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biology

Latest Articles

Selfish Genes
Insights puzzle

Are Genes Selfish or Cooperative?

By Pradeep Mutalik
September 14, 2017
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Can you discover a simple mathematical result of Mendelian genetics that describes how genes interact with each other?

A boy and his dog and its viruses
evolution

Viruses Would Rather Jump to New Hosts Than Evolve With Them

By Mallory Locklear
September 13, 2017
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The discovery that viruses move between species unexpectedly often is rewriting ideas about their evolutionary history — and may have troubling implications for the threat from emerging diseases.

biophysics

Bacteria Use Brainlike Bursts of Electricity to Communicate

By Gabriel Popkin
September 5, 2017
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With electrical signals, simple cells organize themselves into complex societies and negotiate with other colonies.

Nigel Goldenfeld
Q&A

Seeing Emergent Physics Behind Evolution

By Jordana Cepelewicz
August 31, 2017
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Nigel Goldenfeld applies the physics of condensed matter to understand how evolution sprinted for the earliest life — and then slowed down.

Neurons and astrocytes
Abstractions blog

The Oldest Mini-Brains Have Lifelike Young Cells

By Jordana Cepelewicz
August 29, 2017
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“Organoid” brain tissue models grown in a lab for two years can help scientists study a critical period of development just before and after birth.

Lion, leopard, tiger
evolution

Interspecies Hybrids Play a Vital Role in Evolution

By Jordana Cepelewicz
August 24, 2017
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Hybrids, once treated as biological misfits, play a vital role in the evolution of many animal species. Now conservationists are trying to reconcile that truth with policies.

Evolving bird
genetics

Beating the Odds for Lucky Mutations

By Jordana Cepelewicz
August 16, 2017
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If DNA repair makes useful mutations more likely, it could accelerate cells’ adaptations to harsh environments.

cerebral organoid, or mini-brain
Abstractions blog

Mini-Brains Go Modular

By John Rennie
August 9, 2017
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To create a good living replica of the human brain, your best hope may be to let “organoid” components assemble it for you.

Illustration of bats shedding their genome by Skip Sterling
molecular biology

Shrinking Bat DNA and Elastic Genomes

By Ariel Bleicher
August 1, 2017
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Species gain and shed startling amounts of DNA as they evolve, and even genomes that look stable churn furiously. What does it mean?


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