Tag Archives: genes

Most of us carry a small trace of Neanderthal ancestry and, in some cases, that legacy sits in our legs. A single change in a muscle enzyme can subtly throttle how hard muscles can work under pressure. People outside Africa typically carry about 2 percent Neanderthal DNA in their genomes, a result of ancient interbreeding between populations. That shared history …

Three scientists learned they carry genes that significantly increase their risk for Alzheimer’s. Here’s how they’re grapping with the news, and working to keep their brains healthy. mohd izzuan/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption mohd izzuan/Getty Images People who inherit two copies of a gene variant called APOE4 have a 60% chance of developing Alzheimer’s by age 85. Only about …

A huge analysis of DNA methylation in human tissue has revealed new anti-ageing targets.Credit: Lawrence Lawry/SPL The visible effects of ageing on our body are in part linked to invisible changes in gene activity. The epigenetic process of DNA methylation — the addition or removal of tags called methyl groups — becomes less precise as we age. The result is …

Uncovering the Genes That Let Our Ancestors Walk Upright  The New York Times The evolution of hominin bipedalism in two steps  Nature Two Evolutionary Changes Underpinning Human Bipedalism Are Discovered  U.S. News & World Report Two Changes in Bone Development Allowed Humans to Stand on Two Legs  the-scientist.com Harvard researchers unveil genetic changes behind unique human pelvis evolution – CHOSUNBIZ  Chosun Biz Source link

Some of the first human settlers in the Americas carried more than primitive skills and tools, they also brought a small but powerful genetic variant called MUC19. That gene fragment, inherited from an extinct hominin called Denisovans, appears to have helped early people cope with new diseases, foods, and landscapes. In a new study, a team of scientists …

Sydney Sweeney has made her first post since facing backlash over her American Eagle ad, which embroiled the actress in accusations of racism. The 27-year-old broke her social media silence to promote her crime thriller film, Americana. She shared several behind-the-scenes photos from the Tony Tost-directed film, including a snapshot of herself in character as Penny Jo Poplin. Highlights Sydney …

An illustration of Demosthenes of Athens and a photograph of King George VI, both of whom had stutters A genetic analysis of a million individuals with stutters has clued Australian researchers into a potential genetic component that would revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of this common disorder. 400 million people worldwide have stutters, and a cross-Pacific partnership between Curtin Stuttering …

The effect of a gene can vary greatly — and sometimes be the complete opposite — depending on whether it is inherited from the mother or the father. Some genetic variants can, for instance, increase a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes when inherited from the father, but lower it when inherited from the mother. But such effects have …

Hibernating mammals rely on particular genes to adjust their metabolisms as they enter that unique, low-energy state — and humans actually carry that same hibernation-related DNA. Now, early research hints that leveraging this particular DNA could help treat medical conditions in people, scientists say. Hibernation offers “a whole bunch of different biometrically important superpowers,” senior study author Christopher Gregg, a …

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 …