Branches of biology

On April 14 2003, scientists announced the end to one of the most remarkable achievements in history: the first (nearly) complete sequencing of a human genome. It was the culmination of a decade-plus endeavor that involved thousands of scientists across the globe. Many people hoped the accomplishment would change the world for the better.For the 20-year anniversary of this historic event, we took a look back at the Human Genome Project and its impact. How did it shape science moving forward? How many of the expected goals…

Twenty years ago, the Human Genome Project officially wrapped up. It was a feat of collaborative science that took 13 years—from 1990 to 2003—and involved researchers from around the globe.A Mononykus Hunts In ‘Prehistoric Planet’In honor of the anniversary, I spoke with Richard Gibbs, founder and director of the Baylor College of Medicine Human Genome Sequencing Center in Texas, who was one of the project’s leading figures. Gibbs shared his thoughts about the early days of studying DNA, the likely future of the genetics…

A spider pouncing on a parasitic wasp, in an ancient scene preserved in amber. Image: OSU College of ScienceAmber fossils are like a time capsule, preserving the three-dimensional structure of animals, plants, and other prehistoric items of interest. Every once in a while, however, paleontologists stumble upon some particularly bizarre specimens and scenes.Conventional fossils, with their faintly outlined pancaked specimens, can teach us plenty about the past, but they lack a certain pizzazz. Amber fossils, on the other…

Scientists in China this week say they’ve accomplished a first in bioengineering: creating embryo-like structures from monkey stem cells. The structures were implanted in surrogate female monkeys and briefly grew but did not become viable fetuses. The research may eventually help us better understand the earliest moments of human development and how it can go awry, the study authors say.A Mononykus Hunts In ‘Prehistoric Planet’In recent years, scientists have inched closer toward creating entire “synthetic” embryos,…

Alright, here we are. Lucky number seven. And we’ve saved the most radioresistant for last. As its name suggests, Thermococcus gammatolerans is good at handling gamma radiation, both in reducing the extent of DNA damage induced by radiation and in its ability to repair damaged chromosomes. (It’s fitting, perhaps, that it’s a select few single-celled organisms that would fare best in a nuclear apocalypse, rather than the sort of complex lifeforms that would invent such bombs in the first place.)In 2016, researchers dosed…

Only several weeks after the intelligence community came out to disavow claims that “Havana Syndrome”—the bizarre rash of neurological disorders plaguing droves of U.S. foreign service officers—was the result of a directed energy weapon, a newly declassified report alleges that may very well be what it is.Mental Health Apps Are a Privacy Nightmare The Intelligence Community Experts Panel on Anomalous Health Incidents (AHIs), was established by the government to figure out just what the heck had happened to the 1,000-ish…

You may have heard that ‘fish don’t feel pain.’ It’s a common, persistent myth that dates back to 17th-century French philosophy. Yet, regardless of René Descartes’s many other worthwhile ideas, the scientific consensus is that he was flat-out wrong on this one. Fish, and all other classes of vertebrate animals, seem to suffer from bumps, cuts, and punctures similarly to how humans and other mammals do. Fish do feel physical pain. In fact, fish may even experience emotional distress, according to multiple studies. And…

What if we could mimic how plants, algae, and bacteria harvest sunlight to create better solar panels? New research published Wednesday in Nature explores the molecular nitty-gritty of photosynthesis, and it may help us get closer to making this a reality.Young students learn about photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert sunlight and water into energy. But despite how seemingly basic the concept is, there are actually lots of mysteries remaining about how it works: namely, the photophysics of the process, the…

Doctors say they’ve likely cured yet another person of HIV using a specialized form of stem cell transplant. The patient has remained HIV-free for six years and is the first known woman to have successfully undergone the procedure. The doctors used a novel technique that transplanted stem cells from a relative and a donor’s umbilical cord blood at the same time—a technique that could make these transplants more widely feasible.The patient’s doctors earlier detailed her ongoing case at an HIV-related science conference…

In a study out this week, scientists describe a novel experimental pill that may be able to help patients with a difficult-to-treat form of leukemia. Nearly half of patients in the Phase I trial responded to the treatment, called revumenib, while about a third experienced a complete remission of their cancer. More research will be needed to confirm its effectiveness, however.Revumenib is being developed by the company Syndax. It’s meant to work by inhibiting a protein called menin, which seems to play an important role in…