CURRENT HEADLINES



Gene Editing Offers Hope for Treating Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Studies Find


Three research groups, working independently of one another, reported in the journal Science on Thursday that a powerful new gene-editing technique could treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy in mice.

From the NYTimes News-2015-12-31:20:6:1




VIDEO: Extinction warning for Africa's rhinos


Africa's rhino population could face extinction within 10 years, animal welfare experts warn.

From the BBC News-2015-12-31:14:6:1




DNA sheds light on Irish origins


Scientists have sequenced the first ancient human genomes from Ireland - throwing light on the genesis of Celtic populations.

From the BBC News-2015-12-29:8:5:1




Books: Review: 'Too Much of a Good Thing' Finds a Dilemma in Our DNA


Genes that once helped ensure humanity's survival have now turned on us, a prominent researcher believes.

From the NYTimes News-2015-12-28:14:6:1




VIDEO: £60,000 cloned puppies 'really cute'


A British couple have paid £60,000 for two puppies cloned from their dead boxer.

From the BBC News-2015-12-28:8:5:1




Brain Cancers Reveal Novel Genetic Disruption in DNA


A study of gliomas found that DNA structure was disrupted, allowing separate segments to merge and activate a growth gene. An existing chemotherapy drug can fix that.

From the NYTimes News-2015-12-23:14:6:1




Op-Docs: 'Animated Life: The Living Fossil Fish'


This short video celebrates the discovery of the coelecanth, the fossil-like fish time left behind.

From the NYTimes News-2015-12-22:8:5:1




Gene Drives Offer New Hope Against Diseases and Crop Pests


The technique involves propelling a gene of choice throughout a population. It hasn't been tested in the wild yet, but has worked in the laboratory.

From the NYTimes News-2015-12-21:20:6:1




200-year-old fossil mystery resolved


Scientists have reconstructed how an ancient reptile swam in the oceans at the time of the dinosaurs.

From the BBC News-2015-12-18:8:5:1




Editorial: A Pause to Weigh Risks of Gene Editing


An international panel was right to call for a moratorium on a new technique that alters genes in ways that can be inherited.

From the NYTimes News-2015-12-18:8:5:2




Threat to Darwin's famous finches


The birds that helped Charles Darwin refine his theory of evolution are in danger of going extinct according to a new study.

From the BBC News-2015-12-17:20:6:1




Scientists Hope to Bring a Galápagos Tortoise Species Back to Life


Close relatives of Lonesome George, who died in 2012, have been found by geneticists who plan to resurrect his species.

From the NYTimes News-2015-12-15:8:5:1




A Conversation With: Evelyn Witkin and the Road to DNA Enlightenment


A legendary geneticist reflects on the earliest days of a new science, and her groundbreaking work on how DNA responds to damage.

From the NYTimes News-2015-12-14:14:6:1




Observatory: Paleontologists Discover a Poor Cousin to Triceratops


A fossil recovered in China shows Hualianceratops to have been a plant-eater about the size of spaniel.

From the NYTimes News-2015-12-11:14:6:1




First I.V.F. Puppies Are Born in Breakthrough at Cornell


The technique used in conceiving the litter of seven puppies could help with genetic research and saving endangered species.

From the NYTimes News-2015-12-10:20:6:1




White fossil was ancient 'Moby Dick'


A white fossil held in a Washington museum since the 1920s is reassessed and found to be from a 15-million-year-old sperm whale cousin with enormous teeth.

From the BBC News-2015-12-9:20:6:1




Scientists create infertile mosquitoes


UK scientists say they have reached a milestone in the fight against malaria by creating a genetically modified mosquito that is infertile.

From the BBC News-2015-12-8:14:6:1




Observatory: Australia's Feral Cats Most Likely European


The nation is home to more than 20 million wild cats, which have driven at least 27 native species to extinction.

From the NYTimes News-2015-12-7:8:5:1




Giraffe's long lost cousin found?


A new fossil of a strange, extinct three-horned ruminant may be a relative of the modern giraffe.

From the BBC News-2015-12-4:14:6:1




Data Storage on DNA Can Keep It Safe for Centuries


Scientists have shown that DNA molecules can be the basis for a long-term storage system potentially capable of holding all of the world's digital information in a tiny space.

From the NYTimes News-2015-12-3:20:6:3




Scientists Place Moratorium on Edits to Human Genome That Could Be Inherited


The moratorium by China, Britain and the United States comes after the invention of a new technique that eases editing of the human genome.

From the NYTimes News-2015-12-3:20:6:2




VIDEO: How ethical is gene editing?


Scientists from across the world are attending a conference in Washington, to discuss the ethics of gene editing.

From the BBC News-2015-12-3:20:6:1




Matter: Parents May Pass Down More Than Just Genes, Study Suggests


A new study found genetic differences in men's sperm after they underwent gastric bypass surgery.

From the NYTimes News-2015-12-3:14:6:1




Pingyi Journal: The Murky Origins of the Largest Dinosaur Museum in the World


The Tianyu Museum of Nature's collection is at the center of China's fossil boom, which many critics say has been tainted by counterfeits and trafficking.

From the NYTimes News-2015-12-2:14:6:1




Safer way to do gene editing


Scientists say they have fine tuned a gene editing method to make it safer and more accurate - vital if it is to be used in humans to cure inherited diseases or inborn errors.

From the BBC News-2015-12-1:14:6:1




A Conversation With: Luis Ho Pushes China Into World Astronomy Club


From his post at Peking University, the astronomer Luis Ho has a clear view not just of black holes but also the rapid evolution of science in China.

From the NYTimes News-2015-11-30:20:6:1




Sinosphere: World's Biggest Animal Cloning Center Set for '16 in a Skeptical China


The companies behind it, Boyalife Group and Soaam Biotech, must contend with consumers in a country where food safety is a near obsession.

From the NYTimes News-2015-11-28:14:6:1




Open Season Is Seen in Gene Editing of Animals


New techniques have made previously impossible goals fast and cheap enough for many to find worth pursuing.

From the NYTimes News-2015-11-27:8:5:1




Spider web gives up DNA secrets


Spiders - and their prey - can be identified from the DNA they leave behind stuck on webs, say US scientists.

From the BBC News-2015-11-26:8:5:1




E.P.A. Revokes Approval of New Dow Herbicide


The herbicide, which contains the old herbicide 2,4-D, was to be used on crops genetically modified to be resistant to it.

From the NYTimes News-2015-11-25:20:6:1




Australia trial for GM fruit fly


Australia will carry out trials of a genetically modified fruit fly to break the breeding cycle of this crop pest.

From the BBC News-2015-11-24:14:6:1




Mutant mosquitoes 'resist malaria'


Scientists say they have bred a genetically modified mosquito that can resist malaria infection.

From the BBC News-2015-11-24:8:5:1




Engineering Mosquitoes' Genes to Resist Malaria


Two teams of biologists have created a novel breed of mosquito with modified genes in hopes of eradicating the disease.

From the NYTimes News-2015-11-23:20:6:1




Genetic history of Europeans revealed


A study of ancient DNA has shed new light on the genetic history of Europeans, confirming that farming spread across Europe due to an influx of ancient people from what is now eastern Turkey.

From the BBC News-2015-11-23:14:6:2




Matter: Agriculture Linked to DNA Changes in Ancient Europe


Geneticists at Harvard have found that the rise of agriculture some 8,500 years ago led to widespread changes, affecting height and skin color.

From the NYTimes News-2015-11-23:14:6:3




London ethnically diverse from start


A DNA study confirms London was an ethnically diverse city from its very beginnings, BBC News has learned.

From the BBC News-2015-11-23:14:6:1




Genetically Engineered Salmon Approved for Consumption


The F.D.A. approval clears the way for the first genetically altered animal to enter the American food supply, despite strong opposition.

From the NYTimes News-2015-11-20:20:6:2




Half of Amazon trees 'face extinction'


More than half of all tree species in the Amazon face extinction, warn international scientists.

From the BBC News-2015-11-20:20:6:1




Genetically Engineered Salmon Will Not Be Labeled


The Food and Drug Administration said that the salmon would not have to be labeled as genetically engineered, consistent with its broader stance on widely eaten genetically modified foods.

From the NYTimes News-2015-11-20:8:5:2




VIDEO: Tasmanian devils reintroduced to wild


A group of Tasmanian Devils are being reintroduced to their natural habitat in Tasmania as part of a plan designed to save the carnivorous marsupials from a cancer threatening them with extinction.

From the BBC News-2015-11-20:8:5:1




US approves GM salmon for food


US regulators have given the go-ahead to genetically modified salmon, making it the first GM animal destined for human consumption.

From the BBC News-2015-11-19:14:6:1




'Alarming trend' of dung beetle decline


Some of the UK's dung beetle species are becoming scarcer and could even face extinction, according to scientists gathering information on the insects.

From the BBC News-2015-11-17:8:5:1




In a Tooth, DNA From Some Very Old Cousins, the Denisovans


A fossil found in a Siberian cave yields evidence from a vanished, once-hardy branch of the human tree that lived at least 110,000 years ago.

From the NYTimes News-2015-11-16:20:6:1




Mystery ancestral 'tribe' revealed


Geneticists have detected a fourth ancestral "tribe" which contributed to the modern European gene pool.

From the BBC News-2015-11-16:8:5:1




Matter: After a Mass Extinction, Only the Small Survive


A study of fossils from before and after a mass extinction 359 million years ago found that animals that flourished after the event were smaller on average.

From the NYTimes News-2015-11-12:20:6:2




Lost genetic history of Inca mummy


DNA analysis of a child mummy sheds light on the genetic history of the Inca civilisation.

From the BBC News-2015-11-12:20:6:1




Op-Ed Contributor: The Risks of Assisting Evolution


Modifying genes can help species adapt, but could also destroy them.

From the NYTimes News-2015-11-10:8:5:1




In Ancient Times, Salamanders Bared Their Fangs


Amphibian fossils discovered in Brazil suggest the Pangaean supercontinent held extensive southern tropics.

From the NYTimes News-2015-11-9:14:6:1




The Future Issue: The Crispr Quandary


A new gene-editing tool might create an ethical morass - or it might make revising nature seem natural.

From the NYTimes News-2015-11-9:14:6:2




Dawn of gene-editing medicine?


Does the smiling face of Layla Richards mark a new era in genetic medicine that could change all our lives?

From the BBC News-2015-11-6:14:6:1




Observatory: Scientists Engineer a Plant to Reject Its Own Pollen


Preventing self-pollination may strengthen genetic diversity and provide better yields, researchers suggest.

From the NYTimes News-2015-11-5:20:6:3




'Designer cells' reverse baby's cancer


The first person in the world to receive a pioneering genetic therapy has shown a remarkable reversal of her cancer.

From the BBC News-2015-11-5:20:6:1




Howard Green, Pioneer in Skin Regeneration, Dies at 90


From a failed experiment, Dr. Green discovered how to regenerate skin that could be grafted onto burn victims, and inspired future stem cell research.

From the NYTimes News-2015-11-5:20:6:2




Fanged eel among Brazil fossil finds


Scientists unearth a haul of reptile and amphibian fossils in Brazil, dating from 278 million years ago when the continents were joined.

From the BBC News-2015-11-5:14:6:1




Four UK bird species 'face extinction'


Puffins and turtle doves are among four UK bird species now at risk of extinction, according to the latest revision of a global conservation database.

From the BBC News-2015-10-29:8:5:1




Matter: DNA of Ancient Children Offers Clues on How People Settled the Americas


Using the skeletons of two children who lived in Alaska 11,500 years ago, researchers discovered the first DNA found in the region known as Beringia.

From the NYTimes News-2015-10-26:20:6:1




Snow leopards face 'new threat'


Warmer temperatures are threatening to shrink the habitat of the snow leopard, the big cat already struggling against extinction, a report says.

From the BBC News-2015-10-23:14:6:1




Plague traced back to Bronze Age


Plague has been a scourge on humanity for far longer than previously thought, samples of ancient DNA show.

From the BBC News-2015-10-23:8:5:1




Matter: In Ancient DNA, Evidence of Plague Much Earlier Than Previously Known


A new study suggests that Yersinia pestis, which causes plague, infected people as long as 5,000 years ago.

From the NYTimes News-2015-10-22:14:6:1




New Species of Galápagos Tortoise Is Identified


About 250 members of the species live on the island of Santa Cruz, and genetic evidence indicates that the species has occasionally mated with the other species there.

From the NYTimes News-2015-10-21:20:6:1




23andMe Will Resume Giving Users Health Data


The genetic-testing company stopped providing health information in 2013 after the F.D.A. ordered it to prove the accuracy of results.

From the NYTimes News-2015-10-21:8:5:1




Central Asia Could Be Birthplace of the Modern Dog


The DNA analysis of a large and diverse group of dogs led researchers to determine that the most recent common ancestors of today's dogs lived in Central Asia.

From the NYTimes News-2015-10-19:20:6:2




Dog origin 'was in Central Asia'


The ancestors of today's dogs were domesticated in Central Asia, according to the most comprehensive genetic survey yet.

From the BBC News-2015-10-19:20:6:1




Matter: Editing of Pig DNA May Lead to More Organs for People


Scientists were able to alter many of the animal's genes at once and see it as a step toward pig organs one day being safe for human transplantation.

From the NYTimes News-2015-10-15:20:6:1




Australia Writes Morrissey to Defend Plan to Kill Millions of Feral Cats


The country's threatened species commissioner responded to celebrities' concerns by saying the cats were "major contributors" to the extinction of mammal species.

From the NYTimes News-2015-10-15:8:5:2




'Cute furball' fossil unearthed


A 125-million-year old mammal fossil is unearthed with its skin, fur and internal organs intact.

From the BBC News-2015-10-15:8:5:1




Fossil Teeth Show Earliest Sign of People in Southern Asia


Dozens of fossil human teeth from a cave in China show that people lived in southern Asia more than 80,000 years ago, researchers report.

From the NYTimes News-2015-10-14:14:6:2




Humans in Asia '20,000 years early'


Fossil teeth from a cave in China are shaking up the traditional narrative of humankind's dispersal from Africa.

From the BBC News-2015-10-14:14:6:1




VIDEO: Should wolves be introduced in Scotland?


Wolves have been hunted to extinction across much of Europe but it seems where they have been thriving, their growing numbers may be causing problems.

From the BBC News-2015-10-13:20:6:1




Developing DNA as a Standard for Authenticating Art


A new method of authenticating artwork uses manufactured DNA to give each piece a unique identifier.

From the NYTimes News-2015-10-13:8:5:1




Q&A: The Roots of BRCA1 Mutations for Ashkenazi Jews


A reader wonders why a gene mutation associated with breast cancer is found in Ashkenazi Jewist women at a much higher rate than in other Jews.

From the NYTimes News-2015-10-12:14:6:3




Observatory: Gene May Prompt Male-to-Male Attraction in Worms


A new study reports that a variation in a single gene results in male worms with excretory pores that attract the sexual attentions of other males.

From the NYTimes News-2015-10-12:14:6:2




'GM could make pig organs for humans'


A gene-editing method could one day make pig organs suitable for use in people, scientists say.

From the BBC News-2015-10-12:14:6:1




Florida's Bears Go From Near Extinction to Cross Hairs


Black bears, or those who represent their interests, got their day in court as lawyers fought over whether Florida should let them be hunted for the first time in 21 years. The bears lost.

From the NYTimes News-2015-10-11:8:5:1




Observatory: Horselike Fossil From 48 Million Years Ago Preserved While Pregnant


The specimen described in a new study is the earliest and best-preserved mammalian fetus to date.

From the NYTimes News-2015-10-9:8:5:1




First ancient African genome sequenced


A 4,500-year-old African genome reveals how our ancient ancestors moved back and forth between continents.

From the BBC News-2015-10-8:20:6:1




Scientists Sequence First Ancient Human Genome From Africa


DNA was recovered from a 4,500-year-old human skeleton in Ethiopia, and it is strikingly different from that of living Africans.

From the NYTimes News-2015-10-8:20:6:3




Study: Eurasian Farmers Migrated to Africa 3,000 Years Ago


Scientists say they have extracted ancient DNA from the skull of a man buried in the highlands of Ethiopia 4,500 years ago that supports the theory that Eurasian farmers migrated into Africa some 3,000 years ago.

From the NYTimes News-2015-10-8:20:6:2




Ancient horse-like foetus discovered


The 48-million-year-old fossilised remains of a horse foetus have been described by scientists.

From the BBC News-2015-10-8:14:6:1




Nobel Prize in Chemistry Awarded to Tomas Lindahl, Paul Modrich and Aziz Sancar for DNA Studies


This week's three Nobels reflect the globalization of science, which in the last century the United States often dominated.

From the NYTimes News-2015-10-7:8:5:2




DNA repair wins chemistry Nobel


The 2015 Nobel Prize in Chemistry is awarded for discoveries in DNA repair.

From the BBC News-2015-10-7:8:5:1




Cacti facing extinction, study warns


A global assessment concludes that almost one-third of cactus species face extinction due to unsustainable harvesting and illegal trade.

From the BBC News-2015-10-5:14:6:1




Eye Treatment Closes In on Being First Gene Therapy Approved in U.S.


Spark Therapeutics said the treatment had allowed people with certain so-called inherited retinal dystrophies to maneuver in dimmer light than they could before.

From the NYTimes News-2015-10-5:8:5:2




Mammal species outlived the dinosaurs


Scientists have discovered a species of ancient mammal that survived the event that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs.

From the BBC News-2015-10-5:8:5:1




Observatory: Study Finds Asteroid Ahead of Dinosaur Extinction Accelerated Volcanoes


A new study suggests that volcanic eruptions started doubling in output within 50,000 years of the asteroid impact preceding the Cretaceous period mass extinction.

From the NYTimes News-2015-10-1:20:6:1




Naledi fossil prints come to London


Visitors to London's Natural History Museum are being given the opportunity to see 3D prints of the sensational new Homo naledi fossils.

From the BBC News-2015-9-25:8:5:1




Genetic clue to breast cancer relapses


Scientists say they have discovered a genetic clue to why some breast cancers relapse, which could lead to better treatment.

From the BBC News-2015-9-25:8:5:2




Study: Global Warming, Evolution Are Clipping Bees' Tongues


Global warming and evolution are reshaping the bodies of some American bumblebees, a new study finds.

From the NYTimes News-2015-9-24:20:6:1




Matter: That Stinky Cheese Is a Result of Evolutionary Overdrive


Biologists studying molds used in cheese-making found that they have acquired large amounts of DNA from other species.

From the NYTimes News-2015-9-24:14:6:1




UK scientists apply to modify embryos


UK researchers want to use a controversial new genetic technique to carry out research into infertility.

From the BBC News-2015-9-18:8:5:1




Matter: Inuit Study Adds Twist to Omega-3 Fatty Acids' Health Story


A new study found that ancestors of the Inuit evolved unique genetic adaptations for eating a diet rich in fish and whale meat.

From the NYTimes News-2015-9-17:20:6:1




Green Arabia's key role in human evolution


Scientists have been illuminating the vital role played by the Arabian Peninsula in humankind's exodus from Africa.

From the BBC News-2015-9-16:8:5:1




Q&A: South African Fossils Said to Reveal New Human Relative


Researchers said Thursday that they had discovered a previously unknown relative of humans, revealed by bones found deep in a South African cave. Here's a quick look at the discovery:

From the NYTimes News-2015-9-10:14:6:2




GM embryos 'essential', says report


It is "essential" that the genetic modification of human embryos is allowed, according to a global group of scientists, ethicists and policy experts.

From the BBC News-2015-9-10:14:6:1




VIDEO: CRISPR genome editing 'important tool'


Prof Emmanuelle Charpentier spoke to BBC News on the potential of the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing system as a tool for research and treatment of disease.

From the BBC News-2015-9-9:20:6:1




Lasker Awards Go to 3 Scientists and Doctors Without Borders


James P. Allison got the Lasker-Debakey honor for a cancer treatment, and Evelyn M. Witkin and Stephen J. Elledge were cited for their genetics discoveries.

From the NYTimes News-2015-9-8:14:6:1




Online fossil hunters to comb desert


Archaeologists invite the public to help hunt for fossils in Africa's arid Turkana Basin, via a new online citizen science project.

From the BBC News-2015-9-8:8:5:1




DNA cracks puzzle of Basque origins


DNA from ancient remains appears to have solved the puzzle of one of Europe's most enigmatic peoples: the Basques.

From the BBC News-2015-9-7:20:6:1




Food Industry Enlisted Academics in G.M.O. Lobbying War, Emails Show


Both sides in a fight over genetically modified crops have relied on scientists to lend their authority, while providing financial support in return.

From the NYTimes News-2015-9-6:8:5:1




Fossils Show Big Bug Ruled the Seas 460 Million Years Ago


Earth's first big predatory monster was a weird water bug as big as Tom Cruise, newly found fossils show.

From the NYTimes News-2015-9-1:8:5:1




Replacing Pesticides With Genetics


Scientists have genetically modified thousands of diamondback moths, infusing the farm pests with DNA designed to kill female larvae.

From the NYTimes News-2015-8-31:14:6:1




Observatory: Mutation Reduces Pregnancy Complications for Africa's Khoe-San People


The gene variant can alter the formation of the placenta, resulting in larger, healthier babies, a study shows.

From the NYTimes News-2015-8-24:20:6:1




GM trees 'strangled' by red tape


US researchers say it has become "virtually impossible" to plant genetically modified trees in any part of the world.

From the BBC News-2015-8-21:8:5:1




John Henry Holland, Who Computerized Evolution, Dies at 86


Dr. Holland developed computer codes, which he called genetic algorithms, that mimicked evolutionary processes by mating and mutating possible solutions.

From the NYTimes News-2015-8-20:8:5:1




Review: 'Informed Consent' Tests the Ethics of Genetic Research


This play at the Duke on 42nd Street is about an anthropologist whose deeply personal reasons for pursuing her work lead her into questionable moral territory.

From the NYTimes News-2015-8-19:8:5:1




Helix, a New Gene Sequencing Venture, Aims to Create Digital Hub for Genomics


Illumina and two investment firms are spending $100 million on Helix, which has been in the works for more than a year.

From the NYTimes News-2015-8-18:8:5:1




VIDEO: The humble weather symbol 40 years on


Forty years since weather symbols were introduced to BBC forecasts, BBC Weather's John Hammond looks back at the evolution of how the corporation has presented the weather.

From the BBC News-2015-8-16:8:5:1




Narcotic Drugs Can Be Coaxed From Yeast


Researchers reported that they had added DNA to yeast that enabled it to produce enzymes that turn sugar into pain killers.

From the NYTimes News-2015-8-13:20:6:1




Matter: For Evolving Brains, a 'Paleo' Diet Full of Carbs


A new report suggests that our ancestors were able to fuel the evolution of our oversize brains by incorporating cooked starches into their diet.

From the NYTimes News-2015-8-13:14:6:1




Observatory: Climate Change Could Harm British Butterflies


Six species of butterflies in Britain will face local extinction by 2050 because of climate change, a new study reports.

From the NYTimes News-2015-8-10:20:6:1




Warming threat to UK butterflies


Drought sensitive butterfly species could be driven to extinction across the UK by 2050 according to new research.

From the BBC News-2015-8-10:14:6:1




Scotland to ban GM crop growing


Scotland is to ban the growing of genetically modified crops, the country's rural affairs secretary announces.

From the BBC News-2015-8-8:20:6:1




Bonobos' clue to speech evolution


A study finds that wild bonobos use a single high-pitched call in a variety of contexts, showing a linguistic flexibility that was thought to be uniquely human.

From the BBC News-2015-8-4:8:5:1




Empire State hosts wildlife display


Images of endangered animals are flashed across the Empire State Building in New York to highlight the issue of potential mass extinction.

From the BBC News-2015-8-2:8:5:1




Why we like to believe that dinosaurs were scaly


Why do we like to believe that dinosaurs were scaly?

From the BBC News-2015-7-28:8:5:1




Iberian lynx returns to Spain from verge of extinction


Hard work saves Spanish lynx from extinction

From the BBC News-2015-7-24:20:6:1




Four-legged snake fossil discovered


Scientists find the first ever four-legged snake, which lived at the time of the dinosaurs and probably dug burrows.

From the BBC News-2015-7-24:8:5:1




New migration to Americas revealed


Two separate genetic analyses have found evidence for a surprising genetic link between the native populations of the Americas and Oceania.

From the BBC News-2015-7-22:14:6:2




New method for building with DNA


Scientists come up with an improved method for building tiny 3D structures out of strands of DNA.

From the BBC News-2015-7-22:14:6:1




Tracing Routes to America Through DNA, Both Ancient and New


Two papers agree that some people in the Brazilian Amazon are distant relations of indigenous Australians, New Guineans and other Australasians, but they disagree on the source of the ancestry.

From the NYTimes News-2015-7-21:20:6:1




Study: DNA Reveals New Wrinkle About Settlement of Americas


Scientists have discovered a previously unknown source of ancestry for some native peoples in Brazil, suggesting a new wrinkle in the story of the settlement of the Americas.

From the NYTimes News-2015-7-21:14:6:1




Books: Book Review: Taking on 'The Vital Question' About Life


The biochemist Nick Lane offers an eloquent suite of answers about evolution, looking deeper than a warm, little pond and a lightning strike.

From the NYTimes News-2015-7-20:20:6:1




Take a Number: Counting All the DNA on Earth


Hint: It takes an awful lot of trillions to come up with this sort of estimate for global biodiversity, a group of researchers in Scotland has found.

From the NYTimes News-2015-7-18:14:6:1




Observatory: 50-Million-Year-Old Fossilized Sperm in Antarctica


"It's a bizarre fossil oddball," a Swedish paleontologist says, and as it turns out, a worm cocoon makes quite a sperm bank.

From the NYTimes News-2015-7-17:20:6:1




World Briefing: China: Scientists Unearth Winged Dinosaur Skeleton


A nearly complete, new dinosaur fossil has been discovered in China, the first in its family to have unusually short feathered wings.

From the NYTimes News-2015-7-17:8:5:1




GM moths 'can curb pest invasion'


A genetically modified moth could help curb a major pest of vegetable crops around the world, research suggests.

From the BBC News-2015-7-16:14:6:2




'Winged dragon' dinosaur discovered


Scientists discover a winged dinosaur - an ancestor of the velociraptor - that they say was on the cusp of becoming a bird.

From the BBC News-2015-7-16:14:6:1




David M. Raup, Who Transformed Field of Paleontology, Dies at 82


Viewed as a singular thinker, Dr. Raup challenged accepted tenets by raising ambitious questions about extinction patterns and biodiversity.

From the NYTimes News-2015-7-16:8:5:1




Surge of Ebola in Liberia May Be Linked to a Survivor


The conclusion was made by scientists who analyzed the genetic sequence of the virus from the body of a Liberian boy who died of Ebola last week.

From the NYTimes News-2015-7-10:8:5:1




VIDEO: Saving plants from a 'mass extinction'


An ambitious project was launched Wednesday to collect the genomes of the planet's major plant groups and put them into deep freeze.

From the BBC News-2015-7-9:8:5:1




A Conversation With: Texas Scientist With a Thing for Longhorns


David M. Hillis, an evolutionary biologist, has employed genetics, biochemistry and computation to figure out how those horns got so long.

From the NYTimes News-2015-7-6:20:6:1




Cystic fibrosis gene therapy boost


A gene therapy has stabilised and slightly improved cystic fibrosis in some of 136 patients in a trial.

From the BBC News-2015-7-3:8:5:1




UK GM wheat 'does not repel pests'


A strain of genetically modified wheat developed in the UK has failed to repel pests as intended in field trials.

From the BBC News-2015-6-25:14:6:1




Pursuit of Cash Taints Promise of Gene Tests


As labs and research start-ups grow, the federal government is scrutinizing their relationships with doctors, as well as their payment and billing practices.

From the NYTimes News-2015-6-25:8:5:1




Wacky Fossil Worm Reveals Secret: Which End Is Which?


A bizarre-looking fossil worm that's been a puzzle for scientists has given up a secret: Researchers now know which end is which.

From the NYTimes News-2015-6-24:14:6:1




Special Report: Food for Tomorrow: G.M.O. Dilemma: Swaying a Wary Public


While most scientists vouch for the safety of genetically modified organisms, many laymen remain unconvinced.

From the NYTimes News-2015-6-24:8:5:1




National Briefing | South: Georgia: $2.2. Million Penalty for Illegal DNA Testing


A jury in Atlanta awarded $2,225,000 on Monday to two warehouse workers whose employer required them to submit DNA samples in violation of the federal Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act.

From the NYTimes News-2015-6-23:8:5:1




Neanderthals mixed with us in Europe


Modern humans and Neanderthals interbred in Europe, according to an analysis of 40,000-year-old DNA.

From the BBC News-2015-6-22:14:6:1




Frederick P. Li, Who Proved a Genetic Cancer Link, Dies at 75


Dr. Li helped show a skeptical medical establishment that a dominant gene, passed from parent to child, was predisposing family members to various cancers.

From the NYTimes News-2015-6-21:20:6:1




Genome Studies Show How Ebola Spread Initially


Scientists have developed a fuller picture of how the virus spread and evolved by tracking mutations in its genome.

From the NYTimes News-2015-6-20:8:5:2




Earth 'enters new extinction phase'


The Earth has entered a "new period of extinction", a study by three US universities concludes, and humans could be among the first casualties.

From the BBC News-2015-6-20:8:5:1




Disappearing Porpoise: Down to 97 and Dropping Fast


The vaquita, found only in the Gulf of California, are threatened by gill-net fishing and nearing extinction faster than previously thought.

From the NYTimes News-2015-6-19:14:6:1




Observatory: DNA May Help Track Ivory Poachers


DNA evidence from elephant dung, tissue and hair can help identify the origins of illegal ivory, researchers have found.

From the NYTimes News-2015-6-18:20:6:1




Matter: New DNA Results Show Kennewick Man Was Native American


A new analysis, published in Nature, refutes the theory that the 8,500-year-old skeleton was a European. Instead, he was related to contemporary Native Americans.

From the NYTimes News-2015-6-18:14:6:3




DNA From Ancient Skeleton Shows Ties to Native Americans


An ancient skeleton found nearly 20 years ago in a river in Washington is related to Native Americans, says a DNA study that could help resolve a long-running dispute over its ancestry and custody.

From the NYTimes News-2015-6-18:14:6:2




DNA reignites ancient skeleton row


DNA tests show an ancient skeleton known as Kennewick Man is related to modern Native Americans - reigniting a debate over whether his bones should be returned to local tribes and reburied.

From the BBC News-2015-6-18:14:6:1




Building the face of a criminal from DNA


Scientists use genetic markers to build a criminal's face

From the BBC News-2015-6-17:20:6:1




Brain Tumor's Genetic Makeup Critical in Treatment, Research Finds


Two teams of doctors, in an important advance for precision medicine, say that traits should be looked at first, not tissue samples.

From the NYTimes News-2015-6-10:20:6:1




Matter: DNA Deciphers Roots of Modern Europeans


The results of two DNA studies indicate that today's Europeans descend from three groups of people who moved into Europe at different stages of history.

From the NYTimes News-2015-6-10:14:6:2




VIDEO: Puffins 'at risk of extinction'


Across Europe puffins have been classified as at risk of extinction because of climate change and a lack of food.

From the BBC News-2015-6-10:14:6:1




VIDEO: Remains of T-Rex cousin go on show


A fossilised skeleton of a meat-eating Jurassic dinosaur found on a south Wales beach is put on show for the first time.

From the BBC News-2015-6-9:20:6:2




'Blood cells' found in dino fossils


Researchers have discovered what appear to be the remnants of red blood cells and connective tissue in 75 million-year-old dinosaur fossils.

From the BBC News-2015-6-9:20:6:1




Jurassic dinosaur goes on display


A fossilised skeleton of a meat-eating Jurassic dinosaur found on a south Wales beach is revealed to the public.

From the BBC News-2015-6-9:8:5:1




VIDEO: Former Greenpeace head questions GM stance


Tom Heap investigates as the former head of Greenpeace UK says it is "morally unacceptable" to reject genetically-modified food.

From the BBC News-2015-6-8:20:6:1




Observatory: Dinosaur Fossil Is From a Close Relative of Triceratops


After studying a fossil skull recovered from Alberta, the researchers named the new dinosaur Regaliceratops peterhewsi.

From the NYTimes News-2015-6-4:20:6:1




'UK's oldest' sauropod confirmed


Britain's oldest sauropod dinosaur is identified from a fossil bone discovered on the North Yorkshire coast, experts reveal.

From the BBC News-2015-6-2:8:5:1




'Devious Defecator' Case Tests Genetics Law


A company's use of DNA tests to investigate employee wrongdoing ran afoul of a genetic nondiscrimination act.

From the NYTimes News-2015-5-29:14:6:1




A Proposal to Modify Plants Gives G.M.O. Debate New Life


Some scientists are hoping techniques that give back to plants genes that had long ago been bred out of them might be more acceptable to opponents of genetically modified organisms.

From the NYTimes News-2015-5-28:20:6:1




Matter: Adding Branches to the Human Family Tree


Recent fossil discoveries are fanning debate over the pace of evolution and how many species of ancient human relatives there were.

From the NYTimes News-2015-5-27:20:6:1




Cold sore virus 'treats skin cancer'


A genetically engineered version of a virus that normally causes cold sores shows real promise for treating skin cancer, say researchers.

From the BBC News-2015-5-27:8:5:1




Volcano erupts on Galapagos island


A volcanic eruption on one of the Galapagos Islands potentially puts Charles Darwin's evolution ecosystem at risk.

From the BBC News-2015-5-26:14:6:1




Similac Advance Infant Formula to Be Offered G.M.O.-Free


Abbott, maker of the Similac brand, said a third of consumers said infant formula without genetically modified ingredients would bring "peace of mind."

From the NYTimes News-2015-5-26:8:5:1




Saving coffee from extinction


Breeding a new plant to save coffee from extinction

From the BBC News-2015-5-23:20:6:1




VIDEO: Dog evolution 'earlier than thought'


Dogs may have been domesticated much earlier than previously though, Swedish researchers suggest.

From the BBC News-2015-5-22:8:5:1




Scientists Sample the Ocean and Find Tiny Additions to the Tree of Life


Researchers studied plankton from around the globe and uncovered vast genetic diversity and clues to how warming temperatures may affect ocean life.

From the NYTimes News-2015-5-21:20:6:1




DNA hints at earlier dog evolution


Swedish researchers say that dogs may have been domesticated much earlier than some studies suggest.

From the BBC News-2015-5-21:14:6:1




VIDEO: Saving North Yorkshire's Tansy beetle


A breeding programme is being set up for the rare Tansy beetle, which is threatened with extinction.

From the BBC News-2015-5-17:8:5:1




U.S. Introduces New DNA Standard for Ensuring Accuracy of Genetic Tests


By offering a new DNA standard for tests used in the diagnosis and treatment of disease, the federal government is opening a new era in genetic medicine.

From the NYTimes News-2015-5-15:8:5:1




National Briefing | Science: New Test Could Spare Patients From Biopsies


The tests, called liquid biopsies, capture cancer cells or DNA that tumors shed into the blood, instead of taking tissue from the tumor itself.

From the NYTimes News-2015-5-12:8:5:3




VIDEO: Could the water vole become extinct?


The water vole once populated our riverbanks and waterways in the UK, but in the last 15 years water vole numbers have halved, brining them to the brink of extinction.

From the BBC News-2015-5-12:8:5:1




Matter: Reverse Engineering Birds' Beaks Into Dinosaur Bones


In a study published in the journal Evolution, scientists say they have found a way to turn the beaks of chicken embryos back into dinosaur-like snouts.

From the NYTimes News-2015-5-12:8:5:2




Profiles in Science: Jennifer Doudna, a Pioneer Who Helped Simplify Genome Editing


The biochemist at the University of California, Berkeley, helped make a monumental discovery: a relatively simple way to alter any organism's DNA. But she is stuck in a patent fight over it.

From the NYTimes News-2015-5-11:20:6:1




Kenya opens anti-poaching laboratory


A forensic laboratory opens in Kenya that will build up a DNA database of wild animals to help secure successful prosecutions of poachers

From the BBC News-2015-5-8:14:6:1




Matter: Under the Sea, a Missing Link in the Evolution of Complex Cells


Scientists have discovered microbes that have many - but not all - of the features previously only found in eukaryotes.

From the NYTimes News-2015-5-6:20:6:1




Alexander Rich Dies at 90; Confirmed DNA's Double Helix


Dr. Rich, a molecular biologist, spent nearly 60 years investigating DNA and RNA and helping puzzle out the structure of collagen.

From the NYTimes News-2015-5-6:8:5:1




Feathery fossils re-date early birds


Scientists in China report a new fossil species: the oldest member yet of the evolutionary branch that produced modern birds.

From the BBC News-2015-5-5:20:6:2




Evolution of 50 years of pop tracked


The evolution of thousands of pop songs spanning from 1960 to 2010 is analysed by scientists.

From the BBC News-2015-5-5:20:6:1




Tracing the Ebola Outbreak, Scientists Hunt a Silent Epidemic


Researchers mapping the virus's spread are tracking tiny mutations in its gene sequences across nations to help explain the epidemic.

From the NYTimes News-2015-5-5:14:6:1




Last Mammoths Spent Final Years on Solitary Island


In addition to isolation, new genetic information suggested that inbreeding also played a role in their demise.

From the NYTimes News-2015-5-4:20:6:1




Wildlife drop 'may empty landscape'


About 60% of the world's largest herbivores are at risk of extinction, according to research by an international team.

From the BBC News-2015-5-1:20:6:1




Climate change risk 'to many species'


One in six species on the planet could face extinction due to the effects of climate change if nothing is done to reduce emissions, according to analysis.

From the BBC News-2015-4-30:20:6:1




US says no to modifying embryo DNA


Modifying the DNA of embryos is a "line that should not be crossed" and poses serious safety and ethical issues, a leading figure in US research says.

From the BBC News-2015-4-30:14:6:1




Teeth Tell of Earlier Trek to Europe by Humans


The find seemed to settle a debate over whether the tools and ornaments found at archaeological sites belonged to modern humans or Neanderthals.

From the NYTimes News-2015-4-27:20:6:1




Chipotle to Stop Serving Genetically Altered Food


Starting Monday, nothing sold by Chipotle, which has more than 1,800 restaurants, will contain any genetically modified ingredients.

From the NYTimes News-2015-4-27:8:5:1




Chinese Scientists Edit Genes of Human Embryos, Raising Concerns


An experiment long dreaded by many researchers, with the goal of eradicating disease genes, failed in the ways that had been feared.

From the NYTimes News-2015-4-24:8:5:1




Mammoth genome sequence completed


Swedish scientists have decoded the DNA of woolly mammoths raising the possibility of recreating the now extinct creatures

From the BBC News-2015-4-23:14:6:1




Super-rat history extracted from DNA


Scientists piece together the history of a group of extinct Caribbean rats, some of which grew to the size of cats.

From the BBC News-2015-4-22:8:5:1




'Tame HIV' used to cure disease


The lives of six boys with a deadly genetic disease have been transformed by a pioneering treatment to correct errors in their DNA, say doctors.

From the BBC News-2015-4-21:14:6:2




New mass extinction event identified


An international team of researchers proposes adding an extra mass extinction to the current list of five.

From the BBC News-2015-4-21:14:6:1




New Genetic Tests for Breast Cancer Hold Promise


Two advances in tests for the genes that carry an added risk of breast cancer promise to make the process less expensive and more precise.

From the NYTimes News-2015-4-21:8:5:1




Hunting Chimps Offer New View on Evolution


While males catch their prey, mostly by chasing it down, the females use broken tree branches to jab theirs and are much more avid tool users than the males, a 10-year study found.

From the NYTimes News-2015-4-14:20:45:2




Zombie worms ate plesiosaur bones


A deep-sea worm that eats whale bones has existed for 100 million years and may have chewed up chunks of the fossil record, a study suggests.

From the BBC News-2015-4-14:20:45:1




Observatory: Anatomy of a Terror Bird


A well-preserved fossil in South America provides new details and clues that the bird could hear low-frequency sounds.

From the NYTimes News-2015-4-13:20:6:1




Observatory: A Clam Cancer Outbreak, Spread by One Set of Cells


In solving a mystery, scientists discovered cancer cells with the same DNA in clams from all over the East Coast, but with no DNA from the host.

From the NYTimes News-2015-4-13:14:6:2




Global Health: Egypt's Avian Flu Surge Lacks an Explanation


Cases of H5N1 have inexplicably increased, and a study of genetic sequences in victims shows some mutations that may make humans more susceptible.

From the NYTimes News-2015-4-13:14:6:1




Matter: Natural Selection May Help Account for Dutch Height Advantage


A new study from the Netherlands suggests evolution favors taller people.

From the NYTimes News-2015-4-9:20:6:2




Acidic oceans helped fuel extinction


Acidic oceans helped fuel the biggest mass extinction in the history of life on Earth, a study says.

From the BBC News-2015-4-9:20:6:1




National Briefing | Northwest: More Protections Possible for Spotted Owl


Federal biologists will consider increasing Endangered Species Act protections for the northern spotted owl, reflecting the bird's continued slide toward extinction despite steep logging cutbacks in the Northwest.

From the NYTimes News-2015-4-9:8:5:2




Shorter Stature May Pose Higher Risk of Heart Disease


After gathering genetic data from nearly 200,000 people worldwide, researchers found that each extra 2.5 inches of height brings a 13.5 percent reduction in heart disease risk.

From the NYTimes News-2015-4-9:8:5:3




VIDEO: The boy who discovered a dinosaur


Scientists in Dallas, Texas, have excavated a 100 million-year-old dinosaur fossil discovered by five-year-old Wylie Brys while playing with his father.

From the BBC News-2015-4-9:8:5:1




Cave crustaceans 'lose visual brain'


A study of blind crustaceans living in deep, dark caves shows that evolution is rapidly withering the visual parts of their brain.

From the BBC News-2015-4-8:8:5:1




'Gertie's Babies,' Sold at Birth, Use DNA to Unlock Secret Past


Gertrude Pitkanen Van Orden delivered and sold babies, and mostly evaded legal consequence, in Montana from the 1920s through the 1950s.

From the NYTimes News-2015-4-5:8:5:1




Indian monsoon's past analysed


Fossils from the ocean floor are yielding clues to the Indian monsoon millions of years ago.

From the BBC News-2015-3-31:8:5:1




DNA of 'an entire nation' assessed


The genetic code of "an entire nation" has effectively been deduced, say researchers in Iceland.

From the BBC News-2015-3-27:14:6:1




Matter: In Iceland's DNA, New Clues to Disease-Causing Genes


The results uncovered a host of previously unknown gene mutations that may play roles in ailments as diverse as Alzheimer's disease, heart disease and gallstones.

From the NYTimes News-2015-3-25:20:6:1




Experts Back Angelina Jolie Pitt in Choices for Cancer Prevention


The actress had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed because she carries a genetic mutation that increases the risk of ovarian cancer.

From the NYTimes News-2015-3-25:14:6:1




'Monster salamanders' in mass grave


Scientists report a new species of giant amphibian after digging up multiple fossils from an ancient, dried-up lake where hundreds of the beasts probably died.

From the BBC News-2015-3-24:8:5:1




Gene-Altered Apples and Potatoes Are Safe, F.D.A. Says


The Food and Drug Administration said that genetically engineered nonbrowning apples and bruise-resistant potatoes were as safe and nutritious as their conventional counterparts.

From the NYTimes News-2015-3-21:8:5:1




Biologists Call for Ban on Gene Editing Technique in Humans


A group of biologists, including the scientist who developed the technique, has called for a worldwide moratorium on using the method to change human DNA.

From the NYTimes News-2015-3-19:20:6:1




Extinction threat to Europe's bees


Many of Europe's native wild bees are threatened with extinction, according to the first comprehensive assessment of risks.

From the BBC News-2015-3-19:14:6:1




Study Reveals Genetic Path of Modern Britons


Researchers found that the modern British population falls into 17 clusters that are all very similar but genetically distinguishable.

From the NYTimes News-2015-3-18:20:6:1




DNA study: Celts not a single group


A DNA study of Britons shows that, genetically, there is not a unique Celtic group of people in the UK.

From the BBC News-2015-3-18:14:6:1




Shark eDNA results eagerly awaited


Conservationists eagerly await the results of a UK study investigating whether it is possible to track endangered shark species via environmental DNA.

From the BBC News-2015-3-18:8:5:1




Matter: An Unlikely Driver of Evolution: Arsenic


A new study suggests that people who live in the Atacama Desert are more resistant to arsenic than other people, thanks to natural selection.

From the NYTimes News-2015-3-12:14:6:1




'Giant lobster' ate like a whale


A new fossil discovery shows that a giant ancestor of modern lobsters used spiny 'limbs' on its head to sift food from the ocean.

From the BBC News-2015-3-12:8:5:1




Fossil Tells of 520-Million-Year-Old Creature Like a Giant Lobster


The animal, six feet long, is one of the earliest such filter-feeders ever discovered.

From the NYTimes News-2015-3-11:20:6:1




Study Backs 5th-Century Historian's Date for Founding of Armenia


Geneticists found Armenians to come from a mixing of populations that occurred from 3000 to 2000 B.C., coincident with the date given by a historian in the fifth century.

From the NYTimes News-2015-3-10:20:6:1




Protection Without a Vaccine


In developing a new type of artificial gene therapy, scientists hope to engineer the body to resist several diseases.

From the NYTimes News-2015-3-9:20:6:1




Is Most of Our DNA Garbage?


Biologists are feuding over the usefulness of our genetic material - and the fundamental sloppiness of life on earth.

From the NYTimes News-2015-3-8:8:5:1




Jawbone's Discovery Fills Barren Evolutionary Period


The 2.8-million-year-old mandible of a Homo habilis predates by at least 400,000 years any previously known Homo fossils.

From the NYTimes News-2015-3-5:8:5:2




DNA reveals bird shift surprise


DNA samples reveal two species of forest-dwelling birds on remote Indonesian islands are actually members of the ground-dwelling pipit and wagtail family.

From the BBC News-2015-3-5:8:5:1




'First human' discovered in Ethiopia


Scientists working in Ethiopia have uncovered a jawbone fossil which may push the origin of humans back 400,000 years.

From the BBC News-2015-3-4:14:6:1




Autism appears 'largely genetic'


Autism is caused by genetic make-up in 74-98% of cases, a Medical Research Council study of 516 twins indicates.

From the BBC News-2015-3-4:14:6:2




Climate Change Researcher Offers a Defense of His Practices


Wei-Hock Soon, who is at the center of a controversy over fossil-fuel funding for climate research, denounced his critics and said he would be happy to comply with possible additional disclosure requirements.

From the NYTimes News-2015-3-3:8:5:2




Scientists produce TB-resistant cows


Researchers in China produce a herd of genetically engineered cows that are better able to ward off bovine TB.

From the BBC News-2015-3-3:8:5:1




Observatory: Britain Had Wheat Before Farming, Study Says


DNA from an underwater site suggests wheat made its way from the Neolithic farmers of Southern Europe to the Mesolithic hunter-gatherers of Britain.

From the NYTimes News-2015-3-2:14:6:2




DNA documents ancient mass migration


DNA analysis has revealed evidence for a massive migration into the heartland of Europe 4,500 years ago.

From the BBC News-2015-3-2:14:6:1




The man who invented the dinosaur


Remembering the man who invented the dinosaur

From the BBC News-2015-2-27:8:5:2




Wheat present in UK 'for 8,000 years'


Fragments of wheat DNA suggest wheat was present in Britain 8,000 years ago, long before it was grown by British farmers.

From the BBC News-2015-2-27:8:5:1




Peers debate three-person babies


Peers have begun debating whether to make the historic move to allow the creation of babies with DNA from two women and one man.

From the BBC News-2015-2-24:14:6:1




Observatory: Mice Brain May Give Insight Into Diseases of Human Mind


When injected with human DNA, mice embryos grew brains that were 12 percent larger than those of embryos injected with the same genes from chimpanzees.

From the NYTimes News-2015-2-23:20:6:1




Observatory: For Successful Evolution, Bigger Is Better


Scientists at Stanford found that the maximum body size for marine animals has increased by a factor of 100,000 over 542 million years.

From the NYTimes News-2015-2-23:20:6:2




Building a Face, and a Case, on DNA


The growing capability to determine physical characteristics from genetics can help the police, but it also raises questions of rights and profiling.

From the NYTimes News-2015-2-23:14:6:1




I've Just Seen a (DNA-Generated) Face


To test the accuracy of DNA-based facial sketches, two Times journalists had scans made and people were asked to guess who the faces belonged to.

From the NYTimes News-2015-2-23:14:6:2




Google-backed genetic test approved


A Californian start-up will be allowed to advertise a mail order DNA test that screens for a rare genetic condition.

From the BBC News-2015-2-20:14:6:1




A Mosquito Solution (More Mosquitoes) Raises Heat in Florida Keys


A tiny community near Key West is balking at a plan to release genetically modified mosquitoes to combat the mosquitoes that carry viral diseases.

From the NYTimes News-2015-2-20:8:5:1




Evolution 'favours big sea beasts'


A major survey finds that marine animals have been getting bigger, on average, since the Cambrian period - and not by chance.

From the BBC News-2015-2-19:20:6:1




Matter: A New Theory on How Neanderthal DNA Spread in Asia


Two teams of researchers have come to a conclusion about why the ancestors of Asians and Europeans have different amounts of Neanderthal DNA.

From the NYTimes News-2015-2-19:14:6:1




VIDEO: Forgotten fossil is new species


Palaeontologist Dean Lomax explains how what had been mistaken for a plaster copy turned out to be a new species of ancient marine reptile.

From the BBC News-2015-2-19:8:5:1




Project Sheds Light on What Drives Genes


Researchers hope the discoveries, described in two dozen papers released on Wednesday, will eventually lead to a deeper understanding of diseases and new ways to treat or cure them.

From the NYTimes News-2015-2-19:8:5:2




Forgotten fossil is a new species


A forgotten museum specimen mistaken for a plaster copy is found to be the fossilised remains of a new species of ancient reptile.

From the BBC News-2015-2-18:20:6:1




Radical HIV vaccine ploy raises hope


In a radical new approach to HIV vaccination, DNA in monkeys is transformed and seems to give total protection against the virus, US scientists say.

From the BBC News-2015-2-18:14:6:1




Penguins lost ability to taste fish


Penguins lost most of their sense of taste long ago in evolution, scientists have discovered.

From the BBC News-2015-2-17:8:5:1




Hard Cases: Genes Tell Only Part of the Story


The lives of patients are far more complex, and messier, than science can explain.

From the NYTimes News-2015-2-16:20:6:1




Raw Data: A Cancer Cluster Is Tough to Prove


The genetic mutations that cause cancer can take decades to manifest themselves but the laws we cobble together often trump those of science.

From the NYTimes News-2015-2-16:20:6:2




Observatory: Fossils Expand the Menagerie of Jurassic Mammals


New discoveries point to a tree climber and a superb digger that lived between 145 million and 200 million years ago.

From the NYTimes News-2015-2-16:8:5:1




VIDEO: Videos of 1,500 beating human hearts


Researchers in London are storing digital videos of the beating hearts of more than 1,500 people, along with their genetic data.

From the BBC News-2015-2-15:14:6:1




Beliefs: Conservative Politicians Abroad Seem More Accepting of Evolution


Unlike American evangelicals who can reside in their own church and schools, the English have a more unified national culture that makes it easier to teach and accept the science.

From the NYTimes News-2015-2-14:8:5:2




Gene-Altered Apples Get U.S. Approval


It will probably be several years before the fruit, which resists browning when sliced or bruised, shows up in grocery stores.

From the NYTimes News-2015-2-14:8:5:1




Conservation concern for UK insects


More than 30 British insect species have been classified as in danger of extinction, due to pollution and habitat loss.

From the BBC News-2015-2-13:8:5:1




Darwin finches' messy family tree


DNA analysis reveals frequent interbreeding between Darwin's famous Galapagos finches, and uncovers a gene linked to their different beak shapes.

From the BBC News-2015-2-11:20:6:1




New York's Chief Medical Examiner Seeks to Lead in DNA Research


Dr. Barbara Sampson was named New York's chief medical examiner late last year, becoming the first woman to head the office as it seeks to right itself after high-profile mistakes.

From the NYTimes News-2015-2-10:8:5:2




Australia in 'extinction calamity'


The introduction of the fox and cat from Europe is having a devastating impact on native mammals in Australia, say scientists.

From the BBC News-2015-2-10:8:5:1




A Conversation With: Mary-Claire King's Pioneering Gene Work, From Breast Cancer to Human Rights


Mary-Claire King discovered BRCA1, the so-called breast cancer gene, and now believes every woman should be tested.

From the NYTimes News-2015-2-9:20:6:1




Among the Subway's Millions of Riders, a Study Finds Many Mystery Microbes


Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College mapped DNA found in New York's subway system, finding that almost half the genetic material did not match any known organism.

From the NYTimes News-2015-2-6:8:5:2




Among New York Subway's Millions of Riders, a Study Finds Many Mystery Microbes


Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College mapped DNA found in New York's subway system, finding that almost half the genetic material did not match any known organism.

From the NYTimes News-2015-2-6:8:5:1




Matter: In Bedbugs, Scientists See a Model of Evolution


New research indicates that some bedbugs are well on their way to becoming a new species.

From the NYTimes News-2015-2-5:20:6:1




Deer DNA helps poacher prosecution


DNA from an illegally shot and killed red deer has been used for the first time in the UK to help prosecute a poacher.

From the BBC News-2015-2-4:14:6:1




Britain Set to Approve Technique to Create Babies From 3 People


The House of Commons voted to allow the in vitro creation of embryos using the DNA of three people, a procedure that could prevent the inheritance of genetic diseases.

From the NYTimes News-2015-2-3:20:6:2




VIDEO: Rhino fossil found on Norfolk beach


A fossil of a rhino skull has been found on West Runton beach in Norfolk .

From the BBC News-2015-2-3:20:6:1




MPs say yes to three-person babies


MPs have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the creation of babies with DNA from two women and one man, in an historic move.

From the BBC News-2015-2-3:14:6:1




VIDEO: MPs to vote on three-person babies


MPs will hold a crucial vote on Tuesday to decide whether to allow the creation of babies using DNA from three people.

From the BBC News-2015-2-3:8:5:1




Observatory: Snake Ancestors Probably Had Legs


Newly discovered fossils at least 140 million years old indicate that skull and jaw development, not limblessness, differentiated snake evolution from that of lizards.

From the NYTimes News-2015-2-2:20:6:2




News Analysis: A Path for Precision Medicine


The budget President Obama sent to Congress would establish a coordinated way for researchers to get genetic and clinical data on a million people.

From the NYTimes News-2015-2-2:20:6:1




Obama to Unveil Research Initiative to Develop Tailored Medical Treatments


Plans include collecting genetic data on one million Americans so that scientists can suit drugs and treatments to patients' specific traits, officials said.

From the NYTimes News-2015-1-30:8:5:1




Astra Zeneca drive for genetic drugs


Astra Zeneca announces a research programme to develop a generation of medicines to treat the genetic causes of many debilitating diseases.

From the BBC News-2015-1-29:8:5:1




VIDEO: 'New generation' drug research plan


Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has announced a research programme to develop a new generation of medicines to treat the genetic causes of many debilitating diseases.

From the BBC News-2015-1-29:8:5:2




Ancient Skull Adds New Insight to Story of Human Evolution


Researchers have discovered a 55,000-year-old fossil skull that they say is a missing connection between African and European populations.

From the NYTimes News-2015-1-28:14:6:1




First step towards saving rhino


Experts are pinning their hopes on in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) to save the northern white rhino from extinction.

From the BBC News-2015-1-28:8:5:1




Myriad Genetics Ending Patent Dispute on Breast Cancer Risk Testing


The biotech company, the subject of a 2013 Supreme Court ruling that genes cannot be patented, said it was giving up trying to stop other companies from offering tests.

From the NYTimes News-2015-1-28:8:5:2




More Differences Than Similarities Are Found in Autistic Siblings


Most siblings with a diagnosis do not share the same genetic risk factors for the disorder and are as distinct in their behaviors as any brothers and sisters, scientists reported.

From the NYTimes News-2015-1-27:8:5:1




Obama to Request Research Funding for Treatments Tailored to Patients' DNA


President Obama's budget will seek hundreds of millions of dollars for "personalized medicine," a proposal that is expected to receive bipartisan support in Congress.

From the NYTimes News-2015-1-25:8:5:1




Matter: Even Elusive Animals Leave DNA, and Clues, Behind


Scientists are relying more heavily on environmental DNA, shed in an animal's habitat, to track rare or endangered species.

From the NYTimes News-2015-1-22:14:6:1




VIDEO: Northern White rhinos facing extinction


Northern White rhinos are on the edge of extinction with just five of them left in the world, but conservation experts are trying to find ways to save them.

From the BBC News-2015-1-21:20:6:1




Scientists Develop Technique Aimed at Preventing Spread of Bio-Engineered Organisms


A team has given E. coli a unique genetic code, making it dependent on unnatural amino acids so it would die in the wild, they say.

From the NYTimes News-2015-1-21:14:6:2




David Shukman: Should we try to halt extinction?


Why can't we stop so many forms of life from being wiped out?

From the BBC News-2015-1-21:14:6:1




Raw Data: Though We Long for Control, Chance Plays a Powerful Role in the Biology of Cancer and the Evolution of Life.


Though we long for control, chance plays a powerful role in the biology of cancer and the evolution of life.

From the NYTimes News-2015-1-19:14:6:3




'Designer baby debate should start'


Rapid progress in genetics is making "designer babies" more likely and society needs to be prepared, leading scientists have told the BBC.

From the BBC News-2015-1-19:14:6:2




Malaria resistance genetics revealed


Genetic mutations that are associated with resistance to the frontline malaria drug are identified, scientists report.

From the BBC News-2015-1-19:14:6:1




Matter: Ocean Life Faces Mass Extinction, Broad Study Says


Scientists find what they say are clear signs that humans are beginning to damage oceans on an unprecedented scale.

From the NYTimes News-2015-1-16:8:5:1




EU changes rules on GM crop-growing


The EU gives states more decision-making powers on genetically modified (GM) crops, which are highly restricted in Europe.

From the BBC News-2015-1-13:14:6:1




New species of marine reptile found


A new species of marine reptile that lived about 170 million years ago is identified from fossils found on the Isle of Skye.

From the BBC News-2015-1-12:8:5:1




Cancer's Random Assault


Spontaneous genetic mutations may be more often to blame than heredity or environment, according to a new study.

From the NYTimes News-2015-1-5:20:6:1




By 'Editing' Plant Genes, Companies Avoid Regulation


Critics of bioengineered crops are concerned that a technical loophole could lead to the release of plants that could have unintended effects on the environment.

From the NYTimes News-2015-1-2:14:6:1




Matter: Gene Linked to Obesity Hasn't Always Been a Problem, Study Finds


The relative importance of certain genes may shift over the years as our environment changes, the study suggests.

From the NYTimes News-2015-1-1:8:5:1