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
Facing extreme danger, are you ‘wired’ to fight or take flight?
"Fight or flight" reactions are much more complicated than we were taught in school. That fact has implications for reacting ...
Modern Victor Frankenstein? What synthetic biologists can learn from the classic cautionary tale
Mary Shelley was 20 when she published “Frankenstein” in 1818. Two hundred years on, the book remains thrilling, challenging and ...
Why the body’s response to pregnancy may help us better understand cancer
Cancer cells and placental cells regulate the immune system in remarkably similar ways. We can learn a great deal by ...
Space astronaut twin’s DNA ‘changed’? How some reports botched the story, and what we really know
When the Today Show reported on March 15 that the DNA of Scott Kelly, who spent a year on the ...
Fertility quest: How technology has fueled quantum leaps
Nanotech, artificial intelligence, wearables and biological engineering are among the new high tech ways to knock you up, stop your ...
Here’s what potential Mars colonists really need from Earth: A large gene pool
Establishment of a Mars colony will depend on genetic diversity, meaning we must send tens of thousands of colonists ...
Waaa! How do babies experience pain?
Researchers continue to look for ways to assess the pain experienced by babies. One recent study suggests that babies are ...
Viewpoint: Devastating flu season reminds us about the danger of vaccine skepticism
The 2017-2018 flu season is being called the worst since 2009 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and ...
Good and potentially bad about FDA’s greenlighting of 23andMe direct-to-consumer BRCA mutation tests
News that consumers will soon be able to purchase a genetic test for three BRCA mutations may seem like déjà ...
Supercharged brains and the quest to think better and faster
For those seeking to enhance cognitive function based on hard evidence, the starting point is worked aimed at improving mental ...
Are humans genetically loaded for extinction?
Genetic load--the idea that we've had too many mutations to thrive--is making a comeback. A debate's brewing over whether it's ...
Digitizing DNA: Real reasons to worry about cyberbiosecurity
The intersection between biology and digital technology opens the door for incredible discoveries, but also creates opportunities for dangerous events, ...
How the genetics revolution is upending our concept of disease—and how that could improve healthcare
What is a disease? This seemingly abstract and theoretical question is actually among the most practical questions in all of ...
Exploring the alternate reality of Natural News’ Mike Adams’ online ’empire of misinformation’
If there is a Wonderland filled with health scares, monsters, and miraculous concoctions, Mike Adams is building it. And its ...
Transforming modern medicine doesn’t have to be high tech or expensive
While intricate high-tech breakthroughs are incredible, it's important to realize the value of low-cost and low-tech ingenuity ...
Getting to the roots of insomnia and what you can do about it
Ever struggle with sleep? Almost all of us will at some point our lifetime. Several factors are at play--including travel ...
Biodiversity is more than just beauty: ‘It is the very apparatus that holds us steady’
Biodiversity is integral to life, but is more than just a huge number of species: It also represents the variations ...
Are consumer genetic tests misused by doctors and alternative health providers?
Health practitioners with little or no training or perspective in genetics are dabbling in this rapidly advancing field. Utilizing results ...
How the vampire bat came to feed on blood, and what we can learn from its droppings
Why do the three species of vampire bats eat only blood, compared to the 1,240 other species that are perfectly ...
Understanding the genetics of height—and why it matters in the fight against many human disorders
Hoping to help researchers find links between diseases and mutations, the UK Biobank opened its vault last summer, allowing access ...
Reinforcing the human heart: Integrating human cells, electronics and nanomaterials
Future of heart care: Cardiac patch that doesn't merely beat, but also provides monitoring and, if needed, electrical stimulation and ...
Why biodiversity might not always be such a good thing for our health
While some think of the "dilution effect" as settled science, some ecologists argue that claiming conservation will broadly reduce disease ...
With imaging advances, brain researchers no longer rely on cadavers and freak accidents
The increased use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a research tool could lead to better understanding of a wide ...
Chasing the ‘warrior gene’ and why it looks like a dud so far
The year is 2025. The US has gone to war. Young Americans are being conscripted in droves, and those with ...
Cancer quest: Moonshot initiative melds genetic data with supercomputers, but keep expectations in check
It’s been two years since the Cancer Moonshot Initiative was unveiled during President Obama’s final State of the Union speech ...
Piecing together the complex puzzle of the brain’s decision-making functions
A group of 21 neuroscientists are joining forces in an effort to better understand how different parts of the brain ...
Extraterrestrial life may have different chemistry, but evolutionary forces will be Earth-like
If the forces of natural selection have shaped the development of life on Earth, there's no reason to believe those ...
