Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

'Defective' virus surprisingly plays major role in spread of disease

(Medical Xpress)—Defective viruses, thought for decades to be essentially garbage unrelated to the transmission of normal viruses, now appear able to play an important role in the spread of disease, new research by UCLA ...

Genetics

Following the footprints of positive selection

For decades, the human genome could only tell us what we already suspected about the evolution of certain traits. Researchers were able to trace the genetic origin stories of lactose tolerance (as opposed to lactose intolerance), ...

Genetics

Two studies reveal genetic variation driving human evolution

A pair of studies published by Cell Press on February 14th in the journal Cell sheds new light on genetic variation that may have played a key role in human evolution. The study researchers used an animal model to study a ...

Immunology

Natural killer cells played a vital role in human evolution

(Medical Xpress)—Natural killer cells – a vital part of the immune system – have a dual role in protecting against infection and ensuring reproduction. Scientists suggest that the multi-tasking ability of these cells ...

Oncology & Cancer

How can evolutionary biology explain why we get cancer?

Over 500 billion cells in our bodies will be replaced daily, yet natural selection has enabled us to develop defenses against the cellular mutations which could cause cancer. It is this relationship between evolution and ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

Computational methods reveal how hospital-acquired bacteria spread

Scientists at the Academy of Finland's Centre of Excellence in Computational Inference Research have developed novel computational methods that have yielded essential knowledge of how hospital-acquired bacteria spread and ...

Psychology & Psychiatry

Strong genetic selection against some psych disorders

(HealthDay)—Different evolutionary mechanisms likely support the persistence of various psychiatric disorders, according to a study published in the January issue of JAMA Psychiatry.

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