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
Genetics of socialization revealed through study of rare Williams Syndrome
One of the things that makes us human is how we socialize with one another. What drives our social behavior ...
Diagnosing infectious diseases like Zika or Dengue at home with a CRISPR kit
CRISPR-based home test can immediately detect disease DNA through blood or saliva ...
Developing vaccines that train our innate immune system to be stronger
It's possible to train our immune system to more accurately attack antigens ...
Boosting memory by combining electrical brain stimulation and learning
Low dose transcranial direct current stimulation have been the subject of much debate. Now, the technology is combined with cognitive ...
‘Algorithmic death spiral’: The failing mental health of our machines
Is my car hallucinating? Is the algorithm that runs the police surveillance system in my city paranoid? Marvin the android ...
Antibiotic resistance may be dangerous—but it’s hardly new
Despite media reports, antibiotics always faced microbe resistance. Can studying their genetics show us a path to new drugs ...
Who owns the DNA of ancient humans—and do they have rights?
The remains of a 6-inch long mummy from Chile are not those of a space alien, according to recently reported ...
Debating the need for genetic engineering of humans—there’s ‘nothing special’ about our DNA
One day in early spring, I received a unique email. Would I accept an invitation from Oxford University’s student debate ...
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome may be linked to genetic mutations
It’s been called a parent’s worst nightmare, and one that very few of us have ever needed words to describe ...
Sex in space? An awkward talk we will need to have
As the prospect of Mars colonization grows on the public radar screen, sex talk is not as much taboo that ...
Making sense of crowdfunding for unapproved stem cell treatments
When FDA approval for a technology or treatment lags behind demand, crowdfunding steps in. Desperate patients or their families launch ...
Does ‘brain stress’ play a key role in our obesity epidemic?
Keeping off weight is harder than it seems, but it could be due to how our brains are wired ...
Delving into our dreams—and why they evolve as we age
Although radically different in terms of their content and feel, the range of dream states are just as complex as ...
The ‘Big O’: How and why evolution brought us the female orgasm
Female orgasms aren’t necessary for reproduction. A comparative evolution study suggests they once might have been ...
Are you responsible for bad behavior caused by a brain implant?
Mr. B loves Johnny Cash, except when he doesn’t. Mr. X has watched his doctors morph into Italian chefs right ...
Are we in danger of losing blue-eyed redheads? Not likely
For every 100 people in the world, only one or two will have red hair. And when you meet a ...
Synthetic biology’s ‘promise and potential’ capture investor attention
Synthetic biology has become the new frontier of genetic engineering, promising to radically change the way we make clothes, fragrances, ...
Mapping everything we know about Parkinson’s
The possible causes of Parkinson's disease are incredibly varied. A new team of researchers is building a Parkinson's disease map ...
Why we find ourselves at the limits of human lifespan
The 20th century was a period of unprecedented biological growth for our species. The average human lifespan increased from 31 years in ...
Earth’s weirdest and most exotic creatures: Research bonanza for genetics and science
From the axolotl’s regenerating limbs to naked mole rat cancer resistance, new sequencing is uncovering new possibilities ...
Kevin MacDonald responds to criticism of his theory of Jewish ethnocentrism and influence
Nathan Cofnas’s GLP article summarizes some of his points from his previous two comments on my work, and, although he ...
Genetic privacy and the case of the Golden State Killer—diving into the science
Consumer DNA testing companies are rushing to reassure customers about the security of their genetic information following news that DNA ...
Boosting brain research by growing ‘mini-brains’ to model human disease
'Mini-brains' grown in petri dishes could offer new possibilities for studying disease ...
What we know about brain aneurysms like the one that struck MLB pitcher Danny Farquhar
Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Danny Farquhar, 31, suffered a brain hemorrhage in the White Sox dugout after throwing 15 ...
Protein therapy in the womb overrides genetic glitch hampering teeth development, ability to sweat
Imagine a fetus gulping in amniotic fluid and drinking a drug that restores the ability to form teeth, sweat glands ...
Tale of two families: Exome sequencing and faster diagnosis of rare disorders
Sailing from New York City to London a century ago took days; today the trip takes hours by air. Similarly, ...
Biohackers navigating a world of wonder and potential peril
A person doesn’t need a deep understanding of gene editing and CRISPR to realize we are in the midst of ...
