Genetics
DNA methylation explains why small dogs outlive their larger cousins
Small dogs generally live longer than large dogs. American research shows that this difference in ageing rate is also reflected in the epigenetic profile of dogs.
Rare DNA mutation dramatically raises lung cancer risk in non-smokers
A very rare hereditary mutation substantially raises the risk of lung cancer, particularly in non-smokers. European colonists are thought to have brought the mutation variant to the Americas.
Wild genes give feral reindeer a helping hand
Domesticated reindeer that make the transition to the wild pick up genes from their wild counterparts – and benefit from them.
Plants double their genome when ecological disaster strikes
During mass extinctions and climate change, the number of polyploid plants increases. This genome doubling makes plants more resilient to stress, but disappears again under stable conditions.
Gene identified for asexual reproduction in plants
Japanese researchers have identified a gene responsible for asexual reproduction in plants.
Koalas bounced back from a genetic bottleneck
When only a few hundred koalas remained in the Australian state of Victoria, their future looked bleak – but the animals have escaped their fate.
Human lifespan is roughly half determined by genetics
The heritability of human lifespan is approximately 50 per cent – nearly twice as high as previous estimates. This discrepancy arises because historical twin...
AlphaGenome: new AI model predicts the function of regulatory DNA
An international research team from Google DeepMind presents in Nature of 28 January a new model capable of predicting the specific regulatory functions of DNA sequences: AlphaGenome.
Researchers crack the ancient code of sex determination in insects
The hunt for the gene that makes ants, bees and wasps male or female is yielding surprises and opening up prospects for biological control, pollination and biodiversity restoration.
Closely related jays reveal surprising genetic diversity
Entirely unexpected differences in genome sizes and insertion-deletion patterns emerged after deep sequencing of three closely related American jay species.