Africa has long been known as the cradle of life, but the exact location of our evolutionary breakthrough has evaded researchers – until now. In a stunning development, a study released Monday reveals that our ancestral homeland lies buried within an arid region in northern Botswana.
Read moreAdapting to higher altitudes gave the people in the Andes Mountains an advantage most inhabitants of the “New World” unfortunately did not have: They were able to avoid being completely wiped out by the diseases of European colonists, according to a new genetic study of people in the region.
Read moreA 6-inch mummified humanoid skeleton found in Chile in 2003 with a bone age of 6 to 8 years at time of death has provoked speculation as to its origin. After whole genome sequencing of the skeleton, researchers offer insights into its ancestry and unusual physical characteristics.
Read moreGenetic evidence from recently analyzed fossils reveals how and when people who were among the first to arrive in North America came to the continent.
Read moreNatural selection actively weeds out unfavorable gene variants linked to heavy smoking and Alzheimer’s disease, according to a large-scale study that reveals humans continue to evolve.
Read moreScientists have finally determined why histone 1 – a protein in cell nuclei – is a major form of protection against genomic instability and vital for organisms in general.
Read moreResearchers have identified specific traits of a drought-resistant variety of wheat which they say can boost agricultural production and safety as environmental changes threaten the global food supply.
Read more
A “slow and steady” adaptation to evolving hazards will not save the Mojave Desert tortoise from extinction, and to save the endangered iconic species researchers have decoded the tortoise’s genome to identify specific genes that will guide conservation efforts and improve its likelihood of survival.
Read moreThe last population of woolly mammoths suffered from a “mutational meltdown” in their genomes that interfered with gene functions and ultimately led to their extinction.
Read more