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Articles on Mutations

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As genes are favored or phased out, human evolution continues. ktsdesign/Shutterstock.com

Evolutionary geneticists spot natural selection happening now in people

Comparing genomes of more than 200,000 people, researchers identified genetic variants that are less common in older people, suggesting natural selection continues to weed out disadvantageous traits.
Gene drives aim to deliberately spread bad genes when invasive species such as mice reproduce. Colin Robert Varndell/shutterstock.com

‘Gene drives’ could wipe out whole populations of pests in one fell swoop

Releasing just 100 mice carrying a faulty gene designed to stop them reproducing can remove an entire population of 50,000, a new study shows, paving the way for new eradication efforts.
A young breast-cancer patient in her home. Fototip/Shutterstock

Is cancer just a question of ‘bad luck’?

Two US researchers have traced the majority of cancers to DNA replication errors during our natural cell replacement. Their finding asks for a renewed inquiry into the role of “chance” in cancer.
Laboratory mice are among the first animals to have their diseases treated by CRISPR. tiburi via Pixabay.com

CRISPR controversy raises questions about gene-editing technique

A new research paper reports dangerous side effects in CRISPR-edited mice. Some scientists are pushing back, placing blame for the unwanted mutations on the experiment, not the technique.
Deficiencies in a critical nutrient can lead to an abnormally wired brain. Illustration of a network of nerve cells in the. brain. Benedict Campbell, Wellcome Images/Flickr

New autism research: a nutrient called carnitine might counteract gene mutations linked with ASD risks

A gene mutation that causes problems for neural stem cells – the building blocks of the brain – could be corrected by adding carnitine.
It’s naive to pretend there are no profound genetic and epigenetic differences between the sexes. Elephant Gun Studios/Flickr

Differences between men and women are more than the sum of their genes

What produces the differences between men and women? Are they trivial or profound? Are they genetic or environmental, or both? And are men really closer genetically to chimpanzees than to women?

Gene may trigger prostate cancer

A mutated gene could be responsible for triggering prostate cancer, new research has found. The relevant gene, p53, encodes…

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