Western Lowland Gorilla Genome Mapped with New Level of Accuracy
The genome of the Western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla ssp. gorilla) has been sequenced at a high level of quality beginning to approach that of the human genome, says a…
biology
Ancient Viral Invaders in Our DNA Help Fight Today’s Infections
About eight percent of our DNA is viral in origin: remnants of ancient battles between infectious viruses and our ancestors. These so-called endogenous viruses are often perceived as a mere…
Humans Evolved by Sharing Technology and Culture
New findings from Blombos Cave show that Stone Age man in Africa exchanged technology to a large extent. The more contact between groups, the stronger technology developed. The exchange of…
Chemical Used to Replace BPA in Plastic Accelerates Embryonic Development, Disrupts Reproductive System
Companies advertise BPA-free plastic as a safer version of products ranging from water bottles to sippy cups to toys. Many manufacturers stopped using bisphenol A, a chemical that is used…
Y Gene Not Necessary for Assisted Reproduction of Mice
The Y chromosome is a symbol of maleness, present only in males and encoding genes important for male reproduction. But a new study has shown that live mouse progeny can…
UI Chemists Uncover How Key Agent Allows Diseases to Reproduce
Humans have been successful at treating a host of diseases. Yet some continue to elude medicine’s best attempts. Now, researchers at the University of Iowa have revealed how these diseases…