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Genetics

Why Sex Is Mostly Binary but Gender Is a Spectrum

A short genetic history of one of the most profound dimensions of human identity.

December 15, 2016

Ingenious: Siddhartha Mukherjee

The oncologist, researcher, and writer on genetics, medicine, and identity.

December 15, 2016

From a Pink Squiggle to the Human Genome Project

This Yellowstone bacterium sparked PCR, one of the great advances in genetics.

December 6, 2016

The Man Who Kicked Off the Biotech Revolution

The $325 billion biotech industry began with the discovery of an enzyme to slice DNA.

December 6, 2016

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.

November 11, 2016

Why Some Genetic Miscues Are Helpful

A new look at the reasons why organisms missing pairs of genes sometimes do much better than normal.

November 10, 2016

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.

November 10, 2016

When Pseudosex Is Better Than the Real Thing

What we can learn about evolution from species who thrive without sexual reproduction.

November 7, 2016

We Are Nowhere Close to the Limits of Athletic Performance

Genetic engineering will bring us new Bolts and Shaqs.

August 3, 2016