Scientists looked into how religion and spirituality affect DNA methylation in stress-related genes among Latino adults. They studied 992 people from the Hispanic Community Health Study and focused on four key genes linked to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which regulates stress resp
Imagine having mini detectives in your body that light up when they find what they're searching for. Scientists have made this possible with special DNA fragments called FLAPs. When these FLAPs meet specific substances, they glow brightly. Out of many, two particular FLAPs were found to change color
In an incredible turn of events, a jury convicted a 67-year-old man last week for a 1994 kidnapping at the Oakridge Mall, thanks to a cold-case investigation that relied on DNA evidence. Thomas John Loguidice was found guilty of felony kidnapping with the intent to rob, after he was linked to the cr
Biotechnology is zooming ahead, and with it, new types of biological threats are emerging. These aren't your typical germs; they're cleverly engineered and could do real harm if we don't spot them in time. Scientists are on the case, using DNA screening to sniff out these troublemakers before they c
Scientists have been studying something called circulating tumor DNA, or ctDNA. These are tiny bits of DNA that cancer cells release into the bloodstream. They've found that checking these bits can help doctors know if a treatment is working. Researchers looked at patients with two types of kidney c
Have you ever wondered how scientists keep track of the health of our rivers? In Myanmar, researchers are using tiny river creatures called macroinvertebrates to monitor the quality of tropical rivers. These tiny guardians are like secret agents, giving clues about how clean or polluted the water is
In a shocking turn of events, suspected serial killer Rex Heuermann has been charged with a seventh murder. This time, it's the murder of Valerie Mack, whose remains were discovered in New York several years ago. How did investigators link Heuermann to this latest crime? Through DNA analysis and som
Let's talk about a study that looked into how exercise affects blood DNA in older women, especially those who are overweight or obese. For 14 weeks, 41 women participated in a combined exercise program. Scientists checked their blood DNA and health markers at the start, halfway through, and at the e
Picture this: about 50, 000 years ago, humans and Neanderthals started mixing. This genetic exchange lasted for around 7, 000 years. Today, non-African humans carry about 1% to 2% Neanderthal DNA. This blend might have strengthened our immune systems and influenced our skin colors. But not all Neand
Scientists recently found that DNA ligase 4 (Lig4) plays a crucial role in fixing broken DNA, even if it can't directly stick the pieces back together. They created mice with a mutation in Lig4, making it inactive. Surprisingly, these mice were born alive, but they weren't growing properly and had t
