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Cross-posted at Denim and Tweed. In the course of adaptive evolution - evolutionary change via natural selection - gene variants that increase the odds of survival and reproduction become more common in a population as a whole. When we're only talking about a single gene variant with a strong beneficial effect, that makes for a...

PRINCETON (US) - "Is evolution predictable? To a surprising extent the answer is 'yes'," says Princeton professor Peter Andolfatto. New research by Andolfatto and colleagues published in the journal suggests that knowledge of a species' genes-and how certain external conditions affect the proteins encoded by those genes-could be used to determine a predictable evolutionary pattern driven by outside factors.

Scientists in the US have created embryos with genes from one man and two women, using a provocative technique that someday could be used to prevent babies from inheriting certain rare incurable diseases. The researchers at Oregon Health & Sciences University said they are not using the embryos to produce children, and it is not clear when or even if the technique will be put to use.