Daily Human Digest
Every day, the staff of the Genetic Literacy Project scours the Web for stories on a range of human genetics issues, including gene editing, regulations and bioethics, gene therapy, epigenetics, personal genomics, evolution, ancestry and artificial intelligence. We publish excerpts of those stories and encourage our readers to visit the original publications for the complete stories.
Breath test for lung cancer mutations
Scientists have shown that minimal genetic changes can be detected in vapour containing cells engineered to replicate early stage lung ...
Human enhancement upsets extremists on left and right
The prospects of a fast-approaching Age of Enhancement evokes caution in almost everyone, scientist or otherwise. It has been the ...
First patient recieves stem-cell retina in Japan
A Japanese woman in her 70s is the world's first recipient of cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells, a ...
Gene clusters responsible for schizophrenia and patients’ unique disease profiles
Schizophrenia is not a single disease caused by one gene, but rather a group of eight distinct genetic disorders — ...
More genes for prostate cancer, better predictions of inherited risk
An international team of scientists has identified 23 new genetic variants linked to a greater risk for prostate cancer. Although ...
Gut microbiome makes flu vaccine more or less effective
Proteins from intestinal microbes can enhance the effectiveness of the seasonal flu vaccine, according to a mouse study. While the ...
For premature babies, epigenetics maybe link to high cholesterol later in life
It has been said that cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure and elevated lipids have a beginning in childhood, ...
Engineered spleen fights sepsis
Researchers have developed a high-tech method to rid the body of infections — even those caused by unknown pathogens. A ...
New BRCA findings in Jews not strong enough for universal genetic screening
Once again we are rushing to send a public health message to women to get screened based on limited evidence ...
World not ready for Ebola to develop into an airborne mutation: 1.2 million could die
The Ebola epidemic in West Africa has the potential to alter history as much as any plague has ever done ...
Some people with Alzheimer’s brain plaques rev up cognition to compensate
It's one of the biggest mysteries of Alzheimer's. The disease is associated with the formation of protein plaques in the ...
1 in 27 Japanese babies concieved with IVF
One out of about 27 babies born in Japan in 2012 was conceived by in vitro fertilization, a sharp increase ...
Large genomic study identifies genes for developmental delays
Charting parts of the genome likely to contain faulty genes is enabling researchers to home in on genes involved in ...
New IVF technique may cut multiple births, complications
Although IVF has been used for decades and is considered very safe, the procedure does increase pregnancy risks because it ...
Beyond evolution, transhumanists’ visions for the human race
Homo sapiens were not always so special. In the ancient past, other human forms lived beside us. The Neanderthals in ...
Grandma’s diet and diabetes: Epigenetic link found again
As with so much in science, this story owes a lot to mice. The tale begins with a pregnant mouse ...
Playing God: An unapolgetic transhumanist manifesto
If you've ever fantasised about uploading your mind to the internet, or gestating your genetically modified children in an artificial ...
Chimpanzee’s highly heritable intelligence window on human IQ
General intelligence in chimpanzees appears to be about 50 percent heritable, which lines up with work on the genetics of ...
Pipeline drugs for ovarian cancer will genetically match patients
September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. You might not notice. Ovarian cancer shares the back-to-school educational National Health Observances slot with ...
Retracted STAP stem cell papers first rejected at another journal; reviewers’ comments now public
Before the two STAP cell papers were published in Nature in January of 2014, much of the same data was ...
What CRISPR gene editing means for San Fran biotech
A new way to make powerful changes at will to the DNA of humans, other animals and plants, much like ...
Eye disease patient to be first treated with adult stem cells
A Japanese patient with a debilitating eye disease is about to become the first person to be treated with induced ...
Early autism interventions, before 12 months, appear effective
Early interventions may be effective at treating the symptoms of autism in very young infants, according to a pilot study ...
Replication errors a boon for flu virus’ quick mutations
Scientists have demonstrated that the influenza A virus makes use of its error-prone genetic replication to increase diversity, thereby facilitating ...
Addiction: How our genes program our preferences and habits
Just 11 genes successfully identify who is likely to have problems with alcohol abuse and who will not. Does this ...
How will evolution and technology interact in the future of the human species?
Will our bodies evolve to eliminate age-related diseases or will we use technology to change our bodies before that happens? ...
All tumors should be genotyped. Why aren’t they?
There are huge benefits to genomic tumor assessment, both for better treatment now, and later, if first-line treatments fail. But ...
