Dec 30 2009
In our last post we highlighted a few of the coolest (in our opinion!) health-related developments of 2009. But human genetics isn’t all about disease. Here are a few more favorites:
The Romanovs
2009 saw the identification of the remains of the missing members of this Russian royal family, as well as identification of the mutation that [...]
Oct 08 2009
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and Prince Alexei, 1911.
The princes of early 20th century Europe had a problem. The source of their wealth and power — the royal blood coursing through their veins — could also sentence them to an early death.
A mutation that spontaneously arose in the DNA of Britain’s Queen Victoria doomed many of her [...]
Feb 24 2009
As we have shown time and again here at the Spittoon, our DNA can greatly illuminate the lives of our most ancient ancestors. We’ve learned how the ancient Phoenicians left their genetic footprints scattered across the Mediterranean Sea, and seen the DNA signatures of the first farmers sprinkled everywhere from Iraq to Germany to England. [...]
