Tag Archives: DNA

A genetic study conducted by the University of South Carolina and the National Human Genome Research Institute, published in Science Advances, has uncovered that dogs living within the Chernobyl exclusion zone (CEZ) show distinct genetic changes linked to long-term radiation exposure. Researchers analyzed the DNA of 302 feral dogs from the CEZ and compared it to populations outside the zone, …

DNA that humans acquired from ancient viruses plays a key role in switching parts of our genetic code on and off, a new study has found. Nearly half of the human genome consists of segments called transposable elements (TEs), also known as “jumping genes” because they can hop around the genome. Some of these TEs are remnants of ancient viruses …

After spending months without eating, drinking, or moving, hibernating mammals must rebound from extreme physiological changes. Two new studies suggest that the genetic “superpowers” underlying this incredible resilience may also be present in the human genome. For these studies, published Thursday, July 31, in the journal Science, researchers at the University of Utah honed in on the specific DNA regions …

NASA astronaut Kathleen “Kate” Rubins has retired from the space agency after 16 years, two missions on the International Space Station, four spacewalks and 300 days in space. Her last day at Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston was Monday (July 28). In August 2016, while serving as a flight engineer on the space station’s 48th expedition crew, Rubins made …

NASA astronaut and microbiologist Kate Rubins retired Monday after 16 years with the agency. During her time with NASA, Rubins completed two long-duration missions aboard the International Space Station, logging 300 days in space and conducting four spacewalks. “I want to extend my sincere gratitude to Kate for her dedication to the advancement of human spaceflight,” said Steve Koerner, acting director …

Infographic by Linlin Zhao, University of California Riverside A new chemical probe protects healthy cells from DNA damage, preserving them from one of the 8 hallmarks of aging. The story of this potentially paradigmatic development begins where so much of human health begins: the mitochondria. These organelles are disrespectfully monikered as “the powerhouses” of the cell, but they do so …

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The Saami people, who are indigenous to Finland, speak a Uralic language. | Credit: Getty Images Present-day speakers of Hungarian, Finnish and Estonian have substantial Siberian ancestry, a new study of ancient genomes finds. These roots likely spread westward from a group of …

One person’s junk is another’s treasure. An international team of scientists have found that strings of “junk” DNA in the human genome that were previously written off as having no useful function are actually pretty important after all. The work, published as a study in the journal Science Advances, focuses on transposable elements, a class of DNA sequences that can …

Present-day speakers of Hungarian, Finnish and Estonian have substantial Siberian ancestry, a new study of ancient genomes finds. These roots likely spread westward from a group of people living in the forest steppes of the Altai Mountains of Central and East Asia 4,500 years ago. Ancient DNA revealed that this group was patrilineal, or organized based on descent from fathers. …

Image by Getty / Futurism One person’s junk is another’s treasure. An international team of scientists have found that strings of “junk” DNA in the human genome that were previously written off as having no useful function are actually pretty important after all. The work, published as a study in the journal Science Advances, focuses on transposable elements, a class …