Polygamous birds shown to have fewer harmful mutations
Bird species that breed with several sexual partners have fewer harmful mutations, according to a study led by the Milner Centre for Evolution at the University of Bath. The study, published in Evolution, shows for the first time how polygamy increas.....»»
Could feral animals in Australia become distinct species? Some early signs that it"s possible
You might think evolution is glacially slow. At a species level, that's true. But evolution happens every time organisms produce offspring. The everyday mixing of genes—combined with mutations—throws up new generations upon which "selection press.....»»
Study finds that UV-emitting nail polish dryers damage DNA and cause mutations in cells
The ultraviolet nail polish drying devices used to cure gel manicures may pose more of a public health concern than previously thought. Researchers at the University of California San Diego have studied these ultraviolet (UV) light emitting devices,.....»»
Modified CRISPR-based enzymes improve the prospect of inserting entire genes into the genome
Many genetic diseases are caused by diverse mutations spread across an entire gene, and designing genome editing approaches for each patient's mutation would be impractical and costly......»»
Scandinavian wolves found to carry many harmful mutations
In a new scientific study, researchers at Uppsala University have shown that Scandinavian wolves carry around 100,000 harmful mutations in their genome. As long as the harmful mutations can be compensated by a healthy genetic variant, this does not n.....»»
Why synonymous mutations are not always silent
New modeling shows how synonymous mutations—those that change the DNA sequence of a gene but not the sequence of the encoded protein—can still impact protein production and function. A team of researchers led by Penn State chemists modeled how ge.....»»
New technique makes gene editing at scale possible in animals, shortening work timeframes by years
Working in teeny tiny worms, scientists can now test the effects of thousands of genetic mutations in one fell swoop......»»
New genetic research advances understanding of internal mechanisms of biological clocks
University of Massachusetts Amherst research into genetic mutations that affect circadian rhythms offers new insight into the rest-wake cycle and provides a new model for investigating human disease and ultimately developing medical treatments......»»
Black Death etched a mark on our genetics, warping immune responses, study finds
The plague may have put selective pressure on mutations in four genes. Enlarge / Researchers extracted DNA from the remains of people buried in the East Smithfield plague pits, which were used for mass burials in 1348 and 1349. (credit.....»»
Which population structures maximize evolutionary fitness?
Scientists at the Max Planck Institute in Plön have shown that population structures that enhance the effect of selection do not necessarily also lead to higher fitness. Instead, it is crucial for maximizing fitness that detrimental mutations are pr.....»»
Study reveals the molecular origin of the genetic disease cystinosis
The rare genetic disease cystinosis is caused by mutations in the gene for a protein called cystinosin. A team of scientists has now solved the structure of cystinosin and determined how mutations interfere with its normal function, providing insight.....»»
Corals can pass mutations acquired during their lifetimes to offspring
In a discovery that challenges over a century of evolutionary conventional wisdom, corals have been shown to pass somatic mutations—changes to the DNA sequence that occur in non-reproductive cells—to their offspring. The finding, by an internatio.....»»
Researchers find spaceflight may be associated with DNA mutations, increased risk of heart disease and cancer
Astronauts are at higher risk for developing mutations—possibly linked to spaceflight—that can increase the risk of developing cancer and heart disease during their lifetimes, according to a first-of-its kind study from the Icahn School of Medici.....»»
First mouse model with mitochondrial tRNALeu mutation developed
Studying the role of mitochondria—the specialized structures within cells responsible for energy production—in metabolic diseases has been difficult because of a lack of animal models with the necessary mitochondrial mutations to observe these ti.....»»
Monitoring genetic mutations important for Florida panther management
The introduction of Texas pumas to Florida in the 1990s as part of a genetic rescue may have helped save Florida panthers from extinction, but it also brought some harmful mutations with it along the way......»»
Asexual reproduction leads to harmful genetic mutations
A team led by biologists at The University of Texas at Arlington has published a study supporting the theory that species that reproduce asexually have more harmful genetic mutations than those utilizing sexual reproduction......»»
New physics law could predict genetic mutations
Genetic mutations could be predicted before they occur using a new law of physics, according to a study from the University of Portsmouth......»»
Study provides novel evolutionary insights into unisexual reproductive success
Unisexual reproduction lacks meiotic recombination, resulting in the accumulation of deleterious mutations and hindering the creation of genetic diversity. Thus, unisexual taxa are commonly considered an evolutionary dead end......»»
How proteins assemble may have underappreciated role in disease
Thanks to advances in genomics in recent decades, researchers now know the genetic mutations responsible for many diseases. However, researchers often still do not know how the mutation leads to the disease—what it changes inside of cells to cause.....»»
It takes three: The genetic mutations that made rice cultivation possible
Rice has a long history as a staple food in Japan and other parts of Asia. The results of a new study by an international research collaboration suggest that the emergence of cultivated rice from wild rice plants is the result of three gene mutations.....»»