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
Why the UK wants to share everything it knows about the genetics of 500,000 Britons
Britain is profiling the genes, health and lifestyles of its citizens and handing the results to scientists across the world ...
Examining our history of advertising for OxyContin and other opioids: Have we learned enough about the dangers of addiction?
Recent advertising for opioid drugs has taken a strange turn ...
Viewpoint: Is a coronavirus vaccine on the horizon? Antiquated FDA regulations make it unlikely one will emerge in the US
A coronavirus vaccine in the foreseeable future? I’m not holding my breath ...
Podcast: ‘How to argue with a racist’—geneticist Adam Rutherford challenges what he calls ‘pseudoscience’ in genetics and politics
Adam Rutherford explains how to argue with a racist, hunting for the ghosts in the human genome, and recreating the ...
‘Rebooting the brain’: Our fight to bring people back from the dead
We may be on the verge of redefining 'brain death' following the partial revival of a man in France ...
New ‘DNA clock’ finds that if our genes had their way, humans would have a ‘natural’ lifespan of 38 years
A genetic “clock” lets scientists estimate how long extinct creatures lived ...
Podcast: How ‘fake news’ about avian flu almost sent virologist Ilaria Capua to prison for life
Capua now uses her harrowing experience to educate policymakers and law enforcement about science ...
Will scientists ever get ahead of fast-mutating deadly health viruses? Exploring the coronavirus and the genetics of other viral outbreaks
Even as our methods of detection and treatment improve, we will likely never be able to completely stay ahead of ...
Manipulating our internal clocks could lead to treatments for mood disorders, obesity—and even aging
Medicines and other small molecules may play a role in fixing rhythms gone awry ...
Brain chemicals fight for the status quo—that’s why it’s so hard to change people’s minds even when the science consensus is overwhelming
Why do people refuse to change their views when confronted with scientific consensus? Research is starting to show us how ...
Would artificial wombs liberate women from the ‘blood, sweat and tears’ of pregnancy?
By lifting the burden of reproduction, artificial wombs might liberate women ...
‘More than human’: How neural implants, robotics and artificial intelligence are redefining who we are
Advances in human enhancement make cyborgs a future possibility ...
What’s your ‘ageotype’? Classification system explains why some of us are older—or younger—than we look
Study shows that "it’s possible to change the way you age for the better." ...
Podcast: One of the most infamous fakes in biology? How Ernst Haeckel’s disputed embryo images sows confusion about evolution
Kat Arney takes a closer look at some of the most controversial images in science - Ernst Haeckel's illustrations of ...
Can DNA predict who might be a mass murderer?
There have been repeated attempts over the past 50 years to find genetic links to criminal behavior or mass murderers ...
‘Spoken language doesn’t leave fossils’: Did human’s ability to speak arise in an instantaneous hominin mutation?
Linguist Noam Chomsky suggested that a mutation in a single ancient ancestor gave rise to human language today ...
Viewpoint: To understand human consciousness, we need a revolutionary way of thinking about it
A science of consciousness is coming ...
Boosting Australia’s fire recovery by ‘terraforming’ damaged lands with synthetic biology
Biotechnology can provide valuable tools for fire prevention and restoration ...
If you face a life-or-death medical crisis, can you trust artificial intelligence (AI) to make the best decision?
Deep learning will radically change aspects of our medical care. How well do we need to understand how AI tools ...
Reconsidering LSD and other psychedelic drugs for treating depression and anxiety
There is a movement underway to reconsider how LSD and other psychedelic drugs are regulated. If restrictions were loosened, these ...
Viewpoint: Prohibiting treatment of transgender teens ignores reality of gender dysphoria
New study delves into the genetics of individuals with gender dysphoria ...
Podcast: The phrase ‘Who’s Your (Grand) Daddy’ has shocking relevance to Jack Nunn, as the Australian geneticist learns of his surprising link to Britain’s most notorious ‘sperminator’
Consumer genetic tests are becoming widespread - but what happens when an innocent investigation reveals dark family secrets? ...
How fertile are you? ‘Ovarian reserve’ DTC tests that count your eggs offer mixture of control and misinformation
Joining the reproductive fray are tests designed to assess fertility by counting the number of eggs left in a woman's ...
Exercise Rx: Physical activity is ‘personal regenerative medicine’ and ‘acts like pharmaceutical drugs’
As researchers learn more about how exercise fights chronic ills like heart disease and diabetes, doctors may soon be able ...
Artificial wombs could create seismic shift in the debate over abortion, reproductive rights
The ability to develop a fetus outside the mother's body could be here within decades. That means society will face ...
Growing tiny brains for research: Should we ‘frantically panic’ that something might go awry?
As mini-brains become more advanced, some researchers are worried they'll develop consciousness ...
Viewpoint: Pricey gene therapies fuel debate over drug prices—and why there is no easy fix
By scrapping value added and sales taxes, we can cut down on drug pricing by up to 25% ...
Novels ‘All About Evie’ and ‘The Family Upstairs’ illustrate how DNA tests can reveal ‘dark secrets’, from rape to unknown siblings
It was inevitable that fiction writers would begin weaving unexpected DNA test results into their narratives ...
