The results of genetic ancestry tests are grossly over-simplified. A new study shows the tests reinforce what you want to believe rather than offering objective, scientific proof of who you are.
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Articles on Genetics
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Certain autoimmune disorders are linked to psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia. But some appear to be protective.
Our genes are important when it comes to aptitude for sleeping soundly.
Genetics is influencing more and more of our decisions, but we can’t make the right choices if we don’t understand it.
David Suzuki may be best known as an environmental activist and the face of CBC’s ‘The Nature of Things,’ but he’s also a globally recognized scientist.
Data and privacy issues are tangled up in the DNA reports consumers get from big genetic testing companies – and the third-party sites they turn to in order to glean more from their raw DNA.
More people are sending off saliva samples to find out about their genetic roots. But the raw DNA results go way beyond genealogical data – and could deliver unintended consequences.
Men who take risks are more likely to eat in response to unpleasant emotions.
Folic acid in pregnancy – and the gene which explains why the benefits may differ.
Our ability to reconstruct physical features from DNA is advancing, but can we ensure the privacy of “anonymised” genetic data if we can predict the face of its owner?
We’re at the point in DNA technology where individuals who – having parted with $99 and a small vial of saliva – may suddenly find themselves in a criminal investigation.
Why was one gene mutation that affects hair, teeth, sweat glands and breasts ubiquitous among ice age Arctic people? New research points to the advantage it provided for ancestors of Native Americans.
Scientists are just starting to understand how your parents’ genes and experiences might shape your own susceptibility to dangerous drugs. Could that help to stop addictions before they start?
From genes to wounds, science is making it easier to establish the order of events in criminal cases.
New research shows just 1% of E. coli bacteria’s genetic mutations are lethal.
A core idea in molecular biology is that one gene codes for one protein. Now biologists have found an example of a gene that yields two forms of a protein – enabling it to evolve new functionality.
Each discipline tells us only part of the story. And so the truest picture of prehistory comes from triangulating these independent lines of evidence.
We can either take advantage of advances in technology to enhance human beings (never to go back), or we can legislate to prevent this from happening.
They were discovered over 100 years ago – but we still don’t know exactly what genes are.
It’s been reported that astronaut Scott Kelly no longer has the same DNA as his twin brother after spending a year in space.
Top contributors
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Jenny Graves is a Friend of The Conversation.Distinguished Professor of Genetics and Vice Chancellor's Fellow, La Trobe University
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Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic Quality and Professor of Molecular Biology, UNSW Sydney
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Postdoctoral researcher in genetics, University of Leicester
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Professor of Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London
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Professor in Medical Sciences, Deakin University
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Head, Molecular Medicine Laboratory, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute
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Professor of Biogerontology, University of Brighton
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Matthew Flinders Professor of Biodiversity Genomics, Flinders University
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Emeritus Robert Reford Professor and Professor of Medicine, McGill University
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Director of Bruce Lefroy Centre for Genetic Health Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute
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Adjunct Professor, Murdoch University
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Visiting Professor in Biomedical Ethics, Murdoch Children's Research Institute; Distinguished Visiting Professor in Law, University of Melbourne; Uehiro Chair in Practical Ethics, University of Oxford
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Emeritus Professor of Animal Genetics, University of Sydney
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Assistant Professor in Biomedical Ethics, National University of Singapore
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Thomas Merritt is a Friend of The Conversation.
Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Laurentian University
