DNA from an unknown ancient ancestor of humans that once bred with Denisovans still exists among people today, study reveals Researchers from the US developed a new tool to analyse ancient DNA Three per cent of the Neanderthal genome can from an ancient human group This genetic transfer is thought to have occurred some 300,000 years ago Also, … Read more
Emmimarie and daughter made headlines in 1950s In an era before DNA testing, it was the story that shocked 1950s Britain, scandalised the church and divided the medical profession. Emmimarie Jones was convinced that her daughter Monica had been conceived without a man. Author Clare Chambers investigates If it is every journalist’s dream to break … Read more
A British expat has admitted destroying any likely DNA evidence linked to the squalid Algarve home lived in by Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner. Ruth Maclean lived next door to ‘monster’ Brueckner, 43, in the hamlet of Sitio de Lakes, near Praia de Luz, for years. Brueckner was recently identified as a prime suspect in the … Read more
‘Mini brains’ grown from human stem cells containing Neanderthal DNA could shed light on how our ancient ancestors’ genes have influenced the development of our species They showed they can track the role of Neanderthal genes in the model organs The principle may be used with other bodily systems and ancient human species Around 2 … Read more
‘Hidden mutations’ in the genetic makeup of tomato plants can be used to create bigger, tastier ‘super varieties’, study claims More than 200,000 genetic mutations were identified in 100 tomato varieties When one plant had its DNA mutated it produced 30 per cent larger tomatoes Scientists hope the findings could lead to larger yields for … Read more
Privacy row erupts over plan to log thousands of innocent Britons’ DNA on controversial EU database Tens of thousands of innocent Britons DNA will be placed on an EU database Home Office said it would share samples of people never charged with offences UK currently only holds records from swabs of those convicted of a … Read more
Pollen DNA is being studied by British scientists in a bid to identify which grasses cause severe hay fever It is impossible to tell pollen from different plants apart without looking at DNA Scientists are hoping to use pollen DNA to find which pollen causes hay fever Analysing 40 species of grass, including cocksfoot, Timothy … Read more
DNA may make people with Type A blood who catch coronavirus 50% more likely to need oxygen or ventilator support, study suggests An international team of researchers sequenced the genomes of more than 1,600 severely ill coronavirus patients in Italy and Spain They found two areas of DNA that were more common in these patients … Read more
The Dead Sea Scrolls are being pieced back together using DNA ‘fingerprints’ lifted from the animal skins on which they were written some 2,000 years ago. The scrolls are a collection of more than 25,000 ancient manuscript fragments, among which can be found the oldest known copies of books of the Hebrew Bible. They were first … Read more
MIT researchers discover ‘anti-aging molecule’ that can heal DNA lesions linked with Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive declines from aging Researchers identified the enzyme HDAC1 as helpful in healing DNA damage As people age, lesions form on parts of their DNA that lowers cognitive function HDAC1 stimulates production of another enzyme that can heal these lesions … Read more