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
How much can we blame our genes for addictive behavior?
Of all the people who try alcohol or illegal drugs, only 10 to 20 percent get addicted. No single gene ...
Finding echoes of cancer journey in Netflix’s Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
The 'choose your own path' nature of Bandersnatch echoes a journey with breast cancer ...
I’m a geneticist. A DNA test uncovered a half-sister and sparked painful questions
My own discovery is so overwhelming that I can’t talk about it much, even though my new half-sister has possibly ...
Autism and depression: Study shows why ‘gold standard treatment’ sometimes fails
The 'gold standard' therapy does not always work and can lead to a worsening of symptoms ...
Genetics pioneer James Watson stripped of final honorary titles over race views
It's the latest chapter of the dark side of Dr. Watson ...
Can we reduce schizophrenia risk with prenatal supplements?
Schizophrenia has a clear genetic basis, but genes don't tell the whole story. The other factors that determine whether or ...
9 GLP 2018 human genetics highlights: Sen Warren’s Native American ancestry; transgender genetics; Freddie Mercury’s teeth and his voice
The top GLP stories in a very busy year for human genetics ...
Searching through diets, medications and supplements for the Holy Grail of weight loss. Hint: There is no panacea
A quick review of some of the most effective and ineffective approaches to weight loss ...
Selling yourself: There’s a growing market for your DNA data
Citizen scientists are supplying the data stream to drive precision medicine ...
Male or female? ‘Our bodies are more complicated than that’
Society increasingly accepts gender identity as existing along a spectrum. The study of people, and their remains, shows that sex ...
Absence of a ‘smoking gun’ pathogen has stymied efforts to solve AFM mystery illness paralyzing children
What some are calling an "unprecedented mystery respiratory illness" is being reported in the Rockies and across the Midwest. Contributing ...
Are science and religion destined to be at ‘war’?
Religion and science are incorrectly pictured as warring belief systems ...
Can consumer genetic tests actually make us healthier?
“I believe genetic testing saved my life,” says Kim Horner, author of “Probably Someday Cancer." ...
CRISPR represents potential for huge change. But will the public trust it?
The charged language around the recent gene-editing controversy is driving an inaccurate assessment of risks ...
Can we control our dreams through gene therapy?
What drives our dreams? For most of human history, people thought dreams were supernatural--messages from the gods or visions of ...
We’ve long neglected the human virome—now we need to figure out what all those viruses do
A continuous war is fought on our body surfaces, and we haven’t a clue who’s winning ...
This gene gets blamed for migraines and a litany of other health issues. Reality is more complex
The story of the MTHFR gene shows that genetics is a probabilistic science ...
What martyred Thomas Becket and his holy lice can teach us about evolution
It’s a tale of murder, sex, and vermin. And gorillas. Reader discretion advised ...
Why you could be genetically programmed to respond to placebos
Confounding drug research, some people appear genetically programmed to believe the placebo they take during drug trials actually works ...
What the CRISPR babies can teach us about the failings of ethical oversight
This isn't just about process, about ethical boxes left unchecked ...
Some animal species never get cancer. What can we learn from them?
The search for clues has led researchers to study animals who don’t develop cancer at all ...
Viewpoint: Putting CRISPR babies in context—learning from the past instead of panicking in the present
The brouhaha against the gene-edited twins echoes recent history of alternative reproductive technologies ...
Why some types of obesity are worse than others
Where you put on weight is as important as how much you put on ...
Viewpoint: Let’s hope the Chinese gene editing fiasco doesn’t lead to a cruel and unnecessary ban on germline gene therapy
A backlash could be hugely counterproductive. So let's start with the facts ...
How tiny ‘organs-on-a-chip’ could transform medical research
Researchers have pioneered what may be the most accurate simulation of kidney function to-date ...
Hiding in plain sight: Exploring Parkinson’s link to the appendix
Lurking in the layers of the human appendix lie deposits of alpha-synuclein, a protein prone to gumminess, like sticky rice ...
‘Reprogramming’ skin cells to treat chronic wounds
By reprogramming wounded cells to a 'stem-cell-like' stage could help treat chronic sores ...
