Blood Genes Where There Is No Blood

In tomorrow's New York Times, I take a look at a new way of finding disease-related genes: search their ancient evolutionary history. Scientists can find genes involved in blood vessel growth in yeast--which have no blood. They can find genes that help build human embryos in plants, where they sense gravity. It's a twist on a twist on Darwin's great insights descent with modification. And I'm pleased to see that University of Chicago evolutionary biologist Jerry Coyne, a tough audience if ever there was one, is swayed by the piece. So check it out! [Update: 9/27 7:30 am: I forgot! You can also listen to me talk with David Corcoran of the Times about this new research on the Science Times podcast.]