Tag:

Genetics

Human Ear Evolved From Gills Of Ancient Fish, New Report Says Human Ear Evolved From Gills Of Ancient Fish, New Report Says
Human Ear Evolved From Gills Of Ancient Fish, New Report Says It turns out the human ear got off to a fishy start. Literally. A fascinating new study reveals that the mammalian outer ear has its evolutionary roots in the gills of ancient fish.  This surprising discovery sheds light on how structures can adapt over millions of years to serve entirely new functions. Published in Nature by researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, the study connects the elastic cartilage in mammalian ears to the same rare tissue found in fish gills.  To explore this link, scientists used gene enhancers — DNA sequences that control tissue development.…
Non-Smokers Develop Lung Cancer, Too Non-Smokers Develop Lung Cancer, Too
Non-Smokers Develop Lung Cancer, Too More than 80% of lung cancer cases are attributed to smoking. But that means that nearly a fifth of cases afflict non-smokers, a percentage that has increased in recent years. Both environmental and genetic factors are in play when non-smokers get lung cancer. Despite marked improvements in U.S. air quality, there are still plenty of irritants and harmful pollutants in the environment. The Leading Cause Exposure to radon gas is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second-leading cause overall, responsible for more than 20,000 lung-cancer deaths annually. Radon is harmles…