Genetics

A genetic analysis of more than a thousand ancient British genomes shows the Roman conquest left only a small mark on the island's ancestry despite major cultural shifts.

9 Mwezi wa tano, 2026 Imeripotiwa na AI Imethibitishwa ukweli

Researchers comparing appendage regrowth in salamanders, fish and mice report that two related genes, SP6 and SP8, are activated in regenerating skin tissue across species and are required for normal bone regrowth in animal models—findings they say could inform future regenerative-medicine strategies.

Scientists have found genetic evidence that modern humans reached New Guinea and Australia around 60,000 years ago, backing the long chronology over more recent estimates. The international team, led by researchers at the University of Huddersfield and the University of Southampton, analyzed nearly 2,500 mitochondrial DNA genomes from Aboriginal Australians, New Guineans, and Southeast Asian populations. Their work suggests early migrants used at least two routes through Southeast Asia.

9 Mwezi wa nne, 2026 Imeripotiwa na AI Imethibitishwa ukweli

Researchers at Kyoto University and RIKEN report that human cells can detect “non-optimal” synonymous codons—alternative three-letter genetic instructions that encode the same amino acid but are translated less efficiently—and selectively suppress the corresponding mRNAs. In experiments described in Science, the team identifies the RNA-binding protein DHX29 as a central component of this codon-dependent control of gene expression.

Researchers have found that polygenic risk scores, which summarize a person's likelihood of developing diseases like diabetes and cancer, can be reverse-engineered to uncover underlying genetic data. This vulnerability raises privacy concerns, potentially allowing identification through public databases or reconstruction by insurers. The discovery highlights risks in sharing such scores, even anonymously.

9 Mwezi wa tatu, 2026 Imeripotiwa na AI

Scientists at EPFL have developed a technique called optovolution, using light to evolve proteins that switch states, sense environments, and perform computations. By engineering yeast cells to survive only if proteins behave dynamically, the method selects optimal variants rapidly. The approach, published in Cell, advances synthetic biology and optogenetics.