Tag: genetics

31 OCT

Pesticides? Genetics? France launches probe after more birth defects cases revealed

A nationwide investigation has been launched in France amid growing concern at the increased number of instances of babies being born with birth defects, like missing or malformed arms, sparking a public health scare. Assuring citizens that nothing “is being hidden from you,” head of Public Health France Francois Bourdillon told RTL radio listeners that […]

12 AUG

Friendly fox genomes help us understand the genetics of behavior

Enlarge / Russian domesticated foxes (credit: Kingston Photography for the JAB Canid Education and Conservation Center ) Since 1959, a unique breeding experiment has been underway in southwestern Siberia. Its founder, Dmitry Belyaev, was intrigued by the characteristics of domestication, and he observed that foxes varied in their responses to humans—some fearful, some aggressive, and a […]

30 APR

Friends can share similar brain waves, genetics, and personality traits — here’s why it happens

Peter Bernik / Shutterstock If you look at your friends, you may find that they are similar in a lot of ways. Research suggests this could be for a number of reasons. Friends tend to share similar brain waves, and react to situations in the same way. Also, you might share some genetic similarities with […]

01 MAR

Suck on this—the genetics behind vampire bats

Enlarge (credit: Wikimedia Commons) Only three mammalian species are sanguivorous—that’s blood feeding—and they are all bats. Blood, apparently, is not that nutritious. It has almost no carbs, fats, or vitamins; its high iron levels can disrupt heart, liver, and pancreas function; its obscenely high protein and salt levels can cause renal disease if nitrogenous waste […]

09 JAN

Kansas lawmaker ‘regrets’ saying African-Americans ‘respond the worst’ to marijuana due to genetics

State Representative Steve Alford (R-Kansas) has admitted he “was wrong” when he said African-Americans are more susceptible to using marijuana because of their “character makeup” and “genetics.” “I was wrong, I regret my comments and I sincerely apologize to anyone whom I have hurt,” Alford said Monday, according to the Topeka Capital-Journal. The firestorm that led to […]

24 DEC

I’ve taken AncestryDNA, 23andMe, and National Geographic genetics tests — here’s how to choose one to try

Hollis Johnson I tried DNA tests from 23andMe, Ancestry, and National Geographic to learn about my family’s history and my health The tests vary in terms of what information they provide and how precise they are Determine which test to try depends on what you hope to learn   I’ve sent my spit off for more genetics tests than anyone else I […]