Apr 15 2009
Over the past decade, there has been no shortage of studies focused on the relationship between Neanderthals and our own species, Homo sapiens. Researchers have dug deep into the fossil record and our genomes to uncover how closely related we are to the Neanderthals, whether we interacted with them, and even whether our two species [...]
Feb 12 2009
First came the Human Genome Project when, in the year 2000, an international team of scientists began mapping all 23 pairs of our chromosomes. Then in 2005, the Chimpanzee Genome Project took off, attempting to do the same for the 24 chromosomes of our species’ closest living relative. With intimate knowledge of the genetic make-up [...]
Jul 03 2008
Last month I had the opportunity to go to the Society of Molecular Biology and Evolution conference in the striking city of Barcelona. This is the premiere conference for geneticists studying evolution in everything from bacteria to fruit flies, weeds, worms and our favorite model organism, humans! This is a highly interactive conference: almost everyone [...]
