The mystery of the volcano-dwelling snail and its iron shell has been unravelled by scientists after its genome was decoded for the first time. The scaly-foot snail (Chrysomallon squamiferum) survives in what researchers have called the ‘impossible living conditions’ of underwater volcanic vents. Enduring searing temperatures, high pressure, strong acidity and low oxygen, it is … Read more
Gene test hope for critically ill babies as DNA testing on the NHS could speed up diagnosis and lead to quicker treatment Worried families used to have to wait three months on average for a diagnosis Now ‘whole-exome’ testing will provide an answer in about ten days The test could pick up rare diseases including … Read more
Noise pollution can give you CANCER: Loud noises from roads and airports ‘can lead to DNA damage, high blood pressure and could cause tumours’, study on mice claims Mice were exposed to loud aircraft noises and their health was assessed Constant exposure to loud noises raised blood pressure of the mice In mice already with … Read more
Plants that ‘glow-in-the-dark’ have been developed by researchers using DNA taken from mushrooms – and they hope to be able to sell glowing roses in the future. A global team of researchers, funded by biotech startup Planta, found that the bioluminescence in some mushrooms is similar natural processes in plants. This allowed them to take … Read more
Drinking skimmed milk instead of semi-skimmed milk may slow DNA ageing, a study suggests. In a study of almost 6,000 people, scientists analysed people’s genes and quizzed them about their diets and what type of milk they drank. The age of DNA could be worked out by looking at the length of certain parts of chromosomes, which … Read more
Drinking too much alcohol may be caused by a gene which makes a pint of beer or glass more pleasurable than it should be, scientists claim. Tens of thousands of people had their genome analysed to investigate whether their DNA affects how much alcohol they consume. Researchers found those who drink a lot – at … Read more
How a probiotic drink could combat superbugs: Yakult-like liquid ‘could block DNA molecules that carry antibiotic-resistant genes in bacteria’ Drink is yet to be developed but would target molecules known as plasmids They exist inside bacterial cells and help them to become antibiotic resistant Bacteria use genes carried by plasmids which give resistance to antibiotics … Read more
Older people and those with underlying conditions are at greatest risk of dying of coronavirus – but otherwise healthy young people are getting severely ill and even dying of the disease. And the ill fates of these young coronavirus patients may be written into their DNA, some scientists suspect. Some 80 percent of people who … Read more