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Ancient Viral DNA Plays a Role in Human Disease and Development
Ancient Viral DNA Plays a Role in Human Disease and Development
Viral remnants make up 8 percent of the human genome, and a new study finds that these sequences are still active in healthy people.
Viral remnants make up 8 percent of the human genome, and a new study finds that these sequences are still active in healthy people.
human evolution, evolution, disease & medicine
Gene Mutation Could Explain Humans’ High Risk of Heart Attack
Shawna Williams | Jul 23, 2019 | 2 min read
Mutating a gene called CMAH in mice so it’s nonfunctional, as in humans, upped the animals’ chances of developing heart disease, a study finds.
A Keen Sense of Smell Appears to Go Hand in Hand with Spatial Memory
Shawna Williams | Feb 1, 2019 | 3 min read
Authors of a small study say the two abilities likely evolved in tandem.
Taller People More Prone to Cancer
Abby Olena, PhD | Oct 24, 2018 | 4 min read
The increased risk is slight, but aligns with a longstanding hypothesis that having more cells in one’s body leads to more chances for those cells to become cancerous.
Amazonians Offer Clues to Human Childhood Development
Shawna Williams | Jul 1, 2018 | 4 min read
A study of Shuar children in Ecuador provides a window into how the human body responds to infection in the sorts of conditions that shaped our species’ evolution.