthetic DNA in a test tube.
From the CBC News-2013-1-24:14:6:1
VIDEO: When did dogs stop being wolves?
Domesticated dogs evolved into man's best friend much more recently than previously thought, according to a new analysis of their DNA.
From the BBC News-2013-1-24:8:5:1
The light fantastic: Harnessing Nature's glow
From Darwin to glowing nightclub drinks
From the BBC News-2013-1-24:8:5:2
DNA 'perfect for digital storage'
UK scientists demonstrate how DNA could be used to archive digital data, encoding Shakespeare's sonnets and other information in the "life molecule".
From the BBC News-2013-1-23:14:6:2
Dog evolved 'on the waste dump'
A genetic study indicates the ability to thrive on the starchy food leftovers of early farmers was a key step in the domestication of dogs from wolves.
From the BBC News-2013-1-23:14:6:1
Saving Tasmanian Devils From Extinction
Australian officials are racing to save the fierce doglike marsupials from a rare infectious cancer and as a backup have set up a tumor-free population on another island.
From the NYTimes News-2013-1-21:20:6:4
The Well Column: Facing Cancer, a Stark Choice
Double mastectomies are on the rise, both among women with cancer in only one breast and those with a genetic risk.
From the NYTimes News-2013-1-21:20:6:3
The Week: A Roundup of This Week's Science News
A new column highlights the week's developments in health and science news and glance at what's ahead. This week: fecal transplants, a new flying frog and not-so-private genomes.
From the NYTimes News-2013-1-21:20:6:2
Temperature Rising: Seeking Clues About Sea Level From Fossil Beaches
In a bid to better project the expected rise in sea level from global warming, a team is studying a past era, the Pliocene, that appears to have experienced a sharp rise, too.
From the NYTimes News-2013-1-21:20:6:1
Study Details What Activates Disease-Causing Genes
With rheumatoid arthritis patients, researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Karolinska Institute evaluated the chemical tags that tell genes to be active or not.
From the NYTimes News-2013-1-21:8:5:1
'Quadruple helix' DNA in humans
Cambridge University scientists say they have seen four-stranded DNA at work in human cells for the first time and wonder if it might provide a target for the development of novel anti-cancer treatments.
From the BBC News-2013-1-20:20:6:1
Search of DNA Sequences Reveals Full Identities
Surprising results from a DNA researcher highlight the growing tension between the advancement of medical research and privacy concerns.
From the NYTimes News-2013-1-17:20:6:1
Could Big Data herald a new era of medicine?
Could a mass DNA database revolutionise our healthcare?
From the BBC News-2013-1-17:8:5:2
Mouse burrowing 'in their genes'
The burrowing behaviour of mice is driven by just a few genetic regions and not through learning, researchers say - with implications for our own behaviour.
From the BBC News-2013-1-17:8:5:1
Leadership skills may be genetic, study suggests
For the first time a study was able to identify a specific DNA sequence associated with leadership. The findings estimate that a quarter of the differences in leadership behaviour among individuals can be accredited to the genotype rs4950.
From the CBC News-2013-1-16:14:6:2
Mouse Study Discovers DNA That Controls Behavior
Scientists have identified four regions of DNA that play a major role in controlling animal behavior: telling a mouse how long a burrow to dig and whether to add an escape tunnel.
From the NYTimes News-2013-1-16:14:6:1
Anatomy 'wrong' in early animals
Our understanding of the anatomy of some of the first four-legged animals is wrong, a study reports.
From the BBC News-2013-1-16:10:16:1
Horsemeat found in beef burgers
Horse DNA has been found in some beef burgers being sold in UK and Irish supermarkets, Ireland's food safety body confirms.
From the BBC News-2013-1-15:14:6:1
VIDEO: African elephant extinction fears
The Kenyan government has warned that an increase in poaching is edging the African elephant closer to extinction.
From the BBC News-2013-1-15:14:6:2
Global Update: A Genetic Link Found for Victims of Lethal Form of Leishmaniasis
A study comparing DNA in almost 6,000 blood samples from India and Brazil found that subjects who got the visceral form of leishmaniasis had similar DNA variations.
From the NYTimes News-2013-1-14:20:6:2
Genes link Australians with India
Far from being cut off from the rest of the world, Australia experienced a migration from India about 4,000 years ago, a study suggests.
From the BBC News-2013-1-14:20:6:1
'Extinction threat' for UK orcas
The UK's only known resident population of killer whales is at risk of becoming extinct, marine life experts fear.
From the BBC News-2013-1-9:14:6:1
Green Blog: In Flies' Innards, Vital Clues to Biodiversity
If camera traps and other tools cannot pick up on small mammals that still exist, DNA analysis of the carrion that flies eat could help guide research.
From the NYTimes News-2013-1-8:14:6:1
Epilepsy 'link' to migraine gene
A strong family history of seizures could increase the chances of having severe migraines, says a study in Epilepsia journal.
From the BBC News-2013-1-7:8:5:1
Can genetically modified mosquitoes prevent disease in the US?
Can GM bugs halt disease spread in the US?
From the BBC News-2013-1-4:20:6:1
'Elegant' dinosaurs may have shaken their tail feathers
At least one species of dinosaur had a feathered tail "built for flaunting," says Univerity of Alberta scientist Scott Persons, who argues that it is time to update the image of dinosaurs as big, dull, lurching creatures.
From the CBC News-2013-1-4:14:6:1
Carl Woese, Dies; Discovered Life's 'Third Domain'
Dr. Woese was a biophysicist and evolutionary microbiologist who made a discovery 35 years ago that altered scientific understanding of evolution.
From the NYTimes News-2013-1-1:8:5:1
Neanderthal genome may hold clues to human survival
It's the time of year when people take stock of the past 12 months and make resolutions for the future. That's kind of what Svante Paabo is doing - but the Swedish archeological geneticist is looking over a time span of 30,000 years.
From the CBC News-2012-12-29:8:5:1
US man admits dinosaur smuggling
A fossils dealer admits smuggling dinosaur bones into the US, including the skeleton of a 70 million-year-old Tyrannosaurus bataar from Mongolia.
From the BBC News-2012-12-28:8:5:1
News Analysis: Scientists to Seek Clues to Violence in Genome of Gunman in Newtown, Conn.
As geneticists plan to study the DNA of a mass killer in hopes of eventually preventing rampages, some researchers question what good could come of the findings.
From the NYTimes News-2012-12-24:20:6:1
Genetic Gamble : Drugs Aim to Make Several Types of Cancer Self-Destruct
Three pharmaceutical firms are trying to restore a mechanism that normally tells cells to die if their DNA is badly damaged, an approach that might work against half of all cancers.
From the NYTimes News-2012-12-23:8:5:1
Gene-Altered Fish Moves Closer to Federal Approval
The Food and Drug Administration concluded that a genetically engineered salmon would have “no significant impact” on the environment.
From the NYTimes News-2012-12-22:8:5:1
FDA says Newfoundland's 'Frankenfish' unlikely to be harmful
Federal health regulators say a genetically modified salmon that grows twice as fast as normal is unlikely to harm the environment, clearing the way for the first approval of a scientifically engineered animal for human consumption.
From the CBC News-2012-12-21:20:6:1
Alberta scientist finds freshwater lizard fossil in Hungary
It grew up to six metres long and its toothy mouth and crocodile-like body was the terror of ancient rivers and shorelines many millions of years ago.
From the CBC News-2012-12-20:14:6:1
US researchers say that fighting may have contributed to the evolution of the human hand into a strong, buttressed structure when made into a fist.
From the BBC News-2012-12-20:8:5:1
Observatory: Fossils of New Species Discovered in England
A tiny, fossilized crustacean that lived 425 million years ago has been discovered, remarkably intact, in a rock formation in Herefordshire, England.
From the NYTimes News-2012-12-17:20:6:1
Mislabeled Foods Find Their Way to Diners' Tables
Using genetic testing, an ocean conservation group found that nearly 40 percent of the seafood from 81 grocery stores and restaurants was not what the establishment claimed it was.
From the NYTimes News-2012-12-16:8:5:1
A Forensic Tool Helps Decide Guilt or Innocence
Two scientists invented a controversial software program that can analyze a mixture of DNA from a crime scene and determine the probability that it could include a suspect's profile.
From the NYTimes News-2012-12-16:8:5:2
Primatologist warns of possible great ape extinction
Great apes, humans' closest relatives, are nearing extinction and people should fear losing the biological knowledge that would die along with them, a primatologist says.
From the CBC News-2012-12-14:14:6:1
Ash fungus genetic data released
The first genetic data on the fungus afflicting British ash trees is released on the web to help research efforts.
From the BBC News-2012-12-14:8:5:1
Lizards, snakes almost went extinct with dinosaurs
Contrary to previous understanding, lizards and snakes were nearly wiped out along with the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, say researchers.
From the CBC News-2012-12-12:14:6:1
Shrimp fossil-find 'new species'
Fossils discovered close to the Welsh border in Herefordshire are new to science, say experts at the University of Leicester.
From the BBC News-2012-12-12:8:5:1
Extinct lizard named after Obama
Research into the extinction that killed off the dinosaurs describes nine previously unknown reptile species, one of which has been named after US President Barack Obama.
From the BBC News-2012-12-11:14:6:1
Tests Call Mislabeled Fish a Widespread Problem in New York
The conservation group Oceana said that genetic analyses showed 39 percent of nearly 150 samples of fresh seafood collected from 81 establishments in the city were mislabeled.
From the NYTimes News-2012-12-11:8:5:2
Honey bees' genetic code unlocked
Researchers believe they have unlocked the genetic secrets as to why honey bees are so sensitive to environmental change.
From the BBC News-2012-12-11:8:5:1
Observatory: Genomic Study Traces Roma to Northern India
A wide-ranging genomic study appears to confirm that the Roma people of Europe came from a single group that left northwestern India about 1,500 years ago.
From the NYTimes News-2012-12-10:20:6:1
A Breakthrough Against Leukemia Using Altered T-Cells
A young girl has been in full remission for months after scientists used a disabled form of the AIDS virus to genetically reprogram her immune system to kill cancer cells.
From the NYTimes News-2012-12-9:20:6:1
We all have hundreds of DNA flaws
Everyone has on average 400 flaws in their DNA, a study of 1000 individuals' genomes suggests - though most will not affect an individual's health.
From the BBC News-2012-12-7:8:5:1
Genetically modified mosquitoes considered in Florida
Mosquito control officials in the Florida Keys are waiting for the federal government to sign off on an experiment that would release hundreds of thousands of genetically modified mosquitoes to reduce the risk of dengue fever in the tourist town of Key West.
From the CBC News-2012-12-6:14:6:1
Fossil find could be world's oldest dinosaur
A creature about the size of a Labrador retriever with a 1.5-metre-long tail could be the earliest-known dinosaur to have walked the Earth, according to scientists.
From the CBC News-2012-12-5:20:6:1
New contender for oldest dinosaur
Palaeontologists identify what is likely to be the oldest known dinosaur specimen, patching a 10-15-million-year hole in dinosaurs' evolutionary history.
From the BBC News-2012-12-4:20:6:1
Fossil raindrops probe early air
The imprints of raindrops preserved in 2.7bn-year-old rock are being used to figure out what the atmosphere was like on the early Earth.
From the BBC News-2012-12-4:14:6:1
'Binge-drinking gene' discovered
Scientists believe some people are born with a gene that makes them hard-wired for binge drinking by boosting levels of the happy brain chemical dopamine.
From the BBC News-2012-12-4:8:5:1
John Wayne Gacy DNA could help solve cold cases
A Chicago-area sherriff's department hopes to find matches of DNA evidence from hair, blood and semen, or skin under the fingernails of victims, that could link long-dead killers, such as John Wayne Gacy, to the coldest of cold cases.
From the CBC News-2012-12-3:14:6:2
Test to confirm twin seals birth
DNA tests hope to confirm the first ever birth of twin seals on the Farne Islands, off the Northumberland coast.
From the BBC News-2012-12-3:14:6:1
Farish Jenkins, Fossils Expert, Dies at 72
Dr. Jenkins discovered fossilized fish, hundreds of millions of years old, that resembled early mammals.
From the NYTimes News-2012-12-1:8:5:2
Supreme Court Takes Up Question of Gene Research
The Supreme Court announced on Friday that it would decide whether human genes may be patented, setting out to tackle the legal question if isolated genes are “human-made inventions” or “products of nature.”
From the NYTimes News-2012-12-1:8:5:1
Evolution key to free school deal
Any attempt to present as fact the view that God made the world could lead to new free schools losing their government funding.
From the BBC News-2012-11-30:8:5:1
Key wheat genetic codes unlocked
Scientists unlock key parts of the complex genetic code of wheat, one of the world's most important crops, which could help improve food security.
From the BBC News-2012-11-28:14:6:1
VIDEO: Scientists print out human genome
Scientists at the University of Leicester print the human genome in 130 volumes to show how much information it takes up.
From the BBC News-2012-11-28:8:5:1
Sweeter, juicier watermelons possible with genome info
An international team has managed to sequence the watermelon genome in the hopes that it could help create a sweeter, more nutritious and more disease-resistant fruit.
From the CBC News-2012-11-27:20:6:1
Essay: Biblical Literalists’ Clash With Science
By allowing that evolution is a theory, scientists would hand fundamentalists the fig leaf they need to insist, at least among themselves, that the Bible is the literal, not metaphorical, truth.
From the NYTimes News-2012-11-26:20:6:1
Quirks and Quarks: Can synthetic biology save the world?
The emerging field of synthetic biology takes lab-created DNA to a new level by inserting the DNA into a cell to create synthetic life.
From the CBC News-2012-11-26:20:6:2
'Huddle' gene link to infertility
A study of fruit flies at Edinburgh University identifies a gene which scientists say could help solve infertility in humans.
From the BBC News-2012-11-26:8:5:1
Green Blog: Another Path to Biofuels
At a sugar plantation in Brazil, a company will use genetically modified algae that eats carbon dioxide from sugar and excretes ethanol.
From the NYTimes News-2012-11-23:14:6:1
Gene variant predicts time of death
Scientists who study genetic mutations and the body's "circadian clock" say they have found a variant that determines the time of day a person is most likely to die.
From the CBC News-2012-11-20:14:6:1
Observatory: Link to Oldest Ancestor of Panda Bear Found in Spain
Researchers found 11.6 million-year-old fossil jaws and teeth in Spain that bear a strong resemblance to the giant panda, which is now found solely in China.
From the NYTimes News-2012-11-20:8:5:2
New deadly virus may be 'bat bug'
Bats may be the source of a new Sars-like virus which killed a man in Saudi Arabia, according to an analysis of the coronavirus' genome.
From the BBC News-2012-11-20:8:5:1
Apes can also have a 'midlife crisis,' study finds
Great apes can experience a "midlife crisis" which suggests the human tendency toward midlife discontent may have been passed on through evolution, a new study finds.
From the CBC News-2012-11-19:20:6:1
Ashlyn Blocker, the Girl Who Feels No Pain
Ashlyn Blocker has a rare genetic condition that prevents her from feeling pain. But that doesn’t mean she can’t get hurt.
From the NYTimes News-2012-11-18:8:5:1
Brazil to clone its endangered species
Brazilian researchers are turning to cloning to help fight the perilous decline of several animal species.
From the CBC News-2012-11-15:20:6:1
Alzheimer’s Tied to Mutation Harming Immune Response
A mutation to a gene, TREM2, is suspected of interfering with the brain’s ability to prevent the buildup of toxic shards of a protein that accumulate in plaques on the brain.
From the NYTimes News-2012-11-15:8:5:1
Recurring Lyme Disease Symptoms Caused by New Infection, Study Finds
Research comparing the genetic signatures of Lyme bacteria in people who had the disease more than once challenges the notion that it has a tendency to turn into a chronic illness.
From the NYTimes News-2012-11-15:8:5:2
DNA research stops MRSA outbreak
An outbreak of the hospital superbug MRSA has been brought to an end by UK doctors cracking the bacterium's genetic code.
From the BBC News-2012-11-14:8:5:2
Great whites 'not from megashark'
A new fossil discovery has helped quell 150 years of debate over the origin of great white sharks.
From the BBC News-2012-11-14:8:5:1
Books on Science: ‘The Double Helix’ Review - Twists in the Tale of the Great DNA Discovery
A new annotated and illustrated edition of James Watson’s book “The Double Helix” adds interesting details about the rivalries in the race to decode the structure of DNA.
From the NYTimes News-2012-11-12:20:6:1
DNA tests for rare birch trees
The DNA of endangered trees from the Caucasus Mountains will be analysed by a botanist in a bid to find out more about their evolution.
From the BBC News-2012-11-12:8:5:1
Opinion: I Cry, Therefore I Am
Shedding tears of emotion was vital for human evolution and the rise of cultures.
From the NYTimes News-2012-11-11:8:5:1
Coffee beans in danger of extinction
A new study by British and Ethiopian researchers warns the Arabica beans that go into 70% of the world's coffee could be wiped out by 2080.
From the CBC News-2012-11-9:20:6:1
Fossil from 60M years ago found on Olds campus
An employee at Olds College, north of Calgary, has found an ancient fossil.
From the CBC News-2012-11-9:14:6:1
Canada's newest dinosaur an 'alien-horned' beast
Scientists have come up with a likeness of Canada's newest dinosaur, a fierce-looking horned creature that roamed southern Alberta almost 80 million years ago.
From the CBC News-2012-11-8:20:6:1
Alberta dinosaur hunter receives national honour
A local legend in paleontology is now the recipient of a major national honour.
From the CBC News-2012-11-8:14:6:3
Dot Earth Blog: California Votes No on 37: Flawed Proposition on Food Labeling
A California initiative aimed at labeling some genetically engineered foods is defeated, but a discussion of transparency is begun.
From the NYTimes News-2012-11-8:14:6:2
Climate threat to coffee crops
Climate change could lead to the extinction of wild Arabica coffee before the end of the century, a study suggests.
From the BBC News-2012-11-8:14:6:1
Saliva reduces pain of DNA collection
Saliva could provide a less painful and more convenient way of collecting DNA for research, scientists say.
From the CBC News-2012-11-7:14:6:2
Project to count Scots redheads
A project is launched which aims to find out how many people in Scotland carry the red hair gene.
From the BBC News-2012-11-7:14:6:1
VIDEO: DNA machine tests ash trees for disease
Portable DNA tests, that quickly diagnose ash dieback, are being used in an effort to stop spread of the deadly fungus
From the BBC News-2012-11-6:20:6:1
Leaving our mark: Fossils of the future
What sort of mark will humankind leave on Earth's geology
From the BBC News-2012-11-3:8:5:1
Arthur R. Jensen, Who Set Off Debate on I.Q., Dies
Mr. Jensen was an educational psychologist whose 1969 article suggested that the gap in intelligence-test scores between black and white students might be rooted in genetic differences.
From the NYTimes News-2012-11-2:8:5:1
Discovery of beer gene could improve 'foam character'
Scientists have found the first gene for beer foam, a discovery which they say will help researchers perfect the frothy "head" atop a freshly poured pint.
From the CBC News-2012-11-1:20:6:2
Genetically Altered Lab Rats at N.Y.U. Die in Flooding
Thousands of painstakingly-bred rodents used in the study of heart disease, cancer and mental disorders drowned at a New York University research center in Kips Bay.
From the NYTimes News-2012-11-1:20:6:1
Birds evolving faster in Americas, study says
The rate of evolution of birds appears to be accelerating, particularly in North and South America, says new research based on a genetic family tree of every bird species known to man.
From the CBC News-2012-11-1:14:6:1
Mexico City Journal: Axolotls, Mexico's Mythical Salamander, Struggle in the Wild
The decline of the axolotl in the wild has been precipitous, and its extinction would end one of the few natural links Mexicans still have with the city that the Aztecs built.
From the NYTimes News-2012-10-31:8:5:2
Earliest fossil flying fish found
New flying fish fossils found in China reveal earliest evidence of over-water gliding in vertebrates.
From the BBC News-2012-10-31:8:5:1
Remarkable Creatures: For North Dakota Paleontologist, It Started With a Turtle
Tyler Lyson of Marmarth, N.D., discovered his first fossil in the badlands as a youngster and went on to earn a Ph.D. and get a job at the Smithsonian.
From the NYTimes News-2012-10-29:20:6:1
Some Exhibits at Natural History Museum Are Only Seen by Researchers
While the American Museum of Natural History is known for its public exhibits, much important work is done behind the scenes, using tools like DNA sequencing and computer analysis.
From the NYTimes News-2012-10-28:8:5:1
Rarest dog genetically vulnerable
Populations of the world's rarest dog, the Ethiopian wolf, are genetically fragmenting, scientists have found.
From the BBC News-2012-10-26:8:5:1
Dinosaur feathers likely for sex not flying
A set of 70-million-year-old fossils from southern Alberta has added weight to theories that dinosaurs may have first sprouted feathers to show off, not take off.
From the CBC News-2012-10-25:20:6:1
Embryo from 2 women and 1 man made in lab
Scientists create embryos with genes from one man and two women
From the CBC News-2012-10-24:20:6:2
Green Blog: Insights Into the Koala's Genetic Challenge
The decline in genetic diversity in Australia's koalas apparently was not set off by a boom in fur-trapping in the 19th century.
From the NYTimes News-2012-10-24:20:6:1
Mind: If Intelligence Is the Norm, Stupidity Gets More Interesting
One researcher wonders if scientists, instead of seeking genes that can account for intelligence, should be trying to find mutations that can erode it.
From the NYTimes News-2012-10-22:20:6:2
Observatory: Isolated Male Orangutans Travel Far to Mate
Orangutans in Sumatra live in increasingly small patches of rain forest, but a study shows males cross rivers and mountainous areas to find mates, improving genetic diversity.
From the NYTimes News-2012-10-22:20:6:1
Global warming may take ocean sounds back to dinosaur era
Global warming may be changing ocean sounds, taking them back to the acoustics of more than 100 million years ago when dinosaurs roamed the earth, new research suggests.
From the CBC News-2012-10-19:14:6:1
Green Blog: Living on the Edge May Help Cheat Extinction
Fishes previously thought to be extinct found refuge in harsh edge environments dividing Lake Victoria from surrounding wetlands
From the NYTimes News-2012-10-19:8:5:1
Madagascar palms 'are dying out'
Close to 85% of Madagascar's 192 palm species face extinction due to land clearing, an environment protection group warns.
From the BBC News-2012-10-17:20:6:1
Monkey, gorilla species on brink of extinction
Twenty-five species of monkeys, langurs, lemurs and gorillas are on the brink of extinction and need global action to protect them from increasing deforestation and illegal trafficking, researchers say.
From the CBC News-2012-10-15:8:5:1
Keith Campbell, Cloner of Dolly the Sheep, Dies at 58
Dr. Campbell, a British cell biologist, helped create Dolly, the first mammal to be cloned from an adult animal.
From the NYTimes News-2012-10-12:14:6:1
Billions required to save nature
Reducing the risk of extinction for threatened species and establishing protected areas for nature will cost the world over $76bn annually.
From the BBC News-2012-10-12:8:5:1
Keith Campbell, Creator of Dolly the Cloned Sheep, Dies at 58
Dr. Campbell, a British cell biologist, helped create Dolly, the first mammal to be cloned from an adult animal.
From the NYTimes News-2012-10-12:8:5:2
Green Blog: In the Dark Cave, Fearsome Living Fossils
Visitors explore an imperiled 100-million-year-old wildlife habitat in Malaysia. Its survival is tenuous.
From the NYTimes News-2012-10-9:14:6:1
VIDEO: Nobel win for stem cell pioneers
Two pioneers of stem cell research have shared the Nobel prize for medicine or physiology.
From the BBC News-2012-10-8:20:6:1
VIDEO: Rare turtle fossil found in landfill
Scientists have discovered a rare early turtle fossil in a landfill site in Poland, possibly dating back to the late Triassic period around 215 million years ago.
From the BBC News-2012-10-8:14:6:1
Cloning and Stem Cell Discoveries Earn Nobel Prize in Medicine
The landmark discoveries in cell development by scientists in England and Japan came 40 years apart.
From the NYTimes News-2012-10-8:14:6:2
Stem cell experts win Nobel prize
Two pioneers of stem cell research have shared the Nobel prize for medicine or physiology.
From the BBC News-2012-10-8:8:5:1
Tiny, fanged dinosaur may have eaten fruit
A tiny, plant-eating dinosaur with sharp fangs, a parrot-like beak and quills has been identified by a U.S. paleontologist.
From the CBC News-2012-10-4:14:6:2
Dwarf 'vampire' dino ate plants
A bizarre dinosaur described as a cross between "a bird, a vampire and a porcupine" has been identified from fossils in South Africa.
From the BBC News-2012-10-4:14:6:1
New Test of Babies' DNA Speeds Diagnosis
A new method for analyzing newborns' genetic histories sped the process of zeroing in on a disease-causing mutation from weeks or months to a couple of days.
From the NYTimes News-2012-10-4:8:5:2
Ill baby DNA test cut to 50 hours
Doctors in the US say they have taken a big step forward in the speed of analysing the DNA of seriously ill babies with genetic diseases.
From the BBC News-2012-10-4:8:5:1
Genetically modified cow produces allergy-free milk
New Zealand researchers have genetically engineered a cow to produce milk free of the protein that causes allergies in children.
From the CBC News-2012-10-2:14:6:1
GM cows make 'low allergy' milk
A genetically modified cow which produces milk less likely to cause allergic reactions has been engineered by New Zealand scientists.
From the BBC News-2012-10-1:20:6:1
Leonard Lerman, Molecular Biologist, Dies at 87
Mr. Lerman, a molecular biologist, discovered how to manipulate DNA, and in doing so, helped other scientists further pursue the genetic code.
From the NYTimes News-2012-9-30:8:5:1
Wallace works collected online
The collected writings and drawings of Alfred Russel Wallace, who formulated evolutionary theory independently of Darwin, are digitised and posted online.
From the BBC News-2012-9-27:20:6:1
Breast cancer scientists excited by new 'map'
A type of breast cancer has been found to have genetic similarities to ovarian cancer tumours.
From the CBC News-2012-9-25:14:6:2
Green Blog: Rare Trout Survives in Just One Stream, DNA Reveals
Researchers had thought that five wild populations of greenback cutthroat trout were out there.
From the NYTimes News-2012-9-25:14:6:1
'Science Guy' Bill Nye condemns teaching creationism
The man known to a generation of Americans as "The Science Guy" is condemning efforts by some Christian groups to cast doubts on evolution and lawmakers who want to bring the Bible into science classrooms.
From the CBC News-2012-9-24:8:5:1
Gene map shows brain blueprint
A 3D map of the entire human brain reveals that our brains are strikingly similar, sharing the same basic molecular blueprint.
From the BBC News-2012-9-21:14:6:1
Observatory: The Gene Behind Cheetahs' Spots and Tabbies' Stripes
The gene that produces the striking dark stripes on tabby cats is also responsible for the spots on cheetahs, a new study reports.
From the NYTimes News-2012-9-20:20:6:1
Dot Earth Blog: Single-Study Syndrome and the G.M.O. Food Fight
Scientists raise many questions about a new study finding health problems in rats fed genetically modified corn, but it is widely promoted nonetheless.
From the NYTimes News-2012-9-20:14:6:1
Disputed Study Links Modified Corn to Greater Health Risks
A study that linked genetically engineered corn to cancer in rats was criticized by some scientists but was seized on by backers of a California ballot measure to require labeling for genetically modified crops.
From the NYTimes News-2012-9-20:8:5:2
Oyster genome mystery unravelled
A detailed map of the genome of the Pacific oyster has been unveiled by international scientists.
From the BBC News-2012-9-20:8:5:1
Furore greets GM-fed rat study
A furious row erupts over a study claiming to have found tumours and other problems in rats fed on genetically modified maize and exposed to a common herbicide.
From the BBC News-2012-9-19:14:6:1
Neanderthals 'harvested feathers'
Our evolutionary cousins the Neanderthals were harvesting feathers from birds to use as personal ornaments, according to a new study.
From the BBC News-2012-9-17:20:6:1
Genes for face shape identified
Scientists identify five genes that determine the form of the human face in a find that could lead to sketches
From the BBC News-2012-9-13:20:6:1
DNA tests on 'Richard III' bones
Archaeologists searching for the grave of Richard III say there is "strong evidence" human remains found in Leicester could belong to the king.
From the BBC News-2012-9-12:14:6:1
Coalition Drops Opposition to Dow's Genetically Engineered Crops
The group, which included canners and other food industry members, said it was heartened by Dow's response to its concerns.
From the NYTimes News-2012-9-12:8:5:1
Found Mammoth parts raise hopes of 'Jurassic Park' cloning
Scientists have discovered well-preserved frozen woolly mammoth fragments deep in Siberia that may contain living cells, edging a tad closer to the "Jurassic Park" possibility of cloning a prehistoric animal, the mission's organizer said.
From the CBC News-2012-9-11:20:6:1
Home genetic testing for alcoholism carries perils
Being told you have a genetic predisposition to alcoholism could make you feel you have less control over your drinking, a new study suggests.
From the CBC News-2012-9-11:14:6:2
In pictures: 100 most threatened species
Pictures of species considered close to extinction
From the BBC News-2012-9-11:14:6:1
Scientists Find Gene Can Explain Horses' Ability to Pace
Researchers in Sweden have discovered a single gene that could explain why some horses can trot or pace and why others cannot, a finding that could greatly affect harness racing.
From the NYTimes News-2012-9-11:8:5:1
Observatory: Volcanic Eruption May Have Caused Marine Life Extinction
A volcanic eruption in India may have been responsible for the disappearance of many marine animals about 200,000 years before the dinosaurs met their end.
From the NYTimes News-2012-9-10:20:6:1
For a Lung Cancer, Drug Treatment May Be Within Reach
Research on a common lung cancer could foretell a type of treatment in which drugs - many of which are in the pipeline already - are chosen to match the genetic mutation in each patient.
From the NYTimes News-2012-9-10:8:5:1
Fossil records 'crab' death march
The behaviour of an ancient horseshoe crab in its final moments before death has been captured in the fossil record.
From the BBC News-2012-9-7:14:6:1
Scientist at Work Blog: Gone Fishin'
An abundance of fossil tracks reveals footprints that show crocodilians and small dinosaurs inhabited the same environments at the same time.
From the NYTimes News-2012-9-7:8:5:1
'Junk DNA' has a purpose, new map of human genome reveals
Vast sections of the human genome that were previously thought to have no useful function and were dismissed as "junk DNA" are in fact involved in key biochemical processes, an international team has found.
From the CBC News-2012-9-5:20:6:1
Far From ‘Junk,' DNA Dark Matter Proves Crucial to Health
At least four million gene switches that reside in bits of DNA once thought to be inactive turn out to play critical roles in health, researchers reported.
From the NYTimes News-2012-9-5:14:6:3
VIDEO: Genome 'more active than thought'
The most detailed study yet of the human genome, involving the work of more than 400 scientists in 32 laboratories across five countries, has been published.
From the BBC News-2012-9-5:14:6:2
Detailed map of genome function
Scientists have published the most detailed analysis to date of the human genome, which could lead to better treatments for many diseases.
From the BBC News-2012-9-5:14:6:1
Scientist at Work Blog: Cool Fossils and Hot Rocks
The expedition uncovers vestiges of the Cold War and the age of phytosaurs in the Chinle Formation of Utah.
From the NYTimes News-2012-9-5:8:5:1
Observatory: Different Varieties of Mustard Plants Have Unique Spice Genes
Very slight differences in a family of genes regulating spiciness in wild mustard plants determine not only the degree of heat but also a plant's prospects of survival.
From the NYTimes News-2012-9-3:20:6:1
Last stand of the spider tortoise
Will Madagascar's spider tortoises be eaten to extinction?
From the BBC News-2012-9-2:20:6:1
Genome of Denisovan cave girl sheds light on human ancestry
Scientists have sequenced the complete genome of a Denisovan, an ancient human, from a tiny finger bone fragment from a young girl who lived between 74,000 and 82,000 years ago.
From the CBC News-2012-8-31:20:6:1
Scientist at Work Blog: Fossils in the First Days
Excavation of a fossil site that was discovered last year in Utah yields phytosaur remains, fish jaws, footprints of early dinosaurs and other reptiles, and bony armor from aetosaurs.
From the NYTimes News-2012-8-31:8:5:4
DNA test jailed innocent man for murder
Does criminal justice system place too much faith in DNA?
From the BBC News-2012-8-31:8:5:3
'Spineless' animals under threat
A fifth of animals without backbones could be at risk of extinction, according to scientists.
From the BBC News-2012-8-31:8:5:2
Cave girl's DNA gives up secrets
Scientists analyse the DNA of an 80,000-year-old Denisovan girl, shedding more light on her relation to our closest extinct evolutionary kin.
From the BBC News-2012-8-31:8:5:1
Predatory dinosaur fed on smaller versions of itself
Paleontologists at the University of Alberta have found evidence inside the stomachs of two fossilized dinosaurs of the species Sinocalliopteryx gigas that suggests the raptor-like predator did not shy away from feeding on its own kind, hunting small flying dinosaurs for food.
From the CBC News-2012-8-30:20:6:1
Small dinosaur 'hunted like cat'
Some predatory dinosaurs used guile and agility to outwit their feathered prey according to research published in PLoS One.
From the BBC News-2012-8-30:14:6:1
Chimp grooming postcode lottery
Chimpanzee grooming habits are influenced more by where they live than by genetic or ecological influences, according to research published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
From the BBC News-2012-8-29:14:6:1
Genetic test to identify wildcats
With claims that big cats are stalking the countryside, researchers are developing a DNA test to identify Scotland's pure-bred wildcats.
From the BBC News-2012-8-29:14:6:2
Amber drops yield ancient mites
Some of the earliest fossils of pre-historic arthropods - dating to about 230 million years - have been discovered entombed in amber.
From the BBC News-2012-8-28:14:6:1
Remarkable Creatures: Animals' Lifestyles Evolve When Old Genes Learn New Tricks
Recent studies on how some snakes and other animals detect infrared light provide striking examples of how new lifestyles can evolve when old genes learn new tricks.
From the NYTimes News-2012-8-27:20:6:1
Letters: Genes and Memory (1 Letter)
A letter to the Editor.
From the NYTimes News-2012-8-27:20:6:2
With Rise of Gene Sequencing, Ethical Puzzles
Much genetic research is predicated on study subjects being anonymous, but increasingly researchers are discovering things these subjects, or their relatives, might need or like to know.
From the NYTimes News-2012-8-26:8:5:1
Test predicts hair and eye colour
Scientists have developed a forensic test that can predict both the hair and eye colour of a possible suspect using DNA left at a crime scene.
From the BBC News-2012-8-24:14:6:1
Genome Detectives Solve Mystery of Hospital’s K. Pneumoniae Outbreak
Real-time genome sequencing helped a federal research hospital understand and end an outbreak of a drug-resistant bacterium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, that killed six patients.
From the NYTimes News-2012-8-22:20:6:3
GM rice 'thrives in poor soils'
Scientists genetically engineered strains of rice that can thrive in soils low in important nutrients.
From the BBC News-2012-8-22:20:6:1
Father’s Age Is Linked to Risk of Autism and Schizophrenia
Random genetic mutations in children that become more numerous with advancing paternal age may account for as many as 30 percent of autism cases, researchers reported.
From the NYTimes News-2012-8-22:20:6:2
Scientist at Work Blog: A Parade of Spinning Dolphins
Researchers in Samoa observe dozens of spinner dolphins before spotting a group of bottlenose dolphins and collecting a few genetic samples.
From the NYTimes News-2012-8-22:8:5:1
Clues to Fighting Cancer Are Found in the Genes of Yeast
A team of biologists has found surprising links between the biology of humans and that of our most distant relatives — links that point the way to new drugs.
From the NYTimes News-2012-8-21:8:5:1
Essay: In Andalusia, Searching for Inherited Memories
Can a person "remember" the lives of forebears? Can genes carry the burden of generations? A reporter follow clues of a secret identity of Sephardic Jewish ancestors who fled the Inquisition.
From the NYTimes News-2012-8-17:20:6:2
Brain Evidence Sways Sentencing in Study of Judges
Judges who were told that a defendant in a hypothetical case was genetically predisposed to violence imposed lighter sentences than they otherwise would have, researchers reported.
From the NYTimes News-2012-8-16:20:6:1
Dog stumbles upon 300 million-year-old fossil
A family and their dog named Kitty have stumbled upon one of the most significant fossil finds ever in Nova Scotia.
From the CBC News-2012-8-16:20:6:2
Neanderthals, humans didn't make whoopee, study says
Primitive Homo sapiens and Neanderthals didn't produce children together despite swaths of shared DNA, scientists now say, casting doubt on a popular idea about the origin of modern humans.
From the CBC News-2012-8-15:14:6:1
Neanderthal breeding idea doubted
A new study casts doubt on the finding from recent genome studies that modern humans and Neanderthals interbred.
From the BBC News-2012-8-13:20:6:1
Dot Earth Blog: Genetic Study Finds Bullfrog Trade is Prime Pathway For Devastating Amphibian Fungus
A new study shows the prime role of the bullfrog trade in spreading a deadly amphibian disease.
From the NYTimes News-2012-8-10:14:6:1
VIDEO: GM potatoes keeping blight at bay
Researchers have been showing off the results in the testing of genetically modified blight-resistant potatoes.
From the BBC News-2012-8-9:14:6:1
Fossils suggest 2 new pre-human species, Leakeys say
A famous paleontology family has found fossils that they think confirm their theory that there are two additional pre-human species besides the one that eventually led to modern humans, but other experts are not convinced.
From the CBC News-2012-8-8:20:6:2
Medical Examiner Opens Old Cases, and Graves, to Identify Dead
With old-time detective work and newer DNA technology, the New York medical examiner’s office is undertaking an ambitious effort to identify bodies in the city’s potter’s field.
From the NYTimes News-2012-8-8:20:6:1
New Fossils Indicate Offshoots in Human Family Tree
Three specimens unearthed in Kenya are the most compelling evidence yet for multiple lines of evolution in our own genus, Homo, scientists said.
From the NYTimes News-2012-8-8:14:6:2
Scientists find new human species
Fossils from Northern Kenya show that a new species of human lived two million years ago, researchers say.
From the BBC News-2012-8-8:14:6:1
Scientist at Work Blog: A Pattern of Dolphins
Scientists travel to the islands of Oceania to study dolphin communities and the genetic relationships among them.
From the NYTimes News-2012-8-8:8:5:1
The Saturday Profile: Spanish Scientist Puts Genetics to Work to Find Missing Children
Dr. José A. Lorente, an expert in forensic genetics, knew there had to be a way to reunite lost or stolen children with their families. So he began pushing for DNA databanks.
From the NYTimes News-2012-8-4:8:5:1
Mountains altered dino evolution
The creation of a mountain range in the Americas resulted in an increase in the number of dinosaur species, a study suggests.
From the BBC News-2012-8-3:8:5:1
Billionaire plans to build real life Jurassic Park
An Australian billionaire reportedly plans to clone a real dinosaur from ancient DNA samples for a "Jurassic Park-style" area at his new theme resort.
From the CBC News-2012-8-2:20:6:2
DNA clue to why women live longer
Scientists believe they have discovered a clue as to why women tend to live longer than men - by studying fruit flies.
From the BBC News-2012-8-2:20:6:1
VIDEO: Endangered turtles released into sea
Nearly 1,000 endangered turtles are released back into the sea as part of a Thai conservation campaign to save them from extinction.
From the BBC News-2012-8-2:8:5:1
Personal DNA test maker seeks FDA approval in U.S.
Genetic test maker 23andMe is asking the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve its personalized DNA test in a move that, if successful, could boost acceptance of technology that is viewed skeptically by leading scientists.
From the CBC News-2012-7-31:14:6:1
Childhood blindness mystery clearer
The cause of a type of hereditary blindness has been traced to a genetic mutation, a discovery that potentially paves the way to new treatments.
From the CBC News-2012-7-30:20:6:2
A Conversation With Sinéad Collins: Studying Evolution With an Eye on the Future
Sinéad Collins is creating evolution in her laboratory at the University of Edinburgh to work on solutions to environmental problems like global warming and marine acidification.
From the NYTimes News-2012-7-30:20:6:1
Cousins of Neanderthals Left DNA in Africa, Scientists Report
Geneticists’ new finding that a previously unknown archaic species of human mingled with early modern humans in Africa has been met with skepticism because no fossil evidence exists.
From the NYTimes News-2012-7-26:14:6:1
'Land not sea' origin for snakes
One of the most primitive snake fossils ever found hints that the slithery reptiles might have originated on land, not in the sea.
From the BBC News-2012-7-26:8:5:1
Fossils hint at first grasslands
Two of the earliest rodents, including the earliest chinchilla, are discovered in Chile
From the BBC News-2012-7-25:14:6:1
Team GB trials injury gene tests
Scientists behind Team GB are working on genetic tests to understand why some athletes are prone to injury, BBC's Newsnight has learned.
From the BBC News-2012-7-25:8:5:1
DNA race to unlock ageing secrets
A race to unlock genetic clues behind living to 100 will begin next year, with a US team announcing its intention to compete for the $10m genetics X Prize.
From the BBC News-2012-7-24:8:5:1
Green Blog: A Limit to Gains From Genetically Engineered Cotton
A bacterium in the modified seeds makes the plant's boll toxic to insects, but resistance is likely to develop, researchers warn.
From the NYTimes News-2012-7-23:20:6:2
Side Effects: Brown Bears and Polar Bears Split Up, but Continued Coupling
Comparing the DNA of related species can work as a kind of microscope to see how the species separated — events that are otherwise lost in deep time.
From the NYTimes News-2012-7-23:20:6:1
Europe nears gene therapy first
Europe is on the cusp of approving a gene therapy for the first time.
From the BBC News-2012-7-23:8:5:1
Alberta dinosaur expert fears more vandalism
Dinosaur expert Philip Currie was on a dig in the Alberta badlands a few weeks back, camping in a tent, when he learned that yet another fossil site had been vandalized.
From the CBC News-2012-7-22:14:6:1
European Agency Recommends Approval of a Gene Therapy
If the European Commission follows a medical agency’s recommendation, it would be the first regulatory approval of a gene therapy in the Western world.
From the NYTimes News-2012-7-20:14:6:1
McAbee fossil 'gold mine' protected by B.C.
A B.C. fossil bed described as a paleontology gold mine near Cache Creek has been declared a heritage site by the provincial government.
From the CBC News-2012-7-20:14:6:2
Vast Gene Study Raises Hopes for Colon Cancer Drugs
Researchers have found genetic vulnerabilities that could lead to new treatments.
From the NYTimes News-2012-7-18:14:6:1
Observatory: Alaskan Salmon Evolve Along With the Climate
Researchers have found genetic evidence that temperature-driven changes in migration and reproduction behaviors may be evidence of natural selection at work.
From the NYTimes News-2012-7-16:20:6:1
Study cracks mystery of how supersized dinosaur ate enough plants
A team of researchers, led by the University of Bristol and the Natural History Museum, have used CT scans to try to figure out how one of the largest known dinosaurs fed itself simply on plants.
From the CBC News-2012-7-16:20:6:2
A Conversation With Chris Stringer: Chris Stringer on the Origins and Rise of Modern Humans
Chris Stringer answers questions about the evidence of interbreeding between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens and the extinct species of little people nicknamed the hobbits.
From the NYTimes News-2012-7-16:14:6:1
Conflict Potential Seen in Genetic Counselors Paid by Testing Companies
As genetic testing becomes more common, an ethical question is raised by the use of genetic counselors, who advise patients, who are paid by the companies that perform the tests.
From the NYTimes News-2012-7-14:8:5:1
Clovis people not 1st to arrive in North America
Spearheads and DNA found at the Paisley Caves in Oregon suggest that a separate group of people using different hunting tools arrived in North America several hundred years prior to the Clovis culture.
From the CBC News-2012-7-13:8:5:4
Growers Fret Over a New Apple That Won’t Turn Brown
Some members of the United States apple industry say the introduction of genetically engineered fruit could undermine the apple’s image as a healthy, natural food.
From the NYTimes News-2012-7-13:8:5:3
Genetic Database of Bacteria Aims to Track Food-Borne Illness
A new public database will enable scientists to pinpoint much faster what food is behind a given outbreak and what country it came from, researchers say.
From the NYTimes News-2012-7-13:8:5:2
Lemurs sliding towards extinction
A new assessment of Madagascar's lemurs shows they are far more threatened than previously thought.
From the BBC News-2012-7-13:8:5:1
Americas 'settled in three waves'
The biggest survey of Native American DNA has concluded that the New World was settled in three major waves.
From the BBC News-2012-7-12:14:6:1
Suspects identified in dinosaur fossil vandalism
A liquor-store receipt may lead to those responsible for the destruction of an "irreplaceable" dinosaur skeleton meant to be the centre piece of a new fossil museum in northern Alberta.
From the CBC News-2012-7-11:20:6:1
Earliest Americans Arrived in 3 Waves, Not 1, DNA Study Finds
Genetics researchers say the Americas were first populated by three surges of migrants from Siberia, rather than just a single migration.
From the NYTimes News-2012-7-11:14:6:1
Rare Gene Mutation Is Found to Stave Off Alzheimer’s
The discovery of a protective gene mutation provides evidence that the buildup of beta amyloid protein in the brain is a driving force in the disease.
From the NYTimes News-2012-7-11:14:6:2
Bed bugs may be tracked using DNA
Scientists use DNA fingerprinting techniques to trace the origins of the global bed bug boom.
From the BBC News-2012-7-11:8:5:1
Observatory: Slugs’ Tunnels Shed Light on Early Bilateral Animals
Until now, the oldest fossil evidence for bilaterians dated back 555 million years. But now scientists have found fossil burrows of a segmented slug that are about 30 million years older.
From the NYTimes News-2012-7-9:20:6:3
Genetic Gamble: Genetic Test Changes Game in Cancer Prognosis
Where doctors once made predictions based on a tumor’s appearance, a new genetic test offers hope to patients with huge melanomas of the eye.
From the NYTimes News-2012-7-9:20:6:1
C.I.A. Vaccine Ruse in Pakistan May Have Harmed Polio Fight
The C.I.A.’s decision to send a vaccination team into Pakistan to obtain DNA from Osama bin Laden’s family had the unintended consequence of hurting work there against polio.
From the NYTimes News-2012-7-9:20:6:2
Genetic Gamble: New Frontiers of Cancer Treatment Bring Breathtaking Swings
A drug that in theory should have killed a cancer patient instead seemed to have halted or even reversed her disease.
From the NYTimes News-2012-7-9:8:5:2
AUDIO: Uncovering British 'deep ancestry'
A DNA database is using the "markers" that are part of our genetic make-up to reveal the patterns of our heritage, where everybody in this country came from. Writer and historian Alistair Moffat, who is running the project in the Scottish Borders, explains how he has been turning up fascinating stories that go back to the world of the Old Testament.
From the BBC News-2012-7-9:8:5:1
Genetic Gamble: In Gene Sequencing Treatment for Leukemia, Glimpses of the Future
A novel method known as whole genome sequencing focuses on the genes that drive a cancer, not the tissues or organ.
From the NYTimes News-2012-7-7:20:6:1
'Priceless' fossil deliberately destroyed at dig site
Police now investigating after Hadrosaur skeleton was "torn to pieces" before it could be removed from the ground near Grande Prairie
From the CBC News-2012-7-6:20:6:1
Worm lifetime 'longer in space'
Worms that took a ride on the International Space Station show genetic changes associated with longer lifetimes in worms on Earth.
From the BBC News-2012-7-6:8:5:1
Flavor Is the Price of Tomatoes’ Scarlet Hue, Geneticists Say
A gene mutation that breeders latched onto because it makes a tomato uniformly red also stifles genes that contribute to its taste, researchers say.
From the NYTimes News-2012-7-4:14:6:3
Death of Lonesome George the Tortoise Gives Extinction a Face
The world took notice when Lonesome George died, marking the end of his subspecies. But for researchers and workers in the Galápagos Islands, his death also takes a personal tone.
From the NYTimes News-2012-7-4:14:6:2
Rare orchid blooms in woodland
An "extremely rare and endangered" orchid which was on the brink of extinction in the UK is blooming again in Gloucestershire.
From the BBC News-2012-7-4:14:6:1
Australopithecus Sediba Preferred Forest Foods, Fossil Teeth Suggest
Australopithecus sediba apparently lived on a diet of leaves, fruits, wood and bark, scientists report, while other hominins in Africa mainly consumed grasses.
From the NYTimes News-2012-6-27:14:6:2
Early human ancestor chewed bark
One of our early relatives chewed on fruit, bark and leaves from the forests, fossil evidence suggests.
From the BBC News-2012-6-27:14:6:1
How mavericks blazed the Bruce Trail, Canada's longest footpath
It was 50 years ago that a bunch of Ontario nature lovers decided to cut a trail through the fossil-rich, 700-kilometre-long Niagara Escarpment to raise awareness of its beauty. The Bruce Trail took five years and thousands of volunteers to complete, but the result is a tribute to "a piece of Canadian history."
From the CBC News-2012-6-27:8:5:2
Plant DNA logged to develop drugs
A record is created of the DNA of all Wales' native flowering plants, which could help conservation and drug development.
From the BBC News-2012-6-27:8:5:1
The Evolution of Bird Flu, and the Race to Keep Up
A new evolutionary model concludes that it would not be hard for a bird flu virus to pick up the sorts of mutations it needs to become a human flu.
From the NYTimes News-2012-6-25:20:6:1
Green Blog: On Our Radar: A Galápagos Extinction
Lonesome George, the last member of a giant tortoise species, is found dead.
From the NYTimes News-2012-6-25:14:6:1
New Google site aims to save endangered languages
Google has launched a new site intended to help preserve the more than 3,000 world languages that are at risk of extinction.
From the CBC News-2012-6-22:20:6:1
DNA clues to Queen of Sheba tale
The DNA of some Africans provides clues to the origins of the Queen of Sheba legend, say scientists.
From the BBC News-2012-6-21:14:6:2
US to seize $1m dinosaur skeleton
A 70 million-year-old Tyrannosaurus Bataar, unearthed in the Gobi Desert in 1946, is to be seized by the US Department of Homeland Security.
From the BBC News-2012-6-21:8:5:1
World's 'most unusual dinosaurs' to go on display in Toronto
The Royal Ontario Museum's new exhibit Ultimate Dinosaurs: Giants from Gondwana features fossils, skeletons and full-sized skeletal casts of some of the most unusual dinosaurs that ever walked the earth.
From the CBC News-2012-6-20:20:6:1
Turtles fossilised in sex embrace
Scientists reporting in Biology Letters describe turtles killed and fossilised 47 million years ago - caught in the act of copulation.
From the BBC News-2012-6-20:8:5:1