Tag Archives: genes

NEW SCIENTIFIC STUDY DEBUNKS ‘DUMB BLOND’ STEREOTYPE

The new and improved blond Justin Bieber
The new and improved blond Justin Bieber

Palo Alto, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – A new study by a research team at Stanford University has identified the genetic triggers to hair color, specifically blond hair.

The new study published in Nature Genetics finds that a switch of a single letter of the genetic code is responsible for lighter hair: An A (adenine) is changed to a G (guanine) on a region of human chromosome 12. The team says that because this specific genetic change only affects the hair follicle, other cell types — especially, say, brain cells — are not affected. This means that blond hair really is “only skin deep.”

“It’s clear that this hair color change is occurring through a regulatory mechanism that operates only in the hair. This isn’t something that also affects other traits, like intelligence or personality, ” the study concluded.

The stereotype of blonds being dumb is therefore just that, a stereotype.

Except when your name is Justin Bieber — the new and improved blond Justin Bieber!

STANFORD SCIENTISTS DISCOVER MUTANT GENE THAT CAUSES HETEROSEXUALITY

imagePalo Alto, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – Twenty years ago, a study by American scientist Dean Hamer claimed to have discovered a so-called “gay gene” – but his research was criticised vocally by several right-wing US politicians and certain members of the religious community.

Now, scientists at the Human Genome Project have found evidence pointing to the existence of not one, but two or more so-called “gay genes.”

“Sexual orientation has nothing to do with choice,” said lead researcher Michael Bailey of Northwestern University in Chicago. “Our findings suggest there may be genes at play, and we found evidence for two sets that affect whether a man is gay or straight.”

Meanwhile, researchers at Stanford University are about to announce the results of a ground-breaking study that explains why people become heterosexual. They discovered a mutant gene which they named HTXL-1 which is responsible for a person’s heterosexual orientation.

“During the first three months of pregnancy, human genes circulate inside the fetus, trying to claim their proper position in the baby’s overall genetic makeup,” the researchers said. “During this process, a few genes mutate, causing a great imbalance in the genetic makeup. This mutation and imbalance produce right-leaning genes and eventually determine a person’s heterosexual orientaion,” they added.

The study concluded that 90% of fetuses develop these mutant genes.

 

NEW GENETIC STUDY MAY EXPLAIN WHY SOME HUMANS ACT LIKE DOGS

Same gene causes albinism in dogs and humans
Same gene causes albinism in dogs and humans

Detroit, Michigan (The Adobo Chronicles) – Ever wondered why some humans act like dogs? The answer seems to be in the genes.

A new study finds that certain dogs, just like certain humans, carry a gene mutation that causes albinism — a condition that results in little or no pigment in the eyes, skin and hair.

The study by researchers at Michigan State University identifies the exact genetic mutation that leads to albinism in Doberman pinschers, a discovery that has eluded veterinarians and dog breeders until now. Interestingly, the same mutated gene that causes albinism in this dog breed is also associated with a form of albinism in humans.

While the study was limited to the ‘albino gene,’ many behavioral scientists were quick to conclude that dogs are not only humans’ best friend; humans and dogs share a generic makeup that explains why dogs act like humans ans humans act like dogs.

Encouraged by this new genetic study, researchers from major scientific institutions are embarking on follow up studies aimed at identifiying other genes shared by humans and dogs.

We may soon find new meaning, and truth, to the human expeession, ‘wag the dog.’