Genes are short sections of DNA that determine an animal's traits—everything from coat color and claw strength to body shape and health. But sometimes, these genes mutate. And while the word itself ...

During development of the digestive system, a complex network of nerves forms around it, creating a "second brain"—the enteric nervous system (ENS)—which controls the movement of food and waste ...

A shiny is a very rare Pokémon that comes in a different color than usual. It may be a fictional concept, but nature has no shortage of similar surprises. Animals, plants, food, and other unexpected ...

Studies of genetics conducted in yeast cells, human neurons, mice or other model systems often reveal networks of genes that could contribute to complex diseases, such as breast cancer, type 2 ...

New research suggests that autoimmune diseases may be driven by DNA mutations in immune cells that remove the natural brakes on the immune system. It reveals a previously hidden role for somatic ...

An old theory gains fresh support from advanced DNA sequencing, which can detect rare mutations in B cells from people with autoimmune thyroid conditions. Somatic mutations arise at random over time, ...