Genetic disorders are diseases or conditions that are caused by abnormalities in genes or chromosomes. Some are known at birth, whilst others make an appearance later in life.
They give us everything, and without them we’d be nothing. Understanding how our genes work is giving us unprecedented powers to shape our own destinies. Our knowledge is increasing rapidly all the time. Human genetics, plant genetics and more, follow our history of genetics timeline.
Scientists have uncovered one of the clearest signs yet that obesity has a genetic component. In a study of 228 women by researchers at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, genetic variants responsible for body shape were discovered.
The birth of Dolly the sheep completely changed the field of genetics and science as a whole. Although she died prematurely, her life left a lasting legacy.
Red hair is the rarest natural colour amongst humans. The colouring is due to mutations on a gene known as MC1R. This article looks at the genetic and biological roots of red hair.
The Frozen Ark Project is a global initiative that will ultimately harness the power of genetics to prevent animals from becoming extinct. Gene banks have been created to collect, preserve, and stockpile the DNA of endangered animals.
Some believe that it’s a chance to be reunited with their dead pets. To others this kind of genetic manipulation is an abomination. A South Korean company has created the world’s first commercially cloned dog. This article looks at the science, controversy and ethics surrounding pet cloning.
There’s a big buzz in biology about a group of proteins called zinc finger nucleases. A pretty exotic name for sure, but potentially they have the power to boost gene therapy success rates, and cure some pretty nasty diseases and genetic disorders.
Ancient civilizations began domesticating crops and animals thousands of years ago. These ancient practices can be considered types of biotechnology applications, but these days agricultural techniques are much more sophisticated.
