Genetics

Science & Society

Expert panel approves human gene editing

Scientists have recently been reporting big advances in the ability to tweak the genes of living organisms, including people. But some question the ethics of doing that. A panel of experts now says such research can go ahead — with one major exception.

Plants

Banana threat: Attack of the clones

Researchers find that disease-causing fungi — all clones of one another — will continue to infect banana plants unless new steps are taken to stop their spread.

Genetics

Taking attendance with eDNA

Environmental DNA, or eDNA, tells biologists what species are in an area — even when they’re out of sight.

Environment

Wildlife forensics turns to eDNA

Environmental DNA, or eDNA, tells biologists what species have been around — even when they’re out of sight or have temporarily moved on.

Genetics

Gene editing creates buff beagles

Scientists showed that a potentially useful new gene-editing tool can work in dogs. It created a pair of adorable, muscular puppies. But the goal is to use it for other research purposes.

Genetics

The earliest evidence of plague

Plague is best known as the killer disease that wiped out nearly half of Europe during the 1300s. But the germ infected people up to 3,000 years earlier than that, DNA from ancient teeth now show.

Chemistry

Trio gets chemistry Nobel for figuring out DNA repair

Three researchers have won the 2015 Nobel Prize in chemistry for working out how cells fix damaged genetic material.

Health & Medicine

Cool Jobs: Finding foods for the future

What's for dinner... tomorrow? Scientists are developing new foods to meet the demands of the growing population in a changing world.

Plants

Plant ‘vampires’ lay in wait

A new study shows how some parasitic plants evolved the ability to sense a potential host — and then send out root-like structures to feed on them.

Genetics

DNA: Our ancient ancestors had lots more

Ancestral humans and their extinct relatives had much more DNA than do people today, a new study finds. It mapped genetic differences over time among 125 different human groups.

Genetics

Scientists Say: Loci

The DNA in our bodies contains thousands of genes, all with different functions. We use a special word for their location.

Genetics

Scientists Say: Allele

What makes your eyes green or brown? Different versions of the same gene. We call these alternative forms by a separate name.