Scientists are one step closer to answering the age-old question of “What makes us human?” with new, high quality genomes of two great apes, a chimpanzee and an orangutan.
What makes us human? Here’s one evolutionary question we’ve been curious about for centuries. So far, scientists have chosen to tackle it by trying to uncover elements in our DNA that sets...
The first people to arrival in the Americas split into two groups, and then mingle again 1000 years later.
Until recently research suggested the first people in the Americas split into two branches: Northern and Southern. And, all ancient populations in Central and South Americas arose from this Southern branch.
A new genetic study published in Science that looked at ancient...
Will scientists find a “biological explanation” for the Loch Ness Monster by looking at DNA samples from the Scottish loch? The Loch Ness Monster or “Nessie” first came into the spotlight when a photo surfaced in 1933. The photo turned out to be a hoax. But Nessie was already a famous “resident” of the large fresh water loch in Scotland.
For...
The French Revolution marked the end of the monarchy when King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette were found guilty of high treason and executed. But the fate of their two surviving children, Louis-Charles and Marie-Thérèse, has always been questioned. Did Louis-Charles really die at the Temple of Paris? Or did he escape and go on to become a...
Genetic variation explains why only certain people will benefit from long-term use of anti-inflammatory drugs
When Felix Hoffman, a German chemist working for Bayer, wanted to develop his new drug aspirin in 1897, he was promptly ignored. He was told his drug had an “enfeebling” effect on the heart, making it a product of no value. Lucky for us,...
