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
Postpartum depression: It impacts dads, too
Postpartum depression affects fathers, too. Men experience lower testosterone levels throughout pregnancy and paternal care, increasing the chance of depression ...
Using Zika in the fight against deadly brain cancer
With traditional cancer-fighting tools--surgery, radiation and chemotherapy--proving ineffective against glioblastoma tumors, researchers are exploring an unconventional treatment using a weakened ...
Upchuck factor: Alcoholism targeted with novel gene therapy
Researchers are exploring the use of a naturally occurring mutation that causes people to get sick after drinking alcohol. The ...
Alzheimer’s ‘brain health’ quiz likely to scare more than help
Critics question the integrity of a risk assessment sent to prospective patients by NorthShore University Health System's Center for Brain ...
Orthorexia nervosa: Do anti-GMO activists have this ‘eating disorder’?
Orthorexia nervosa is being evaluated as a possible psychiatric diagnosis -- which is causing symptoms of anxiety among some people ...
Transhumanism and inequality: Enhancing human life could bring dystopian consequences
Transhumanism may offer a pathway to an 'engineered paradise,' but there are many perils and pitfalls ahead -- particularly for ...
CRISPR opens window into early stages of human embryo development
Work in the UK involving CRISPR and human embryos illustrates the value of the gene editing technique in basic research ...
‘Designer babies’ just around the corner? More scare than science
As CRISPR technology advances, old fears about 'designer babies' resurface. But we are a long way from being able to ...
Genetics and obesity: Expanding waistlines can’t be blamed on poor lifestyle choices alone
The sources of obesity look more biological, and less psychological, which opens new avenues toward addressing the crisis. Finding answers ...
Will the public embrace CRISPR to ‘edit out’ birth defects as it has other reproductive technologies?
As CRISPR becomes more widespread, will the public accept gene-edited alterations in the same way we embraced in vitro fertilization? ...
Is brain hacking possible?
Accessing the human brain to enable functional connections with electronic technology may sound incredibly futuristic, but a handful of entrepreneurs, ...
Marijuana and epigenetics: Are we moving too quickly with legalization?
Some research suggests there could be health implications related to a surge in legalized marijuana use in the US. One ...
Quest to colonize space demands boost from biotechnology, synthetic biology
The lack of technology for such sustainable life support systems is a major factor underlying criticism of human space exploration ...
Preventing preterm birth: Preemie genes identified
A global team of researchers has zeroed in on genes that affect the length of pregnancy and may foretell elevated ...
From horses to mice, animal inbreeding has shaped human existence
Humans have been breeding animals together, a new natural selection, since the beginning of time. However, inbreeding can have drastically ...
Are sperm counts declining? What’s the role of ‘endocrine disruptors’?
The science community is divided over whether reports of declining sperm counts in men is actually occurring. One explanation--exposure to ...
Genetic testing lags for mental illness, forcing parents to seek answers online
Genetic counseling for potential mental illness in children should be just as responsive as counseling for "physical" disease. Right now, ...
How to argue evolution with creationists
Creationists and scientists have separate definitions for the word "theory." Getting caught up in arguments about the word's meaning is ...
‘Genome cloaking’ and the quest to keep DNA test results private
Stanford University researchers have developed a tool to keep individual genetic information private, reducing the risk of discrimination by employers ...
Obsessive-compulsive disorder in dogs: What can we learn about ourselves?
Canine compulsive disorder, like the version that afflicts humans, can take over the animal's eating, sleeping and basic functions. In ...
Unraveling the paradox: Why GMO drugs and GMO foods are treated differently by critics
Many of the people who express outrage over genetic modification of crops because it 'tinkers with nature' are supportive of ...
Crippling costs blunt potential of drugs harvested from living cells
Biologics are drugs grown in living cells, rather than produced through chemical reactions. They can be incredibly effective, but are ...
Does the ‘Nordic diet’ reduce stroke risk? Maybe, maybe not
Study gives teeth to claims that the Nordic diet--which limits foods to what people in Denmark, Sweden and other northern ...
Yoga may be good for your mind, body–but what about your genes?
Research suggests that yoga, and similar mindfullness-focused activities, may foster genetic changes that help people cope with stress and avoid ...
Could a Planet of the (Talking) Apes ever really evolve?
War for the Planet of the Apes is the latest entry in the 50-year old franchise. A scientist asks: do ...
Can we trust the eyes of those who witness crimes?
The credibility of eyewitness accounts has taken some hits from DNA evidence-based refutation of trial testimony. But there's more here ...
It’s time to talk about the ethics of CRISPR-edited human embryos
With groundbreaking human gene editing research moving forward, and human enhancement becoming a reality, decisions need to be made about ...
