Science News for Kids » DNA http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org Publication of the Society for Science & the Public Thu, 23 May 2013 17:00:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 A switch for a living computer http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/scientists-build-a-transistor-from-dna/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/scientists-build-a-transistor-from-dna/#comments Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:38:51 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=16600 Scientists used DNA to build biological switches called transcriptors, which act like transistors found on computer chips. Credit: iStockphoto

Scientists build a transistor from DNA]]> Scientists used DNA to build biological switches called transcriptors, which act like transistors found on computer chips. Credit: iStockphoto

Scientists build a transistor from DNA]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/scientists-build-a-transistor-from-dna/feed/ 0 Big squid: All one family http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/03/genes-show-all-giant-squid-belong-to-one-worldwide-species/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/03/genes-show-all-giant-squid-belong-to-one-worldwide-species/#comments Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:29:31 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=16193 A giant squid is unloaded by fishermen at a wharf in Melbourne, Australia. Credit: David Paul/University of Melbourne

Genes show all giant squid belong to one, worldwide species ]]> A giant squid is unloaded by fishermen at a wharf in Melbourne, Australia. Credit: David Paul/University of Melbourne

Genes show all giant squid belong to one, worldwide species ]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/03/genes-show-all-giant-squid-belong-to-one-worldwide-species/feed/ 0 Fancy feather gene http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/02/fancy-feather-gene/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/02/fancy-feather-gene/#comments Fri, 15 Feb 2013 18:18:13 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=15672 This Indian fantail, one of 350 breeds of rock pigeons, has a tuft of feathers called a peak crest. Scientists recently pinpointed the gene mutation responsible for this feather formation. Credit: Michael Shapiro

A tweak in a single pigeon gene causes a distinct feather formation]]> This Indian fantail, one of 350 breeds of rock pigeons, has a tuft of feathers called a peak crest. Scientists recently pinpointed the gene mutation responsible for this feather formation. Credit: Michael Shapiro

A tweak in a single pigeon gene causes a distinct feather formation]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/02/fancy-feather-gene/feed/ 0 Genetic memory http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/02/genetic-memory/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/02/genetic-memory/#comments Fri, 08 Feb 2013 18:55:08 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=15601 A DNA molecule looks like a twisted ladder. Scientists have found a way to use the rungs of that ladder to store data efficiently. Credit: NHGRI

The stuff of genes can be used to store digital data, too]]> A DNA molecule looks like a twisted ladder. Scientists have found a way to use the rungs of that ladder to store data efficiently. Credit: NHGRI

The stuff of genes can be used to store digital data, too]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/02/genetic-memory/feed/ 0 Cool Jobs: Delving into dung http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/01/cool-jobs-delving-into-dung/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/01/cool-jobs-delving-into-dung/#comments Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:56:09 +0000 Roberta Kwok http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=15401 Wood’s colleague, Janet Wilmshurst, studies a piece of moa poop. Credit: Jamie Wood

Scientists uncover fascinating secrets through the study of animal feces ]]> Wood’s colleague, Janet Wilmshurst, studies a piece of moa poop. Credit: Jamie Wood

Scientists uncover fascinating secrets through the study of animal feces ]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/01/cool-jobs-delving-into-dung/feed/ 0 Cool Jobs: Crime scene investigators http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/12/cool-jobs-crime-scene-investigators/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/12/cool-jobs-crime-scene-investigators/#comments Wed, 05 Dec 2012 21:29:25 +0000 Sid Perkins http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=15019 The dead do tell tales — if experts care to listen. Forensic anthropologist William Bass arranges a display of how a person’s bones change year by year as we age. This information can help identify a crime victim when little else is known. Credit: University of Tennessee, Knoxville

These researchers don’t miss a clue]]> The dead do tell tales — if experts care to listen. Forensic anthropologist William Bass arranges a display of how a person’s bones change year by year as we age. This information can help identify a crime victim when little else is known. Credit: University of Tennessee, Knoxville

These researchers don’t miss a clue]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/12/cool-jobs-crime-scene-investigators/feed/ 0 Healthier mice, through X-rays http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/11/healthier-mice-through-x-rays/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/11/healthier-mice-through-x-rays/#comments Thu, 29 Nov 2012 17:55:03 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=14991 Scientists found that sickly agouti mice, which carry a gene that colors their coat yellow, benefit from a small dose of radiation. These benefits were blocked by vitamins, though, turning conventional ideas about radiation and vitamins upside down. Credit: The Transgenic Core Facility

In sickly mice, small doses of radiation helped while vitamins harmed]]> Scientists found that sickly agouti mice, which carry a gene that colors their coat yellow, benefit from a small dose of radiation. These benefits were blocked by vitamins, though, turning conventional ideas about radiation and vitamins upside down. Credit: The Transgenic Core Facility

In sickly mice, small doses of radiation helped while vitamins harmed]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/11/healthier-mice-through-x-rays/feed/ 0 The rest of your DNA http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/09/the-rest-of-your-dna/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/09/the-rest-of-your-dna/#comments Tue, 25 Sep 2012 17:48:35 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=14254 An international team of scientists has determined that a good chunk of our DNA may act as switches that turn genes “on” and “off.” Credit: National Human Genome Research Institute

Surprise: Scientists find most of human DNA molecule carries out important functions]]> An international team of scientists has determined that a good chunk of our DNA may act as switches that turn genes “on” and “off.” Credit: National Human Genome Research Institute

Surprise: Scientists find most of human DNA molecule carries out important functions]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/09/the-rest-of-your-dna/feed/ 0 Python-palooza! http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/08/monster-sized-burmese-python-bearing-record-number-of-eggs-retrieved-in-the-florida-everglades/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/08/monster-sized-burmese-python-bearing-record-number-of-eggs-retrieved-in-the-florida-everglades/#comments Wed, 22 Aug 2012 20:53:00 +0000 Janet Raloff http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=13638 python_feature

Monster-sized Burmese python bearing record-number of eggs retrieved in the Florida Everglades]]> python_feature

Monster-sized Burmese python bearing record-number of eggs retrieved in the Florida Everglades]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/08/monster-sized-burmese-python-bearing-record-number-of-eggs-retrieved-in-the-florida-everglades/feed/ 0 DNA hints at ancient cousins http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/08/dna-hints-at-ancient-cousins/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/08/dna-hints-at-ancient-cousins/#comments Fri, 17 Aug 2012 18:45:21 +0000 Roberta Kwok http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=13604 By analyzing the DNA of some modern-day Africans, scientists have found that our ancestors may have mated with an unknown, humanlike species thousands of years ago. Credit: Courtesy of Sarah Tishkoff

Scientists find evidence of an extinct humanlike species within modern-day Africans]]> By analyzing the DNA of some modern-day Africans, scientists have found that our ancestors may have mated with an unknown, humanlike species thousands of years ago. Credit: Courtesy of Sarah Tishkoff

Scientists find evidence of an extinct humanlike species within modern-day Africans]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/08/dna-hints-at-ancient-cousins/feed/ 0