Tag: "genetics"
The Benefits of Radioactive Fallout
Wildlife seems to be thriving in the radioactive areas around Chernobyl. For now it looks like if animals had to choose, they'd choose radioactivity over humans.
Post on Jan 09, 2012 by Dr. Barry Starr from QUEST Northern California
We Don’t Want the Funk (in our Wine)
Scientists are using DNA sequencing to protect our wines by keeping future sulfite-resistant forms of the yeast Brettanomyces bruxellensis at bay.
Post on Dec 26, 2011 by Dr. Barry Starr from QUEST Northern California
Gaming to Understand Disease
By playing Phylo, you help scientists better understand human disease and you get to have fun. Doing good by having fun is a win-win for scientists and the public.
Post on Dec 12, 2011 by Dr. Barry Starr from QUEST Northern California
Living Longer
Using a genetic trick, scientists were able to increase the lifespan of a worm by changing how it used its genes. This extended lifespan was passed on to its kids and grand kids but not to its great grand kids.
Post on Nov 28, 2011 by Dr. Barry Starr from QUEST Northern California
Sniffing Out Mr. Right
Biology may have made it so that women prefer the smell of men with different immune systems from their own. Disturbingly, the pill may turn this on its head so that women like the way men with similar immune systems smell.
Post on Nov 07, 2011 by Dr. Barry Starr from QUEST Northern California
Will He Have My Nose?
I get these kinds of questions all the time. And except for a few traits, I have to pretty much say I don’t know.
Post on Oct 24, 2011 by Dr. Barry Starr from QUEST Northern California
Sequencing Within Reach
The cost of figuring out what someone’s DNA looks like is dropping like a stone. For casual consumers, though, affordable DNA sequencing can be less than useful. In fact, it might even make a difficult situation worse.
Post on Oct 10, 2011 by Dr. Barry Starr from QUEST Northern California
Turning Chickens into Dinosaurs
If we are ever going to resurrect dinosaurs, it probably won't be like in the movie Jurassic Park. Instead, we'll have to throw evolution into reverse and turn a bird back into a dinosaur.
Post on Sep 12, 2011 by Dr. Barry Starr from QUEST Northern California
How Neanderthal are You?
Graduate students at Stanford have created a tool called the Interpretome that lets you plug in your genome so you can figure out how Neanderthal you are.
Post on Aug 29, 2011 by Dr. Barry Starr from QUEST Northern California
The High Cost of Sex
Biologically speaking, sex is ungodly expensive. One reason it may have evolved in to keep our genomes stable and intact.
Post on Aug 01, 2011 by Dr. Barry Starr from QUEST Northern California
New Study Suggests Autism More Tightly Linked To Environment Than Genetics
The scientists estimate that environmental factors common to twins explains 55% of susceptibility to autism, whereas genetics accounts for only 37%.
Post on Jul 22, 2011 by Darya Pino from QUEST Northern California
Autism More than Genes
A new twin study suggests that the environment may play a bigger role in autism than scientists previously thought.
Post on Jul 18, 2011 by Dr. Barry Starr from QUEST Northern California
Patient-Specific DNA Sequencing Finally Paying Off
Here Dr. Starr talks about three patients who have dramatically improved lives because scientists sequenced their DNA and correctly interpreted the results. The dream of helping individual patients using data from the human genome project is finally being realized.
Post on Jul 04, 2011 by Dr. Barry Starr
The Cloud in the Silver Lining
There are no free lunches in genetics. Having a certain version of a gene may protect you from one thing, but make you susceptible to another.
Post on Jun 20, 2011 by Dr. Barry Starr
Osama’s Sister’s Brother
Scientists could definitely get DNA results from Osama bin Laden in less than 24 hours. And they could conclude with high certainty that the man killed was Osama bin Laden.
Post on May 09, 2011 by Dr. Barry Starr
Better Left Unknown?
Just because we can find out about some of our genetic information, should we? Even though the results are often not very useful or even very informative, they can sometimes be a real burden.
Post on Apr 25, 2011 by Dr. Barry Starr
DNA Diving for Alzheimer’s
I was able to figure out my APOE status and so one of my key risk factors for developing late onset Alzheimer's from my 23andMe test even though 23andMe doesn't officially report any results for Alzheimer's.
Post on Apr 11, 2011 by Dr. Barry Starr
Missing Gene Suggests Rodents Aren't The Best Model For Diabetes Research
Rodents and other mammals might not be ideal for studying type 2 diabetes because of a gene that was deleted from the human genome millions of years ago.
Post on Mar 04, 2011 by Darya Pino
Redwood Regeneration
QUEST has an inordinate fondness for albino redwoods. But after producing three videos, QUEST Producer Chris Bauer still had questions.
Post on Feb 28, 2011 by Jennifer Skene
All (U.S.) Children Left Behind
New test results confirm what many of us have feared: U.S. students suck at science.
Post on Feb 14, 2011 by Dr. Barry Starr
Twitter
Facebook
EveryTrail
YouTube
Flickr
Google +
iTunes Video
RSS Video
RSS News
iTunes Audio
RSS Audio
