Tuesday, September 17, 2013
DNA Double Take
"...cientists are finding that it’s quite common for an individual to have multiple genomes. Some people, for example, have groups of cells with mutations that are not found in the rest of the body. Some have genomes that came from other people." Full news article @ NYTimes.com
Labels: DNA transfer, genetics
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Swapping DNA in the Womb
A new study finds male genes in women’s brains, the first evidence of microchimerism in the human brain. Full news article @ The Scientist
Article: Chan WFN, Gurnot C, Montine TJ, Sonnen JA, Guthrie KA, et al. (2012) Male Microchimerism in the Human Female Brain. PLoS ONE 7(9): e45592. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0045592
Article: Chan WFN, Gurnot C, Montine TJ, Sonnen JA, Guthrie KA, et al. (2012) Male Microchimerism in the Human Female Brain. PLoS ONE 7(9): e45592. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0045592
Monday, December 28, 2009
Scientist Video Awards
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Gene hunters
"Søren Brunak at the Technical University of Denmark and Kasper Lage, now at the Broad Institute in Boston, developed a computational method to predict which proteins most likely cause a particular disease. [...] This study was one of the first to use computational methods to predict a gene–phenotype relationship." article @ TheScientist.com.
K. Lage et al., “A human phenome-interactome network of protein complexes implicated in genetic disorders,” Nat Biotech, 25: 309–316, 2007.
K. Lage et al., “A human phenome-interactome network of protein complexes implicated in genetic disorders,” Nat Biotech, 25: 309–316, 2007.
Labels: computational biology, disease, genetics, genomics, proteomics
Thursday, November 12, 2009
molecular basis of language and human evolution?
"The FOXP2 gene is implicated in the development of human speech and language. A comparison of the human and chimpanzee FOXP2 proteins highlights the differences in function in the two species." Full article @ Nature.com.
Labels: dna, evolution, genetics, natural language
Monday, April 20, 2009
Who's the Queen?
Biologists are finding that in some social insects nature, not nurture, determines whether offspring become workers or royalty. Full article @ Science
Labels: genetics, social agents, Swarms
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Human genes are multitaskers
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Evolutionary genetics: Making the most of redundancy
Single genes, chromosomal regions and even entire genomes can undergo duplication. What good can come of these extra copies? Evolution seems to use several tricks to take advantage of the situation. Full paper @ Nature
Also see Gene duplication and the adaptive evolution of a classic genetic switch
Also see Gene duplication and the adaptive evolution of a classic genetic switch
Labels: evolution, genetics, non-coding DNA
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Y Chromosome's Evolution
"Scientists have decoded the chimp genome and compared it with that of humans, a major step toward defining what makes people human and developing a deep insight into the evolution of human sexual behavior". Full article:
In Chimpanzee DNA, Signs of Y Chromosome's Evolution at the NYTimes Web site.
In Chimpanzee DNA, Signs of Y Chromosome's Evolution at the NYTimes Web site.
Labels: dna, evolution, genetics
MicroRNAs in early patterning
MicroRNAs influence crucial decisions in the patterning of the early vertebrate embryo, reports a study in Nature. The study is the first example of microRNAs regulating a fundamental signaling cascade, the authors say.
Full Story @ The Scientist
Full Story @ The Scientist
Monday, February 16, 2009
a Code Beyond Genetics in DNA
"The genetic code specifies all the proteins that a cell makes. The second code, superimposed on the first, sets the placement of the nucleosomes, miniature protein spools around which the DNA is looped. The spools both protect and control access to the DNA itself". Full Story: Scientists Say They’ve Found a Code Beyond Genetics in DNA - New York Times
Research Article: Segal et al [2006]. A genomic code for nucleosome positioning. Nature 442, 772-778.
Research Article: Segal et al [2006]. A genomic code for nucleosome positioning. Nature 442, 772-778.
Labels: code, genetics, information
The Genographic Project
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Ancient Virus Gave Wasps Their Sting
"Find solves decades-old debate about mysterious toxins". Story @ ScienceNOW
Labels: biology, DNA transfer, genetics
