DNA May Have Emerged on Earth as Early as 4 Billion Years Ago
DNA, the hereditary material, may have appeared on Earth earlier than has been assumed hitherto. LMU chemists led by Oliver Trapp show that a simple reaction pathway could have given rise to DNA subunits on the early Earth. How were the building-blocks of life first formed on the early Earth? As yet, only partially satisfactory answers to this question are … Continue reading
Collection of Unique Genes May Hold Answers to the Mysteries of our Evolution
Scientists have discovered an exciting collection of genes that are unique to humans and could hold the key to learning more about our species’ evolution. The find changes the previous understanding of DNA. Before now, these genes were thought to play similar roles across different organisms, but new computational analysis has found that they are actually human-specific. The exciting discovery … Continue reading
History of Giants on Record Explored by Author Hugh Newman
Everyone knows the first line of the English fairy tale, “Fee Fi Fo Fum.” But how many know the rest of the verse, which gets a little dark: “I smell the blood of an Englishman/ Be he alive, or be he dead/ I’ll grind his bones to make my bread.” What the hell kind of bedtime story is that? Actually, … Continue reading
Scientists Create Organism with Synthetic DNA
The live, lab-made microbe, which has a fully synthetic DNA code, is the first of its kind ever created. The breakthrough was made by researchers at the laboratory of molecular biology at Cambridge University who redesigned the DNA of E Coli – a commonly found strain of bacteria. The work involved making up to 18,000 edits to the genome, then … Continue reading
Study Names New Cradle of Human Civilisation
Having started with pearl millets last year, the same research group has continued their exciting journey of examining the roots of plant domestication on the African continent, but this time looking into the genomes of a wealth of wild and cultivated yams, an African staple vegetable. Having investigated the domestication of African yams, a key crop in early African agriculture … Continue reading
Scientists in China Made Rhesus Monkeys Smarter by Adding Human Gene
The 2011 film Rise of the Planet of the Apes begins with concerned scientists attempting to cure Alzheimer’s Disease with an experimental drug that they’re testing on chimpanzees. Naturally, things spiral out of control, eventually leading to a super-intelligent chimps, a pandemic, and two sequels that deal with the dystopia that follows. Given that film made $481.8 million at the … Continue reading
Breakthrough in Cloning of Woolly Mammoth Announced by Scientists
We may have just gotten one step closer to reviving one of the most iconic megafauna of the Pleistocene Epoch. Researchers at Kindai University in Japan recently extracted nuclei from a preserved woolly mammoth carcass, implanted them into the egg cells of mice, and watched as the bits from the extinct beast became reanimated, reports Phy.org. It’s a stunning breakthrough … Continue reading
Improved DNA Tests Reveal Identity of Jack The Ripper, Geneticists Claim
The notorious killer entered into criminal history folklore with a series of brutal murders in London more than a hundred years ago. Since then his or her identity has remained a mystery although police, as well as enthusiasts have pointed at possible suspects. A recent study, using the up-to-date DNA testing, could put the debates to rest. Forensic examination of … Continue reading
Synthetic DNA Breakthrough Offers Hint at Just How Exotic Alien Life Might Be
Scientists have synthesized a molecular system that hints at a possible alternative to DNA-based life. The NASA-funded research aimed to explore the theoretical foundations of life on other worlds by developing alternative ways to store and transmit genetic information. Lead by Steven Benner at the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution in Alachua, Florida, the team succeeded in fabricating a DNA … Continue reading
A Genetic Testing Company Gave FBI Access to Its DNA Data
Family Tree DNA, a major consumer genetic testing company, gave the FBI access to its massive DNA database. While running genetic analysis on evidence isn’t new, Family Tree DNA is the first private company to voluntarily grant a law enforcement agency to access its data, according to BuzzFeed News. For the company’s roughly 1 million customers who wanted to learn … Continue reading
