Sep
03
2009
We may be another step closer to discovering what makes us human.
A new study published online this week in Genome Research has pinpointed three genes in humans that may genetically differentiate us from chimps and other primates. Genetically we are very similar to chimps, so most of the differences researchers have observed to date regard [...]
Tags: ancestry, chimpanzee, divergence, Genome Research, human
Oct
02
2008
Before efforts to sequence the human genome began, scientists thought they’d find about 100,000 protein coding genes in the three billion bases pairs of DNA that are found in almost every cell. But much to everyone’s surprise, the true number turned out to be much lower. It’s now thought that the human genome [...]
Tags: evolution, Genome Research, natural selection, Stanford, ultraconserved elements
Sep
10
2008
Just four simple ingredients — water, malt, hops, and yeast – go into making beer, a delicious and intoxicating brew that has been enjoyed for the past 6000 years.
The yeast not only ferments sugars into alcohol, but also affects the appearance, aroma and taste of a beer. It’s not surprising then that each brewery [...]
Tags: ale, beer, Genome Research, lager, Stanford, yeast