Genetics
From a Pink Squiggle to the Human Genome Project
This Yellowstone bacterium sparked PCR, one of the great advances in genetics.
The Man Who Kicked Off the Biotech Revolution
The $325 billion biotech industry began with the discovery of an enzyme to slice DNA.
The Case for Bringing Back the Passenger Pigeon
One geneticist’s quest to de-extinct what was once one of the world’s most abundant birds.
Why Some Genetic Miscues Are Helpful
A new look at the reasons why organisms missing pairs of genes sometimes do much better than normal.
The Cell’s Backup Genetic Instructions
The cell is equipped with multiple redundancies in case something goes wrong. Researchers have begun to map these systems.
When Pseudosex Is Better Than the Real Thing
What we can learn about evolution from species who thrive without sexual reproduction.
We Are Nowhere Close to the Limits of Athletic Performance
Genetic engineering will bring us new Bolts and Shaqs.
The Immortality Hype
Despite the hyperbole, private funding is changing the science of aging for the better.