genetics

The bottle sat in Bill Detrich’s refrigerator for nearly 15 years. Now, its time has come.

In 2004, Northeastern’s Bill Detrich had an idea ahead of its time: that scientists would one day sequence DNA from all of the Earth’s living creatures. Now, his efforts in anticipation of that genetics boom are paying off.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki May 4, 2021

Jake Potts, a bioengineering student at Northeastern, has been awarded a Fulbright scholarship, which he will use to study mutations in DNA repair genes at Sorbonne University in Paris. Photo by Ruby Wallau/Northeastern University

He wants to find ways to prevent or slow the spread of cancer

Jake Potts, a bioengineering student at Northeastern, has been awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study how DNA repair pathways cause mutations. He’ll attend Sorbonne University in Paris in the fall.

by Khalida Sarwari March 26, 2020

Sequencing the genome of the blackfin icefish might help us better understand anemia, osteoporosis, and other ailments. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Icefish have antifreeze in their blood, anemia, and osteoporosis. And they feel just fine.

Northeastern professor H. William Detrich’s work in sequencing the genome of Antarctica’s blackfin icefish could help scientists better understand human health issues.

by Laura Castañón March 1, 2019

CRISPR has been used to create genetically modified babies. Why are people so upset about it?

The Chinese researcher who announced that he has created the first genetically edited human infants has clearly violated scientific and ethical norms, said Northeastern ethicist Ronald Sandler. “This is a pretty clear case of the unethical use of a powerful new technology,” he said.

by Laura Castañón November 29, 2018

Rebecca Carrier, associate professor, investigates how external factors affect the human gut microbiome, the community of microorganisms living in the human gut. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

NU Talks: Linking diet and health

Rebecca Carrier, associate professor and associate chair of research in the Department of Chemical Engineering, investigates the human gut microbiome to better understand how the…

by News@Northeastern April 18, 2017

09/14/15 - NAHANT, MA. - Kathleen Lotterhaus, Assistant Professor in the Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences at the Northeastern University Marine Science Center in Nahant. Photo by: Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Marine scientist uses genetics to inform conservation

New assistant professor Kathleen Lotterhos of Northeastern’s Marine Science Center uncovers clues to environmental sustainability by using genetic analyses to study species from pine trees to Pacific rockfish.

by Thea Singer October 5, 2015

The hunger games of genes and microbes

A new type of cellular mechanism discovered by Northeastern researchers triggers bacterial biofilm formation.

by Angela Herring February 6, 2014

Making whoopee, coral style

Pocillopora damicornis is one of the most commonly studied coral species on the planet. Photo by David Combosch. When it…

by Angela Herring September 25, 2013