Environmental DNA (eDNA) comes from the traces of genetic material organisms shed as they go about their lives. Find out how our ability to analyze human eDNA samples is a mixed blessing for the fields of ecology and forensics.
Tag: DNA
Grizzly Bear DNA Matches Indigenous Human Languages
Grizzly bears and humans have very similar needs in terms of diet and habitat. Find out about a fascinating study’s connection between bear DNA and human language groups in British Columbia. (4:00 min read)
Plant Evolution: It’s Not About Temperature
Plant evolution has always been assumed to happen faster in the tropics. Find out how a massive new study overturns that assumption. (5:00 min read)
Human History Isn’t a Straight Line – It’s a Tangled Web
Human history is often shown as a neat March of Progress from one species to the next. Find out how DNA testing proves it's much more complicated than that. (4:00 min read time)
Cell Origins Revealed by Their Membranes
Cell origins have always been a mystery. How could cell membranes form in the sea when their fatty acids can't survive in salt? Find out the answer. (3:30 min read time)
Origin of Life Before the Origin of Species–4 Theories
The origin of life is still a mystery to science, even though evolution is now a proven fact. Learn about four theories hoping to shed light on this enigma. (5:00 min read)
Evolution: Is It Always Genetic?
Biologists have always maintained that evolution happens strictly and solely inside the genome. Find out how scientists looking at a variety of yeast have challenged the orthodox view. (3:30 min read)
Bee Pollination, Habitats and Human Meddling
Bee pollination came up in a couple of science studies this week. Find out what researchers are telling us about where bees like to live and how we can stop the decline in bee populations. (5:00 min read)
Meteorites Brought Space Sugar to Earth
Scientists have found traces of the sugar called ribose in meteorites. Since ribose is a building block of living organisms, this discovery sheds light on the origin of life on earth. Find out more. (7:00 min read)
Are We All From the Kalahari?
A team of experts concluded that they had found the birthplace of all humans. Many of their peers immediately disagreed. Learn more here.