Very little in genetics is determinate—least of all, behavior. Behaviors are dynamic processes by which animals respond to their environment to survive, and evolution can shape genes affecting behavior over generations. Genetic selection may be even more dramatic in domestic animals due to human influence... click to read more

In 2001, the Human Genome Project produced the first-ever sequence of the human genetic code, known as the human reference genome. Researchers like us rely on the reference genome to identify genetic differences between individuals, or genetic variants. Identifying these variants can help us determine... click to read more

Since the Human Genome Project published the first sequence of the human DNA code in 2001, the field of human genetics has dramatically expanded. New studies have identified specific changes in the DNA code (or genetic variants) that are linked to why some people are... click to read more

The genetic material of any two humans is 99.9% identical, but the small differences that do exist between our genomes provide a record of the complex evolutionary history we have undergone as a species. Over the past decade, scientists have sequenced a large number of... click to read more

The plant catmint, also known as catnip, is named after its notorious effect on cats. When cats sniff or rub against catmint, it drives them to act strangely: rolling over, pawing and rubbing. Its scientific name is also feline-inspired: Nepeta cataria. The cause of the cats'... click to read more