Sequencing the Pigeon Genome
In 1855, in the garden of his country estate, Charles Darwin built a dovecote. He filled it with birds he bought in London from pigeon breeders. He favored the fanciest…
genetics
Digging Deep in the DNA – How Genes Control Complicated Behavior.
The investigation of the genetics of behavior is a huge scientific enterprise, with great progress being made in a variety of species — roundworms, fruit flies, lab mice, sticklebacks. Dr….
Complex Behaviors Driven By Remarkably Simple Genetics
Humans engage in a lot of complex behaviors, but many of them are learned. Genetics gives us a nervous system that’s flexible enough to incorporate new behaviors, and we pick…
Scientists Link Gene Variant to Human Longevity
According to University of California in Irvine scientist, Robert Moyzis, and his collegues, a variant of the dopamine-receptor gene may be associated with longevity. Their findings, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, show that the…
Bill Gates Invests In Cancer DNA Sequencing Firm
“Advances in understanding the human genome are having a dramatic impact on almost every area of medicine. Foundation Medicine’s approach in harnessing the power of genomic data to improve care…
Why We Have a Right to Consumer Genetics
A reporter from the MIT Technology Review discusses her experience of consumer genetics company 23andme, and reviews the future relationship between consumer genetics and the health industry. An excerpt follows,…