How cold case DNA technique came to Ottawa from California - and where it's headed next
Family tree enthusiasts are helping police solve decades-old homicides. And the former California district attorney who helped bring the technique to the world with the prosecution of the Golden State Killer back in 2018 says it has the potential to solve many more - as long as it's managed appropriately.
From the CBC News-2024-12-19:14:6:1
How forensic genetic genealogy came to Ottawa from California - and where it's headed next
Family tree enthusiasts are helping police solve decades-old homicides. And the former California district attorney who helped bring the technique to the world with the prosecution of the Golden State Killer back in 2018 says it has the potential to solve many more - as long as it's managed appropriately.
From the CBC News-2024-12-19:8:5:1
Rare dinosaur trio fetches £12.4m at auction
The skeletons - two Allosaurus and one Stegosaurus - date back approximately 150 million years.
From the BBC News-2024-12-13:8:5:2
Humans may not have survived without Neanderthals
A new DNA analysis has shown that the arrival of modern humans from Africa was far from smooth.
From the BBC News-2024-12-13:8:5:1
Fossil footprints suggest 2 early human species coexisted 1.5 million years ago
Intersecting paths of muddy footprints left on a Kenyan lakeside 1.5 million years ago suggest two of our early human ancestors were nearby neighbours.
From the CBC News-2024-11-29:14:6:1
Paleontologists discover Sask.'s 1st fossil specimens of horned centrosaurus
McGill University students and paleontologists have documented what they say are Saskatchewan's first confirmed centrosaurus fossil specimens.
From the CBC News-2024-11-24:8:5:1
Where did COVID-19 originate? Saskatoon lab helps with genetic analysis that points to animal market
A team of scientists, including one from Saskatoon, say they have strong evidence the COVID-19 virus jumped from infected animals to humans in a market in Wuhan, China, and didn't originate with a lab leak.
From the CBC News-2024-11-20:8:5:1
This Laurentian University researcher is collecting DNA from the air inside beehives
A professor at Laurentian University will be putting honey bees to work to better understand how climate change is affecting different plants and pollinators across Ontario.
From the CBC News-2024-11-18:20:6:1
'The sixth great extinction is happening', conservation expert warns
Conservationist Jane Goodall on the urgent need to turn the tide on climate change and nature loss.
From the BBC News-2024-11-16:20:6:1
23andMe lays off 40% of its workforce, ends therapeutics division
23andMe is laying off 40 per cent of its workforce, or more than 200 employees, and discontinuing its therapeutics division as the struggling genetic testing company attempts to slash costs.
From the CBC News-2024-11-13:14:6:1
First ferret babies born from a clone bring new hope for their species
Sibert and Red Cloud, black-footed ferret siblings at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, are the first members of an endangered species born to a cloned animal.
From the CBC News-2024-11-7:8:5:1
Giant tadpole fossil is the oldest ever discovered
Scientists have discovered the oldest-known fossil of a tadpole, which lived among the Jurassic dinosaurs 160 million years ago.
From the CBC News-2024-11-1:14:6:1
Move aside, moose - a new study has found the most distinct animals in Canada
When we think of Canadian animals, the moose or beaver probably come to mind first - but according to a new study, the most distinct animals in Canada are creatures like the spiny softshell turtle and the mudpuppy, which both embody more than 150 million years of evolution.
From the CBC News-2024-10-31:8:5:1
Alarm call as world's trees slide towards extinction
Scientists have revealed that more than a third of tree species are facing extinction.
From the BBC News-2024-10-28:14:6:1
Biodiversity is a lot like Jenga, says Canadian artist behind COP16 installation
Benjamin Von Wong is the artist behind Biodiversity Jenga, a six-metre-tall art installation currently looming over COP16, the United Nations biodiversity conference, in Cali, Colombia.
From the CBC News-2024-10-25:8:5:1
Meteorite that hit Earth 3 billion years ago dwarfed rock that caused dinosaur extinction: study
The S2 meterorite, which hit the planet just over 3 billion years ago, dwarfed the one that caused the dinosaurs' extinction, according to a new study.
From the CBC News-2024-10-23:8:5:1
What is biodiversity and how can we protect it?
Colombia is hosting talks to assess global progress in protecting 30% of all land and water by 2030.
From the BBC News-2024-10-21:8:5:1
Girl's life saved by pioneering rare diseases study
Diagnosis of Jaydi's genetic disorder led to life-changing treatment, says her mum.
From the BBC News-2024-10-15:8:5:1
It's not the pizza, say dermatologists. What really causes acne breakouts
As common as acne is, experts say there are some popular misconceptions about its causes. Research suggests diet and poor hygiene are not the clear culprits, but rather a multitude of factors are at play, including genetics, hormonal changes - and stress.
From the CBC News-2024-10-15:8:5:2
This 237-million-year-old fossil from Brazil could shed light on rise of dinosaurs
Scientists in Brazil have announced the discovery of one of the world's oldest fossils believed to belong to an ancient reptile dating back some 237 million years that could help explain the rise of the dinosaurs.
From the CBC News-2024-10-14:14:6:1
Nobel Prize winner hopes his discovery can help fight disease and even detect alien life
Gary Ruvkun says microRNA, which are molecules that control how genes form our cells, could be the key to improving how humans fight diseases, and finding extraterrestrial signs of life.
From the CBC News-2024-10-11:20:6:1
Nobel Prize in Medicine goes to U.S. biologists who discovered microRNA
The Nobel Prize in medicine was awarded Monday to Americans Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their discovery of microRNA, a fundamental principle governing how gene activity is regulated.
From the CBC News-2024-10-7:8:5:2
Nobel Prize goes to microRNA researchers
US scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun helped explain how genes work inside the human body.
From the BBC News-2024-10-7:8:5:1
The asteroid that killed the dinosaurs was not alone
A second asteroid hit Earth around the same time causing a "catastrophic" event.
From the BBC News-2024-10-3:8:5:1
First newborns join screening for 200 rare diseases
The new study uses genome sequencing to detect more diseases earlier, when they can still be treated.
From the BBC News-2024-10-3:8:5:2
B.C. man finds dinosaur trackway near Hudson's Hope
A B.C. man stumbled upon a dino trackway last month by accident, and now he's pushing to preserve it through help from the local municipality and First Nations.
From the CBC News-2024-9-28:14:6:1
Living on through DNA: Another crew member identified from the 1845 Franklin expedition
The skeletal remains of a crew member from Sir John Franklin's 1845 Northwest Passage expedition was identified in a joint study by researchers from the University of Waterloo and Lakehead University. They were found to belong to Capt. James Fitzjames, a senior officer on the HMS Erebus.
From the CBC News-2024-9-26:8:5:1
Parents, but not parenting, to blame for picky eating in kids, says new study
A new study about children trying valiantly to survive on crackers, air and your last wisp of gentle parenting suggests picky eating is largely explained by genetics - and the researchers say they hope the findings will help alleviate parental blame.
From the CBC News-2024-9-24:8:5:1
Twin study of fussy eaters reveals new clues
Genetics influence how adventurous or fussy a child is about food, the large study suggests.
From the BBC News-2024-9-20:8:5:1
Genetic ghosts suggest Covid's market origins
A team of scientists say it is "beyond reasonable doubt" the Covid pandemic started with infected animals.
From the BBC News-2024-9-19:14:6:1
MUN scientists' discovery of 570-million-year-old fossil provides a glimpse of jellyfish history
Two Memorial University earth scientists have discovered a 570-million-year-old fossil that is the planet's earliest known evidence of muscle tissue and offers insight into the history of jellyfish around Newfoundland and Labrador.
From the CBC News-2024-9-18:14:6:1
Trove of dinosaur fossils found high in B.C. mountains
It's unclear exactly what species the fossils belong to, but officials say that either way, a discovery like this one helps scientists better understand the history of the land.
From the CBC News-2024-9-17:20:6:1
Invasive peach blossom jellyfish spreading through B.C. waterways
Thousands of genetic clones of the peach blossom jellyfish have been spotted in 34 waterways around the province.
From the CBC News-2024-9-12:8:5:1
Its supporters dream of heat-resistant cows. But gene editing is making others nervous
A UK law allowing gene-edited food has been paused and some British scientists fear being overtaken.
From the BBC News-2024-9-10:20:6:1
Girl discovers dinosaur footprints on beach walk
Experts think 10-year-old Tegan uncovered prints of a huge herbivore from the late triassic period.
From the BBC News-2024-8-16:20:6:1
Scientists believe they now know where the dinosaur-killing asteroid came from
Roughly 66 million years ago, a huge object slammed into Earth, causing a mass extinction. Now, a group of scientists believes they've figured out what it was - and where it came from.
From the CBC News-2024-8-15:20:6:1
Rare fossil specimen offers evidence of social behaviour among ancient snakes
Almost 50 years ago, paleontologists found 'four beautiful, articulated little fossil snakes' in Wyoming. A new study, which is the first scientific paper to fully describe this find, claims it demonstrates social behaviour among ancient snakes.
From the CBC News-2024-8-12:14:6:1
Can urban parks protect biodiversity as they welcome more visitors?
Parks like Mount Royal in Montreal are drawing more visitors eager for a taste of nature in the city, but their popularity might be putting vulnerable plant species at risk.
From the CBC News-2024-8-9:8:5:1
First gene-editing therapy may cure blood disorder
The treatment for beta thalassaemia is to be offered on the NHS and uses Nobel Prize-winning technology.
From the BBC News-2024-8-7:20:6:1
Rare fossils reveal secrets of mammal evolution
The fossils hold clues as to how mammals that lived in the shadow of dinosaurs evolved to dominate the world.
From the BBC News-2024-7-24:14:6:1
Jerky-like skin of a 52,000-year-old woolly mammoth could change what we know about ancient DNA
The leathery, mulleted remains of a 52,000-year-old woolly mammoth known as Chris Waddle aren't much to look at, says geneticist Olga Dudchenko - but the information they contain is invaluable.
From the CBC News-2024-7-22:14:6:1
IVF help for wild rhinos from zoo cousins
Scientists are collecting eggs from rhinos in zoos in a bid to boost the gene pool of wild rhinos.
From the BBC News-2024-7-3:20:6:1
NHS gene check is helping children with cancer
Whole-genome sequencing enables doctors to quickly decide what medicines will work best.
From the BBC News-2024-7-2:8:5:1
Check out the elephants at risk of extinction, and the wild cats that are bouncing back
Over 45,000 species are now threatened with extinction - 1,000 more than last year - according to an international conservation organization that blames pressures from climate change, invasive species and human activity such as illicit trade and infrastructural expansion.
From the CBC News-2024-6-27:14:6:1
Scientists closing in on why some people never get COVID. That could help with future vaccines
Scientists describe high activity of a specific gene in volunteers who didn't get infected when exposed to COVID-19 on purpose. They hope better understanding early immune responses could help develop nasal spray forms of vaccines for the coronavirus.
From the CBC News-2024-6-27:8:5:2
Scientists closing in on why some people never get COVID. That could help with future vaccines
Scientists describe high activity of a specific gene in volunteers who didn't get infected when exposed to COVID-19 on purpose. They hope better understanding early immune responses could help develop nasal spray forms of vaccines for the coronavirus.
From the CBC News-2024-6-27:8:5:1
Canada, U.K. launch joint privacy probe into 23andMe data breach
Canada's privacy commissioner is teaming up with his U.K. counterpart to investigate a data breach discovered last year at genetic testing company 23andMe.
From the CBC News-2024-6-10:20:6:1
P.E.I. research scientist searching for path to drought-resistant potatoes
Bourlaye Fofana started with 814 different genetic lines, hoping to find ways to make potatoes better through breeding. Disease resistance and a more attractive appearance used to rank on top -- before climate change made drought resistance a key quality for growers.
From the CBC News-2024-6-10:8:5:1
Major cause of inflammatory bowel disease found
Scientists have found a weak spot in our DNA that is present in 95% of people with the disease.
From the BBC News-2024-6-5:14:6:1
B.C. project aims to reduce kidney rejection
The rapid sequencing technology is being tested in B.C. to refine the degree of achievable genetic compatibility between patients and donors while six other labs in the country are joining that effort, an expert says.
From the CBC News-2024-6-5:8:5:1
New blood test 'can predict' breast cancer return
The test can find traces of a tumour's DNA before a full relapse, allowing treatment to start early, experts say.
From the BBC News-2024-6-2:14:6:1
World record broken for living thing with most DNA
A rare plant has the largest genome of any organism on earth - holding 50 times more DNA than humans.
From the BBC News-2024-5-31:14:6:1
Meet Bubbles, a rare pink grasshopper now living in a London family's home
A London family is holding on to a rare pink grasshopper they found in front of their northeast end home. Insect experts say the bug's rarity comes less from its genes and more from its attractiveness to predators.
From the CBC News-2024-5-31:14:6:2
Atlantic whitefish are on the brink of extinction. Can a captive breeding program save them?
Scientists will implant tiny tracking tags in up to 200 captive-raised Atlantic whitefish this year as part of the effort to stave off extinction of one of Canada's most critically endangered species.
From the CBC News-2024-5-30:8:5:1
The Moment a scuba diver found a mastodon tusk
Scuba diver and fossil enthusiast Alex Lundberg recounts the moment he discovered a fossilized mastodon tusk off the coast of Venice Beach, Fla.
From the CBC News-2024-5-27:8:5:1
Army rejected teen over breast-cancer gene
The Army is accused of sexism after rejecting a teenager who may have a gene raising her risk of breast cancer.
From the BBC News-2024-5-23:20:6:1
Baby's hearing fully restored in gene therapy first
Opal, 18 months, can now hear - even a whisper - after becoming the first person to try a new treatment.
From the BBC News-2024-5-9:8:5:1
'I have a 50:50 chance of developing Alzheimer's in my 50s'
John Jennings may have inherited a gene from his mother that could trigger early-onset of the condition.
From the BBC News-2024-5-5:8:5:1
How mapping tree genomes can help plant forests resilient to climate change
A research team at the University of Alberta is looking into why some trees in Alberta are more resilient when faced with drought, disease and the risk of wildfires by sequencing tree genomes.
From the CBC News-2024-5-2:14:6:1
Toronto Native Plant Market helps gardeners boost local biodiversity
In this week's issue of our environment newsletter, we learn how native plants help boost biodiversity in your garden, get an update on global and federal action on plastic pollution and get tips for making your wardrobe more sustainable.
From the CBC News-2024-4-26:8:5:1
Prehistoric sea reptile 'twice as long as bus'
Scientists say a fossilised jawbone found in Somerset may be from one of the biggest sea creatures ever.
From the BBC News-2024-4-17:14:6:1
Kyle Tsui, who is currently in a U.S. jail awaiting sentencing for running a fraudulent allergy testing company, also worked in a Canadian DNA laboratory that a CBC News investigation found has a history of producing wrong paternity results.
From the CBC News-2024-4-10:14:6:1
Canadian DNA lab knew its paternity tests identified the wrong dads, but it kept selling them
A DNA laboratory in Toronto knowingly delivered prenatal paternity test results that routinely identified the wrong biological fathers - ruling out the real dads - and left a trail of shattered lives around the globe, a CBC News investigation has found.
From the CBC News-2024-4-9:8:5:2
Canadian DNA lab knew its paternity tests identified the wrong dads, but it kept selling them
A DNA laboratory in Toronto knowingly delivered prenatal paternity test results that routinely identified the wrong biological fathers - ruling out the real dads - and left a trail of shattered lives around the globe, a CBC News investigation has found.
From the CBC News-2024-4-9:8:5:1
Paleontologists are uncovering fossilized dinosaurs, plants and footprints on a tiny plot in the badlands of Wyoming
From the CBC News-2024-4-4:14:6:1
This workshop in Trenton, Ont., builds many of the world's dinosaurs
Fossil technicians at Research Casting International release fossils from rock and reconstruct the most iconic dinosaurs
From the CBC News-2024-4-4:14:6:2
'CSI on the ocean': Whale researchers comb B.C. waters for eDNA
Ocean Wise researchers spent more than a week on the ocean collecting water samples to study the environmental DNA (eDNA) of Bigg's killer whales, North Pacific humpbacks and B.C.'s endangered southern resident killer whales.
From the CBC News-2024-4-1:8:5:1
How do you save the pint from climate change?
Researchers are identifying genes in the hop plant to produce varieties that will be more resilient to climate change.
From the BBC News-2024-3-26:14:6:1
Pioneering pig-to-human kidney transplant performed in U.S.
A 62-year-man with end-stage renal disease has become the first human to receive a new kidney from a genetically modified pig, doctors from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston announces.
From the CBC News-2024-3-21:14:6:2
Kermit the Frog honoured in new fossil find
The fossil's bug-eyed appearance reminded researchers of the famous Muppet.
From the BBC News-2024-3-21:14:6:1
Scientists say they can cut HIV out of cells
The gene-editing method used might ultimately offer a way to remove HIV, experts say.
From the BBC News-2024-3-20:8:5:1
Family research, DNA and buttons identify British-Canadian lieutenant 107 years after his death
Lt. Frank Hemsley's family thought his body was lost after he died fighting for Canada in the First World War. It took more than a century, science and a Canadian team to prove otherwise.
From the CBC News-2024-3-19:14:6:1
How documenting the disappearance of the great auk led to the discovery of extinction
In the book, The Last of Its Kind: The Search for the Great Auk and the Discovery of Extinction, Gísli Pálsson retraces the journey of two English biologists who went looking for the rare great auk birds in Iceland. What they didn't find is how the world was first introduced to the idea of human-caused extinction.
From the CBC News-2024-3-8:20:6:2
Frozen sperm could help bring these giant sea stars back from the brink of extinction
Melissa Torres spent her Valentine's Day helping to usher new life into the world - in the form of millions of fertilized sea star eggs.
From the CBC News-2024-3-8:20:6:1
Endangered sage grouse could soon disappear from the Canadian Prairies
The greater sage grouse, which once numbered in the thousands in Western Canada, is coming perilously close to extinction on the Prairies, new government research shows.
From the CBC News-2024-3-8:8:5:1
World's earliest forest discovered, scientists say
The tree fossils dating back 390 million years were found near a Butlin's holiday camp in Somerset.
From the BBC News-2024-3-7:8:5:1
Why fat Labradors can blame their genes
Scientists used the 'sausage in a box' test to find out that dogs can be a "hard-wired" for obesity.
From the BBC News-2024-3-6:20:6:1
Dinosaur-age 'nightmarish' sea lizard fossil found
Scientists believe the species hunted the oceans 66 million years ago with "teeth like knives".
From the BBC News-2024-3-5:14:6:1
Humpback whale numbers fall 20% but scientists aren't worried yet
A sprawling international study of humpback whales in the northern Pacific has found their population has shrunk significantly since 2012 - despite the once-endangered species' remarkable comeback from the brink of extinction.
From the CBC News-2024-3-4:14:6:1
One hospital's push to bring genetic cancer testing to more Black women
Breast cancer tends to hit Black women at younger ages and be more aggressive, but they're underrepresented when it comes to genetic screening, say doctors launching an awareness campaign designed to empower Black women to learn more about it.
From the CBC News-2024-2-28:8:5:1
Fossil reveals 240 million year-old 'dragon'
A remarkably complete fossil of a bizarre Triassic reptile in unprecedented detail has been found.
From the BBC News-2024-2-23:8:5:1
UK quits treaty that lets oil firms sue government
The ECT allowed fossil-fuel companies to sue governments for billions in compensation for lost profits.
From the BBC News-2024-2-22:8:5:1
World's globetrotting animals at risk due to habitat loss, climate change
A landmark report highlights the challenges facing migratory species, and their importance in being saved from extinction.
From the CBC News-2024-2-12:8:5:2
Migrating species crucial to planet under threat
Human activity is leaving some migratory species like green turtles facing extinction, a UN report says.
From the BBC News-2024-2-12:8:5:1
Dinosaur Island: 40 years of discoveries on Skye
In 1984 the presence of dinosaur fossils in Scotland was confirmed for the first time.
From the BBC News-2024-2-10:8:5:1
New technology is allowing detectives to take DNA evidence from old cases and search for family ties online. But testing that DNA, devoting officers to the case and hiring genealogists to look for clues costs money and not all police forces have the funding.
From the CBC News-2024-2-8:8:5:1
Spider webs catch more than prey. They're also jam-packed with animal DNA
Spider webs, it turns out, trap more than unwitting bugs. The sticky surfaces also contain a bounty of genetic materials from dozens of animal species - making them a powerful tool for measuring biodiversity.
From the CBC News-2024-2-7:20:6:1
New discoveries show early humans lived in the frigid north alongside Neanderthals
New discovery of human bones suggest that Homo sapiens were living side by side with Neanderthals in Northern Germany, 46,000 years ago. Another discovery of a stone-age ropemaking tools is shedding light on the inventive nature of these ancient humans.
From the CBC News-2024-2-2:20:6:1
Weird ancient tree from before dinosaurs found in Canadian quarry
Forests of giant, scaly-stemmed club mosses once rose from ancient swamps in Atlantic Canada. But fossils found in a New Brunswick quarry show some trees that grew among them were even stranger - more like the truffula trees in Dr. Seuss books than any tree that exists today.
From the CBC News-2024-2-2:14:6:1
Jewish people offered gene test for cancer risk
NHS England says it wants to test 30,000 Jewish people over the next two years for faulty BRCA genes.
From the BBC News-2024-2-1:8:5:2
Gene therapy blocks painful hereditary disorder
A single dose of gene therapy was enough to stop the painful swelling attacks caused by angiodema.
From the BBC News-2024-2-1:8:5:1
James Webb telescope captures luminous images of 19 spiral galaxies
A batch of newly released images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope show in remarkable detail 19 spiral galaxies residing relatively near our Milky Way, offering new clues on star formation as well as galactic structure and evolution.
From the CBC News-2024-1-29:20:6:1
World's first IVF rhino pregnancy 'could save species'
A fertility breakthrough offers hope for saving the northern white rhino from extinction.
From the BBC News-2024-1-24:8:5:1
New coffee genetic map promises better brews
The discovery reveals how Arabica coffee got its sweet flavour and may help future-proof the drink.
From the BBC News-2024-1-23:14:6:1
Cloned rhesus monkey created to speed medical research
Researchers say it will speed up drug testing but animal rights campaigners have grave concerns.
From the BBC News-2024-1-16:14:6:2
Cloned rhesus monkey created to speed medical research
Researchers say it will speed up drug testing but animal rights campaigners have grave concerns.
From the BBC News-2024-1-16:14:6:1
An invasive species of crayfish that reproduces by cloning itself was discovered this fall in a Burlington, Ont., pond. It was the first time the marbled crayfish has been identified in the wild in North America, and since then, a group of experts has been working to stop it from spreading.
From the CBC News-2024-1-15:8:5:1
NHS whole-gene screening helps tailor cancer care
How cutting-edge cancer genomics is now being used in mainstream cancer care.
From the BBC News-2024-1-11:8:5:1
Scientists crack mystery of how MS gene spread
The DNA of ancient cattle herders has revealed how diseases evolved in Europe over thousands of years.
From the BBC News-2024-1-10:14:6:1
Small-brained hominid species challenges human exceptionalism, says paleoanthropologist
The 2013 discovery of the largest collection of hominid fossils ever found is rewriting the origin of complex behaviours we thought were uniquely human, says a renowned paleoanthropologist.
From the CBC News-2024-1-5:20:6:1
Health Canada approves Pfizer's gene therapy for treatment of hemophilia
Pfizer said on Wednesday that Canada's health regulator approved its gene therapy for the treatment of a rare inherited bleeding disorder called hemophilia B ahead of a U.S. decision.
From the CBC News-2024-1-3:20:6:1
Paleontologists discover rare fossils of a Cretaceous-era lizard near Grande Prairie, Alta.
Fossils of smaller animals such as lizards are found infrequently, scientists say. The discovery may help paleontologists better understand what prehistoric environment in the Grande Prairie region looked like.
From the CBC News-2024-1-3:14:6:1
Colossal pliosaur sea monster skull on display in Dorset
After being shown off by Sir David Attenborough in his latest BBC show, the pliosaur fossil can now be seen at a Dorset museum.
From the BBC News-2024-1-2:8:5:1
Young-onset dementia risk increased by Vitamin D deficiency and depression, study says
A major study has identified 15 risk factors for young-onset dementia, not all of which are genetic.
From the BBC News-2023-12-26:14:6:1
A mysterious respiratory illness is affecting dogs, but tests show no new pathogens: U.S. officials
Common causes of canine infectious respiratory disease found in genetic sequencing in wave of infections that have alarmed pet owners, agriculture officials say.
From the CBC News-2023-12-22:14:6:1