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2014 | Soraya de Chadarevian – Chromosome Surveys of Human Populations: Between Epidemiology and Anthropology

ISG professor, Soraya de Chadarevian, recently published “Chromosome Surveys of Human Populations: Between Epidemiology and Anthropology” in the Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C: Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences. Abstract: It is commonly held that after 1945 human genetics turned medical and focussed on the individual rather than on the study of human…

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Texas A&M Biologists Unlock Non-Coding Half of Human Genome with Novel DNA Sequencing Technique

An obscure swatch of human DNA once thought to be nothing more than biological trash may actually offer a treasure trove of insight into complex genetic-related diseases such as cancer and diabetes, thanks to a novel sequencing technique developed by biologists at Texas A&M University. The game-changing discovery was part of a study led by Texas A&M biology doctoral candidate…

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Why Do Chimps Kill Each Other?

War—what is it good for? “Absolutely nothing” according to the refrain of a 1970 hit song. Many humans would agree with this sentiment. But a major new study of warfare in chimpanzees finds that lethal aggression can be evolutionarily beneficial in that species, rewarding the winners with food, mates, and the opportunity to pass along their genes. The findings run…

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How Evolutionary Principles Could Help Save Our World

The age of the Anthropocene–the scientific name given to our current geologic age–is dominated by human impacts on our environment. A warming climate. Increased resistance of pathogens and pests. A swelling population. Coping with these modern global challenges requires application of what one might call a more-ancient principle: evolution. That’s the recommendation of a diverse group of researchers, in a…

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