Genes inherited from the now-extinct Denisovans are actively playing a role in the immune system of some people from Oceania.

Our genetic heritage is not a blueprint or an algorithm, as many biologists have imagined, but something else entirely.

Ancient encounters between humans and the mysterious Denisovans are still shaping people today. By analyzing genomes from populations across the Pacific, researchers uncovered evidence that the ...

A deeper understanding of how DNA changes over generations helps scientists learn why people differ and how diseases develop. Until recently, many fast-changing parts of the human genome remained ...

A tiny portion of the human genome may have had a surprisingly large impact on our ability to develop language. New research ...

The people of Near Oceania carry a genetic legacy that stretches back almost to the beginning of humanity’s expansion across ...

What makes the human brain distinctive? A new study published in Cell identifies two genes linked to human brain features and provides a road map to discover many more. The research could lead to ...

DNA can voyage along intercellular highways called tunneling nanotubes. It’s a phenomenon that could potentially spread tumor DNA to healthy cells.

Researchers have captured the first atomic-level views of human SMUG1, a key enzyme involved in repairing damaged DNA.

Space is a dangerous place to be, but thanks to a recent DNA study, we know that an extended visit can wreak long-term ...