Genetics

The race to advance gene editing tech continues, spurred on by starry-eyed Silicon Valley investors, entrepreneurs and even pronatalists. But it is still deeply controversial.

Disease-resistant frogs, cane-toad-munching quolls and other gene-edited native animals could be roaming the nation within the next decade. What could go wrong?

Nearly two decades ago, scientists in Newcastle came surprisingly close to resurrecting the extinct gastric brooding frog. Their failure highlights issues still plaguing de-extinction research today.

Researchers say one in 50 young people aged 18 to 40 have genetic variants that put them at risk of developing cancer or heart problems.

We visited a commercial horse cloning farm on the outskirts of Sydney to find out just how far the technology has come since Dolly the sheep's birth back in 1996.

Australian cattle prices are on the rise, producers are feeling confident, the US is hungry for beef, and now a Wagyu heifer has sold for $350,000.

A new global study has identified a hereditary link associated with stuttering, and experts have said the research will be key to providing early intervention for people who struggle with the condition.

Researchers tested a genetically engineered gut bacterium to try to limit kidney stones. But once inside some human volunteers, the modified microbe did not follow the plan.

Producers are working to breed "low-maintenance" sheep as farmers and workers continue to walk away from the agricultural sector.

Researchers have sequenced the genome of an ancient Egyptian who was buried in a pot nearly 5,000 years ago, about the time some of the oldest, and most famous, pyramids were built.

Our canine companions have lived beside us in all shapes and sizes, but plenty of breeds have disappeared along the way thanks to changes in jobs and fashion.

Tallulah Moon Whitrod is the only Australian child known to have SPG56, but her parents have discovered they have "soul families" scattered across the globe that are just as determined to find a cure.

Scientists have used personalised gene-editing therapy to successfully treat a baby with a rare genetic condition. Could this technique help to unlock treatments for others?

A major Sydney hospital is urgently reviewing more than 1,500 patient records after discovering a litany of errors and incorrect advice by one of its leading cancer specialists, the ABC can reveal.

Forget farmer wants a wife, it's ram wants a ewe as genetics play an increasing role in Australia's sheep-breeding programs.

A fourth-generation dairy farmer is using a world-first genetic index to breed heat-tolerant cattle, with his animals grazing in hot, sticky conditions and producing large quantities of commercial-grade milk.

There was a lot of hype about an American company's announcement about ancient dire wolves. It raises questions about the bid to "bring back" the Tasmanian tiger. 

An analysis of a jawbone found off the Taiwanese coast reveals it belonged to a Denisovan, a mysterious human species that contributed some genetic material to Indigenous Australians and people living in Asia today.

A US startup claims to have brought an extinct species back into existence. It's prompted debate about the difference of resurrecting an extinct species and genetically modifying an existing one.

By removing a gene to stunt cane toads at their tadpole stage, scientists hope they may have found a way to make the invader kill its own species.