In early December 2024, a group of researchers published an article in the journal Science, entitled “A single mutation in bovine influenza H5N1 hemagglutinin switches specificity to human receptors”.

California researchers say the world may be just one genetic tweak away from human-to-human transmission of the H5N1 bird flu virus – a worrisome mutation that could open the door to widespread human ...

Helen Branswell covers issues broadly related to infectious diseases, including outbreaks, preparedness, research, and vaccine development. Follow her on Mastodon and Bluesky. You can reach Helen on ...

A single microscopic change in our DNA can permanently alter how the brain is built, locking in developmental problems that ...

Scientists have discovered that H5N1, the strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus currently spreading in U.S. dairy cows, only needs a single mutation to readily latch on to human cells ...

A microscopic flaw in the brain’s cellular scaffolding can shape brain size for life.

Grow a Garden continues to expand its world of plants, pets and power-ups with new features that keep players hooked. Among the latest additions introduced during the Beanstalk Event is the Eclipse ...

In the children’s game telephone, a whispered phrase like “I ate a pear” can quickly become “I hate bears” as it moves down a line of players. As genes are passed down from parents to offspring, they ...

The spread of the H5N1 bird flu virus among dairy cows has worried health experts, who say it increases the risk of the virus becoming a greater threat to humans. (Tomas Ovalle / For The Times) ...