Tag Archives: DNA

Mitochondrial disease: Healthy babies born in Britain after scientists used DNA from three people to avoid genetic disease

Mitochondrial disease: Healthy babies born in Britain after scientists used DNA from three people to avoid genetic disease

Facebook Tweet Email Link London AP  —  Eight healthy babies were born in Britain with the help of an experimental technique that uses DNA from three people to help mothers avoid passing devastating rare diseases to their children, researchers reported Wednesday. Most DNA is found in the nucleus of our cells, and it’s that genetic material — some inherited from …

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Eight healthy babies born after IVF using DNA from three people | Science

Eight healthy babies born after IVF using DNA from three people | Science

Doctors in the UK have announced the birth of eight healthy babies after performing a groundbreaking procedure that creates IVF embryos with DNA from three people to prevent the children from inheriting incurable genetic disorders. The mothers were all high risk for passing on life-threatening diseases to their babies due to mutations in their mitochondria, the tiny structures that sit …

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Ancient DNA study suggests one thing is to blame for ‘new era of disease’ in humans

Ancient DNA study suggests one thing is to blame for ‘new era of disease’ in humans

More than 37,000 years of infectious diseases in humans have been mapped by scientists, with academics pointing to one particular behaviour from our ancestors as playing a “key role” in their spread. Involving researchers linked to British; Danish; Swedish; German; Italian, and Australian universities, the study saw them analyse DNA from more than 1,300 prehistoric humans dating back as far …

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Brain Abnormality in Modern Humans Linked to Ancient Neanderthal DNA

Brain Abnormality in Modern Humans Linked to Ancient Neanderthal DNA

Significant brain defects known as Chiari malformations could be down the genes some of us have inherited from Neanderthals, according to a new study, causing a mismatch between brain shape and skull shape. The study focuses on Chiari malformation type I (CM-I), where the lower part of the brain extends too far into the spinal cord – typically linked to …

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Ancient DNA reveals 37,000 years of hidden human infections

Ancient DNA reveals 37,000 years of hidden human infections

Using ancient DNA recovered from prehistoric bones and teeth, scientists have built a 37,000‑year timeline of human infections, stretching from the icy mammoth camps of Siberia to medieval graveyards in Denmark. The new genetic map shows how early microbes began shaping human history. The scientists sequenced remains from 1,313 individuals and found genetic traces of 214 different pathogens. These range …

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Researchers tie purring to DNA repetition in domestic cat

Researchers tie purring to DNA repetition in domestic cat

To most cat lovers, the soothing sound of a purr is more than background noise—it’s a soft, rhythmic expression of trust, contentment and connection. But a new study suggests there may be something deeper behind your cat’s purring habits. In fact, the key to that comforting hum might be found in their genes. Researchers from Kyoto University in Japan, publishing …

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How is DNA used to identify victims of mass disasters?

How is DNA used to identify victims of mass disasters?

On June 12, 2025, an Air India flight crashed shortly after takeoff, killing 260 people. The plane was carrying over 33,000 gallons (125,000 liters) of fuel, leading to a massive fire, and several bodies were charred beyond recognition, fragmented or otherwise rendered unrecognizable. To identify the bodies, officials sought DNA samples from the victims’ family members. More than two weeks …

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