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genetics & genomics

Patent On Autism Genetic Test May Stifle Science
Jessica Wright | May 30, 2018 | 3 min read
LabCorp might be able to charge a licensing fee to any scientists who wish to sequence the gene HOMER1 in people who may have autism.
Placental Health Influences Baby’s Future Schizophrenia Risk, Study Suggests
Shawna Williams | May 29, 2018 | 1 min read
Complications during pregnancy may act via the placenta to magnify the effects of genetic risk factors.
Zoo Pregnancy Raises Hopes of Preserving White Rhinos
Ashley Yeager | May 18, 2018 | 2 min read
Victoria, a southern white rhino at the San Diego Zoo, was impregnated by artificial insemination on March 22 and, if all goes well, will birth the calf in summer 2019.
Image of the Day: Xenopus Pigment
The Scientist Staff | May 18, 2018 | 1 min read
Researchers recently used CRISPR single-guide RNAs to alter genes involved in pigmentation in frog embryos.
“Minibrains” May Soon Include Neanderthal DNA
Ashley Yeager | May 14, 2018 | 1 min read
Brain organoids engineered to carry the genetic material could reveal how our brains are similar to and different from those of our closest relatives.
Origin of Frog-Killing Chytrid Fungus Found
Ruth Williams | May 10, 2018 | 4 min read
DNA evidence points to Asian amphibians as the source of a fatal disease that has been wiping out frogs across the globe.  
Genetic Screen Predicts T-Cell Lymphoma Aggression
Kerry Grens | May 9, 2018 | 2 min read
Sequencing of a single gene can spot patients with a dangerous form of mycosis fungoides better than other prognostic tests.  
Ancient Humans Had Hepatitis B
Abby Olena, PhD | May 9, 2018 | 4 min read
Analyses of more than 300 ancient human genomes show that Hepatitis B virus has infected humans for at least 4,500 years and has much older origins than modern viral genomes would suggest.
Stanley Falkow, Father of Molecular Microbial Pathogenesis, Dies
Catherine Offord | May 9, 2018 | 3 min read
The microbiologist was known for his work on bacterial antibiotic resistance and infectious disease.
Opinion: How We Found a New Way to Detect “Hidden Sharks”
Judith Bakker and Stefano Mariani | May 7, 2018 | 4 min read
Given the speed and efficiency of environmental (eDNA) sampling, a much larger portion of the sea can be screened, in a shorter time, for patterns of diversity.
Monkey Hybrids Challenge Assumptions of What a Species Is
Jim Daley | May 3, 2018 | 4 min read
A study finds two species of guenon monkeys in Tanzania have been mating and producing fertile offspring for generations.
Genetic Adaptation to Cold Brought Migraines With It
Viviane Callier | May 3, 2018 | 3 min read
Humans living in higher latitudes tend to have a variant of a gene involved in sensing cold temperatures, but it comes with a cost.  
Image of the Day: A-maize-ing!
The Scientist and The Scientist Staff | May 3, 2018 | 1 min read
By combining alleles involved in plant height, an agricultural scientist has grown the world’s tallest cornstalk, breaking his own record set in 2017.
NIH Plans to Enroll 1 Million People for Health Database
Catherine Offord | May 3, 2018 | 2 min read
The agency says it has taken various steps to ensure the privacy of participants’ data. 
Reprogrammed Cells Treat Diabetes in Mice
Abby Olena, PhD | May 2, 2018 | 3 min read
Researchers used a trio of transcription factors to transform pancreatic duct cells in vivo into β-like cells that secrete insulin and improve diabetes symptoms.
Biohacker Aaron Traywick Found Dead in DC Float Spa
Ashley Yeager | May 1, 2018 | 2 min read
The CEO of a biomedical startup had made headlines this year when he injected himself with an untested herpes vaccine in front of an audience.
Among the Amish, c. 1960s
Diana Kwon | May 1, 2018 | 3 min read
Victor McKusick’s pioneering investigations provided insight into hereditary disorders.
Valerie Arboleda Uses Big Data to Unravel the Biology of a Rare Disease
Shawna Williams | May 1, 2018 | 3 min read
The UCLA geneticist examines how defects in a histone protein lead to symptoms throughout the body.
Rare Disease Geneticist: A Profile of Uta Francke
Anna Azvolinsky | May 1, 2018 | 9 min read
The Stanford University human geneticist identified the genes and genomic abnormalities underlying numerous rare diseases, including Rett  syndrome, and advanced the field of molecular diagnostics. 
Pinpointing the Origin of Marbled Crayfish Clones
Diana Kwon | May 1, 2018 | 5 min read
Research suggests that the invasive, all-female Procambarus virginalis originated in a German aquarium back in the 1990s.
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