Human Genetics Features
The GLP tackles innovations in human genetics and biotechnology. We highlight the work of our own writers, as well as that of contributors from around the Web. The GLP does not take a position on genetics-related issues; any opinions expressed belong to the authors.
Categories include:
- CRISPR and gene editing
- Gene therapy
- Stem cell research
- Genetic diseases
- Synthetic biology
- Epigenetics
- Biodrugs (pharmacogenetics)
- Personal genomics
- Ancestry and evolution
- Ethics and regulations
The selfish gene debate: The power of stories in science and society
Science writer David Dobbs wrote an article late last year calling for a new narrative to help us understand evolution ...
DNA and the masses: Genetics as identity
You can have your DNA sequenced faster, easier and more completely than ever before. ln light of these advances, it's ...
‘Fat gene’ stands falsely accused, offers lesson in gene-gene interactions
For much of the last decade, a gene called FTO has been touted as a 'fat gene'. Now it seems ...
Teen identifies rare mutation in her own cancer, champions new age of open-access genetics
Elana Simon, an 18-year-old high school student, has published a "groundbreaking" genetic study of her own rare cancer in Science ...
23andMe slowed by FDA order, but the company (and personalized medicine) advances
23andMe's conflict with the FDA has slowed the stream of people subscribing to the service, but co-founder Anne Wojcicki thinks ...
Acid bath stem cell method scientist retracts study
The researchers behind the acid bath stem cell method that caused a stir in January have asked to retract the ...
Elephant intellect: Genius in the largest brain on land
Scientists are finally probing the elephant brain to find out how cooperative problem solving, tool use, and even self-awareness can ...
Greater variety of pre-natal screenings now offered
The list of available pre-natal genetic screening tests is growing. The tests are non-invasive and generally have a low false-positive ...
Was Lamarck right? Epigenetic research suggests we might inherit learned traits. But how?
It seems almost certain that epigenetic effects -- an annotation to DNA that changes how genes are expressed -- can ...
Genetics, digital revolution driving pharmaceutical renaissance
Modern molecular biology and genomics were supposed to lead to a targeted approach to drug development, but in fact our ...
Genetic entrepreneur J. Craig Venter to tackle the problem of human aging
Craig Venter sequenced the first human genome. He made the first synthetic cell. And now, for his next trick, he's ...
Largest-ever virus discovered in (and revived from) 30,000-year-old permafrost
A record-setting little giant---the biggest virus ever discovered---has been revived from 30,000-year-old Siberian permafrost with little more than a thaw ...
Chromosomal fusion shows when you, me, and the Neanderthals evolutionarily split from great apes
Orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos have 24 chromosome pairs. But humans and our closest extinct ancestors have 23 as a ...
Without accurate genome sequencing, personalized medicine is a goner
It's hard to correctly read every one of the six-billion base pairs in a human genome. But without precision sequencing, ...
Horshoe crabs bleed for biomedicine
The bright blue blood of horseshoe crabs is a biomedical treasure, but harvesting the blood of these unique creatures seems ...
Slate slashes New York Times and Center for Genetics and Society for faux ‘designer baby’ scare tactics
The Center for Genetics and Society created a splash in the NYT this week with its all-too-familiar attack on mitochondrial ...
US grants a patent for fradulent stem cell creation method
The 2004 results of Korean scientist Hwang Woo-suk's stem cell creation method were fake, but the U.S. Patent office granted ...
Can farmers reduce toxic agricultural chemicals by tricking pests with pheromone-producing biotech plants?
Pesticides are necessary evil in farming, and are likely to remain so. But what if we could replace some of ...
Video: When it comes to sports success, genes matter most
David Epstein, author of "The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance" discusses the ways that human biological ...
A forensic approach to canine waste management
If you want to get an idea of how advanced a technology has become, you could look at the most ...
Germline modification: Should people have the right to be disabled?
We're on the verge of using genetic therapy to remove the risk of disability in unborn children. Would doing so ...
We should use genetic engineering to treat disease, not fundamentally alter future children
The mitochondrial manipulation that the FDA is considering would start us down the slippery slope toward human experimentation with unknown ...
Artificial muscles from yarn and fishing line
From humble parts – fishing line or nylon thread – researchers have produced artificial muscles that can lift 100 times ...
FDA asked to approve “three-parent” IVF
We don't know enough about embryonic development to know that IVF with mitochondrial DNA donors is a good idea ...
Promise of “easy” stem cells comes under investigation
Two breakthrough papers in Nature highlight a remarkable new technique for creating totipotent stem cells via a simple acid bath ...
Are genetically-enhanced Olympians coming, or already here?
Athletes may someday use today's gene therapy techniques to illicitly blow past the competition through gene doping. In fact, maybe ...
Human Genome Diversity Project preserves detailed info of isolated population groups
The recent "Genetic Atlas of Human Admixture History" shines a light on the useful, unique, and publicly available Human Genome ...
