Have you ever wondered how detectives solve tough crimes? Believe it or not, tiny bits of genetic code can hold the answers. Genes, like little instruction manuals, make each of us unique. Scientists use specific tools to read this genetic code and catch the bad guys. One of these tools is called P
DNA has been a game-changer in crime-solving, but scientists are constantly looking for better ways to use it. Traditionally, they've used molecular tags, like barcodes, to keep track of DNA samples and spot mistakes. But these tags don't take full advantage of DNA's unique sequence variations. Ente
Alzheimer's disease messes with your memory and makes you confused. It happens when stuff called amyloid beta plaques and tangles pile up in your brain, blocking its normal work. There's no cure yet, and as people live longer, more folks will get it. Why does this happen? Lots of reasons, like infla
Did you know that exposure to war can mess with your DNA? It's true! When kids and teens face traumatic events, like war, their DNA can change in a way that might affect their mental health. This change is called DNA methylation. Scientists have been looking into how war affects this process in kids
Imagine solving a crime using DNA, but without ever revealing sensitive personal information. That's the power of homomorphic encryption in forensic genomics. DNA analysis, especially using autosomal Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), is crucial for identifying unknown suspects. The catch? Our
DNA methylation, a crucial process where specific genes are turned on or off, mostly happens at cytosine bases paired with guanine (CG). This process can tell us a lot about the health and environment of different body tissues in mammals. In particular, the genetic variety among dog breeds makes the
In the world of forensics, DNA has long been the star player. But what if there's more to a crime scene trace than just DNA? Enter proteomics, a field that studies proteins, the building blocks of life. While DNA tells us who, proteins can often tell us what. For example, they can reveal the type of
Finding hidden clues in mixed DNA stains can be crucial for solving mysteries involving multiple people. Scientists have been using special markers to spot minor contributors in these messy mixtures. In a recent experiment, researchers picked 18 of these markers, called DIP-InDel, and combined them
In a twist that’s stranger than fiction, a beer can has helped investigators solve a murder that was initially mistaken for a bear attack. The gruesome killing occurred in October 2024, when 35-year-old Dustin Kjersem was found dead in his tent near Big Sky, Montana. Initially, it seemed like a wild
Have you ever thought about what's in the smoke you see during a wildfire? Besides being scary and bad for the environment, it also contains chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These are created when things like wood burn. Usually, we encounter tiny amounts from car fumes and i
