A major evolutionary theory says most genetic changes don’t really matter, but new evidence suggests that’s not true. Researchers found that helpful mutations happen surprisingly often. The twist is ...

Much of the phenotypic variation that is observed within and between species is the result of differences in gene regulation: specifically when, where and how much the genes are expressed. Given the ...

How do cells know what they should become as the body develops? Biological development depends crucially on spatial patterns: the lines that eventually give rise to segments, organs, or markings like ...

A groundbreaking study published in this week’s issue of PNAS by scientists from Israel and Ghana shows that an evolutionarily significant mutation in the human APOL1 gene arises not randomly but more ...

Groundbreaking research shows that as men age, harmful genetic mutations in sperm become more common—not just from random chance, but because some are naturally favored. Advanced sequencing revealed ...

A newly discovered genetic mutation unique to humans may help explain why we are significantly more vulnerable to cancer than our closest evolutionary relatives. Researchers at the University of ...

Emily Kramer-Golinkoff can’t get enough oxygen with each breath. Advanced cystic fibrosis makes even simple things like walking or showering arduous and exhausting. She has the most common fatal ...

A man sits outside and holds a slim menthol cigarette between his fingers. Close-up with focus on the cigarette. The study provided a comprehensive examination of how lifestyle and environmental ...

What Is the MTHFR Gene Mutation? The MTHFR gene mutation is a variation in the MTHFR gene. This gene normally tells your body how to make the MTHFR protein. You need this protein to process folate, ...

Genetic disorders can occur due to mutations in one gene (monogenic), multiple genes (multifactorial inheritance), and mutation in one or more chromosomes. Point mutations are where one nucleotide in ...