genetics

Inside the disease that causes babies to be born with scales

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Inside the disease that causes babies to be born with scales

It’s one of the rarest — and most devastating — genetic disorders doctors encounter. Harlequin ichthyosis affects just a handful of newborns each year in the US, but the condition is unmistakable, marked by a thick, armor-like layer of hard scales at birth. Once considered a death sentence, medical advances have helped some children survive … Read more

6 traits you can thank Neanderthals for — from bad habits to bed times

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6 traits you can thank Neanderthals for — from bad habits to bed times

Part of the club? Research shows that many humans have Neanderthal DNA. People with European or Asian backgrounds have 1% to 2% and as much as 4% if they are from East Asia — thanks to human-Neanderthal interbreeding. Because Neanderthals likely evolved outside of Africa, some African populations have almost no Neanderthal DNA. Now, a genetic engineer is … Read more