DNA

Kathy Niakan, a developmental biologist at the Francis Crick Institute in London, used the CRISPR gene editing technique to find out how a gene affects the growth of human embryos.

Editing Embryo DNA Yields Clues About Early Human Development

5:00pm September 20, 2017

by Rob Stein

Researchers disabled a gene that they think helps determine which human embryos will develop normally. The technique they used is controversial because it could be used to change babies' DNA.

On this episode we interview the founder of a project that uses DNA tests to talk about race in America and a Native American anthropologist says why she thinks DNA tests don't really tell you anything about yourself.

When 'Where Are You From?' Takes You Someplace Unexpected

4:00pm August 10, 2017

by Leah Donnella

The "DNA Discussion Project" brings students, staff and faculty at West Chester University together to learn about their genetic heritage. For some people, the revelations are hard to digest.

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The first sign of successful in vitro fertilization, after co-injection of a gene-correcting enzyme and sperm from a donor with a genetic mutation known to cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Scientists Precisely Edit DNA In Human Embryos To Fix A Disease Gene

10:33pm August 02, 2017

by Rob Stein

In experimental embryos, scientists were able to repair the gene that causes a serious heart disorder. More research is needed to confirm the method would produce healthy babies, they say.

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Mitochondrial diseases can be passed from mothers to their children in DNA.

A Baby With 3 Genetic Parents Seems Healthy, But Questions Remain

5:00am April 08, 2017

by Jill Neimark

A baby who was conceived through an experimental procedure designed to prevent a deadly disease appears to be healthy. But some potentially defective DNA remains. Will it affect his health long term?

Colored scanning electron micrograph of baker's yeast, conventionally grown in the lab. So far, researchers have been able to synthesize six of the yeast's 16 chromosomes from scratch, and think they may be able to complete all 16 by 2018.

Scientists Closer To Creating A Fully Synthetic Yeast Genome

2:03pm March 09, 2017

by Rob Stein

An international consortium of researchers has synthesized about a third of the genetic code of baker's yeast. It's an important milestone in science's quest to create complex "synthetic life."

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Passengers leave the departure hall Thursday at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia where Kim Jong Nam was reportedly attacked and killed two days before.

World News

North Korea Demands Malaysia Release Body Of Kim Jong Un's Half-Brother

2:17pm February 17, 2017

by Merrit Kennedy

Malaysian officials did an autopsy on the body of Kim Jong Nam, who died in Kuala Lumpur under mysterious circumstances, but haven't released the results. Pyongyang says it won't accept the findings.

Biologist Shaun Clements counts down the seconds before emptying a vial of synthetic DNA into a stream near Alsea, Oregon.

Can New DNA Science Help Keep Our Fish Safe?

7:00am January 29, 2017

by Jes Burns

Scientists are experimenting with species' environmental DNA to find out how far and how fast it travels in streams. The technology is starting to revolutionize how we protect native animals.

Kim Kardashian West attends the 20th Annual Webby Awards in New York last May.

17 Reportedly Arrested In Connection To Kim Kardashian West Robbery

1:10pm January 09, 2017

by Merrit Kennedy

The robbers escaped with more than $10 million in jewels. "They're going to shoot me in the back," the reality star recalled thinking. "There's no way out. ... It makes me so upset to think about it."

Signal crayfish in Lake Washington in Gene Coulon. This crayfish has several branchiobdellida annelida attached to it.

Science

A Neighborhood On A Crayfish

1:00pm January 06, 2017

by Shawn Fitzmaurice

If you're a crayfish, North Carolina is where it's at. In general, the state is among the most biologically-diverse for several reasons. Additionally, there are a couple of thoughts as to why we live in the Mudbug Mecca. In a way, crayfish are islands unto themselves. Most species carry with them Branchiobdellida, a species of worm that live life on the clawed critter.

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Researchers from the Max Planck Institute excavate the East Gallery of Denisova Cave in Siberia in August 2010. With ancient bone fragments so hard to come by, being able to successfully filter dirt for the DNA of extinct human ancestors can open new door

Dust To Dust: Scientists Find DNA Of Human Ancestors In Cave Floor Dirt

4:39pm January 04, 2017

by Joe Palca

Anthropologists in Germany say they may not need old bones to recover ancient DNA. They just analyze dust from the floor of caves where Neanderthals and other now-extinct human relatives once resided.