Genetics & Evolution

The Y chromosome contains haplogroups which allow people to trace their family history, genes which control male development, and may actually be disappearing.

When I received my DNA results from 23andMe, I learned about our family history going back 800 years, in addition to information that gave my sister and me a better understanding of our relationship.

Most commonly, you see brown or blue eyes but some people, whether it be luck or a medical condition, wind up with really cool and rare eye colors.

They live in a rainbow world the rest of us can never see. Thanks to an eye mutation, an incredibly small percentage of women view their day with supervision, seeing colour where the rest of us see normal shades or even monochrome.

Telomeres protect the ends of chromosomes. Telomerase is an enzyme that stops telomeres from shortening. Both may play a role in the aging process and in cancer development.

Genetic diversity is the variation in the characteristics inherited from the parent organisms in a population of a specific species. Genetic diversity can come about through a number of ways: mutations, sexual reproduction, migration, and population size.

Hair color is primarily genetic, and red hair is caused by mutations in the MC1R gene. The gene for red hair also causes an increased sensitivity to sunlight and a reduced sensitivity to anesthesia. Contrary to internet rumors, redheads are not going extinct! Famous redheads include Queen Elizabeth I and Malcolm X.

Prior to the discovery of blood groups, blood transfusions were often deadly. Physicians attempted the use of milk and animal blood as an alternative to human blood, but met with limited success: the discovery of blood types allowed modern transfusions to safely take place. Blood typing, blood groups around the world, and the genetics of blood types are discussed in this article.

A cursory glance at the building blocks of life.

The discovery of a single tooth led to the belief in an ape-like creature had once roamed the plains of the New World.

Did you know that up to 2% of genes in the human population are actually from Neanderthals? Mood disorders and sleeping patterns are among the traits influenced by these genes.

Examining what it means to have Irish blood, outlining where Irish DNA comes from and who are the closest genetic relatives of the Irish in Europe. Of interest to anyone with Irish ancestry who wants to understand their genealogy.

Sickle cell disease is painful for sufferers and can sometimes be dangerous. Genome editing may one day correct the mutation that causes the disorder.

About 10 percent of the population is left-handed and experts are unsure exactly why this is so.

Several external factors affect the way we perceive eye color. This article discusses how environmental factors can impact hazel eyes, making it easy to mistake them for green eyes.

According to genetics, it is extremely rare, but still possible, for a black person to have blue eyes. This article will cover the science behind black people with blue eyes, and will provide some well-known examples.