Genomic data — the oldest ever recovered from a fossil — reveals the origin and evolution of the Columbian mammoth.
Tag: DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)
The Real Dire Wolf Ran Into an Evolutionary Dead End
The species’ remarkable genetic isolation from other wolves may have contributed to its demise.
Bryan Sykes, Who Saw the Ancient Past in Genes, Dies at 73
An Oxford scientist with a flair for the dramatic, he introduced millions of people to the secrets of their ancestry through his books and TV appearances.
He Spent 20 Years in Prison, Until a Serial Killer Confessed to the Crime
Yoon Sung-yeo was sentenced to life for a crime he did not commit in South Korea. He was able to clear his name after a notorious serial killer confessed last year.
New Type of Test May Better Discern Immunity to the Coronavirus
The test detects the response of T cells to the virus — an arm of the immune system that may be just as important as antibodies to preventing reinfection.
Viking Age Smallpox Complicates Story of Viral Evolution
An extinct version of the smallpox virus dating to 1,400 years ago prompts speculation about viruses becoming more lethal over time.
Once Science Fiction, Gene Editing Is Now a Looming Reality
The prospect of erasing some disabilities and perceived deficiencies hovers at the margins of what people consider ethically acceptable.
Scientists Find an Earthquake’s Toll in an Organism’s DNA
Along a coastline in New Zealand, kelp seems to contain a genetic record of the planet’s geological upheaval.
China Is Collecting DNA From Tens of Millions of Men and Boys, Using U.S. Equipment
Even children are pressed into giving blood samples to build a sweeping genetic database that will add to Beijing’s growing surveillance capabilities, raising questions about abuse and privacy.
Genes May Leave Some People More Vulnerable to Severe Covid-19
Geneticists have turned up intriguing links between DNA and the disease. Patients with Type A blood, for example, seem to be at greater risk.