Getting Rid of Stretch Marks for Free: Good Genes Prevent Stretch Marks
Stretch marks are thin pieces of stretched skin. They are a common form of scarring created when the middle layer of the skin expands faster than the …
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Lassa Fever: A Disease Spread by Multimammate Rodents
Lassa fever—a viral, hemorrhagic fever—is endemic to West Africa. Known for less than 50 years, it affects some 300,000 West Africans annually.
Continue ReadingWhat is Antigenic Drift?
“Prevention is better than cure,” they say, but prevention of diseases is not a problem that can be tackled easily. Influenza is a common …
Continue ReadingGenetic Engineering: Soybean Genes Resistant To Asia Soybean Rust
Soybeans are grown the world-over and are economically very important. Genetically-engineered cultivars may protect the several billons worth soybean …
Continue ReadingGenetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Engineered Mice and the FOXP2 Gene
Genetically engineered mice with altered FOXP2 gene have been found to produce lower decibel squeaks than unaltered mice. Since the mouse FOXP2 gene …
Continue ReadingPoint Mutations: Sense Mutations, Silent Mutations, Missense Mutations, and Nonsense Mutations
A point mutation is the simplest kind of genetic mutation. See the dramatic effects that can arise from such a small substitution in the genome.
Continue ReadingWhat Is Molecular Ecology?
From the preservation of endangered species to understanding the migratory habits of birds, molecular ecology provides a window on the natural world …
Continue ReadingCyril Darlington - Study of Chromosomes
Cyril Darlington was a British scientist who carried out research on the working of chromosomes. Apart from his work as a cytogeneticist, he was the …
Continue ReadingSilent Mutations: How They Can Be Harmful Mutations
Geneticists long dismissed certain mutations as “silent,” believing them to have no effect. But a significant body of research has proved …
Continue ReadingHuman Chimeras – The Fusing of Fraternal Twins in Utero
In some ancient mythologies chimeras were incredible beasts with a lion’s head and a serpent’s tail, a composite of two or more creatures. …
Continue ReadingEye Color Genetics: How Genes Determine the Eye Color of a Human
From a sultry gray gaze to an icy blue stare, eye color is a fascinating topic that is still being unraveled by scientists. Eye color genetics …
Continue ReadingRoot Cause of Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder. It is characterized by chronic lung inflammation. The root cause of CF is a mutation in the CFTR gene. The …
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