Tag: Genetics
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Enjoying school is in your genes
The Tweet: “Genetic factors explain approximately 40% of whether a child will like school or not, according to a study.” The biggest factor in whether a child will enjoy and be motivated at school is in their genes. Data collected from a number of studies were found to support this claim. A team led by…
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Mice with ‘human brain genes’ have better memories
The Tweet: “Scientists once spliced human brain genes with lab mice and were able to produce smarter mice.” Genetically modifying a gene in the brain of mice makes them better at learning routes in a maze, scientists have found. The gene in question is FOXP2, which in humans is responsible for speech and language proficiency.…
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Red hair doesn’t explain differences in pain
The Tweet: “Redheads don’t feel pain like everyone else does. They are less sensitive to electrically induced pain, but more sensitive to thermal pain.” Sensitivity to pain has been linked to the gene responsible for red hair colour and pale skin in humans. Melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) genes determine the level of the brown skin pigment melanin.…
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All blue-eyed people can be traced to one common ancestor
The Tweet: “All blue eyed people can be traced back to one person who lived near the Black Sea about 10,000 years ago.” Between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago a mutation in the eye colour gene HERC2 resulted in the blue eyes common to Northern Europeans, according to researchers form the University of Copenhagen. In a study…