Scientists discover genetic trains that make some people more partial to napping 

Needing to ‘rest your eyes’ for a daytime snooze could be more than just exhaustion, according to a new study that found the need to nap may be in your DNA. Researchers from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) worked with data from the UK Biobank, which included genetic and general information on 452,633 people including … Read more

Genetic mutation found that gives 1 in 5 ‘better resilience’ to cold

A fifth of the world’s population has a ‘superior resilience’ to colder temperatures thanks to a genetic mutation, allowing them to never feel the cold, study reveals.  Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden had 32 healthy men aged 18 to 40 sit in 14 degrees Celsius water until their body temperature dropped to 35.5C. They … Read more

Rare YELLOW lobster named Banana is a one-in-30 million catch that was born with a genetic mutation

Catch of the millennia! Rare YELLOW lobster named Banana is a one-in-30 million find born with a genetic mutation that causes pigment reduction A Maine fisherman caught the yellow lobster and donated it to science Researchers have named it Banana and are now caring for the crustacean Banana was born with a condition called leucism that … Read more

Zebras with spots and gold fur are observed in Africa that are genetic mutations from inbreeding

Zebras are known for their black and white stripes, but over several years scientists have noticed some of the animals bear spots, odd patterns and even gold fur. Such alterations, usually caused by genetic mutations, are rarely observed in mammals, which has sparked a new study into what is causing the zebras to change. A … Read more

White moose with a rare genetic condition is spotted in Sweden

I’m dreaming of a white Christ-MOOSE: Woodland beast with no pigment in its fur due to a rare genetic condition is spotted in Sweden Roger Brendhagen, 52, caught a glimpse of the moose during a walk through the countryside near Värmland About thirty white moose are believed to live in the area. They have also been … Read more

Ten-year-old embraced her fuzzy ‘baby hair’ caused by a rare genetic condition

A 10-year-old who was born with a rare genetic condition that makes her hair impossible to brush has embraced her fuzzy locks. Shilah Madison Calvert-Yin, from Melbourne, Australia, has had fluffy hair since she was born but was teased by bullies who said she looked as though she had ‘stuck her finger in a power … Read more

Scientists map the genetic make-up of 363 bird species 

The genetic make-up of 363 species of bird – ranging from the humble chicken to the amazing bird-of-paradise – has been mapped by scientists for the first time. The work, by researchers from the Smithsonian Institute and about 100 other institutions involved analysing over 17 trillion base pairs of DNA from bird species. Researchers say … Read more

Indonesian tribe with extremely rare electric blue eyes due to genetic fluke photographed

Baby’s got blue eyes… and so has everyone else! Indonesian tribe have piercing features due to a genetic fluke Members of a tribe on Buton Island, Indonesia, have Waardenburg Syndrome, affecting pigmentation The syndrome can affect hear loss but also causes an extremely rare electric blue colour in their eyes Korchnoi Pasaribu, from Jakarta, Indonesia, photographed … Read more

Being addicted to sunbathing may be genetic, study finds

Sun-loving people have the same ‘risk-taking’ genes that lead to smoking, promiscuity and drugs, study finds Researchers at KCL looked for genetic variants associated with sun-seeking   Found the genes are the same five variants linked to other risk-taking behaviour Researchers say the genetic differences should help inform campaigns which warn of the health hazards posed … Read more

Dazzling golden turtle with ultra-rare genetic mutation is spotted in Nepal

A turtle ‘revered as an incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu’ is spotted in Nepal with a dazzling golden shell due to an ultra-rare genetic mutation Unique colouration is caused by ultra-rare genetic form of chromatic leucism Causes when xanthophores — cells that are yellow — become dominant  Only fifth time a golden specimen of … Read more