Genetics & Evolution

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.

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

A brief overview of the genetics of Phenylketonuria.

If you have red hair or blue eyes, then you're a mutant. There's nothing you can do about it except read this page to find out why nature selected you for mutantdom.

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.

A cursory glance at the building blocks of life.

Despite contrary advice, marrying a first cousin can indeed result in a greater probability of birthing a child with genetic defects. The Amish avoid these close marriages, too.

Dinosaurs Alive is an exhibit consisting of large, animatronic animals. This article contains photos of some of the models and facts about the real animals.

Researchers are embarking on studies that show a correlation between the color and pattern of the human eye iris and personality and intelligence. What do your eyes tell the world?

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.

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

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.

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.

Gene drive seeks to insert or remove a chosen trait in the genome of an entire species. Future applications include eliminating malaria, the zika virus and other diseases.

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.