genome

What genetic sequencing can reveal about the secret lives of bees

By Isabella Isaacs-Thomas

Lonesome George, a giant Galapagos tortoise, died in 2012. His species, the Pinta Island tortoises, are now considered extinct. Photo by Mark Putney

Years after his death, Lonesome George’s genome offers clues to long life

Lonesome George, a wizened Galapagos giant tortoise, was the last of his kind. Now, researchers are using the iconic tortoise’s genetic material to better understand what it takes to live a long life.

By Vicky Stein

Seahorses are weird, and their genome knows why

To unlock the secrets of the seahorse, scientists have sequenced its genome for the first time.

By Leigh Anne Tiffany

Our long and winding road to understanding ‘The Gene’

The field of genetics has seen exponential growth in recent years, and today may be on the verge of further breakthroughs that will radically change the way we function as a species. But to understand genetics now, one must first…

By PBS News Hour

First giraffe genome reveals the oddity behind an African icon

The giraffe is an oddball, both outside and in. By sequencing the giraffe’s genome for the first time, researchers have learned that the animal’s extraordinary external features are matched by wild genetic traits buried inside its cells.

By Nsikan Akpan

How genetic sequencing can unlock secret DNA mutations — and save lives

By PBS News Hour

Every year, thousands of young people who seemed otherwise healthy die suddenly. The reason sometimes is long-rooted, secret gene mutations passed down through the generations. Doctors at the Scripps Translational Science Institute are using gene sequencing and “molecular autopsies” to…

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How many synthetic genes does it take to sustain life?

By Nsikan Akpan

By nailing down the genetic ingredients for life, synthetic biologists at the J. Craig Venter Institute may have redefined the rules for what's essential for survival.