New Genes As Essential As Old Ones

New Genes As Essential As Old Ones

A million years is a blink of an eye in evolution but that doesn't mean newer genes matter less in life itself.     New genes that have evolved in species as recently as one million years…
My Two Dads - Literally

My Two Dads - Literally

"My two dads" is no longer just a lousy TV show.  Using induced pluripotent stem cell technology (controversy-free!) scientists have produced male and female mice from two fathers. It isn't part…
The New Mito-Autism Study In JAMA

The New Mito-Autism Study In JAMA

A new study was released today in JAMA which looked at, in part, mitochondrial DNA overreplication in a sample of ten autistic children between the ages of 2 and 5 and ten matched controls. …
What is a Gene?

What is a Gene?

Not having had any serious biological training I have to go to Wikipedia and Google to learn the basics. And I’m often surprised to find that concepts everyone uses don’t have good consensus amongst…
Stem Cells From Amniotic Fluid

Stem Cells From Amniotic Fluid

The ethical issues surrounding unchecked human embryonic stem cell research are not going away any time soon, regardless of which political party occupies Congress or the White House.   …