Genes make us who we are—but are they shaped by chance, natural selection, or something else?

Humans are closely related to chimpanzees and bonobos, but what are the key factors that make humans genetically different? A new study looks at the process of DNA methylation, in which chemical tags ...

Scientists have, for the first time, rebuilt ancient genomes of Human betaherpesvirus 6A and 6B (HHV-6A/B) using DNA from archaeological human remains that are more than 2,000 years old. The research, ...

DNA can voyage along intercellular highways called tunneling nanotubes. It’s a phenomenon that could potentially spread tumor DNA to healthy cells.

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA), made from many copies of ribosomal DNA (rDNA), is the core component that powers ribosomes—protein-building machines in our body. It helps build proteins by linking amino acids ...

Artificial intelligence allows tracing the evolution of genetic control elements in the developing mammalian cerebellum. An international research team led by biologists from Heidelberg University as ...

Scientists have uncovered compelling evidence that humans reached New Guinea and Australia around 60,000 years ago—earlier than some recent theories suggested. By tracing maternal DNA lineages, the ...

Most people today have a little Neanderthal DNA sprinkled through their genome. These genomic signals are the telltale signs that overlapping populations of ancient anatomically modern humans and ...

Some of your most important life partners are the mitochondria that power all your cells. You and these little cellular powerhouses are in a 1.5-billion-year-old evolutionary relationship—but ...