genetics & genomics

Research on so-called selfish genetic loci is providing scientists with greater insight into the biology of chromosome segregation and inheritance.

By combining two innovative approaches, researchers can now sequence the full spectrum of mutational differences between individual cells’ genomes.

Beyond his achievements in academia, he also cofounded three pharmaceutical companies and filed 15 patents related to cancer therapeutics. 

In both the laboratory and clinic, scientists harness viral genetic transfer capabilities to develop gene therapies that modulate cellular function.

A study identifies nearly 3,000 genes where one allele tends to be expressed more than the other, but the findings ignited controversy in the field. 

Splitting Chinook salmon into two groups based on their DNA could aid conservation efforts. But some researchers argue that this would be a misuse of the data.

Chinook make their way up the Klamath River every year, but fewer and fewer arrive in the spring.

Various concerned groups have been petitioning NOAA Fisheries to list spring-run Chinook salmon in Oregon and Northern California for over a decade.

Prairie voles lacking functional receptors for oxytocin form normal social bonds, a finding that could explain the hormone’s clinical failures.

This year’s stories highlight the expanding versatility of genetic techniques and the increasing utility of such research in all life science fields.

A biotech startup called Tessera Therapeutics has made a splash with its claims about the trademarked technology. Is the excitement justified?

Take a break from the bench to puzzle and peruse

A high school student uses crowdfunding to produce the first genome assembly for this popular aquarium species, underscoring the increasing feasibility of whole-genome sequencing.