Articles for tag: DNA

A DNA helix.

How DNA Barcoding Helps Identify and Protect Wildlife

Linnea H, BSc Sociology

DNA barcoding is a scientific technique that uses a short genetic sequence from a standard part of the genome to identify species. Often compared to the way a supermarket scanner uses UPC barcodes to identify products, this method offers an efficient and reliable means of distinguishing between different species, even those that are closely related. ...

a close up of a blue and purple structure

Our Genes Hold Ancient Secrets From Our Distant Past

Suhail Ahmed

  Every cell in your body carries a story that began long before you were born, long before your family existed, and even before humans walked upright. Hidden in the spiraled ladder of your DNA are molecular footnotes from ancient epidemics, vanished species, and long-lost migrations across an Earth that looked nothing like today’s world. ...

a white polar bear holding a stick in its mouth

How DNA Changes May Shape the Future of Polar Bears

Suhail Ahmed

  On the thinning sea ice of the Arctic, polar bears are walking a genetic tightrope. As the climate warms faster than at almost any time in recorded history, their bodies and behaviors are being pushed to the edge – and their DNA is starting to tell the story. Researchers are racing to understand whether ...

a close up of a single strand of food

Our DNA Holds Clues to Distant Ancestors and Humanity’s Ancient Migrations

Suhail Ahmed

  Every cell in your body carries a silent travel diary, written long before your name, your language, or your hometown ever existed. For most of human history, questions about where we came from were answered with myth, migration stories, and whatever clues archaeologists could scrape from the ground. Over the past few decades, a ...

The Science of Animal Memory: How Do Elephants, Dolphins, and Crows Remember?

The Secret of Elephant DNA: Could Their Cancer Resistance Help Humans Live Longer?

Annette Uy

Elephants, the gentle giants of the animal kingdom, hold a marvel within their genetic makeup that has intrigued scientists for years. Despite their massive size and long lifespans, elephants have an impressively low rate of cancer compared to humans. This intriguing phenomenon has piqued the interest of researchers, who are eager to uncover the secrets ...

Rosalind Franklin, DNA double helix, genetics

The Woman Who Discovered DNA’s Double Helix: Rosalind Franklin’s Vital Contribution

Annette Uy

DNA, the blueprint of life, is foundational to understanding genetics and molecular biology. The structure of DNA, famously known as the double helix, has become a symbol of modern science. However, the story behind this groundbreaking discovery is not complete without recognizing the contributions of Rosalind Franklin. Her work, crucial yet often overshadowed, provided the ...

Why Bacteria Can Share DNA: The Scary Science of Antibiotic Resistance

Why Bacteria Can Share DNA: The Scary Science of Antibiotic Resistance

Annette Uy

Imagine a world where a tiny scrape on your knee could lead to a deadly infection, untreatable by any medicine we know. It sounds like something out of a post-apocalyptic movie, but this unsettling scenario is inching closer to reality each year. The culprit? Not some monstrous virus, but microscopic bacteria—ancient, clever, and shockingly social. ...