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
Are consumer genetic tests misused by doctors and alternative health providers?
Health practitioners with little or no training or perspective in genetics are dabbling in this rapidly advancing field. Utilizing results ...
How the vampire bat came to feed on blood, and what we can learn from its droppings
Why do the three species of vampire bats eat only blood, compared to the 1,240 other species that are perfectly ...
Understanding the genetics of height—and why it matters in the fight against many human disorders
Hoping to help researchers find links between diseases and mutations, the UK Biobank opened its vault last summer, allowing access ...
Reinforcing the human heart: Integrating human cells, electronics and nanomaterials
Future of heart care: Cardiac patch that doesn't merely beat, but also provides monitoring and, if needed, electrical stimulation and ...
Why biodiversity might not always be such a good thing for our health
While some think of the "dilution effect" as settled science, some ecologists argue that claiming conservation will broadly reduce disease ...
With imaging advances, brain researchers no longer rely on cadavers and freak accidents
The increased use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a research tool could lead to better understanding of a wide ...
Chasing the ‘warrior gene’ and why it looks like a dud so far
The year is 2025. The US has gone to war. Young Americans are being conscripted in droves, and those with ...
Cancer quest: Moonshot initiative melds genetic data with supercomputers, but keep expectations in check
It’s been two years since the Cancer Moonshot Initiative was unveiled during President Obama’s final State of the Union speech ...
Piecing together the complex puzzle of the brain’s decision-making functions
A group of 21 neuroscientists are joining forces in an effort to better understand how different parts of the brain ...
Extraterrestrial life may have different chemistry, but evolutionary forces will be Earth-like
If the forces of natural selection have shaped the development of life on Earth, there's no reason to believe those ...
Do cell phones cause cancer? Unlikely, but activists are skeptical of journalists who present the facts
While it has been theorized that radiation from cellphone usage has the ability to cause cancer, there is no evidence ...
Olympic gene doping: How WADA is managing new performance-enhancing technologies
The start of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang has once again brought questions of unethical athletic performance-enhancement, or doping, to ...
Viewpoint: Self-diagnosed celiac disease is just the latest diet obsession of wealthy white people
There are people who are allergic to gluten. But the recent surge in self-diagnosed Celiac sufferers is little more than ...
The quest for youth, and what our genes have to say about it
Why do some people seem to age faster than others? The answer may lie in our epigenetics ...
Viewpoint: Public enthusiasm for genetics tempered by distrust, privacy concerns
Cheaper genome sequencing is expanding our ability to understand risks associated with genetic mutations. But not everyone embraces these advances, ...
Gene-editing advances put us at the dawn of a revolution in medicine
So much of the public's attention is focused on the use of genetic engineering in the crops that our farmers ...
Incurable arthritic knees? Gene therapy offers new hope
Imagine a single injection into the knee vanquishing painful arthritis — forever. Gene therapies aimed at two molecular targets could ...
State of mind: Will computers learn to act and think like we do?
The technology that drives artificial intelligence is constantly moving forward. But will machines every gain the human equivalent of a ...
‘Brain banks’: Why these scientists want your brain
Researchers are striving to build collections of brains free of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. A stronger base of ...
NBC News’ Richard Engel’s son diagnosed with Rett syndrome. Why that’s such a rarity
The Today Show recently reported the sad story of Henry Engel—the toddler son of correspondent Richard Engel and his wife Mary Forrest who ...
Could modern influenza outbreaks escalate into devastating pandemics like the 1918 ‘Spanish Flu’?
It is unlikely that we will ever experience anything like the 1918 outbreak, but researchers say we could see outbreaks ...
Waging war against the mosquito: Split-gene drive could hinder spread of Zika
The use of split-gene drives could alleviate the concerns of critics who worry about unexpected effects of releasing gene-edited mosquitos ...
Marrying close relatives offers genetic risks and benefits for offspring
Endogamy is a powerful but controversial cultural tool. It also can play surprising roles in health and disease ...
Human muscles from stem cells: Advance could aid research into muscular dystrophy, other diseases
Muscle created with stem cells is not quite as strong as the researchers would like. But they think these new ...
Viewpoint: Headline-grabbing attempt to edit living human’s DNA needs reality check
For the first time, doctors have attempted to edit faulty genes inside the body of a human patient — a ...
Finding meaning in the music of our genes
There is a musical pattern to our DNA, and it may help us understand how genes work and pinpoint diseases ...
Learning what Alzheimer’s does to the brain could lead to personalized treatments
Researchers are learning more about the causes and progression of the disease. This leads them to suggest that new treatment ...
