Featured Stories Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Confusion – scientific and ethical – reigns in the wake of stem cell cloning landmark

Organic industry’s credibility eroded by misinformation about GE foods

Microbiome: How the bacterial genes in our gut impact us

California’s activist court rules that GM alfalfa is not a pest

Confusion – scientific and ethical – reigns in the wake of stem cell cloning landmark
Kenrick Vezina | Genetic Literacy Project
Organic industry’s credibility eroded by misinformation about GE foods
Jon Entine | Genetic Literacy Project
Microbiome: How the bacterial genes in our gut impact us
Michael Pollan | New York Times
California’s activist court rules that GM alfalfa is not a pest
Hank Campbell | Science 2.0

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GeneTrends

Microbiome: How the bacterial genes in our gut impact us Michael Pollan | New York Times

For every human cell that is intrinsic to our body, there are about 10 resident microbes.
Genetics continues to garner attention as conservation tool Kenrick Vezina | Genetic Literacy Project

Genetics continues to make headlines in conservation efforts, even if it’s not the species-saving panacea some hope for.
Stem cell therapy deserves a dose of skepticism Alex Berezow | USA Today

Stem cells are at risk of becoming “the new snake oil peddled by 21st century charlatans” without better regulation and understanding.
What role will genetics play in a biology-based approach to psychiatry? Kenrick Vezina | Genetic Literacy Project

Calls for a biology-based psychiatry are growing louder, but how will genetics fit into this puzzle?
Charlemagne for everyone! Royal DNA all around Carl Zimmer | National Geographic

Everyone who lived a thousand years ago who has any descendants today is an ancestor of every European.

Voices come out in defense of Monsanto Kenrick Vezina | Genetic Literacy Project

Everyone’s least favorite company has seen stories this week highlight its good side.
AquAdvantage salmon: “Frankenfish” or “Wunderfish”? Emma Pearse | MSN News

Even with approval inching ever-closer for the AquAdvantage salmon, the debate about its safety rages on.
How to recognize questionable information about genetically modified organisms Mary Mangan | Biofortified

A genomics scientists helps lay readers separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to GMO misinformation.
DIY biotechnology: Glowing trees Andrew Pollack | New York Times

Hoping to give new meaning to the term “natural light,” a small group of biotech enthusiasts is trying to create glowing plants.
The ignorance of Whole Foods Henry Miller | Daily Caller

Henry Miller argues that the folks running Whole Foods are misguided at best when it comes to biotech.

Weekly NewsletterMonday, May 27, 2013

Confusion – scientific and ethical – reigns in the wake of stem cell cloning landmark Kenrick Vezina | Genetic Literacy Project

Credit: Flickr/ newsonline.

Organic industry’s credibility eroded by misinformation about GE foods Jon Entine | Genetic Literacy Project

Organic tomato (Credit: Flickr/ epSos.de).

Breakthrough GE potato doesn’t brown or produce potentially carcinogenic compoundKarl Haro von Mogel | Biofortified
Biofortified interviews the man behind a new genetically engineered potato that doesn’t brown when cut or fried nor make acrylamide, a potential carcinogen about his plants and efforts to navigate USDA approval processes.
Jason Richwine affair raises prickly policy issues on IQRon Unz | American Conservative
The firing of Jason Richwine from the Heritage Foundation for his controversial 2009 thesis on race and IQ reflects poorly on our ability to discuss difficult policy issues, argues Ron Unz.
A minimalist genome: Sometimes “junk” DNA really is junkEd Yong | National Geographic
Whether or not "junk" DNA is actually useful has been a topic of debate. A new paper in Nature examining the genome of a carnivorous plant provides evidence that, at least in some cases, "junk DNA" really is junk.

California’s activist court rules that GM alfalfa is not a pestHank Campbell | Science 2.0
Despite a track record spotted with anti-science activist positions, California's 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the lower court's determination that Roundup Ready Alfalfa was not a 'plant pest' under the Protection Act. This case highlights the common practice of anti-science groups abusing lawsuits.
SCOTUS rules Indiana farmer is “seed thief,” upholds Monsanto’s seed patentsJon Entine | Genetic Literacy Project
The Supreme Court ruled that a farmer cannot reproduce patented seeds through planting and harvesting without permission of the patent holder—in this case, Monsanto. The justices all but stated that Vernon Bowman attempted to steal Monsanto’s seeds.
New generation of herbicide-tolerant crops face regulatory delaysJack Kaskey | Bloomberg BusinessWeek
Monsanto and Dow Chemical face delays in selling biotech crops engineered to survive older weedkillers after the the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced increased scrutiny of the genetically modified plants.

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