CURRENT HEADLINES



China finds major dinosaur site


Chinese researchers have unearthed what they believe is the largest collection of dinosaur bones ever found.

From the BBC News-2008-12-31:14:6:1



Scientists isolate genes that made 1918 flu lethal


A set of three genes helped to make the 1918 flu pandemic strain so deadly by giving the virus the ability to copy itself in lung tissue, scientists have found in ferrets.

From the CBC News-2008-12-30:14:6:1



Gene variant tied to high blood pressure


A gene variant that many people carry has been linked to high blood pressure, giving researchers hope that individualized treatment may be possible.

From the CBC News-2008-12-29:20:6:1



Smiles and scowls 'in our genes'


The facial expressions we make to show or hide our emotions are hardwired into our brains, a study concludes.

From the BBC News-2008-12-29:8:5:1



Genetic diseases may be tougher to crack, new research suggests


Finding a cure for many genetic diseases - including some cancers and neurodegenerative ailments - may be much more complicated than previously thought, new research indicates.

From the CBC News-2008-12-26:20:6:1



Science Visuals: The Chaos Inside a Cancer Cell


Researchers have made some sense of the jumble of chromosomes inside a cancer cell.

From the NYTimes News-2008-12-25:14:6:1



Repeal laws banning cousins from marrying: geneticists


Laws banning first cousins from marrying are based on outdated assumptions about higher risks for offspring, population genetic experts say.

From the CBC News-2008-12-23:8:5:1



New genetic test predicts who benefits from hep C drugs: study


An analysis of genetic patterns in the hepatitis C virus may help predict which patients are likely to respond to treatment, researchers have found. About half of patients infected with the virus do not respond to the costly therapy that has "terrible" side-effects, study author says.

From the CBC News-2008-12-22:20:6:2



Tangled web of spider evolution


Further study of the 385m-year-old Attercopus spider has shown that it could not have spun webs as modern spiders do.

From the BBC News-2008-12-22:20:6:1



Shared genes


DNA yields unifying message in divided Lebanon

From the BBC News-2008-12-22:8:5:4



Tasmanian Devils at risk after 'saviour' Cedric gets cancer


A Tasmanian Devil that scientists hoped could save his species has contracted the deadly facial tumour that threatens the animals with extinction.

From the BBC News-2008-12-22:8:5:3



'Illegal threat' to hen harriers


Hen harriers are nearing extinction in England owing to continued illegal persecution, the government's conservation body warns.

From the BBC News-2008-12-22:8:5:2



Gene disease 'recreated in lab'


Scientists say they can watch genetic diseases unfolding in the laboratory after finding a way to reproduce affected cells.

From the BBC News-2008-12-22:8:5:1



4 Top Science Advisers Are Named by Obama


In his selections, Barack Obama has signaled what are likely to be changes in policies governing global warming, ocean protections and stem cell research.

From the NYTimes News-2008-12-21:8:5:1



Obama picks Nobel man for Energy


Barack Obama names Nobel Prize winner Steven Chu as his energy secretary and tasks him with finding alternatives to fossil fuels.

From the BBC News-2008-12-16:8:5:1



Obesity 'controlled by the brain'


Seven new gene variants discovered by scientists suggest strongly that obesity is largely a problem in the brain.

From the BBC News-2008-12-15:8:5:1



Man's genes 'key to baby's sex'


A study of hundreds of years of family trees suggests a man's genes may play a role in him having more sons or daughters.

From the BBC News-2008-12-11:14:6:1



France fined over GM crop delay


The EU's top court fines France 10m euros for delaying implementing EU rules on genetically modified crops.

From the BBC News-2008-12-9:14:6:1



Gene Test Shows Spain’s Jewish and Muslim Mix


A study of genetic signatures has provided new evidence of the mass conversions of Sephardic Jews and Muslims to Catholicism in the 14th and 15th centuries.

From the NYTimes News-2008-12-5:8:5:1



European Court Rules Against Britain’s Policy of Keeping DNA Database of Suspects


The unanimous ruling held that Britain’s policy of gathering and storing the fingerprints and DNA of all criminal suspects was a violation of the human right to privacy.

From the NYTimes News-2008-12-4:20:6:1



Sephardic Ancestry Common Among Spaniards, Study Says


Some 20 percent of people in the Iberian peninsula has Sephardic Jewish ancestry and 11 percent bear Moorish DNA signatures, a team of geneticists reports.

From the NYTimes News-2008-12-4:14:6:1



Genetic storage


DNA should not be retained European court rules

From the BBC News-2008-12-4:8:5:2



DNA database 'breach of rights'


Keeping the DNA of two Britons with no convictions was a breach of their human rights, a European court rules.

From the BBC News-2008-12-4:8:5:1



New flying reptile species found


A new fossil species of flying reptile - with a wingspan the size of a family car - has been uncovered by scientists.

From the BBC News-2008-12-3:20:6:1



Gene 'may ward off lung cancer'


A British team of scientists have pinpointed a "tumour suppressor" gene which protects against lung cancer.

From the BBC News-2008-12-2:8:5:1



Observatory: Turtle on the Half Shell: Fossils in China Show an Evolutionary Step


A new fossil discovery provides clues as to how turtles came to have shells.

From the NYTimes News-2008-12-1:20:6:1



How the turtle's shell evolved


A 220 million year old fossil from China shows that the ancestors of modern turtles did not have complete shells

From the BBC News-2008-11-26:20:6:1



Skin reaction possible from epilepsy drug: FDA


Some Asian patients who take certain epilepsy drugs may be genetically predisposed to serious skin reactions, health officials in the U.S. say.

From the CBC News-2008-11-25:14:6:1



Economic Slump May Limit Moves on Clean Energy


A poor global economy and plunging prices for coal and oil are upending plans to curb the use of fossil fuels.

From the NYTimes News-2008-11-25:8:5:1



Skye's dinosaur connection to US


Footprints of dinosaurs found on a Scottish island are of the same, or a similar species, which left their mark on Wyoming.

From the BBC News-2008-11-24:8:5:1



Valley Girls


How knowing your genes could change your life

From the BBC News-2008-11-22:20:6:1



'Grape' is key to fossil puzzle


The forerunners of giant single-celled organisms living on the ocean floor may have left fossil tracks often attributed to more complex creatures, say marine biologists.

From the BBC News-2008-11-21:8:5:1



Genetic screening of small benefit in predicting diabetes: studies


For determining risk of Type 2 diabetes, current genetic screening tests add little to traditional methods such as family history, two new studies suggest.

From the CBC News-2008-11-20:20:6:1



Regenerating a Mammoth, for $10 Million


A new report suggests that a living mammoth could perhaps be regenerated from DNA extracted from clumps of the animal’s hair.

From the NYTimes News-2008-11-19:14:6:2



Mammoth's genome pieced together


A US-Russian team announces that it has sequenced most of the genome of a woolly mammoth found in Siberia.

From the BBC News-2008-11-19:14:6:1



Bird's eye view


Darwin's pigeons, a lost warbler and the smelly seabirds

From the BBC News-2008-11-19:8:5:2



Rare penguin took over from rival


Human arrival in New Zealand led to the extinction of one penguin species to the advantage of another, scientists suggest.

From the BBC News-2008-11-19:8:5:1



Big cat fossil found in North Sea


A fossilised bone from a sabre-toothed cat has been dredged up from the seabed by a trawler off the UK coast.

From the BBC News-2008-11-18:20:6:1



Breast cancer risk high from family history, without mutations: study


Women with a strong family history of breast cancer may still have an increased risk of developing the disease even if they test negative for two genetic mutations, Canadian researchers have found.

From the CBC News-2008-11-18:14:6:1



Letters: Genes in the Spotlight (5 Letters)


Genes in the Spotlight.

From the NYTimes News-2008-11-18:8:5:1



Observatory: Using a Variety of Tools, Researchers Unravel Tale of German Graves


Researchers have uncovered the oldest molecular genetic evidence of a nuclear family ever obtained.

From the NYTimes News-2008-11-17:20:6:2



Woolly rhino's ancient migration


Palaeontologists piece together the fossilised skull of the oldest example yet found of a woolly rhinoceros in Europe.

From the BBC News-2008-11-17:20:6:1



Genetics Glossary


A glossary of frequently used genetics terms.

From the NYTimes News-2008-11-11:8:5:5



Thoughts on Genes


Thoughts from scientists on genes and the future of genetics.

From the NYTimes News-2008-11-11:8:5:6



In a Novel Theory of Mental Disorders, Parents’ Genes Are in Competition


A new theory of brain development would change the way mental disorders like autism and schizophrenia are understood.

From the NYTimes News-2008-11-11:8:5:3



Basics: Scientists and Philosophers Find That ‘Gene’ Has a Multitude of Meanings


Scientists have learned that the canonical “genes” account for an embarrassingly tiny part of the human genome.

From the NYTimes News-2008-11-11:8:5:4



The Promise and Power of RNA


RNA interference, discovered only about 10 years ago, is attracting huge interest for its seeming ability to knock out disease-causing genes.

From the NYTimes News-2008-11-11:8:5:2



Now: The Rest of the Genome


Only 1 percent of the genome is made up of classic genes. Scientists are exploring the other 99 percent and uncovering new secrets and new questions.

From the NYTimes News-2008-11-11:8:5:1



A Conversation With Stuart L. Pimm: Asking ‘Why Do Species Go Extinct?’


Stuart L. Pimm has made one of the grimmest topics on earth — extinction — his specialty.

From the NYTimes News-2008-11-10:20:6:1



Darwin's specimens go on display


Two mockingbirds, which helped Charles Darwin develop his theory on evolution, are to go on public display for the first time.

From the BBC News-2008-11-7:14:6:1



Cancer genetic blueprint revealed


Scientists say they have worked out the complete genetic blueprint of a cancer for the first time.

From the BBC News-2008-11-6:8:5:1



Patient's genome reveals mutations linked to tumour


Scientists for the first time have decoded the entire genome of a cancer patient, identifying a series of genes never before linked to the type of white blood cell cancer that ultimately killed the woman.

From the CBC News-2008-11-5:20:6:2



Autism gene might play role in childhood language disorder: study


A gene implicated in autism may also play a role in a common childhood language disorder, according to a new study.

From the CBC News-2008-11-5:20:6:1



DNA breakthrough on 1946 murder


Scientists working on the case of a 12-year-old girl raped and shot dead 62 years ago obtain a family DNA profile of her killer.

From the BBC News-2008-11-5:8:5:1



Bones confirm Steve Fossett death


DNA tests on bones found near a plane crash site in California show them to be those of adventurer Steve Fossett.

From the BBC News-2008-11-4:8:5:2



A Conversation With Stuart L. Pimm: ‘I realized that extinction was something that as a scientist, I could study. I could ask, Why do species go extinct?’


Stuart L. Pimm has made one of the grimmest topics on earth — extinction — his specialty.

From the NYTimes News-2008-11-4:8:5:3



Scientists clone from frozen mice


Japanese scientists manage to create clones from the bodies of mice which have been frozen for 16 years.

From the BBC News-2008-11-4:8:5:1



Observatory: Commercial Production of Chickens Takes Toll on Genetic Diversity


Scientists report that fifty percent or more of the diversity of ancestral breeds of chickens has been lost.

From the NYTimes News-2008-11-3:20:6:1



DNA legacy of ancient seafarers


Scientists use DNA to trace the migrations of a civilisation which dominated the Mediterranean thousands of years ago.

From the BBC News-2008-10-31:8:5:1



Phoenicians Left Deep Genetic Mark, Study Shows


New research suggests that as many as 1 in 17 men living today on the coasts of North Africa and southern Europe may have a Phoenician direct male-line ancestor.

From the NYTimes News-2008-10-30:20:6:1



Mexico Pays Fishermen to Help Save a Species


The offer of payments was intended to save a small porpoise that is threatened with extinction as an unintended byproduct of commercial fishing.

From the NYTimes News-2008-10-29:8:5:1



Scientists develop purple, cancer-fighting tomato


A purple tomato genetically engineered to contain higher levels of antioxidants helped prolong the lives of cancer-prone mice, British researchers reported.

From the CBC News-2008-10-27:14:6:1



Transsexual gene link identified


Australian researchers find a significant link between a gene involved in testosterone action and male-to-female transsexualism.

From the BBC News-2008-10-27:8:5:1



U of C scientist wants to wipe away common cold


Coughing, sniffling and other symptoms are caused by our immune system's reaction to cold viruses, says a University of Calgary scientist, who is researching gene responses in the hope of finding new treatments.

From the CBC News-2008-10-24:20:6:1



The Energy Challenge: Nuclear Power May Be in Early Stages of a Revival


Concerns about global warming and dwindling supplies of fossil fuels have rekindled interest in building nuclear power reactors.

From the NYTimes News-2008-10-24:8:5:1



Genetic mutation linked to club foot


Club foot, one of the most common birth defects, may be caused by a genetic mutation, a finding that opens the door to genetic counselling, prevention and treatment, researchers said Thursday.

From the CBC News-2008-10-23:20:6:1



Lung tumours reveal more genetic mutations


Scientists have identified 26 genetic mutations that play a role in lung cancer, including some that may be targeted by existing or future treatments.

From the CBC News-2008-10-22:20:6:3



Gene 'roadmap' for lung cancers


The most complete survey yet of the genes which go wrong when lung cancer takes hold has been carried out by US researchers.

From the BBC News-2008-10-22:20:6:2



New feathered dinosaur discovered


A "bizarre" dinosaur species which was feathered but flightless raises questions about the evolution of birds

From the BBC News-2008-10-22:20:6:1



Tom Feilden


Is the way you dance written in your DNA?

From the BBC News-2008-10-21:20:6:1



Experts ponder whether dinosaurs looked good on the dance floor


Scientists identify an amazing collection of dinosaur footprints at a site on the Arizona-Utah border in the US.

From the BBC News-2008-10-21:14:6:1



Rock records dino 'dance floor'


Scientists identify an amazing collection of dinosaur footprints at a site on the Arizona-Utah border in the US.

From the BBC News-2008-10-20:20:42:1



The DNA Age: Taking a Peek at the Experts’ Genetic Secrets


Ten volunteers are putting their genomes online, hoping to aid research.

From the NYTimes News-2008-10-20:14:6:1



Ancient bones show tuberculosis older than thought


Human tuberculosis may be 3,000 years older than previously thought, say researchers who analyzed DNA from 9,000-year-old human bones found off the coast of Israel.

From the CBC News-2008-10-15:14:6:2



Fossil Fish Shows Complexity of Transition to Land


New research on the head skeleton of a 375-million-year-old fossil helps clarify the intermediate steps by which some marine vertebrates evolved into animals that walked on land.

From the NYTimes News-2008-10-15:14:6:1



Global Update: Researchers Decode the Genome of Two More Malaria Parasites


Scientists have now sequenced the genomes of two more parasites that cause malaria, plasmodium vivax and plasmodium knowlesi.

From the NYTimes News-2008-10-14:8:5:1



Gene scan to predict hair loss


Genes that may increase by seven-fold the risk of early baldness amongst men have been uncovered by researchers.

From the BBC News-2008-10-13:8:5:1



More genetic baldness links uncovered


Some men who carry two genetic variants may have a sevenfold increased chance of showing male pattern baldness, international researchers have found.

From the CBC News-2008-10-12:14:6:1



Five alive (just)


Rare, not well done - the species on the brink of extinction

From the BBC News-2008-10-11:20:6:1



Scientists construct genetic map for malaria parasites


Scientists have sequenced the genomes of two of the parasites known to carry malaria, developments they hope will lead to improvements in vaccines and treatments for the deadly virus.

From the CBC News-2008-10-8:20:6:1



Observatory: Diversification of Cacao Is Traced to the Amazon


A new study suggests there are 10 genetic clusters of cacao, not the 3 that were previously believed to exist.

From the NYTimes News-2008-10-7:8:5:4



Blood Tests Ease Search for Down Syndrome


New powerful genetic techniques may provide an alternative to amniocentesis, which can cause miscarriages.

From the NYTimes News-2008-10-7:8:5:3



One in 4 Mammals Threatened With Extinction, Group Finds


One in four mammals is in danger of disappearing because of habitat loss, hunting and climate change, a global conservation body warned on Monday.

From the NYTimes News-2008-10-7:8:5:2



Feilden's blog


Has human evolution stopped short?

From the BBC News-2008-10-7:8:5:1



Mammals facing extinction threat


About 25% of the world's mammal species are at risk of extinction, according to a global assessment.

From the BBC News-2008-10-6:14:6:1



Dawn of Low-Price Mapping Could Broaden DNA Uses


A start-up company called Complete Genomics says it will start charging $5,000 next year to determine a person’s complete genetic blueprint.

From the NYTimes News-2008-10-6:8:5:1



Seeing Red and Blue Can Divide a Species — of Fish


Researchers have uncovered evidence for speciation among a species of fish in Lake Victoria in Africa based on how they perceive color.

From the NYTimes News-2008-10-2:14:6:1



'Viking mouse' invasion tracked


Scientists say that studying the genes of mice will reveal new information about patterns of human migration.

From the BBC News-2008-10-1:8:5:1



Genetic risk score could highlight gout risk


People with three genetic variants may be at up to 40-fold increased risk of developing gout, a finding that could show who is it at highest risk long before symptoms appear, researchers say.

From the CBC News-2008-9-30:20:6:1



Penicillin bug genome unravelled


Researchers decode the DNA sequence of the fungus which produces penicillin, ahead of the 80th anniversary of its discovery.

From the BBC News-2008-9-30:8:5:1



Genetic clue uncovered for narcolepsy


A genetic variant may predispose people to narcolepsy, Japanese researchers have found.

From the CBC News-2008-9-29:14:6:1



Observatory: Neanderthals Took Hunt for Food to the Sea


The Neanderthals were seafood lovers, new findings suggest.

From the NYTimes News-2008-9-23:8:5:3



Observatory: A Tortoise May Be Bred Back Into Being


DNA research suggests there is the potential to restore one of the giant tortoises of the Galápagos Islands.

From the NYTimes News-2008-9-23:8:5:2



'Dramatic results' in eye gene op


Gene therapy produces significant improvements to the vision of patients with a severe inherited sight disorder.

From the BBC News-2008-9-23:8:5:1



Scientists Find One Specimen of Bizarre Primitive Ant


The species Martialis heureka is the most primitive of living ants, its DNA least changed in the more than 100 million years that ants have existed.

From the NYTimes News-2008-9-18:8:5:1



Will the real dinosaurs stand up?


Most of the newly discovered dinosaurs are just that - new to science, an assessment concludes.

From the BBC News-2008-9-17:14:6:1



Israeli town uses doggie DNA to combat street fouling


Officials in an Israeli city plan to use a database of doggie DNA to identify owners who allow pets to foul the streets.

From the BBC News-2008-9-16:20:6:1



Observatory: That Dog Is Bald, and Now We Know Why


Researchers have discovered the genetic basis for one of the more extreme features of some dogs — baldness.

From the NYTimes News-2008-9-16:8:5:3



Scientist at Work | David B. Goldstein: A Dissenting Voice as the Genome Is Sifted to Fight Disease


David B. Goldstein, a leading young population geneticist, says the effort to nail down the genetics of most common diseases is not working.

From the NYTimes News-2008-9-16:8:5:2



Nasa selects Mars climate mission


The US space agency (Nasa) approves its next orbiter mission to Mars - a mission to study climate evolution known as Maven.

From the BBC News-2008-9-16:8:5:1



Gene tests 'create undue stress'


Gene tests to predict risk of disease are inaccurate, and may cause unnecessary stress, an expert argues.

From the BBC News-2008-9-15:8:5:1



When in Doubt, Spit It Out


Want your DNA mapped? Saliva-collection parties gather all the evidence.

From the NYTimes News-2008-9-13:8:5:1



Genetic mutation behind some mad cow cases, study shows


Mad cow disease may be caused in some cases by a rare genetic mutation that also occurs in humans who have a related brain-wasting disease, U.S. scientists have found.

From the CBC News-2008-9-12:20:6:1



Call for creationism in science


Creationism should be discussed in science lessons in UK schools, says the director of education at the Royal Society.

From the BBC News-2008-9-12:16:50:1



Childhood cancer genes pinpointed


Scientists pinpoint three genes considered key to the development of a form of childhood brain cancer.

From the BBC News-2008-9-10:8:5:1



Drug hope for cystic fibrosis


An experimental drug is proving effective for treating cystic fibrosis, one of the most common life-shortening genetic diseases.

From the BBC News-2008-9-9:14:6:1



Exercise 'blunts fat gene effect'


Vigorous physical activity could blunt the effects of a common gene linked to obesity, claim US researchers.

From the BBC News-2008-9-9:8:5:1



When blaming fat on the genes is not an option


Some people inherit a tendency to pack on pounds, but those in the Amish religious sect who spend hours each day farming, walking, house cleaning and gardening have a way to block the gene's effects, researchers have found.

From the CBC News-2008-9-8:20:6:2



Ancient trees recorded in mines


A US-UK team of scientists find more spectacular fossil forests deep in the coal mines of Illinois.

From the BBC News-2008-9-8:20:6:1



Signs of Down syndrome found early in cell development


Down syndrome may result from early developmental changes in embryonic stem cells, according to researchers who hope the genetic findings could lead to therapeutic clues.

From the CBC News-2008-9-5:14:6:1



$400 Million Gift to Genetic Institute


The gift to the Broad Institute of M.I.T. and Harvard was the biggest so far from Eli and Edythe Broad, who are giving away a multibillion-dollar.

From the NYTimes News-2008-9-4:14:6:2



Mammoths moved 'out of America'


Ancient DNA evidence points to the last Siberian woolly mammoths having originated in North America.

From the BBC News-2008-9-4:14:6:1



Genetics may hold the clue to a marine mystery creature


A geneticist is to reveal the latest findings of her research into what washed up on an island's beach.

From the BBC News-2008-9-4:8:5:1



Commitment phobes can blame genes


A man's reluctance to marry may be down to a genetic 'flaw', say researchers.

From the BBC News-2008-9-2:8:5:2



'Rare' mammoth skull discovered


The fossilised skull of an "extremely rare" steppe mammoth has been discovered in southern France.

From the BBC News-2008-9-2:8:5:1



Europeans’ Genomes Reveal Their Geographic Origins


There seems to be a geographical pattern to European genetics. By analyzing people’s genomes, geneticists can tell roughly where in Europe they come from.

From the NYTimes News-2008-9-1:20:6:2



Gaming Evolution


A new video game allows players to create their own evolving organism.

From the NYTimes News-2008-9-1:20:6:1



NIH closes public databases


NIH closes public access to the genome-wide association studies database (GWAS), the Database of Genotypes and Phenotypes (dbGaP), and the Cancer Genetic Markers of Susceptibility database due to privacy concerns.

From Genomeweb News News-2008-8-30:12:43:1



Observatory: A Blow to the Oxygen Theory of Extinction


New research deals a blow to the hypothesis that a decrease in atmospheric oxygen contributed to a mass extinction 250 million years ago.

From the NYTimes News-2008-8-29:20:6:1



Gene therapy 'may repair hearing'


Scientists claim gene therapy has the potential to restore hearing in mice, offering hope for humans as well.

From the BBC News-2008-8-28:8:5:1



'Complexity' of Neanderthal tools


Early stone tools developed by modern humans were no more sophisticated than those used by the Neanderthals, research suggests.

From the BBC News-2008-8-26:20:6:1



Letters: Calories and Evolution (2 Letters)


To the Editor:.

From the NYTimes News-2008-8-26:8:5:1



A Teacher on the Front Line as Faith and Science Clash


A passionate educator takes Florida’s mandate to teach evolution to students raised to take the biblical creation story as fact.

From the NYTimes News-2008-8-23:20:6:1



Fish Tale Has DNA Hook: Students Find Bad Labels


With new tests, students found that restaurants and markets often misidentified fish, sometimes as more expensive species.

From the NYTimes News-2008-8-22:8:5:1



California Licenses 2 Companies to Offer Gene Services


Two closely watched companies that offer consumers information about their genes have received licenses that will allow them to continue to do business in California.

From the NYTimes News-2008-8-20:8:5:2



eBay insect fossil is new species


A scientist who bought a fossilised insect on the web auction site eBay finds that it belongs to a new species.

From the BBC News-2008-8-20:8:5:1



Why a history of inbreeding spells trouble for pedigree dogs


Pedigree dogs suffer from debilitating genetic diseases due to inbreeding, a BBC inquiry concludes.

From the BBC News-2008-8-19:8:5:1



A Conversation With Nina V. Fedoroff: An Advocate for Science Diplomacy


Nina V. Fedoroff is science adviser to the secretary of state and contends that genetically modified foods help the environment.

From the NYTimes News-2008-8-18:20:6:1



Visual Science: Gene Hunt Hints at Cause of Bipolar Disorder


A genetic finding could offer insights into how the body is affected by bipolar disorder.

From the NYTimes News-2008-8-18:8:5:1



Science Visuals: The Genetic Map of Europe


Researchers have created a genetic map showing the relatedness between the populations of Europe.

From the NYTimes News-2008-8-13:14:6:1



Extinction 'by man not climate'


The extinction of many ancient species may be due to humans rather than climate change, experts say.

From the BBC News-2008-8-11:20:6:1



Scientists ask to plant GM trees


University researchers ask the Forestry Commission if they can plant genetically modified trees on its land.

From the BBC News-2008-8-9:20:6:1



Gene hooks smokers at first puff


Puffing on a first cigarette is a rite of passage for many, but whether it is enjoyable may be down to genes, research finds.

From the BBC News-2008-8-9:14:6:1



Nicotine gene linked to addiction


Whether smoking your first cigarette brings on a pleasurable buzz or a wave of nausea may depend on what type of nicotine-related gene you have.

From the CBC News-2008-8-8:14:6:1



Dachshunds gene 'blindness clue'


A genetic mutation in dachshunds could help uncover the roots of some inherited forms of blindness in humans, say scientists.

From the BBC News-2008-8-8:8:5:1



Was mummy King Tut a daddy? - DNA tests for tomb foetuses


DNA tests are to be conducted on the mummified remains of two stillborn children found in the tomb of Tutankhamun, Egyptian officials say.

From the BBC News-2008-8-6:20:6:1



Firm claims first pet dog clones


Scientists in South Korea say they have successfully completed the world's first commercial cloning of a pet dog.

From the BBC News-2008-8-5:8:5:2



Primates 'face extinction crisis'


Almost half of the world's primate species are facing extinction, a major global assessment warns, with habitat loss the main threat.

From the BBC News-2008-8-5:8:5:1



Observatory: Fossils Add More Proof of Global Climate Shift


Fossils uncovered from the Antarctic form the basis for further understanding of global cooling that occurred during the mid-Miocene epoch.

From the NYTimes News-2008-8-4:20:6:1



Gene-Hunters Find Hope and Hurdles in Schizophrenia Studies


Researchers hunting for schizophrenia genes on a larger scale than ever before have found new genetic variants that point toward a different understanding of the disease.

From the NYTimes News-2008-7-30:20:6:2



Genes for schizophrenia uncovered


Genetic flaws are linked to schizophrenia - but experts warn a complete analysis is likely to remain elusive.

From the BBC News-2008-7-30:20:6:1



A Lab Is Set to Test the Gender of Some Female Athletes


Olympic organizers have set up a sex-determination laboratory to evaluate the external appearance, hormones and genes of “suspect” female athletes.

From the NYTimes News-2008-7-30:8:5:1



A Conversation With Steven A. Farber: To Teach Genetics, Zebra Fish Go to School


Steven A. Farber heads a nonprofit organization that aims to bring science to inner-city schools. Their tool of choice is the zebra fish.

From the NYTimes News-2008-7-29:8:5:1



GM crop trials 'should be secret'


Senior researchers have called for the location of small open-air trials of GM crops to be kept secret.

From the BBC News-2008-7-28:19:38:1



Your DNA's in the post


'I paid £500 to have my genome analysed'

From the BBC News-2008-7-28:8:5:1



Rare fossils in India threatened


Nature protected rare fossils for millions of years, but humans are now destroying them, says the BBC's Salman Ravi in eastern India.

From the BBC News-2008-7-25:8:5:1



Victor McKusick, 86, Dies; Medical Genetics Pioneer


Mr. McKusick was a cardiologist who went on to become a founder of medical genetics and helped make the discipline a central part of medicine.

From the NYTimes News-2008-7-24:8:5:1



Fossils date Dry Valleys' origin


Tiny fossils time the climate shift which gave rise to Antarctica's Dry Valleys, a landscape akin to Mars.

From the BBC News-2008-7-23:8:5:1



Canadian researchers discover ovulation gene


Canadian and European researchers have discovered the gene that regulates ovulation.

From the CBC News-2008-7-18:14:6:1



Gore challenges US to ditch oil


US ex-vice-president Al Gore tells Americans to abandon electricity generated by fossil fuels in 10 years - an idea critics dismiss.

From the BBC News-2008-7-18:8:5:1



'Survival zones' for butterflies


Ten areas of Scotland are identified as frontlines in the fight to save rare insects from extinction.

From the BBC News-2008-7-17:8:5:1



Ancient bones could yield TB clue


Researchers are using human remains from the ancient city of Jericho to study the origin and evolution of tuberculosis.

From the BBC News-2008-7-16:20:6:2



Gene Variation May Increase Vulnerability to H.I.V.


A genetic variation could account for 11 percent of the caseload of H.I.V. in Africa, explaining why the disease is more common there than expected, researchers say.

From the NYTimes News-2008-7-16:20:6:3



Sea die-out blamed on volcanoes


Undersea volcanic activity has been blamed for a mass extinction in the seas 93 million years ago.

From the BBC News-2008-7-16:20:6:1



Malaria gene 'increases HIV risk'


A gene which protects against malaria increases vulnerability to HIV infection by 40%, say scientists.

From the BBC News-2008-7-16:14:6:1



Scientist at Work | Edward O. Wilson: Taking a Cue From Ants on Evolution of Humans


Edward O. Wilson has become one of the world’s best-known biologists through his urge to create large syntheses of knowledge and his gift for writing.

From the NYTimes News-2008-7-15:8:5:1



'Alarming' plight of coral reefs


A third of the world's reef-building coral species are facing extinction, the first global assessment shows.

From the BBC News-2008-7-10:20:6:1



Vanishing act


Could stress drive Cambodian dolphin to extinction?

From the BBC News-2008-7-9:8:5:1



Fossil feathers reveal their hues


Scientists show they are able to interpret the colour patterns seen in 100 million-year-old fossil feathers.

From the BBC News-2008-7-8:20:6:1



Letters: Genetics and the Law (1 Letter)


To the Editor:.

From the NYTimes News-2008-7-8:8:5:1



Stolen fossils back in Argentina


Four tonnes of dinosaur bones and other fossils stolen from Argentina are back home after being seized in the US.

From the BBC News-2008-7-4:8:5:1



Extinction risk 'underestimated'


Current methods used to assess species on the brink overlook some key factors, a team of scientists claim.

From the BBC News-2008-7-3:8:5:1



A Conversation With James P. Evans: Biologist Teaches the Nation’s Judges About Genetics


James P. Evans hopes to demystify all of science and, specifically, genetics.

From the NYTimes News-2008-7-1:8:5:1



Cost of extinction


Why exactly do we value the lives of whales?

From the BBC News-2008-6-26:14:6:1



Project to reveal choc's DNA code


The chocolate company Mars has announced that it is to decode the genetic structure of the cocoa tree.

From the BBC News-2008-6-25:20:6:1



Fossil fills out water-land leap


Scientists identify a 365-million-year-old fossil that helps explain the sequence of events that took early creatures onto land.

From the BBC News-2008-6-25:14:6:1



Gene fuels deadly prostate cancer


A faulty gene linked to breast cancer is also responsible for a dangerous form of prostate cancer, research shows.

From the BBC News-2008-6-25:8:5:1



DNA pioneers to get new £197m lab


A pioneering research organisation that has produced 13 Nobel Prize winners gets the go-ahead for a new £197m lab.

From the BBC News-2008-6-24:14:6:1



Philadelphia Set to Honor Darwin and Evolution


In the long-running culture war between evolution and creationism, Philadelphia is firing the latest shot.

From the NYTimes News-2008-6-23:8:5:2



'Neanderthal tools' found at dig


Tools thought to have belonged to Neanderthals have been dug up at an archaeological site called Beedings in West Sussex.

From the BBC News-2008-6-23:8:5:1



Green energy push planned for UK


British homeowners may face higher bills as part of a "green revolution" to reduce fossil fuel reliance.

From the BBC News-2008-6-21:14:6:1



Disgraced Cloner Reports Success With Tibetan Dog Breed


A South Korean team led by a disgraced cloning expert said Thursday that it had created 17 clones of an endangered dog breed popular in China.

From the NYTimes News-2008-6-20:8:5:1



Lifestyle choices to blame for insulin resistance more than genes: study


Lifestyle choices, such as diet and exercise, may have more influence on the development of insulin resistance than heredity, suggests new research.

From the CBC News-2008-6-19:20:6:1



Clone cell cancer 'cure' hailed


Scientists claim they have cured advanced skin cancer for the first time using the patient's own cells cloned outside the body.

From the BBC News-2008-6-19:8:5:1



Canada donates $100M to cancer stem cell research


The federal government has pledged $100 million to fund cancer stem cell research by scientists in Canada and California.

From the CBC News-2008-6-18:20:6:3



Cholesterol genes 'protect heart'


A third of the population have genes that could help them in the fight against heart disease, say scientists.

From the BBC News-2008-6-18:20:6:2



Adoptees use DNA to find surname


Male adoptees are using DNA tests to predict the surnames carried by their biological fathers, the BBC has learned.

From the BBC News-2008-6-18:20:6:1



Dinosaur Fossils Discovered in Utah


An excavation revealed at least four plant-eating dinosaurs and two carnivorous ones that date to the late Jurassic period, state officials announced.

From the NYTimes News-2008-6-17:20:6:1



Ontario premier commits $1M to California stem cell partnership


Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty announced Tuesday that the province will invest $1 million in new stem cell research.

From the CBC News-2008-6-17:14:6:1



Observatory: Just Smelling the Coffee Can Wake Up Genes


A study of coffee-smelling rats may be a first step toward understanding the effects of coffee aroma, scientists say.

From the NYTimes News-2008-6-17:8:5:2



In the Art of a DNA Graph, the Colors of Uniqueness


“DNA Collage 1” is on the cover of the new issue of Connecticut Medicine and it is a “snapshot” of variations in the genome sequences of 62 people.

From the NYTimes News-2008-6-17:8:5:1



Cancer risk factors to be studied in large-scale study


A sweeping study on how genetics, environmental factors and lifestyle choices play a part in the development of cancer was launched Wednesday.

From the CBC News-2008-6-11:14:6:1



Bird family trees predict decline


A new genetic family tree of UK birds may help predict which ones are likely to see population declines in future.

From the BBC News-2008-6-11:8:5:1



Big hearts 'have genetic problem'


Scientists say they have found a new genetic basis for why some people develop a dangerously enlarged heart.

From the BBC News-2008-6-9:8:5:2



Fresh hurdle for stem cell hunt


It may be tougher than first thought to pick effective stem cell treatments, a Nobel Prize-winning geneticist says.

From the BBC News-2008-6-9:8:5:1



Study boosts wine chemical hopes


A chemical derived from red wine could one day help keep the heart "genetically young", claim researchers.

From the BBC News-2008-6-4:8:5:1



Letters: Perils of Gene Testing (1 Letter)


To the Editor:.

From the NYTimes News-2008-6-3:8:5:2



Q & A: DNA on Parade


Can you see DNA under a microscope?

From the NYTimes News-2008-6-3:8:5:1



Testosterone gene could offer men competitive edge in sports: study


A new discovery shows that the way men process testosterone could potentially help them cheat in sports competitions.

From the CBC News-2008-5-30:14:6:1



Climate Enters Debate Over Nuclear Power


Environmental groups want to shut down Vermont’s only nuclear power plant, but closing it might mean the state would probably have to derive extra power from suppliers that use fossil fuels.

From the NYTimes News-2008-5-30:8:5:1



DNA Offers Clues to Greenland’s First Inhabitants


The earliest inhabitants of the New World’s northern extremes were the descendants of eastern Asian populations, researchers say.

From the NYTimes News-2008-5-29:20:6:1



National Briefing | Science: Genome Chief to Step Down


Francis S. Collins, who has led the National Human Genome Research Institute since 1993, will step down on Aug. 1.

From the NYTimes News-2008-5-29:8:5:1



Fossil reveals oldest live birth


The oldest-known example of a mother giving birth to live young has been unveiled by scientists.

From the BBC News-2008-5-28:20:6:1



Personal Health: Red Flags for Hereditary Cancers


Knowing that you have a high-risk cancer gene mutation offers the chance to take preventive actions.

From the NYTimes News-2008-5-27:8:5:2



Some Pitfalls of Genetic Testing


The deciphering of the human genome has prompted a number of entrepreneurs to cash in on people’s genetic concerns.

From the NYTimes News-2008-5-27:8:5:1



Sharks swim closer to extinction


More than half of the world's ocean-going sharks are at risk of extinction, says the world's official conservation agency.

From the BBC News-2008-5-22:14:6:1



New dinosaur tracks discovered


Dinosaur footprints made millions of years ago in what is now Yemen are the first found in the Arabian Peninsula.

From the BBC News-2008-5-21:14:6:1



Biotech Company to Auction Chances to Clone a Dog


A California company is planning a string of online auctions next month to clone five dogs, with the bidding to start at $100,000.

From the NYTimes News-2008-5-21:8:5:1



Vital Signs: Patterns: Craving Sweets? It May Be in Your Genes


Researchers have found that people with a common variant of a gene that helps the body handle sugar are more likely to crave foods like soda and cake.

From the NYTimes News-2008-5-20:8:5:2



Tasmanian tiger DNA 'resurrected'


A fragment of DNA from the extinct Tasmanian tiger is put into a mouse to study how the genetic material works.

From the BBC News-2008-5-20:8:5:1



Observatory: Telltale DNA Bits Give Away Presence of Secretive Invaders


Some animals are so secretive that finding them, to determine how far they have spread, is nearly impossible.

From the NYTimes News-2008-5-19:20:6:1



Wildlife populations 'plummeting'


Between a quarter and a third of the world's wildlife has been lost since 1970, says the Living Planet Index.

From the BBC News-2008-5-17:20:45:2



Ancestors had leg-up to trees


A new study explains how the tiny ancestors of humans, apes and monkeys may have taken to the trees.

From the BBC News-2008-5-17:20:45:1



Evolution rolls on for Mars rover


The wheels continue to turn on Europe's billion-euro project to put a robotic rover on the surface of the Red Planet.

From the BBC News-2008-5-15:8:5:1



Hope of first owl chicks in years


A male and female snowy owl seen on North Uist theWestern Isles could become the UK's first breeding pair in 30 years, RSPB Scotland said.

From the BBC News-2008-5-14:9:3:1



Letters: Genes and Diseases (1 Letter)


To the Editor:.

From the NYTimes News-2008-5-13:8:5:3



Engineering by Scientists on Embryo Stirs Criticism


Researchers in New York have created what is believed to be the first genetically engineered human embryo, which critics immediately branded as a step toward “designer babies.”

From the NYTimes News-2008-5-13:8:5:2



Basics: A Gene Map for the Cute Side of the Family


The genetic map for a cute, yet unique, creature turned more heads than those maps for less-interesting creatures.

From the NYTimes News-2008-5-13:8:5:1



Chronicle of a Death Foretold


After learning of a possibly fatal mutation lurking in her genes, Masha Gessen went in search of answers medical and moral.

From the NYTimes News-2008-5-10:20:6:1



Extinction fear for butterfly


A UK mountain-dwelling butterfly could be wiped out in Scotland because of climate change, experts say.

From the BBC News-2008-5-14:8:5:1



Montrealers to study genetic factors in autism


The Montreal Children's Hospital is taking part in a major international study on autism.

From the CBC News-2008-5-13:20:6:1



Platypus Looks Strange on the Inside Too


The platypus genome is an amalgam of genes reflecting significant branching and transitions in evolution, scientists reported.

From the NYTimes News-2008-5-7:14:6:2



Platypus genetic code unravelled


The genetic blueprint of one of the world's strangest mammals - the duck-billed platypus - is deciphered.

From the BBC News-2008-5-7:14:6:1



Redefining Disease, Genes and All


A growing band of researchers is trying to redefine how diseases are classified — by looking at their genetic underpinnings.

From the NYTimes News-2008-5-6:8:5:3



Genes 'up Indians' obesity risk'


Scientists pinpoint a reason why people with Indian ancestry may be more prone to weight problems.

From the BBC News-2008-5-6:8:5:2



Tropics insects 'face extinction'


Many tropical insects could face extinction by the end of this century due to rising temperatures, scientists say.

From the BBC News-2008-5-6:8:5:1



Lots of Animals Learn, but Smarter Isn’t Better


New research indicates that growing smarter has dangerous side effects that make its evolution even more puzzling.

From the NYTimes News-2008-5-5:20:6:1



Of God and Darwin (3 Letters)


To the Editor:.

From the NYTimes News-2008-5-5:20:6:2



DNA Tests Confirm the Deaths of the Last Missing Romanovs


For nine decades after the Bolsheviks shot Czar Nicholas II and his family, there had been no traces of the remains of Crown Prince Aleksei.

From the NYTimes News-2008-5-1:8:5:1



Some Athletes’ Genes Help Outwit Doping Test


A study showed that large numbers of men show false negatives in screens testing for doping with testosterone.

From the NYTimes News-2008-4-30:8:5:1



International consortium to initiate cancer research, share data


An international cancer genome group was launched Tuesday, a collaborative effort on the part of nine countries to produce genomic data on different types of cancer.

From the CBC News-2008-4-29:14:6:1



Scientist at Work | Francisco J. Ayala: Roving Defender of Evolution, and of Room for God


Francisco J. Ayala has expressed surprise at how many Americans believe the theory of evolution is contrary to belief in God.

From the NYTimes News-2008-4-29:8:5:2



Genes Explain Race Disparity in Response to a Heart Drug


A discovery raises questions about whom to treat with beta blockers and how to decide, researchers say.

From the NYTimes News-2008-4-29:8:5:1



A Conversation With Arno Motulsky: A Genetics Pioneer Sees a Bright Future, Cautiously


Among scientists, Arno Motulsky is known as the “father of pharmacogenomics,” the study of how an individual’s genetic inheritance affects the body’s response to drugs.

From the NYTimes News-2008-4-28:20:6:1



Observatory: Hope for Tiger Breeding


Researchers report that perhaps 20 percent of captive tigers are purebred and retain genetic variations that are not found in the wild.

From the NYTimes News-2008-4-28:14:6:1



Gene therapy 'aids youth's sight'


A 18-year-old whose sight was failing has his vision improved in a pioneering operation using gene therapy.

From the BBC News-2008-4-28:8:5:1



Polar bears 'at risk' in Canada


Polar bears in Canada are at risk from climate change but not threatened by extinction, a panel of experts say.

From the BBC News-2008-4-26:20:6:1



What Darwin Saw Out Back


The New York Botanical Garden is replicating his work and experiments in a stunning, multipart exhibition called “Darwin’s Garden: An Evolutionary Adventure.”

From the NYTimes News-2008-4-25:14:6:1



Tests Confirm T. Rex Kinship With Birds


An analysis of proteins extracted from fossils has yielded the first molecular data confirming the hypothesis of a close dinosaur-bird ancestry, scientists say.

From the NYTimes News-2008-4-25:8:5:2



Study Says Near Extinction Threatened People 70,000 Years Ago


WASHINGTON (AP) -- Human beings may have had a brush with extinction 70,000 years ago, an extensive genetic study suggests. The human population at that time was reduced to small isolated groups in Africa, apparently because of drought, according to an analysis released Thursday.

From the NYTimes News-2008-4-25:8:5:3



US blocks genetic discrimination


The US Senate passes legislation forbidding discrimination against people because of genetic details.

From the BBC News-2008-4-25:8:5:1



Molecular Tests Confirm T. Rex Kinship With Birds


A analysis of proteins extracted from fossils yielded the first molecular data confirming the hypothesis of a close dinosaur-bird ancestry, scientists reported.

From the NYTimes News-2008-4-24:14:6:1



In Lean Times, Biotech Grains Are Less Taboo


Governments, food companies and consumers are feeling new pressures to relax resistance to genetically engineered crops.

From the NYTimes News-2008-4-21:8:5:1



Darwin's first draft goes online


The first draft of Charles Darwin's highly influential book on evolution is made available online for the first time.

From the BBC News-2008-4-17:8:5:1



Map reveals key wildlife hotspots


Scientists use Madagascar as a template to work out how best to save species from extinction.

From the BBC News-2008-4-14:14:6:1



Germany eases law on stem cells


The German parliament votes to ease restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, after a heated debate.

From the BBC News-2008-4-11:8:5:1



Ancient serpent shows its leg


Scientists use X-rays to find the lost rear limb of a fossil snake locked in 92-million-year-old Lebanese limestone.

From the BBC News-2008-4-10:8:5:1



Innovators shortlisted for award


The creator of DNA fingerprinting heads the shortlist for the prestigious Millennium Technology Prize.

From the BBC News-2008-4-8:14:6:1



The DNA Age: Defense Lawyers Fight DNA Samples Gained on Sly


DNA gathered surreptitiously helps get guilty verdicts, but critics say the practice violates privacy rights.

From the NYTimes News-2008-4-4:8:5:1



Evidence Supports Earlier Date for People in North America


A scattering of human coprolites, or fossil feces, is the strongest evidence of the earliest people living in North America, archaeologists reported.

From the NYTimes News-2008-4-3:20:6:2



Faeces hint at first Americans


Fossilised excrement found in a cave may settle the debate about how and when humans came to the Americas.

From the BBC News-2008-4-3:20:6:1



2 genetic variants raise risk of lung cancer


Scientists have identified two commonly inherited genetic variations that may increase the risk of developing lung cancer in people who currently smoke - or who have smoked in the past.

From the CBC News-2008-4-3:14:6:1



The DNA Age: Lawyers Fight DNA Samples Gained on Sly


DNA gathered surreptitiously helps get guilty verdicts, but critics say the practice violates privacy rights.

From the NYTimes News-2008-4-3:8:5:1



Genetic link to smoking addiction


Scientists pinpoint genetic variations that raise smokers' risk of lung cancer - possibly by getting them hooked.

From the BBC News-2008-4-2:20:6:1



GM seeds can 'last for 10 years'


Seeds of genetically modified oilseed rape can endure in soil for at least 10 years, researchers discover.

From the BBC News-2008-4-1:20:6:1



Racial clues in bowel cancer find


Scientists identify three more genes that raise bowel cancer risk, including one only affecting some races.

From the BBC News-2008-3-31:8:5:1



Study Ties Genetic Variations to Schizophrenia


Experts said the study, while not identifying the cause of the disorder, provided a striking demonstration of new gene-scanning technology.

From the NYTimes News-2008-3-27:20:6:1



Crusaders 'left genetic legacy'


Scientists have detected the faint genetic traces left by medieval crusaders in the Middle East.

From the BBC News-2008-3-27:14:6:1



Fossils Link Pre-Humans in West Europe to Earlier Date


Excavations in a cave in the mountains of northern Spain have uncovered the oldest known remains of human ancestors in Western Europe, scientists said.

From the NYTimes News-2008-3-27:8:5:1



GuadalÍx De La Sierra Journal: For a Prize Bull, Next Big Test Is in Genetics Lab


The owner of Alcade, an aging bull who has sired many top opponents for Spain’s bullfighters, has decided to clone him.

From the NYTimes News-2008-3-25:8:5:1



GuadalÍx De La Sierra Journal: For a Prize Bull, Next Big Test Is in the Genetics Lab


The owner of Alcade, an aging bull who has sired many top opponents for Spain’s bullfighters, has decided to clone him.

From the NYTimes News-2008-3-24:8:5:2



Cloning treats mouse Parkinson's


Therapeutic cloning has been successfully used to treat Parkinson's disease in mice, research shows.

From the BBC News-2008-3-24:8:5:1



No Admission for Evolutionary Biologist at Creationist Film


Two evolutionary biologists tried to attend a screening of the movie “Expelled,” which makes the case for intelligent design, but only one was allowed in.

From the NYTimes News-2008-3-21:20:6:1



Study unlocks Latin American past


The arrival of European settlers triggered a dramatic shift in the genetic profile of South America's population, a study says.

From the BBC News-2008-3-21:8:5:1



New Analysis Suggests Earlier Start for Upright Walking


A more detailed analysis of a fossil thigh bone yielded strong evidence that the species Orrorin tugensis stood and walked on its hind limbs.

From the NYTimes News-2008-3-20:20:6:1



French Court Says Ban on Gene-Altered Corn Seed Will Remain, Pending Study


Opponents of gene-altered crops won a victory in France when the top court upheld a ban on a corn variety produced by Monsanto.

From the NYTimes News-2008-3-20:8:5:1



An Export in Solid Supply


A reorganization of the global coal trade is making the United States a major exporter for the first time in years, and driving up prices of the one fossil fuel the nation has in abundance.

From the NYTimes News-2008-3-19:8:5:1



The Tropics: Why a Genetic Blood Disorder Seems to Protect Against Malaria


Researchers believe they have figured out why a genetic blood disorder found in the tropics protects against death from malaria.

From the NYTimes News-2008-3-18:8:5:3



A Conversation With Dr. Terri Brentnall: One Gene Closer to Understanding Pancreatic Cancer


Dr. Terri Brentnall has identified a gene that may be one cause of an inherited form of pancreatic cancer.

From the NYTimes News-2008-3-18:8:5:2



Gene targeting raises cure hopes


A more efficient way to shut down rogue genes raises hopes of new therapies for conditions like diabetes and HIV.

From the BBC News-2008-3-18:8:5:1



I Feel Good


A historian looks at human evolution and cultural advances through the lens of mood-altering substances.

From the NYTimes News-2008-3-16:8:5:1



Genetic markers improve in-vitro egg selection, Quebec research suggests


Researchers in Quebec say they have identified genetic markers that make it easier to select eggs with the best chance of leading to successful pregnancy after in vitro-fertilization.

From the CBC News-2008-3-13:20:6:1



2nd genetic code could provide clues to schizophrenia, bipolar disorder


New Canadian research suggests chemical changes to genes may trigger the altered brain functions resulting in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, a finding that may lead to better understanding and treatment of the conditions.

From the CBC News-2008-3-12:20:6:1



Letters: Genomes on the Market (1 Letter)


To the Editor:.

From the NYTimes News-2008-3-11:8:5:2



Really?: The Claim: Identical Twins Have Identical DNA


How true is the basic tenet of human biology that because identical twins come from the same fertilized egg, they share identical genetic profiles?

From the NYTimes News-2008-3-11:8:5:1



Gene 'linked to higher gout risk'


A reason why millions worldwide fall prey to the disabling illness gout may have been uncovered.

From the BBC News-2008-3-10:14:6:1



Malcolm McKenna, 77, Fossil Seeker, Dies


Dr. McKenna hunted fossils from the Rockies to the Gobi Desert, from Patagonia to the Canadian Arctic, and published an authoritative classification of mammals.

From the NYTimes News-2008-3-10:8:5:1



Hormones, Genes and the Corner Office


Though girls and women are triumphing in the classroom, men still largely rule the workplace. Susan Pinker asks why.

From the NYTimes News-2008-3-8:20:6:1



New tests on rare polar bear find


Scientists are to examine the DNA of what are believed to be the only polar bear remains found in Britain.

From the BBC News-2008-3-7:8:5:1



Italy row over Galileo's remains


A bid to exhume the remains of Galileo Galilei for DNA tests sparks a row between Church and scientists.

From the BBC News-2008-3-6:8:5:1



Genes 'play key happiness role'


Our level of happiness in life is strongly influenced by the genes with which we were born, say experts.

From the BBC News-2008-3-5:8:5:1



The DNA Age: Gene Map Becomes a Luxury Item


On a cold day in January, Dan Stoicescu became the second person in the world to buy the full sequence of his own genetic code.

From the NYTimes News-2008-3-4:14:6:1



Gene Map Becomes a Luxury Item


On a cold day in January, Dan Stoicescu became the second person in the world to buy the full sequence of his own genetic code.

From the NYTimes News-2008-3-4:8:5:1



Dinosaur Graveyard as Tourist Draw


The Patagonian region of Argentina has become one of the most active areas of exploration for dinosaur fossils in the world.

From the NYTimes News-2008-3-4:8:5:2



One-Ounce Mississippian of 55.8 Million Years Ago


Fossils of the earliest known primate to inhabit North America, have emerged from coastal sediments in Mississippi.

From the NYTimes News-2008-3-3:20:6:1



Race differences in immune genes


Scientists find the way genes controlling the response of the immune system work varies from race to race.

From the BBC News-2008-2-29:14:6:1



Near Arctic, Seed Vault Is a Fort Knox of Food


A vault buried under the permafrost in Norway has begun to receive millions of seeds, an effort to save the genetic legacy of vanishing plants.

From the NYTimes News-2008-2-29:8:5:1



Gene that causes deadly heart condition identified: N.L. researchers


The genetic cause of a rare, deadly heart disease that's prevalent in Newfoundland and Labrador has been identified by researchers in the region.

From the CBC News-2008-2-28:20:6:2



Finding could pave the way for future AIDS treatment, scientists say


Researchers at the University of Alberta have discovered a gene that can block certain forms of HIV and perhaps one day be used to prevent the onset of AIDS.

From the CBC News-2008-2-28:20:6:1



Scientists advance 'drought crop'


Scientists make a breakthrough in plant genes that could lead to crops that can survive drought.

From the BBC News-2008-2-27:20:6:1



Sea reptile is biggest on record


A fossilised "sea monster" discovered in the Arctic is the largest marine reptile on record, scientists say.

From the BBC News-2008-2-27:8:5:1



Ray Wu, 79, a Genetic Transformer of Crops, Is Dead


Mr. Wu was a biochemist and genetic engineer who helped lead research at Cornell University on genetically modifying crops to better withstand environmental stresses.

From the NYTimes News-2008-2-25:8:5:1



Insurance Fears Lead Many to Shun DNA Tests


Afraid of having genetic information used against them, many Americans do not take advantage of its growing availability.

From the NYTimes News-2008-2-24:14:6:1



Fear of Insurance Trouble Leads Many to Shun or Hide DNA Tests


Afraid of having genetic information used against them, many Americans do not take advantage of its growing availability.

From the NYTimes News-2008-2-23:20:6:1



Genetic variant identified in cystic fibrosis patients


Canadian researchers have discovered specific genes that can increase the severity of lung deterioration in children with cystic fibrosis.

From the CBC News-2008-2-22:20:6:1



Fossil finds are rabbit forebears


Scientists find the fossilised remains of mammals that were related to present-day rabbits and hares.

From the BBC News-2008-2-22:14:6:1



DNA Study Supports African Origin of Man


The study of genetic details from 938 individuals from 51 populations provides evidence of how people are related and different.

From the NYTimes News-2008-2-21:20:6:1



Hammerhead in need of protection


The scalloped hammerhead shark is being pushed towards the brink of extinction, say experts.

From the BBC News-2008-2-18:20:6:2



'Frog from hell' fossil unearthed


A 70-million-year-old fossil of a giant frog has been unearthed in Madagascar by a team of UK and US scientists.

From the BBC News-2008-2-18:20:6:1



South Korea: Give the Dog a Clone


A Seoul-based company says it has received the world’s first commercial order to clone a pet dog, from a California woman who wants to recreate her dead pit bull terrier.

From the NYTimes News-2008-2-16:8:5:1



First order for pet dog cloning


A South Korean company signs what it says is the world's first commercial deal to clone a pet dog.

From the BBC News-2008-2-15:14:6:1



New meat-eating dinos identified


Two previously unknown types of meat-eating dinosaur have been identified from Sahara desert fossils.

From the BBC News-2008-2-14:8:5:1



Bat fossil solves evolution poser


A fossil found in Wyoming resolves a puzzle over when bats gained their sonar-like ability to navigate and locate food.

From the BBC News-2008-2-13:14:6:1



Long in the Tooth, but Short in Wingspan (for a Pterosaur)


Nemicolopterus crypticus is a new genus and species of pterosaur, described from a nearly complete fossil discovered in China.

From the NYTimes News-2008-2-11:20:6:2



Flying reptiles came in miniature


A new fossil species of flying reptile with a wingspan of less than 30cm (1ft) has been discovered in China.

From the BBC News-2008-2-11:20:6:1



Working by Eavesdropping on DNA Doing Its Work


Pacific Bioscience’s sequencer lets the DNA chain grow continuously and records a movie of flashing lights.

From the NYTimes News-2008-2-9:8:5:2



The Race to Read Genomes on a Shoestring, Relatively Speaking


If the cost of sequencing a human genome can drop to $1,000 or below, experts say it would start to become feasible to tell what diseases people might be at risk for.

From the NYTimes News-2008-2-9:8:5:1



Quebec researchers to study celiac disease


Researchers in Montreal have launched a study into the genetic make-up of celiac disease sufferers and their families, with the goal of improving early diagnoses of the autoimmune disorder.

From the CBC News-2008-2-7:20:6:1



Obesity 'may be largely genetic'


Becoming overweight as a child is more likely to be the result of your genes than your lifestyle, claims a study.

From the BBC News-2008-2-7:8:5:1



DNA Indicates Lice Reached Americas Before Columbus


A new DNA analysis indicates that the parasites accompanied their human hosts in the original peopling of the Americas, probably as early as 15,000 years ago.

From the NYTimes News-2008-2-6:20:6:1



DNA 'barcode' revealed in plants


A "barcode" gene that can be used to distinguish between plant species has been identified.

From the BBC News-2008-2-6:14:6:1



Three-parent embryo made in lab


Scientists create a human embryo with three separate parents, raising hopes of new treatment for genetic disease.

From the BBC News-2008-2-6:8:5:1



Joshua Lederberg, 82, a Nobel Winner, Dies


Dr. Lederberg was one of the 20th century’s leading scientists, whose work in bacterial genetics had vast medical implications and led to his receiving a Nobel Prize.

From the NYTimes News-2008-2-5:8:5:1



120 Million Years Old, Fossil Shows Divergence of Platypus and Anteater


New research suggest that the platypus diverged from its closest relatives much earlier than previously thought.

From the NYTimes News-2008-1-29:8:5:2



Synthetic Genome: Signed, Sealed, Decoded


You were expecting poetry, perhaps? The secret messages hidden in J. Craig Venter’s synthetic bacterial genome have now been revealed. They are Dr. Venter’s name, and that of his research institute and co-workers.

From the NYTimes News-2008-1-29:8:5:1



The Secret to (Synthetic) Life


The secret messages hidden in scientist J. Craig Venter’s synthetic bacterial genome have now been revealed.

From the NYTimes News-2008-1-28:20:6:2



Cells' internal clocks revealed


A person's preference for being a "lark" or a "night-owl" is largely determined by genes, a study suggests.

From the BBC News-2008-1-28:20:6:1



Can Darwin’s Lab Survive Success?


A sizable growth in tourism has had a sizable effect on the fragile ecosystem of the Galápagos Islands, the globe’s first World Heritage Site.

From the NYTimes News-2008-1-26:20:6:2



A Dying Breed


As the Holstein rapidly replaces the longhorn Ankole cow, will the genes that allowed cattle to survive in Africa’s harsh climate be lost forever? A cautionary tale of well-intentioned development.

From the NYTimes News-2008-1-26:20:6:1



Scientists Take New Step Toward Man-Made Life


Researchers say they have created the entire genome of a bacterium by stitching together its chemical components.

From the NYTimes News-2008-1-24:20:6:2



Synthetic life 'advance' reported


A US team details how it built in the lab the entire set of genetic instructions needed to drive a bacterial cell.

From the BBC News-2008-1-24:20:6:1



Cigarette toxins wipe out anti-aging gene: U.S. study


If you need another reason to keep that New Year's resolution to quit smoking, here it is: a U.S. researcher says he has discovered smoking can disable a gene that protects against premature aging.

From the CBC News-2008-1-24:14:6:1



Personal DNA testing comes to Canada


A California company, 23andMe, that can assess a person's genetic makeup has expanded into Canada.

From the CBC News-2008-1-23:14:6:1



Project to map DNA of 1,000 people


An international consortium of scientists plans to study the genomes of 1,000 people in an effort to speed up the diagnosis and treatment of some common diseases.

From the CBC News-2008-1-22:14:6:1



Medicinal plants 'facing threat'


Hundreds of medicinal plants are at risk of extinction, threatening the discovery of future cures for disease, experts warn.

From the BBC News-2008-1-22:8:5:3



In a Sheep Population, Researchers Find a Fitness Gene


The Soay sheep of St. Kilda, a group of small Scottish islands, have been living free and unfettered for millennia. While these primitive sheep are still unmanaged, detailed records have been kept on them for the past 20 years. That makes St. Kilda a kind of natural evolutionary experiment, an island-scale Petri dish where sheep, not fruit flies, are the subjects.

From the NYTimes News-2008-1-22:8:5:4



Gene 'may transform pain relief'


US scientists have developed a gene therapy treatment which they hope could revolutionise pain relief.

From the BBC News-2008-1-22:8:5:2



Detailed gene map 'within grasp'


One thousand people around the world are to have their genomes mapped in an effort to understand how genes influence disease.

From the BBC News-2008-1-22:8:5:1



Gene hope on immune disorder


Genes involved in the devastating disease Lupus, which affects 50,000 people in the UK, are identified.

From the BBC News-2008-1-21:8:5:1



Heathland species 'under threat'


Heathland species are in danger of extinction because of poor habitat, conservationists warn.

From the BBC News-2008-1-20:20:6:1



Pacific Islanders’ Ancestry Emerges in Genetic Study


An international team of scientists found evidence that Polynesians and Micronesians were more closely related to East Asians, and had few links to western Pacific islanders.

From the NYTimes News-2008-1-18:8:5:1



US team makes embryo clone of men


US scientists say they have produced embryos that are clones of two men, in a step towards producing patient-specific stem cells.

From the BBC News-2008-1-17:14:6:1



Long Ago, a Rodent as Big as a Bull Lurked in South America


Uruguayan scientists have uncovered fossil evidence of the biggest species of rodent ever found, more than eight feet long and weighing between 1,700 and 3,000 pounds.

From the NYTimes News-2008-1-17:8:5:1



Scientists Discover Huge Extinct Rodent


Uruguayan scientists say they have uncovered fossil evidence of the biggest species of rodent ever found, one that scurried across areas of South America about 4 million years ago.

From the NYTimes News-2008-1-16:20:6:1



Gigantic fossil rodent discovered


The fossilised skull of a one-tonne rodent - the largest ever discovered - is described by scientists.

From the BBC News-2008-1-16:8:5:1



U.S. FDA clears meat, milk from cloned animals


A final risk assessment released Tuesday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has found that meat and milk from cloned animals are safe to consume.

From the CBC News-2008-1-15:14:6:2



Cloned animals are 'safe to eat'


Meat and milk from cloned animals is generally safe to eat, US authorities conclude in a long-awaited report.

From the BBC News-2008-1-15:14:6:1



Extinction threat to Scots bird


The Scottish Crossbill, the UK's only endemic bird, faces extinction according to the RSPB.

From the BBC News-2008-1-15:8:5:2



Scientists unveil 'supercarrot'


Scientists in the US say they have created a genetically-engineered carrot that provides extra calcium.

From the BBC News-2008-1-15:8:5:1



Genetic Study Bolsters Columbus Link to Syphilis


Scientists have found what they say is the strongest evidence yet linking the first European explorers of the New World to the origin of sexually transmitted syphilis.

From the NYTimes News-2008-1-14:20:6:2



Dinosaurs 'grew fast, bred young'


Dinosaurs bred as early as age eight, long before they reached adult size and maturity, fossil evidence suggests.

From the BBC News-2008-1-14:20:6:1



Italian farmers fight cloned food


Concerns about the safety of meat and milk from cloned animals prompt the EU to promise to consult consumers.

From the BBC News-2008-1-14:14:6:1



Gene therapy implants for tendons


Freeze-dried implants are being developed which may help repair injured and difficult-to-treat tendons.

From the BBC News-2008-1-13:8:5:1



The Moral Instinct


Evolution has endowed us with ethical impulses. Do we know what to do with them?

From the NYTimes News-2008-1-12:8:5:1



Nature journal digitises archive


The entire archives of the prestigious science journal Nature, stretching back to the first issue on 4 November 1869, have been made available online.

From the BBC News-2008-1-11:15:49:1



City dinosaur not desert dweller


New research reveals the Bristol dinosaur lived on small subtropical islands and not in a desert environment as first thought.

From the BBC News-2008-1-11:8:5:1



Paul MacLean, 94, Neuroscientist Who Devised ‘Triune Brain’ Theory, Dies


Dr. MacLean developed an intriguing theory to explain the brain’s evolution and to try to reconcile rational human behavior with its more violent side.

From the NYTimes News-2008-1-10:8:5:1



Chromosome abnormality linked to autism, study finds


Researchers have identified a chromosomal abnormality that seems to increase a person's chances of developing autism.

From the CBC News-2008-1-9:20:6:1



Flesh wound reveals dino secrets


A fossil unearthed in China gives scientists a rare glimpse of what dinosaurs were like "in the flesh".

From the BBC News-2008-1-9:8:5:1



Tendon injury? Freeze-dried tissue might be solution: study


Tricky tendon injuries may soon be repaired using donated, freeze-dried tendons loaded with genes that will help reorganize the growth of new tissue, a U.S. study has found.

From the CBC News-2008-1-8:8:5:1



Recruiting begins for Quebec's genetic map


Efforts to create a genetic map of Quebec begin in earnest this month as researchers start recruiting people willing to offer up their bodies' blueprints.

From the CBC News-2008-1-7:14:6:1



Tiny changes created STI strain


Tiny genetic mutations were enough to create an aggressive new form of chlamydia, research finds.

From the BBC News-2008-1-7:8:5:1



Evolution Book Sees No Science-Religion Gap


The National Academy of Sciences has released a book explaining the differences between science and religion, and asserting that acceptance of evolution does not require abandoning belief in God.

From the NYTimes News-2008-1-4:8:5:1



Laughs not exclusive to humans


The basis for laughter may have originated long before humans existed, a study suggests.

From the BBC News-2008-1-2:19:13:1