A clinical study conducted at Stanford School of Medicine demonstrated astounding recovery in chronic stroke patients after being treated with modified human stem cells. Several patients demonstrated seemingly miraculous regeneration in muscle movement and coordination literally overnight.
Researchers found a way to trick the brains of several paraplegic patients into thinking they were walking, with the help of virtual reality headgear. Miraculously, all patients from the study developed some extent of voluntary leg movement after twelve months of therapy in a world´s first.
A unique viral strain deemed Pandoravirus was discovered that spans a staggering 1 µm in diameter, beating the previous record holder by two-fold. The viral giant also possesses the largest viral genome ever discovered, most of which cannot be traced back to any of the existing domains of life.
Ever wondered why we sometimes feel an unusually strong attraction towards certain members of the opposite sex? It turns out the butterflies in our stomachs could actually be caused by differences in our genetic make-up.
It has long been said that “best things come in small packages” and recent scientific findings show a great example of that. People that suffer from an incredibly rare form of dwarfism called Laron syndrome seem to be completely immune to cancer, diabetes and other illnesses.
Humans have many phenotypic variations in eye color which is determined by multiple genes. So far, up to 16 genes have been associated with eye color inheritance. However, scientists from the Institute of Forensic Genetics at the University of Copenhagen discovered that the reason for blue eyes mainly lies in two genes: OCA2 and HERC2. This way they have shown that the earlier belief that blue eye color is a simple recessive trait is incorrect.
Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. There are some forms of cancer which can be cured relatively well with known and established drugs and surgery. However, not all forms of cancer response to these approaches.
Scientists from Harvard Medical School and Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have ingeniously visualized the Escherichia coli evolution through ever increasing amounts of antibiotics. Inspired by a Hollywood movie billboard, the team constructed the so called Microbial Evolution and Growth Arena i.e. MEGA plate to be able to monitor bacteria’s movement, survival and resistance.
Language and genetics behind it is still a huge unexplored area. Speech and language are multigenic, highly complex traits that aren’t just a result of functions of a single gene. FOXP2 is known to be the “language gene”.
In this modern, digital age, genetic testing, DNA and internet formed partnerships that are revolutionising the way we can create our family trees. We are no longer limited to the data from our country or relatives’ testimonials.