Category: Genetics

Mental illnesses are thought to directly impact about one in every seven people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, and those around them are also often affected. Mental health issues can be…

The house cat (Felis catus) slunk into China in the eighth century. But long before that, the ancient Chinese were by no means catless.

Scientists have successfully extracted and sequenced ancient RNA from permafrost-preserved tissues of 10 woolly mammoths. One of these, dated to be 39,000 years old, represents the oldest ancient RNA sequences recorded to date.

Scientists have recently been learning more about the importance of small bits of circular genetic material known as extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA). These little circles of DNA can hitch a ride with chromosomes…

Lurking deep in the ocean is a crimson, many-limbed beast known as…

Many dog owners may not be surprised to learn that most dogs still carry some wolf DNA in their genomes. Domestication has changed dogs dramatically from their wolf ancestors, but most do still have some small…

The domestic cat (Felis catus) descends from the African wildcat (Felis lybica lybica). Its global distribution alongside humans testifies to its successful adaptation to anthropogenic environments. Uncertainty remains regarding whether…

The genome of the vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis sp.) is one of the largest animal genomes, exceeding 10 billion base pairs.

When a gene is expressed, its DNA sequence is transcribed into a molecule known as RNA. Then the cell processes and edits that RNA before it is translated into protein. Many genes can be processed and edited…

Scientists have revealed parts of the genome that are especially vulnerable to mutations that occur very early on in development. These areas are in the initial portions of genes, where the cell tends to start…