Large blocks of genes conserved through hundreds of millions of years of evolution hint at how the first animal chromosomes came to be. Chromosomes, the bundles of DNA that star in the mitotic ballet ...

A study published by MBARI researchers and their collaborators today in Nature provides new insights about one of the earliest points in animal evolution that happened more than 700 million years ago.

Sex in other vertebrates Among animals with backbones (vertebrates), there is a huge variety of systems that determine sex. However, they usually come down to the action of a single gene. Many fish, ...

Most humans probably think very little of the platypus — if at all. But this strange Australian mammal, with its webbed feet and beaver-like tail, is actually a treasure trove of genetic information.

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Katherine Seghers / Louisiana State University Scientists have sequenced the largest ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. In a new study, scientists ...

Since ancient times, scientists and philosophers have pondered the fundamental question of what makes some organisms male and some female. Some hypotheses were at least plausible—Greek philosopher ...