CURRENT HEADLINES



Gene find boosts allergy research


Gene-targeting therapies could one day offer relief from allergies such as hayfever, claim UK and Swiss scientists.

From the BBC News-2007-12-27:14:6:1



Both Sides Cite Science to Address Altered Corn


A proposal to ban the planting of a genetically modified corn strain sets up a bitter war within the European Union.

From the NYTimes News-2007-12-26:8:5:1



Not one but 'six giraffe species'


The world's tallest animal, the giraffe, may actually be several species, a new genetics study suggests.

From the BBC News-2007-12-21:20:6:1



DNA test halted after Omagh case


Police in England, Wales and Northern Ireland suspend the use of a DNA test after the Omagh bomb verdict.

From the BBC News-2007-12-21:14:6:1



Darwin’s Era, Modern Themes: Science, Faith and Publication


“Trumpery,” a play that opened this month in New York, explores a period teeming with religiosity and controversy.

From the NYTimes News-2007-12-20:14:6:1



Racehorse gene study secret


The offspring of expensive stallions owe their success more to nurture than nature, a study suggests.

From the BBC News-2007-12-20:8:5:3



Gene therapy 'corrects fragile X'


Gene therapy is used to alleviate symptoms of a condition which is a cause of inherited learning difficulties.

From the BBC News-2007-12-20:8:5:2



Whale 'missing link' discovered


The whale is descended from a deer-like animal that lived 48 million years ago, according to fossil evidence.

From the BBC News-2007-12-20:8:5:1



Essay: Darwin’s Era, Modern Themes: Science, Faith and Publication


“Trumpery,” a play that opened this month in New York, explores a period teeming with religiosity and controversy.

From the NYTimes News-2007-12-18:8:5:2



'Bubble boy' develops cancer


A boy with no immune system being treated with pioneering gene therapy has developed leukaemia, his doctors say.

From the BBC News-2007-12-18:8:5:1



Extinction threat to wild salmon


Canadian wild salmon are being driven to extinction by outbreaks of parasites from fish farms, a study claims.

From the BBC News-2007-12-13:20:6:1



Back-breaking baby labour led to evolution of women's spines


Women's spines have evolved over thousands of years, allowing them to carry babies for nine months while providing a great deal of strength and flexibility, researchers say.

From the CBC News-2007-12-12:20:6:2



Why Pregnant Women Don’t Tip Over


Researchers have found evidence that evolution produced a stronger and more flexible lower spine for women.

From the NYTimes News-2007-12-12:20:6:1



New meat-eating dinosaur unveiled


Remains of a dinosaur the size of a double-decker bus have been recognised as belonging to a new species.

From the BBC News-2007-12-12:14:6:1



DNA Pioneer’s Genome Blurs Race Lines


James Watson, the Nobel prize-winning scientist who said that black Africans are not as intelligent as whites, has a significant amount of African DNA in his own genome.

From the NYTimes News-2007-12-12:8:5:1



Vital Signs: In the Lab: Gene Study Helps Explain Link to Breast Cancer


Researchers have discovered a reason why mutations in the BRCA1 gene lead to a particularly deadly type of breast cancer.

From the NYTimes News-2007-12-11:8:5:5



Observatory: The Gene That Tells Planaria Worms Which End Is Up


A single gene lets a flatworm know if it should regrow a head or a tail, based on where the wound is.

From the NYTimes News-2007-12-11:8:5:4



Selection Spurred Recent Evolution, Researchers Say


Researchers analyzing variation in the human genome have concluded that human evolution accelerated enormously in the last 40,000 years under the force of natural selection.

From the NYTimes News-2007-12-11:8:5:3



Scientist at Work | Shinya Yamanaka: Risk Taking Is in His Genes


After years of searching, Shinya Yamanaka found a way to turn adult skin cells into the equivalent of human embryonic stem cells without using an actual embryo.

From the NYTimes News-2007-12-11:8:5:2



Human evolution is 'speeding up'


Genetic evidence suggests humans have moved into the evolutionary fast lane and are becoming increasing different.

From the BBC News-2007-12-11:8:5:1



Autistic mouse may offer clues about condition, treatments


Scientists have created an "autistic mouse" after replacing a normal gene in its body with a mutated one.

From the CBC News-2007-12-10:20:6:1



Seymour Benzer, Geneticist, Is Dead at 86


Seymour Benzer made scientific history by discovering that genes were structured like words and went on to do pioneering work on the ties between genes and behavior.

From the NYTimes News-2007-12-7:14:6:1



Theater Review | 'Trumpery': Don’t Dillydally, Darwin, It’s Survival of the Quickest


Peter Parnell’s play is a tightly focused study of Darwin, his family and his intellectual circles.

From the NYTimes News-2007-12-6:8:5:2



Cell transplant for heart attack


A transplant of genetically engineered cells may reduce the risk of a fatal heart rhythm in heart attack patients.

From the BBC News-2007-12-6:8:5:1



Observatory: Inveterate Wanderer: An Intercontinental Salamander Family


A genetic analysis offers an explanation for a strange geographical distribution of salamanders.

From the NYTimes News-2007-12-4:20:6:1



Inveterate Wanderer: An Intercontinental Salamander Family


A genetic analysis offers an explanation for a strange geographical distribution of salamanders.

From the NYTimes News-2007-12-4:8:5:2



India Finds Mutated DNA Where Water Is Toxic


Toxic chemicals in the water in Punjab, India’s grain belt, could be causing genetic mutations in the population, a recent study suggests.

From the NYTimes News-2007-12-4:8:5:1



Amazing find of dinosaur 'mummy'


Fossil hunters have uncovered the remains of a dinosaur that has much of its soft tissue still intact.

From the BBC News-2007-12-3:14:6:1



Exercise pill hope for depression


The natural "high" produced by exercise could one day be available in a pill that targets a gene in our brains.

From the BBC News-2007-12-3:8:5:1



Putting a Price on a Wrongful Conviction


DNA is restoring freedom. But what’s the value of lost years?

From the NYTimes News-2007-12-2:8:5:1



A Rising Number of Birds at Risk


Dozens of bird species in New York are being pushed toward extinction by relentless sprawl, invasive species and global warming.

From the NYTimes News-2007-12-1:8:5:1



'Supermouse' bred to beat cancer


Gene-modified mice, apparently invulnerable to cancer, may help unlock better human treatments.

From the BBC News-2007-11-28:8:5:1



UK's toads 'at risk' from fungus


Britain's native toad is at risk from a deadly infection that has driven many amphibians to extinction, say scientists.

From the BBC News-2007-11-27:20:6:1



Man-sized sea scorpion claw found


A monster creepy-crawly: the immense fossilised claw of a 2.5m-long sea scorpion is described by scientists.

From the BBC News-2007-11-21:8:5:1



Dolly scientist abandons cloning


The man who led the team that created Dolly the sheep is abandoning the cloning of human embryos.

From the BBC News-2007-11-21:8:5:3



Study Finds Reproductive Edge for Men With Deep Voices


A man with a deep voice may have a survival advantage, a better chance of passing on his genes, a new study suggests.

From the NYTimes News-2007-11-27:8:5:4



European Official Faults Ban on Genetically Altered Feed


The European agriculture commissioner warned farm ministers on Monday that Europe’s resistance to importing genetically modified products could pose a threat to the meat industry.

From the NYTimes News-2007-11-27:8:5:5



The Dance of Evolution, or How Art Got Its Start


What is the evolutionary value of art and why do we humans spend so much time at it?

From the NYTimes News-2007-11-27:8:5:1



In Study of Brain Evolution, Zeal and Bitter Debate


Ralph Holloway is widely regarded as a leading expert on the evolution of the human brain, even by many who have disagreed with his more controversial conclusions.

From the NYTimes News-2007-11-27:8:5:2



Reaching for the Sky: A California Project to Clone Redwoods


Scientists are hoping to create more forests in California and other parts of the world.

From the NYTimes News-2007-11-27:8:5:3



Suddenly, Connecticut Is Stem Cell Central


With $100 million in state money, and a remarkable lack of controversy, stem cell research in Connecticut is picking up speed.

From the NYTimes News-2007-11-24:20:6:2



DNA Tests Find Branches but Few Roots


A number of scientists and scholars are questioning assertions made by companies offering DNA testing to individuals exploring their ancestry.

From the NYTimes News-2007-11-24:20:6:1



Proposed Ban on Genetically Modified Corn in Europe


European Union officials may ban the sale of genetically modified corn plants that could harm butterflies.

From the NYTimes News-2007-11-23:8:5:1



Huge sea scorpion claw found


A monster creepy-crawly: the immense fossilised claw of a 2.5m-long sea scorpion is described by scientists.

From the BBC News-2007-11-21:14:6:1



Parasite and Host in Constant Game of Catch-Up


In evolution, host and parasite can engage in a kind of arms race. One side adapts and evolves; the other side adapts and evolves to keep up.

From the NYTimes News-2007-11-20:8:5:5



Through Genetics, Tapping a Tree’s Potential as a Source of Energy


Scientists are using a controversial genetic engineering process to change the composition of the wood in the hopes of turning trees into new energy sources.

From the NYTimes News-2007-11-20:8:5:4



Powering up for hydrogen


It is time to turn the theory of a global hydrogen economy in a reality because fossil fuels are not going to last forever.

From the BBC News-2007-11-20:8:5:2



Are Scientists Playing God? It Depends on Your Religion


There is an East-West divide over stem-cell research and genetic engineering.

From the NYTimes News-2007-11-20:8:5:3



Gene therapy treats Parkinson's


An experimental form of gene therapy has produced promising results in Parkinson's disease patients.

From the BBC News-2007-11-20:8:5:1



Dolly scientist abandons cloning


The man who led the team that created Dolly the sheep is abandoning the cloning of human embryos.

From the BBC News-2007-11-17:14:6:1



My Genome, Myself: Seeking Clues in DNA


For as little as $1,000 and a saliva sample, customers of an infant industry will be able to learn what is known about how their biological code shapes who they are.

From the NYTimes News-2007-11-17:8:5:1



Company Offers Genome Assessments


An Icelandic company said today that it is launching a service that will assess a person’s genome for disease risk.

From the NYTimes News-2007-11-16:14:6:2



Firm offers online DNA analysis


A company launches a service that will enable people to access an online profile of their own genome.

From the BBC News-2007-11-16:14:6:1



Scientists harvest fish oil crop


Plants genetically engineered to make fish oils could offer a new approach to improving diet, say experts.

From the BBC News-2007-11-16:8:5:1



Monkey embryo cloning has no immediate human application: researchers


A team of U.S.-led researchers say they have succeeded in cloning monkey embryos and extracting stem cells, but warn their findings won't have human health ramifications any time soon.

From the CBC News-2007-11-15:14:6:1



Salome Gluecksohn-Waelsch, 100, Geneticist, Is Dead


Dr. Waelsch, who had fled Nazi Germany to pursue her studies, was awarded the National Medal of Science for her work in developmental genetics.

From the NYTimes News-2007-11-15:8:5:3



Scientists Use Monkey Clones to Extract Stem Cells


As a result of the work in monkeys, some researchers say, cloned human embryonic stem cells seem more feasible.

From the NYTimes News-2007-11-15:8:5:2



Fossil is new family of dinosaur


A fossil dug up near Hastings about 100 years ago is recognised as a completely new family of dinosaur.

From the BBC News-2007-11-15:8:5:1



Stem Cells Taken From Cloned Monkey Embryos


A method of extracting stem cells from monkey embryos should also work in humans, according to researchers.

From the NYTimes News-2007-11-14:20:6:1



Observatory: Jawbone Sheds Light on Divergence of Humans and Apes


Scientists have discovered a fossil that represents a new genus of great ape.

From the NYTimes News-2007-11-14:14:6:2



Observatory: Poisonous Mushrooms Forge Their Own Path, Genetically Speaking


Researchers have identified a genetic quirk common to a few deadly species of mushrooms.

From the NYTimes News-2007-11-14:14:6:1



Breakthrough in primate cloning


Cloned embryos are created from adult monkeys - a significant breakthrough that could lead to new treatments for major human diseases.

From the BBC News-2007-11-14:8:5:1



New African ape fossil discovered


The fossil of an ape that lived 10 million years ago could hold clues to the dawn of human evolution.

From the BBC News-2007-11-13:20:6:1



Jawbone Sheds Light on Divergence of Humans and Apes


Scientists have discovered a fossil that represents a new genus of great ape.

From the NYTimes News-2007-11-13:8:5:2



Poisonous Mushrooms Forge Their Own Path, Genetically Speaking


Researchers have identified a genetic quirk common to a few deadly species of mushrooms.

From the NYTimes News-2007-11-13:8:5:1



In DNA Era, New Worries About Prejudice


Research is exploring how DNA explains racial differences, but it could give discredited prejudices a new potency.

From the NYTimes News-2007-11-11:8:5:1



In DNA Era, Worries About Revival of Prejudice


Research is exploring how DNA explains racial differences, but it could give discredited prejudices a new potency.

From the NYTimes News-2007-11-10:20:6:1



Fuel Without the Fossil


Nipping at the heels of various companies using biological methods to develop fuels from plant matter is a new group of entrepreneurs who favor chemistry.

From the NYTimes News-2007-11-9:8:5:1



Study points to gene as cause of Type 1 diabetes


U.S. researchers say they have identified a gene that appears to cause the more serious type of diabetes.

From the CBC News-2007-11-8:20:6:1



Genetic code of dandruff cracked


The genetic code of the fungus that causes dandruff hasbeen cracked by an international team of scientists.

From the BBC News-2007-11-8:14:49:1



Rethinking What Caused the Last Mass Extinction


The discovery of thriving communities of survivors at the end of the Cretaceous period is giving some scientists second thoughts about the extinction’s causes and effects.

From the NYTimes News-2007-11-6:8:5:2



Mental Abilities: Gene Found to Play Role in Benefits of Breast Milk


Part of the answer to why children raised on breast milk tend to score higher on I.Q. tests may lie in a gene.

From the NYTimes News-2007-11-6:8:5:3



500 Million Years Ago, Jellyfish Left Their Mark in Fine Sea Sediments


Scientists have found the oldest jellyfish fossils yet described, by about 200 million years.

From the NYTimes News-2007-11-6:8:5:4



Gene 'links breastfeeding to IQ'


One gene influences whether breastfeeding improves a child's intelligence, say UK researchers.

From the BBC News-2007-11-6:8:5:1



Gene determines how breastfeeding will impact baby's IQ: study


A specific gene has been linked to higher IQ in breastfed infants, finds a report based on two large studies.

From the CBC News-2007-11-5:20:6:1



Leslie Orgel, Biochemist Who Studied Origins of Life, Dies at 80


Dr. Orgel’s studies of early life on primitive Earth helped lead to the formation of a now widely accepted theory about the development of DNA.

From the NYTimes News-2007-11-5:8:5:1



Cat joins exclusive genome club


A pedigree cat called Cinnamon makes scientific history by becoming the first feline to have its DNA decoded.

From the BBC News-2007-11-1:14:6:1



Neanderthal Bones Make a Case for Redheads


New findings suggest that some Neanderthals were fair-skinned and redheaded.

From the NYTimes News-2007-10-30:8:5:1



Therapy for 'Lorenzo's oil' boys


Doctors use gene therapy to treat two boys with the rare nervous disorder made famous through the film "Lorenzo's Oil".

From the BBC News-2007-10-29:14:6:1



Massive rise in Europe GM crops


The area planted with genetically modified crops in Europe has grown by 77% since last year, figures show.

From the BBC News-2007-10-29:8:5:1



Arthur Kornberg, Biochemist, Dies at 89


Dr. Kornberg’s Nobel Prize-winning discovery of how DNA is assembled helped ignite the biotechnology revolution.

From the NYTimes News-2007-10-27:20:6:1



Mayo researchers look to chromosome for clues on colon cancer


A chromosome abnormality could be a warning sign for the development of colon cancer in people under 50, Mayo clinic researchers report.

From the CBC News-2007-10-27:14:6:1



Dozens of Species of Primates Are Under Threat, Study Finds


A third of the 394 known species of apes, monkeys, lemurs and other groups are listed as threatened with extinction in a new report from the World Conservation Union.

From the NYTimes News-2007-10-27:8:5:1



Third of primates 'under threat'


Almost a third of all primates face extinction because of damage to their habitats, a report warns.

From the BBC News-2007-10-26:8:5:1



Neanderthals 'were flame-haired'


Some Neanderthals probably had red hair much like modern-day humans, a DNA study shows.

From the BBC News-2007-10-25:20:6:1



Race row DNA scientist quits lab


A Nobel scientist who claimed Africans were less intelligent than Europeans quits a US research institution.

From the BBC News-2007-10-25:14:6:1



French parliament adopts DNA bill


France's parliament passes a controversial law that offers DNA tests for foreign migrants joining relatives.

From the BBC News-2007-10-24:8:5:2



Climate threat to biodiversity


Global temperatures predicted for the coming centuries could trigger a mass extinction, warn scientists.

From the BBC News-2007-10-24:8:5:1



Diet choices 'written in genes'


Our genes and not just our upbringing may play a key role in our food likes and dislikes, UK researchers believe.

From the BBC News-2007-10-23:8:5:1



Cheney and Obama: It’s Not Genetic


Barack Obama and Dick Cheney may have a genealogical relationship, but whatever its political symbolism, it is genetically meaningless.

From the NYTimes News-2007-10-21:8:5:1



Beware commercial ancestry tests, researchers warn


U.S. researchers are warning consumers not to place too much faith in the genetic ancestry tests being sold by at least two dozen companies because they may not be accurate.

From the CBC News-2007-10-19:20:6:1



Muscular dystrophy trial to start


A gene therapy trial starts which scientists hope will extend the lives of patients with muscular dystrophy.

From the BBC News-2007-10-19:14:6:1



Nobel Winner Issues Apology for Comments About Blacks


James D. Watson, who won the Nobel Prize for helping decipher DNA, apologized “unreservedly” Thursday for comments reported this week suggesting that black people, over all, are not as intelligent as whites.

From the NYTimes News-2007-10-19:8:5:2



Lab suspends DNA pioneer Watson


Nobel Prize-winner James Watson is suspended by his research institution after making comments on the subject of race and intelligence.

From the BBC News-2007-10-19:8:5:1



Neanderthals May Have Had Gene for Speech


The archaic human species possessed a critical gene known to underlie speech, according to DNA evidence.

From the NYTimes News-2007-10-18:20:6:2



Famed Scientist Apologizes for Quoted Racial Remarks


James D. Watson, who helped decipher the double-helix of DNA, apologized “unreservedly” today for comments reported this week suggesting that black people, over all, are not as intelligent as whites.

From the NYTimes News-2007-10-18:20:6:1



China plans 'largest gene bank'


Citizens in Taizhou are being asked to contribute to what could become the world's largest DNA databank.

From the BBC News-2007-10-18:14:6:1



Gene-block birth control 'on way'


A contraceptive drug that avoids the side effects of hormonal birth control is on the horizon, say scientists.

From the BBC News-2007-10-17:20:6:2



Museum cancels race row scientist


The Science Museum cancels a talk by a geneticist who claims black people are less intelligent than white people.

From the BBC News-2007-10-17:20:6:1



Scientists hail DNA repair study


Research into how the human body repairs damaged DNA has been described as a "major breakthrough".

From the BBC News-2007-10-17:9:5:2



Ancient reptile tracks unearthed


The earliest evidence for the existence of reptiles is found in rocks dating back 315 million years.

From the BBC News-2007-10-17:9:5:1



Giant dino's; found in Argentina


Scientists believe they have found a new species of giant plant-eating dinosaur at a site in Argentina.

From the BBC News-2007-10-16:12:19:1



Facts Prove No Match for Gossip, It Seems


Why do we gossip? Evolution may hold some surprising answers.

From the NYTimes News-2007-10-16:8:5:1



Eighty million years without sex


UK scientists crack the mystery of how an ancient animal has survived for millions of years without sex.

From the BBC News-2007-10-15:9:3:1



The DNA Age: Seeking Columbus’s Origins, With a Swab


DNA may help solve a dispute between those who claim alternative bragging rights to Christopher Columbus.

From the NYTimes News-2007-10-12:8:5:3



Hunt for osteoarthritis gene link


British researchers are to carry out the first study to uncover the genetic causes of osteoarthritis.

From the BBC News-2007-10-12:8:5:1



Essay: In a Lifetime of Sickle Cell, the Evolution of a Disease


One woman’s career as a patient and an activist demonstrates how the understanding of sickle cell disease has changed.

From the NYTimes News-2007-10-12:8:5:2



Genetic variation linked to colon cancer


Research teams from Canada, Britain and the United States have identified a genetic variation on chromosome 8 that is linked to colon cancer - a finding that could lead to a way to better identify who needs more regular screening for the disease.

From the CBC News-2007-7-8:20:6:1



Tiny radioactive particles can kill single cancer cells: study


Radioactive particles packed in DNA-sized carbon tubes can target tiny tumours and single leukemia calls by delivering a potent dose of radiation, a new study says.

From the CBC News-2007-8-24:14:6:1



Where Risk and Choice and Hope Converge, a Guiding Voice


Daniela Iacoboni, a genetic counselor, seeks to balance information about risk with caution about passing on serious diseases.

From the NYTimes News-2007-9-24:20:6:1



Mapping genes opens Pandora's box of issues: researcher


Mapping our DNA blueprint could go mainstream in as little a five years, predicts a Canadian researcher, and that could have huge privacy, ethical and societal implications.

From the CBC News-2007-9-21:20:6:1



Blame your genes if your smoking-cessation drug won't work: study


Whether you possess a drug-metabolizing gene may determine whether or not the smoking cessation drug you're taking will work, finds a new study.

From the CBC News-2007-9-18:20:6:2



Scientists Feel Miscast in Film on Life’s Origin


A group of scientists are upset about their inclusion in a film that makes the case for intelligent design.

From the NYTimes News-2007-10-1:14:6:4



Genes Tied to Bad Reactions to Antidepressant Drug


Variations in two genes may increase the likelihood that a person will report suicidal thoughts after taking an antidepressant, researchers reported Thursday.

From the NYTimes News-2007-10-1:14:6:3



Gene expression could determine breast cancer treatment: study


Whether a woman with breast cancer expresses a protein called HER-2 could determine her course of chemotherapy, finds a new study.

From the CBC News-2007-10-11:14:6:1



River reveals 'Jurassic dragon'


The fossil of a prehistoric sea monster that lived at least 144 million years ago is found in a river on the edge of west Belfast

From the BBC News-2007-10-9:8:5:1



In a Lifetime of Sickle Cell, the Evolution of a Disease


One woman’s career as a patient and an activist demonstrates how the understanding of sickle cell disease has changed.

From the NYTimes News-2007-10-9:8:5:2



3 Win Nobel in Medicine for Gene Technology


Two Americans and a Briton developed a powerful technology that allows the creation of animal models of human disease in mice.

From the NYTimes News-2007-10-8:20:6:1



3 Win Nobel in Medicine for Gene Manipulation


Mario R. Capecchi, Oliver Smithies and Martin J. Evans helped develop a technique to manipulate genes in mice.

From the NYTimes News-2007-10-8:8:5:2



Seeking Columbus’s Origins, With a Swab


DNA analysis may help solve a long-running dispute between those who would claim alternative bragging rights to Christopher Columbus.

From the NYTimes News-2007-10-8:8:5:3



Key gene work scoops Nobel Prize


Groundbreaking work in gene technology wins three scientists a share of the Nobel Prize for medicine.

From the BBC News-2007-10-8:8:5:1



Teachers 'fear evolution lessons'


The rise of creationism is making the teaching of evolution increasingly tough, a leading scientist says.

From the BBC News-2007-10-5:8:5:1



Duck-billed dinosaur had big bite


A new species of duck-billed dinosaur that had up to 800 teeth is described by scientists.

From the BBC News-2007-10-3:8:5:1



Fossil DNA Expands Neanderthal Range


A discovery suggests that a prehistoric division of the world may not have been quite so clear-cut.

From the NYTimes News-2007-10-2:8:5:1



Exoneration Using DNA Brings Change in Legal System


All but eight states now give inmates access to DNA evidence that might not have been available at the time of their convictions.

From the NYTimes News-2007-10-1:14:6:5



Is 'Do Unto Others' Written Into Our Genes?


Where do moral rules come from? From reason? From God? Some suggest morality can be found buried deep in evolution.

From the NYTimes News-2007-9-24:20:6:2



DNA bounty from mammoth hair


A rapid technique for isolating DNA in hair provides a new route to study the genetics of extinct creatures.

From the BBC News-2007-9-28:8:5:1



Elephantiasis genetics laid bare


The genetic blueprint of a parasite that causes disfiguring elephantiasis has been unravelled.

From the BBC News-2007-9-22:20:6:1



Genetic test for prostate cancer


A genetic test which may improve accurate diagnosis of prostate cancer is launched in the UK.

From the BBC News-2007-9-21:8:5:1



Baby dinosaurs found in China


A herd of fossilised infant dinosaurs killed in a volcanic mudflow are found in China.

From the BBC News-2007-9-20:20:6:2



Velociraptor dino 'had feathers'


A re-assessed fossil from a <I>Velociraptor</I> dinosaur suggests the animal was probably covered in feathers.

From the BBC News-2007-9-20:20:6:1



Dinosaurs Joined Early


The fossils of six young dinosaurs found together in a “nursery” in northeast China show that these animals had started forming social groups much earlier than previously thought.

From the NYTimes News-2007-9-20:8:5:2



Fossils Reveal Clues on Human Ancestor


The discovery of four fossil skeletons of human ancestors in Georgia, a former Soviet republic, offers a look at a species in transition.

From the NYTimes News-2007-9-20:8:5:1



New Fossils Offer Glimpse of Human Ancestors


The findings are considered a significant step toward understanding who were some of the first ancestors to migrate out of Africa some 1.8 million years ago.

From the NYTimes News-2007-9-19:20:6:1



World’s Languages Dying Off Rapidly


Of the estimated 7,000 languages spoken in the world today, linguists say, nearly half are in danger of extinction and are likely to disappear in this century.

From the NYTimes News-2007-9-18:20:6:1



Rare honour for Indian geologist


A 565-million-year-old fossil found in the 1960s in Canada is named after the Indian geologist who discovered it.

From the BBC News-2007-9-18:14:6:1



How mutant gene causes fragile X


A genetic mutation can trigger learning difficulties by changing the way brain cells communicate with each other, research shows.

From the BBC News-2007-9-18:14:6:2



In the Trenches: Where Risk and Choice and Hope Converge, a Guiding Voice


Daniela Iacoboni, a genetic counselor, seeks to balance information about risk with caution about passing on serious diseases.

From the NYTimes News-2007-9-18:8:5:4



Lost in a Million-Year Gap, Solid Clues to Human Origins


The origin of our own genus Homo is one of the most intriguing and intractable mysteries in human evolution.

From the NYTimes News-2007-9-18:8:5:3



Experts call for DNA restrictions


Police should only be allowed to keep the DNA of people convicted of a crime, a UK bioethics group says.

From the BBC News-2007-9-18:8:5:1



Sweating genetic details: It's all in the nose, researchers say


Researchers say a genetic variation in people's odour receptors can determine whether sweaty men are perceived as smelling like stale urine or vanilla.

From the CBC News-2007-9-17:14:6:1



Concern over DNA database access


Controls are needed to ensure genetic information for research is not used by outside parties, British warn experts.

From the BBC News-2007-9-17:8:5:1



Test may prove chemical damage


Scientists say a new DNA test may help prove if people have had their health damaged by exposure to chemicals.

From the BBC News-2007-9-17:8:5:2



Cancer Free at Age 33, but Weighing a Mastectomy


More young women are learning early that they are genetically prone to breast cancer, setting off a new type of family drama.

From the NYTimes News-2007-9-16:8:5:1



Neanderthal climate link debated


A study challenges a theory that abrupt and catastrophic climate change extinguished the last Neanderthals.

From the BBC News-2007-9-13:14:6:1



Gorillas head race to extinction


Gorillas, corals and vultures are all closer to extinction, according to the latest bleak analysis of the natural world.

From the BBC News-2007-9-12:14:6:1



DNA to track UK-Russia migration


A DNA survey aims to identify descendants of Britons who settled in Russia hundreds of years ago.

From the BBC News-2007-9-11:8:5:1



Study Finds Evidence of Genetic Response to Diet


It is becoming clear that the human genome responds to changes in diet, even though it takes many generations to do so.

From the NYTimes News-2007-9-10:8:5:2



Starch 'fuel of human evolution'


Man's ability to digest starchy foods may explain our success on the planet, genetic work suggests.

From the BBC News-2007-9-10:8:5:1



3D face scans spot gene syndromes


3D scans of faces are set to speed up the diagnosis of rare genetic conditions, scientists say.

From the BBC News-2007-9-9:20:6:1



Despite DNA Test, Prosecutor Is Retrying Case


Prosecutors in Mississippi have sought a new capital murder trial after DNA evidence overturned a conviction.

From the NYTimes News-2007-9-6:8:5:1



'No plan' for DNA samples for all


The government says there are no plans to make it compulsory for all UK residents to be on the national DNA database.

From the BBC News-2007-9-5:20:6:1



Space pile-up 'condemned dinos'


A huge collision in space 160 million years ago set the dinosaurs on the path to extinction, a study claims.

From the BBC News-2007-9-5:14:6:1



Gene 'controls body fat levels'


A single gene can keep in check the body's tendency to pile on fat, scientists show.

From the BBC News-2007-9-5:8:5:1



All UK 'must be on DNA database'


A judge calls for the entire population of the UK and all visitors to be placed on the national DNA database.

From the BBC News-2007-9-5:8:5:2



Pig DNA reveals farming history


A study of 7,000-year-old pig remains gives new insight into the migration of Middle Eastern people into Europe.

From the BBC News-2007-9-4:14:6:1



Observatory: When Bacteria Transfer Genes to Invertebrates and Spread From There


Scienctists have discovered widespread transfer of bacterial genes into the genome of numerous invertebrates.

From the NYTimes News-2007-9-4:8:5:2



In the Genome Race, the Sequel Is Personal


A newly decoded genome makes clear that the variation in the genetic programming carried by an individual is much greater than expected, researchers are reporting.

From the NYTimes News-2007-9-4:8:5:1



Scientists discover height gene


Scientists have discovered the first gene that influences a person's height.

From the BBC News-2007-9-3:8:5:1



Orchids date to time of the dinos


Ancient orchid pollen trapped in amber shows that the plants were blooming at the time of the dinosaurs.

From the BBC News-2007-8-31:18:7:1



Useful Mutants, Bred With Radiation


Public fears aside, scientists mimic nature’s genetic scrambling to bolster fruits and vegetables, as well as beer and whiskey.

From the NYTimes News-2007-8-28:8:5:1



Fossils belong to new great ape


Nine fossilised teeth found in Ethiopia are from a previously unknown species of great ape, Nature journal reports.

From the BBC News-2007-8-22:14:6:1



T. rex would outrun footballer


<I>Tyrannosaurus rex</I> was fast enough on its legs to outrun a footballer, a study by a British team suggests.

From the BBC News-2007-8-21:21:28:1



Observatory: Birds Band Together to Raise Offspring in Dire Times


A new study shows that climate uncertainty has influenced the evolution of cooperative behavoir in African starlings.

From the NYTimes News-2007-8-21:8:5:1



Latest Genealogy Tools Create a Need to Know


As genealogical societies and Web sites proliferate and DNA testing becomes more widely available, researching family roots has become a passion for many Americans.

From the NYTimes News-2007-8-18:8:5:1



Fossil sea spiders thrill experts


A cache of exceptionally well-preserved fossil sea spiders have been described for the first time.

From the BBC News-2007-8-16:8:5:1



Gene preventing cells from becoming cancer tumours discovered


A gene that suppresses the growth of many cancerous tumours has been discovered by B.C. researchers.

From the CBC News-2007-8-14:20:6:1



Rare river dolphin now extinct


A freshwater dolphin found only in China is now "likely to be extinct", a team of scientists concludes.

From the BBC News-2007-8-11:21:7:1



Study Finds Genetic Key to a Kind of Glaucoma


A new finding may provide a basis for devising new treatments for a leading cause of blindness.

From the NYTimes News-2007-8-10:8:5:2



For Missouri, Stem Cell Amendment Changes Little


A voter-approved expansion of stem cell research in the state has run into political and financial roadblocks, putting the future of the research in doubt.

From the NYTimes News-2007-8-10:8:5:1



California: Stem Cell Program Appointment


California’s $3 billion stem cell research program appointed an interim president, Richard A. Murphy, while it continued a longer-than-expected search for a permanent chief.

From the NYTimes News-2007-8-9:8:5:1



Fossils in Kenya Challenge Linear Evolution


Two fossils have shaken the human family tree, possibly rearranging major branches thought to be in a straight ancestral line to Homo sapiens.

From the NYTimes News-2007-8-8:20:6:1



Finds test human origins theory


Two hominid fossils discovered in Kenya challenge a long-held view of human evolution.

From the BBC News-2007-8-8:14:6:1



Famous fossil Lucy starts US tour


One of the world's most famous fossils leaves Ethiopia for a controversial tour of US museums.

From the BBC News-2007-8-7:8:5:1



Congress Is Getting Ready to Debate Energy Bill


Congress is set to debate an energy bill that could be a major leap toward the twin goals of reducing reliance on dirty-burning fossil fuels and slowing global warming.

From the NYTimes News-2007-8-3:14:6:1



Within Discredited Stem Cell Research, a True Scientific First


A Korean scientist who was found to have fabricated much of his work did achieve a scientific first, though not the one he claimed.

From the NYTimes News-2007-8-3:8:5:1



Titanic baby given new identity


Canadian scientists who used DNA to identify a infant victim of the Titanic say he is not Finnish, but English.

From the BBC News-2007-8-2:8:5:1



Fisherman catches 'living fossil'


A "living fossil" fish caught by a fisherman off the coast of Indonesia is examined by scientists.

From the BBC News-2007-8-1:14:6:1



Books of the Times: Language Evolution’s Slippery Tropes


Christine Kenneally’s “The First Word” is a lucid survey of the expanding field of language evolution.

From the NYTimes News-2007-8-1:8:5:1



Left-handedness gene discovered


Scientists discover a gene for left-handedness - which may also increase the risk of mental health problems.

From the BBC News-2007-7-31:8:5:1



Scientist at Work | Martin Nowak: In Games, an Insight Into the Rules of Evolution


Martin Nowak’s projects may seem randomly scattered across the sciences but they share an underlying theme: cooperation.

From the NYTimes News-2007-7-31:8:5:2



Scientists find 2 genes linked to multiple sclerosis


British and U.S. researchers have located two genes that increase the risk of getting multiple sclerosis, something scientists have been looking to find for 30 years.

From the CBC News-2007-7-30:8:5:3



New MS genes after 30 year hunt


The first new genes for three decades linked to multiple sclerosis have been identified by UK and US researchers.

From the BBC News-2007-7-30:8:5:1



Odile Crick, Who Drew Iconic Double Helix, Dies at 86


Mrs. Crick’s original illustration of the structure of DNA, discovered by her husband, Francis H. C. Crick and James D. Watson, became a symbol of modern molecular biology.

From the NYTimes News-2007-7-30:8:5:2



Goats make nerve gas antidote


Scientists genetically modify goats to create a drug in their milk that protects against deadly nerve gases.

From the BBC News-2007-7-25:20:6:1



Scientists map elephant evolution


Scientists say they have worked out the date the African and Asian elephants diverged, putting it at 7.6 million years ago.

From the BBC News-2007-7-24:14:6:1



Dinosaurs' slow rise to dominance


Dinosaurs might have gone out with a sudden bang, but their rise to dominance was a gradual ascent, experts say.

From the BBC News-2007-7-24:9:22:2



Greek mastodon find 'spectacular'


Remains of a mastodon - a mammoth-like animal - are found in northern Greece, including gigantic tusks.

From the BBC News-2007-7-24:9:22:1



MS Society announces $2.4 M for stem cell research


Two Ottawa researchers will continue work on bone marrow stem cell transplant therapy for people with multiple sclerosis thanks to a new $2.4 million grant.

From the CBC News-2007-7-18:20:6:1



Ability to listen to two things simultaneously inherited: study


Your ability to listen to a phone message in one ear while a friend is talking into your other ear -- and understand what both are saying - is an important communication skill that's heavily influenced by your genes, say U.S. researchers.

From the CBC News-2007-7-17:14:6:1



Emissions don't make Europe happy


Europe's fossil fuel use is rising, but it's not making citizens any happier, an economic report concludes.

From the BBC News-2007-7-15:20:6:1



Butterfly shows evolution at work


A Pacific island butterfly makes a comeback, in one of the fastest evolutionary changes ever observed.

From the BBC News-2007-7-12:20:6:1



Ethiopia yields ancestral fossils


Researchers find a cache of fossils in northern Ethiopia belonging to early human ancestors.

From the BBC News-2007-7-11:14:6:1



World Briefing | Europe: Russia: Mammoth’s Corpse Found


Remains of a baby mammoth were discovered in the permafrost of northwest Siberia, adding to some scientists’ hope of resurrecting the species, the BBC reported. The 6-month-old female calf was on the Yamal peninsula and is thought to have died 10,000 years ago. Scientists have said it could be the best preserved specimen of its type. Its trunk, eyes and some fur are still intact. The mammoth was found in May by a reindeer herder, and last week an international delegation of experts examined it. If viable DNA can be extracted, it might theoretically be cloned.

From the NYTimes News-2007-7-11:8:5:1



US could approve clones as food


The US could approve cloned animals for use as food in as little as three years, according to experts.

From the BBC News-2007-7-10:14:6:1



Observatory: In a Hole in the Ice in Greenland, Proof of a Forested Past


Ice can be loaded with dirt and, by consequence, fragments of ancient DNA that have been preserved by the cold.

From the NYTimes News-2007-7-10:8:5:1



The Gregarious Brain


Williams syndrome — a genetic accident that causes cognitive deficits and a surplus of unguarded affability — is revealing much about what makes us social beings.

From the NYTimes News-2007-7-8:14:6:1



Ideas & Trends: Genetic Engineers Who Don’t Just Tinker


Forget genetic engineering. The new idea is synthetic biology, an effort to rewire the genetic circuitry of living organisms.

From the NYTimes News-2007-7-8:8:5:1



Tinkering With Humans


A philosopher makes a case for setting limits on self-improvement, genetic and otherwise.

From the NYTimes News-2007-7-8:8:5:2



Expanded Search for Extraterrestrial Life Urged


The hunt for alien life should be expanded to include organisms that lack DNA, a panel of scientists said today.

From the NYTimes News-2007-7-6:20:6:1



DNA reveals Greenland's lush past


Ancient DNA samples show that southern Greenland was teeming with insect and plant life 450,000 years ago.

From the BBC News-2007-7-6:14:6:1



Childhood asthma gene identified, say scientists


A gene that significantly increases the risk of developing childhood asthma has been identified by a team of international scientists who say their findings may lead to new therapies.

From the CBC News-2007-7-5:20:6:1



New fossil guard on beach patrol


A new warden is patrolling Dorset's Jurassic Coast to prevent intrusive fossil hunters hacking into the cliffs.

From the BBC News-2007-7-5:14:6:1



Gene linked to childhood asthma


Scientists have identified a gene that is strongly associated with an increased risk of childhood asthma.

From the BBC News-2007-7-5:8:5:1



Cloned sperm created in the lab


Cloning sperm could enable men with very low sperm counts to become fathers, say US scientists.

From the BBC News-2007-7-3:14:6:1



A Conversation With Elizabeth H. Blackburn: Finding Clues to Aging in the Fraying Tips of Chromosomes


Elizabeth H. Blackburn studies aging and biochemical changes in cells that are related to the diseases of old age and may have a shot at the Nobel Prize in Medicine.

From the NYTimes News-2007-7-3:8:5:1



Evolution Is ...


From the NYTimes News-2007-7-2:20:6:2



Inferior Design


In his second book, Michael Behe turns to genetics to poke holes in Darwin’s theory.

From the NYTimes News-2007-7-2:20:6:1