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Identity-by-descent method reveals hidden genetic ties in rhesus macaques

Understanding biological relationships is often critical when studying animal populations. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig University, the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research and the Freie Universität Berlin have now developed a transformative approach that identifies stretches of DNA that two individuals inherited from a common ancestor. The study is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Giant 40,000-Year-Old Head Of Ancient Wolf Found In Siberian Permafrost

The head of the wolf features perfectly-preserved shaggy hair, soft-tissue, and a still-snarling mouth. Researchers hope to analyze its DNA.

Addressing Challenges from Junk DNA Defenders | Evolution News

Of course, die-hard evolution defenders were not going to take these major shifts in thinking about “junk DNA” sitting down.

DNA methylation heterogeneity and epipolymorphism in clear cell kidney cancer | Research Communities by Springer Nature

Gravitational waves offer a 'cosmic DNA test' for black holes | Space

The size and spin of black holes can reveal how and where they were born, and gravitational waves offer a way to decode this information like a cosmic DNA test.

Ancient viral DNA shapes early embryo development, study finds

Over half of our genomes consist of thousands of remnants of ancient viral DNA, known as transposable elements, which are widespread across the tree of life. Once dismissed as the "dark side" of the genome, researchers at Helmholtz Munich and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) have now revealed their crucial role in early embryo development. The study is published in the journal Cell.

Dark Proteome Information Content Skyrockets | Evolution News

There could be a five-fold increase in the number of proteins coded in what was formerly called non-protein-coding DNA.

White shark liver is on Australian killer sharks' menu | ScienceDaily

DNA evidence has confirmed killer whales in Australia hunted a white shark for its liver. Based on DNA analysis from the bite wounds on the carcass of a large white shark washed ashore near Portland in Victoria in 2023, the study identified that killer whales were responsible for consuming the mid-section containing the nutritionally rich liver.

Intelligent Design in Action: DNA Cryptography | Evolution News

Cryptography itself is an example of ID in action within the sciences. How much more when it involves coded genetic information?

The evolving pigment palette of European skin, eyes and hair as seen through ancient DNA

University of Ferrara researchers in Italy have examined how European skin, eye and hair pigmentation evolved over the past 45,000 years. Findings indicate that lighter pigmentation traits emerged gradually and non-linearly, with dark skin persisting in many populations well into the Copper and Iron Ages. The study used a probabilistic genotype likelihood method to infer pigmentation traits from low-coverage ancient DNA.