It’s clear that genes, receptors and neurons all play a role in detecting odors. But much of how we make sense of what we sniff remains mysterious. A neuroscientist explains. Q and A with Neurobiologist Peter Mombaerts.
When the first humans moved out of Africa, they carried their gut microbes with them. Turns out, these microbes also evolved along with them.
Scientists have discovered a mutation that increases the production of brain cells and seems to have set our ancestors apart from other hominins.
Perhaps the most startling discovery to come out of the study of life’s diversity and relatedness at the molecular level is the movement of genes across species lines - HGT. It turns out that HGT has been widespread and important.
What's in a minimal cell? This is very close to the basic requirements of life as we know it. For a full 17 percent of the genes we have no clear idea of what they do.
Yet another bio-engineered solution without (much of) a problem: inserting extra genes into apples turns off the enzyme responsible for apples turning brown.
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