Scientists have revealed parts of the genome that are especially vulnerable to mutations that occur very early on in development. These areas are in the initial portions of genes, where the cell tends ...

Concern surrounding the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 influenza virus currently circulating in dairy cows in the United States is growing. A total of 58 human cases have been reported as of ...

When a zygote begins cell division at a rapid rate, errors happen, and a new study found that base pairs near a gene’s transcription state sites (TSS) are particularly vulnerable. By analyzing some ...

A new study has raised alarm bells about the potential for the H5N1 bird flu virus to evolve into a strain sparking a human pandemic. A single mutation in the virus currently ravaging dairy farms ...

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Just how deadly is the bird flu? The virus, which is currently sweeping through U.S. dairy herds, rarely jumps to human beings. But when it does, the consequences can be lethal. A ...

It's not just the number of mutations that matters. It's the failure to fix them too. The male reproductive system serves as a hotspot for the emergence of new genes. Perhaps that explains why more ...

Helen Branswell covers issues broadly related to infectious diseases, including outbreaks, preparedness, research, and vaccine development. Follow her on Mastodon and Bluesky. You can reach Helen on ...

Researchers have discovered new regions of the human genome particularly vulnerable to mutations. These altered stretches of DNA can be passed down to future generations and are important for how we ...

Health officials say that while the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic may be behind us, SARS-CoV-2 is still a threat, and COVID-19 may be a disease we have to learn to live with, just as we have with ...