Genetics

The land, water and air around us are chock-full of DNA from fungi that scientists can’t identify

A small South Pacific fern boasts more than 50 times as many base pairs as the human genome

Scientists have recently discovered thousands of active RNA molecules that can control the human body

Rather than relying on bacteria, whiteflies cut out the middleman and acquired their own genes to process nitrogen

Several marsupial species, including sugar gliders, independently evolved a way to make membranes that allow them to glide through the air

New research examines the molecular machinery behind a beetle’s strange biological cycle

The forensic scientist’s toolbox is growing thanks to creative methods that generate reliable leads, analyze evidence, identify suspects and solve cold cases

Genetic information from ancient Roman remains is helping to reveal how malaria has moved and evolved alongside people

Chinese researchers have found the gene responsible for the brown-and-white fur of a handful of giant pandas

A recent study on risk-taking and bisexuality made assumptions that some experts don’t agree with.

A newly discovered genetic mechanism helped eliminate the tails of human ancestors

The engineered “firefly petunia” emits a continuous green glow thanks to genes from a light-up mushroom