You may want to pass on that joint. A new scientific paper describes cannabis as a “genotoxic” substance that damages genetic information within cells, potentially leading to DNA mutations, accelerated biological aging and cancer. The authors of the analysis say this genotoxicity can be transmitted to the weed smoker’s offspring via a damaged egg and … Read more
If sugar is always your jam, your DNA may be to blame. An international team of researchers says that a genetic variation in our ability to digest certain sugars may influence how much we like sweet foods — and how much we consume. The scientists are pointing the finger at the sucrase-isomaltase (SI) gene, which … Read more
About 18,000 Americans are diagnosed with a new case of oropharyngeal cancer each year, with a UK head, neck and thyroid surgeon pointing the finger at oral sex. Oropharyngeal cancer is a type of head and neck cancer that tends to affect people between 50 and 80 but is becoming more prevalent among younger generations … Read more
Cheek, please! A biotechnology company headquartered in Manhattan has developed an “aging” clock that uses information from the cells in your cheeks to predict your biological age. Biological age is the age of your cells and tissues — this number can differ from your chronological age, which is the number of years you’ve been alive. … Read more
It’s aged — 3,600 years. Scientists have successfully pulled a DNA strand from what they believe to be the world’s oldest cheese, yanking it from Bronze Age mummies in a Chinese graveyard, circa 2,000 B.C. The dairy delight is kefir cheese — a modern-day cream cheese health substitute — and was found strangely smeared or … Read more
The scientific community has been electrified by this new theory. The inception of life on Earth may have been the result of chemical reactions sparked by lightning strikes, a new study from Harvard suggests. “The origin of life is one of the great unanswered questions facing chemistry,” said senior author George M. Whitesides. Lightning may … Read more
It seems talent runs in the family for actor Michael Douglas. During a recent episode of the PBS show “Finding Your Roots,” which examines celebrities’ ancestral backgrounds, Douglas learned, much to his astonishment, that he’s related to another famous actor. After the program produced all that it could via “paper trail,” it turned to genetics and … Read more
The neo-Nazi who inspired Edward Norton’s skinhead character in “American History X” has revealed he is now an observant Jew after turning his life around — and discovering his heritage through DNA testing. Frank Meeink, 48, became a leader of a violent ultra-right group in the early 1990s, torturing enemies who stood in the way … Read more
Inconceivable. A new study has shown scientists that a solution is on the horizon for those suffering from infertility, as well as some same-sex couples whose current option for a biological child is to outsource at least one parent. The proposed treatment — which employs the same process used to create Dolly, the sheep cloned … Read more
They’re not monkeying around with this breakthrough. Researchers from New York University Langone Health may have finally learned how early humans took a major step away from predecessor primates in the evolutionary process — by no longer growing tails starting 25 million years ago. “Our study begins to explain how evolution removed our tails, a … Read more
A Connecticut woman is speaking out after learning she unknowingly dated her half-brother in high school — after years of being left in the dark regarding the true identity of her biological father. Victoria Hill, 39, recently made the gut-wrenching discovery after it was revealed that her mother was wrongfully artificially inseminated by fertility doctor Burton … Read more
It’s a doggy-doo whodunnit. A province in northern Italy has resorted to elaborate DNA testing to find four-legged perps whose owners don’t clean up after their furry friends defecate all over beautiful Bolzano. Now, pooch parents are required to submit their pups for a DNA swab test as a tracing mechanism to easily identify culprits … Read more
The results are in. The tiny “non-human” mummified remains found in Peru over the summer that spurred dozens of alien conspiracy theories are nothing more than dolls, forensic experts ruled. The creepy figures — with only three fingers on each hand and elongated ET-style heads — are made with paper, glue, metal and human and animal bones, … Read more
Part of the club? Research shows that many humans have Neanderthal DNA. People with European or Asian backgrounds have 1% to 2% and as much as 4% if they are from East Asia — thanks to human-Neanderthal interbreeding. Because Neanderthals likely evolved outside of Africa, some African populations have almost no Neanderthal DNA. Now, a genetic engineer is … Read more
Whoopi Goldberg received a shocking DNA revelation. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., the host of the genealogy show “Finding Your Roots” on PBS, stopped by “The View” on Tuesday and gave the 68-year-old Goldberg some news about her heritage. Goldberg had actually appeared on the series — when it was called “African American Lives” more than … Read more
The anatomy of Nessie may be closer to the Swamp Thing than Godzilla. Apparently, the Loch Ness Monster is made of algae, according to DNA samples taken from the waters of Scotland’s Borlum Bay, where the deep sea beast supposedly prowls and has been allegedly spotted in the past. In one of the largest investigations … Read more
Matthew Perry’s impact on television cannot be overstated. When a star dies unexpectedly, the rush to brand them a “genius” sometimes blunts their impact because the word is thrown around too often. But you can’t fool the public with false praise. They know a true icon. That’s why no one questioned the genius of Robin … Read more
A 30-year-old’s confession about shocking DNA test results has birthed a debate on Reddit about the importance of genetics in parenting. “I was devastated, but I decided that I was not going to say anything to anyone,” the man shared about secretly learning he is not his son’s biological father. “Realistically, it doesn’t change much.” … Read more
Two in five American parents think they know everything there is to know about their biological family’s health history, a new survey suggests. Despite less than half (38%) knowing all of their biological family’s health history, nine in 10 parents polled agreed knowing this is an important part of knowing their own health risks. That’s … Read more
Your bad hair day could be written in your DNA. Genetic variations could be to blame for your wicked bed head, a new study found, as researchers discover more about the role genes play in hair patterns. The study, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, explored the phenomenon of hair whorls — circular patterns … Read more