BioNews
‘Lose-lose situation’: Mexico’s ban on genetically modified corn worsening food security and increasing inflation
A new economic impact report shows Mexico’s looming ban on GM corn and agricultural biotechnology policy will harm economies on both sides ...
Viewing CRISPR gene editing through the lens of Jewish bioethics
CRISPR technology allows the possibility of treating human disease by directly editing and correcting genetic mutations in affected cells. However, ...
Could human genome editing threaten sense of identity?
The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. In February 2016, the ...
Swiss gay couple faces legal battle over child born through surrogacy agreement
On May 21, 2015 the Swiss Federal Court refused to register a male couple - who are in a civil ...
Does sperm from teenage fathers carry more mutations?
You may have come across the story. 'Teenagers more likely to pass on genetic mutations to children,' reported The Independent ...
Eleven genomic medicine centers to lead UK’s 100,000 genomes project
Eleven NHS Genomic Medicine Centres (GMCs) have been announced by Genomics England. They will spearhead the 100,000 Genomes Project, which ...
When is selecting baby traits the right thing to do?
Although the word was not actually used (or at least I did not hear it), this was a polemic making ...
Doctor, parents, or future child: Who has rights to an embryo’s genome?
Geneticist Razib Khan's decision to obtain the whole genome sequence of his partner's fetus in utero shows us that genomics ...
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 ...
Engineered skin cells may replace animals in cosmetic testing
An advanced 3D skin model developed at King's College London (KCL) may reduce the need for animal models in cosmetic ...
Womb transplants prove successful for nine women
Nine women have received transplants of uteruses donated by their mothers or other living relatives in an ongoing trial of ...
Gene defect ‘switched off’ in human tissue
Scientists have for the first time been able to switch on and off the effects of a genetic disease, myotonic dystrophy, ...
Body clock genes linked to depression
Genes believed to regulate sleep rhythm are expressed abnormally in people with major depressive disorders, scientists say ...
Australia: Patentability of isolated DNA
The following is an excerpt. Patents on human genes continue to cause controversy in the academic and popular press. A recent decision in Australia (1) ...
Ancestry tests are not to be trusted
The following is an excerpt. Commercial DNA tests claiming to reveal people's ancestors are little better than 'genetic astrology', according to scientists. From ...
Non-invasive prenatal test for at-risk mothers recommended by US medical society
Non-invasive pre-natal screening for certain abnormalities in fetal chromosomes should be offered to at-risks mothers, recommends the American College of ...
Gene mutation can stop sperm from swimming
A gene mutation has been associated with sperm motility and production, offering new insights into male infertility ...
Human brain atlas, revealing genetic activity in 3D, published online
The first detailed maps of genetic activity in the human brain have been published online by scientists. This freely accessible ...
Potential of genetics to transform medicine risks being wasted, say experts
The genetics community needs to work far more collaboratively if it is to meet the challenges of the genomic era, ...
Mitochondrial DNA may hold answer to why women live longer than men
Scientists working on fruit flies say their work provides an answer to the question of why women tend to live ...
‘Marry out?’ Some surprising consequences of genetic disease risk among Ashkenazi Jews
Ashkenazi Jews have historically been an endogamous population. Marrying within the group remains important to many Jews because endogamy is ...
By accident, scientists discover how commonest DNA replication error is corrected
Scientists have discovered the enzyme in our cells which corrects the most frequently occurring mistake in DNA as cells divide ...
Melanoma sequencing reveals genetic effects of sun damage
Whole genome sequencing of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, has confirmed the long-held belief that greater sun exposure ...
‘Faithful judgments’ in bioethics
It's a bit of a cliché to point out that the new reproductive and genetic technologies (NRGTs) have a way ...