Human 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
Changing climates, mixing genes: Global warming may cause an increase in animal hybrids
A warming climate is shrinking many species' (e.g. polar bears, Bicknell's thrushes) habitats, to their detriment. It's also forcing many ...
What to do when medical genetic screening reveals unexpected parent
When children's genes are analyzed to understand medical conditions, "incidental" information about parents can be revealed. The medical community has ...
Power to edit who you are
Gene editing in humans will soon become a treatment reality. But how will society determine which conditions deserve this treatment ...
Future of biofortified foods: Protests block advancement of super bananas and Golden Rice
Can biofortified crops really do any good in the world? Only if both sides of the biotech debate work together ...
What neuroscience can tell us about PTSD and how to rewrite our memories
Fear and memory share many connections in the brain. By understanding that physiology and relationship, neuroscientist Daniela Schiller hopes to ...
Pace of reproductive technology makes health effects hard to measure
Over the past 34 years, assisted reproduction like IVF has gone from exceptional to mainstream. The procedures have changed rapidly, ...
DNA testing may be the only part of forensic science that’s actually scientific
Forensic science -- the wizardry on display on CSI -- is often bunk. Worse, the government has known this for ...
Little Lord Kahn and the edge of genome technology
An infant born earlier this month is the first known child to have his genome sequenced before birth. As more ...
US has homegrown stem cell controversy
Boston-based stem cell researcher Piero Anverza is under formal investigation after retracting prominent papers on stem cells and heart disease ...
Cure for HIV? New gene-editing technique shows promise
A few lucky individuals have a mutation that makes them highly resistant to HIV. This mutation is also behind the ...
Oxytocin may be secret hormone that fights aging
Oxytocin is best known for its role as a crucial human bonding hormone. A new study suggests it's also needed ...
Can GMO crops help fight global warming?
In the fight against global warming, our planet's ability to reflect light and heat is dropping. In a warming world, ...
Writing by hand may open a conduit to human creativity. Have we evolved to write?
Studies show the cognitive and physiological uniqueness of handwriting. Did humans evolve to write? ...
Does our anthropocentric view of genetics keep us from scientific discovery?
We often attribute disease causing agency to microbes. But any human heath effects they have were discovered haphazardly through evolution ...
Nanoparticles in sunscreen get bad rap, but evidence they cause human harm is slim
Most consumer sunscreens use nanoparticles to keep products effective and transparent. But some call the safety of this micro technology ...
Has the war on synthetic biology already begun?
Scientists are worried that synthetic biology might succumb to the same vitriolic culture war that has slowed innovation of genetic ...
Behavioral genetics enters the courtroom
Behavioral genetics is now being used in courtrooms to help establish and justify defendants crime and reduce sentences. But the ...
Faulty genes that cause heart disease focus of personalized medicine
Heart disease follows cancer as genetic screening advances identify targets and treatments on an individual basis ...
Next-Generation Sequencing opening doors in diagnosing perplexing disorders
A new diagnostic test using "Next-Generation Sequencing" has made headlines for saving the lives of two young people suffering from ...
Genetic mismatch implies STAP stem cells do not exist
Genetic tests have put another nail in the coffin of the once-promising STAP (stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency) stem cell technique, ...
Criminalizing high-risk pregnancy? Law makes having a disease and baby simultaneously a crime
Tennessee will now prosecute pregnant women who use drugs, despite overwhelming evidence that addiction is a disease much like diabetes ...
Lab-grown blood not ready for primetime just yet
The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service wants to revolutionize our blood supply using lab-grown red blood cells from adult stem ...
Have a taste for liver? Food preferences might be hard wired
Geneticists have found 17 new genes that help determine what foods people enjoy most. But these genes aren't related to ...
Anne Glover, Europe’s chief science adviser faces anti-GMO, anti-tech politics
The European Commission's chief science adviser said publicly that politics impedes her ability to give unbiased advice to European policy ...
Mosquito-borne dengue fever threatens Brazil World Cup but GM solution blocked by biotech fears
Construction woes aside, visitors to the World Cup in Brazil face a serious threat of mosquito-borned dengue fever. Over 2.5 ...
Beliefs about creationism not good test of public’s science literacy
When asked if they believe in evolution, half of Americans say no. Experts largely regard this as a test of ...
Predicting behavior based on our genes just got more complicated
How can we predict organisms behavior and physiology from their genomes? The language of DNA was always thought to be ...
