Latest Mutation Stories
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital ties mutations in 2 genes to the death of motor neurons associated with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, and other devastating neurodegenerative problems A study led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has discovered mutations in two genes that lead to the death of nerve cells in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, and related degenerative diseases. The same mutation occurred in both genes and led to the...
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital ties mutations in two genes to the death of motor neurons associated with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, and other devastating neurodegenerative problems MEMPHIS, Tenn., March 3, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A study led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has discovered mutations in two genes that lead to the death of nerve cells in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, and related degenerative...
University of Washington Species facing widespread and rapid environmental changes can sometimes evolve quickly enough to dodge the extinction bullet. Populations of disease-causing bacteria evolve, for example, as doctors flood their “environment,” the human body, with antibiotics. Insects, animals and plants can make evolutionary adaptations in response to pesticides, heavy metals and overfishing. Previous studies have shown that the more gradual the change, the better the chances...
A genetically mosaic Eucalyptus tree is able to control which leaves are saved from predation because of alterations in its genes, finds an study published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Plant Biology. Between two leaves of the same tree there can be many genetic differences – this study found ten SNP, including ones in genes that regulate terpene production, which influence whether or not a leaf is edible. Organisms collect somatic genetic mutations throughout their lives....
Imagine two steel springs identical in look and composition but that perform differently because each was tempered at a different rate. A team of researchers including a Texas A&M University molecular biologist has shown that concept — that the speed of creation affects performance — applies to how a protein they studied impacts an organism's circadian clock function. This discovery provides new insights into the significance of the genetic code for controlling the rates at which...
April Flowers for redOrbit.com – Your Universe Online Shozo Yokoyama, a biologist at Emory University, says evolutionary biologists need to shift their focus from present-day molecules to synthesized, ancestral ones to truly understand the mechanisms of natural selection. Yokoyama presented evidence to support his claim at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS) meeting in Boston this week. "This is not just an evolutionary biology problem, it's a science problem," says...
[Watch Video: 2 Studies Reveal Genetic Variation That Drives Human Evolution] April Flowers for redOrbit.com - Your Universe Online New light has been shed on a genetic variation that may have played a key role in human evolution by two studies published by an international group of researchers this week in the journal Cell. To understand a gene variant that might have helped humans adapt to humid climates, the research team used an animal model, along with whole-genome sequencing...
Information prompts individuals to consult physician, inform relatives A 23andMe study of consumers' reactions to genetic testing found that even when the tests revealed high-risk mutations in individuals, those individuals had few negative reactions to the news. Instead of inducing serious anxiety, the test results prompted people to take positive steps, including follow-up visits with a doctor and discussions with family members who could also be at risk. The study, titled "Dealing...
Beneficial Mutations have still not been found in the wild, though their existence was confidently predicted in the 1940s. Article published at http://www.takeondarwin.com asks, could they, like Unicorns, actually be mythical? ROSENDALE NY (PRWEB) February 06, 2013 Existence of the Beneficial Mutation was confidently predicted in the 1940s as part of the Modern Synthesis. In fact, if the Beneficial Mutation could be shown not to exist, the Modern Synthesis itself might be brought into...
Mutations which affect the gene ASXL3 cause a novel syndrome similar to Bohring-Opitz syndrome, finds a study published in BioMed Central's open access journal Genome Medicine. This molecular definition distinguishes these children from those with Bohring-Opitz, and other similar syndromes, and highlights a technique able to help define rare diseases. When Dr Ropers from the Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin found a child with non-specific symptoms, including small size...
