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
Fit and fat at the same time? The right genes may make it possible
Scientists are in hot debate over whether it's possible to be obese without creating health risks. Two new studies take ...
Genetic test for diabetes risk? Why it’s not quite ready for ‘prime-time clinical care’
23andMe's new test claims to determine risk from genetic analysis ...
Genetic uncertainty: When research participants should be told that their test results have changed
“Do you mind if we take one more sample?” asked the endocrinologist who had already stuck six needles into the ...
Tracing the birth of new languages—as older tongues fade away
Anthropologists and linguists are working to understand how complex systems of communication emerge—and what they reveal about how to keep ...
Can we blame our genetics for overeating?
Are eating habits a matter of choice and discipline? What role do our genetics play in determining how much and ...
How ‘genetic libraries’ of animal DNA can help us better understand ourselves
Of more than 500 species of sharks in the world’s oceans, scientists have only sequenced a handful of genomes – ...
Taking a bad trip and why marijuana edibles may be a prescription for psychosis
A study looked at high-potency cannabis and psychosis. The findings were astonishing ...
Do humans have a ‘ghost’ ancestor? Artificial intelligence thinks so.
A third archaic human species may have been identified, this time with deep learning methods ...
Do participants in genetics research studies have the right to know—or not know—about troubling DNA results?
Is it possible to know too much about our own genetic profile? ...
‘Dramatic’ skull chunk discovery could tell us more about the mysterious Denisovans
Fragments of a hominin skull add to the sparse collection from our obscure cousins ...
Exploring the maleness of autism and how it shapes the empathy of autistic people
Those with autism shift towards masculine brain functions ...
Why psychiatrists should stop ‘looking the other way’ when confronted with faked mental illness
The act of feigning illness for personal gain, or malingering, is far more widespread than the public might suspect ...
Why the promise of precision drug treatments is blunted by a lack of racial diversity in genetics research
A lack of racial and ethnic diversity in pharmacogenomic research is raising questions about whether poorly represented groups are being ...
No longer science fiction: Brain-to-brain interfaces can transmit thoughts
It’s not sci-fi, it’s not mind control, but a real world attempt at telepathy ...
Have humans reached the end of evolution? Not under these 3 scenarios
Is natural selection still a major force in human evolution? Or have vaccines, water purification, modern medical care and other ...
Viewpoint: To cure Alzheimer’s we need to think big—like the Manhattan Project
Figuring out the pieces to the Alzheimer’s puzzle ...
Is narcolepsy caused by a ‘treacherous’ immune system?
New research could lead to easier diagnoses of this rare sleep disorder ...
WTF? Did the rise of agriculture—and soft foods—give us the ability to drop F bombs?
How the foods we eat influence the sounds our languages develop ...
Why masculinity is in turmoil
The American Psychological Association released new guidelines for men and boys last month. Critics went mad — and they missed the ...
Can pig-human chimeras meet our growing demand for transplantable organs?
Experiments show pig-human chimeras might be able to farm human organs for transplantation and disease research. But would it be ...
Can a genetic test help you find the right marriage partner?
Does a good marriage depend on having the right genes? ...
Using genetics and social media to find answers for rare ‘undiagnosed’ diseases
Having a strange and little-known condition is increasingly becoming a regular part of life, bonding patients together with a common ...
How languages and genetics explain our origins and evolution
The twists and turns of both language and genetics offer stunning insights into human history ...
Research integrity, and why bad science in biomedicine and agriculture has become such a problem
Science depends on corroboration — that is, researchers verify others’ results, often making incremental advances as they do so. The ...
‘Suicide’ headaches? Magic mushrooms or LSD could offer relief
Hallucinogenic drugs, particularly lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin, are classified as Schedule 1, but scientists and physicians believe they ...
Why human evolution is far from over—and may be speeding up
Global studies of human DNA show that natural selection continues to change who we are ...
‘Deadly dreams’? Modern genetics unravels mystery surrounding strange disease
Following decades of unexplained deaths, mostly among young men, modern genetics and epidemiological detective work helped to establish a link ...
