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
Viewpoint: Genetic engineering’s benefits extend far beyond GMO crops and controversy
In discussing biotechnology, too much controversy is focused on the crops developed by Monsanto and its competitors. Genetic engineering is ...
Can the microbiome join DNA and fingerprints in the CSI toolkit?
Some scientists argue that our individual microbiomes are unique enough that they can be used to help identify the perpetrators ...
Measuring intelligence and IQ, and the problems that presents
For more than a century, IQ tests have been used to measure IQ. But their use is hotly debated by ...
Fighting antibiotic ‘superbugs’—DNA sequencing helps in the battle
The successful effort to contain an outbreak of the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) at a UK hospital demonstrates the ...
Naming genetic diseases: There’s more to it than you might think
An effort is underway to streamline the way we name genetic diseases, with an emphasis on imparting useful medical information, ...
Can’t get motivated? You may be able to blame your genes
Being apathetic may feel like following the path of least resistance. But studies of apathy in the brain show otherwise ...
Mars conundrum: How do we explore without contaminating the Red Planet?
Space exploration experts worry over what will happen if a human expedition introduces Earth's microbes to Mars. Are those concerns ...
Gene therapy creates boy’s replacement skin from his stem cells
Doctors treated a 7-year-old boy’s devastating genetic skin disease—junctional epidermolysis bullosa—by genetically modifying his stem cells to create a new ...
Neurologic disorders may be linked to brain’s immune system
New research suggests there could be a link between certain disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, and the brain's inability to clear ...
Two of a kind? Twins offer unique glimpse into human development
In the world of genetics, identical twins offer a valuable source for study. And they've shown that our genetic makeup ...
There’s a reason you have trouble thinking and remembering when hunger sets in
Why is it so hard to think while you're hungry? Researchers now believe it may come down to one protein ...
Argument for rolling our clocks back: Your brain needs the morning boost
Shifting the clock back one hour means more people won't have to wake up before sunrise. When you wake to ...
Controversy walks hand-in-hand with the artificial womb, but is it warranted?
Research into the development of an artificial womb has sparked a wide range of conjecture from bioethicists who worry about ...
How our brain perceives time
Internal time perception is complex, involving disperse areas of the brain. But a new field of research called neurorelativity, using ...
When genetic engineering came of age: World’s first GMO—GE insulin—approved 35 years ago
It has been 35 years since genetically engineered insulin was approved by the FDA in a process that was quick ...
Protecting against cancer: What can we learn from animals who live for centuries
There are an increasing number of genetic clues from animals that could provide hints to treating aging and age related ...
Genetics brought to bear in fight against modern cholera outbreaks
Although cholera is a disease that is thought of as mostly extinct, it still persists today in underdeveloped areas. The ...
Time to stop treating men and women the same when it comes to drug treatments
Studies have shown that males and females metabolize drugs differently, suggesting we should be spending more time studying those differences ...
If you lose any of these 7 organs, you’ll probably be OK
The human body has dozens of organs, with some clearly more critical than others. But there are several you can ...
When does life begin? Here are 17 points in time to consider
The US Department of Health and Human Services has taken the official position that life begins at conception. Here's a ...
Born to exercise? ‘Fitness’ genes may help lower breast cancer risk
A growing number of studies show that exercise offers protection against breast cancer. Research on mice suggests that some of ...
Searching for ET in our Solar System requires methodical approach
The quest to find life in our Solar System is focused on locating planets or moons with the right chemical ...
Cancers and other rare diseases in crosshairs of researchers using breakthrough DNA sequencing
The improvements and discoveries in DNA sequencing in recent years has had immediate clinical consequences, including the real possibility of ...
How do you know if your mutation will lead to a genetic disease?
Sonia Vallabh, a scientist, carries a rare mutation that normally causes a neurodegenerative disease. How likely is it she will ...
Humans are still evolving–the evidence is in how we age and who survives
Although human evolution is seen as in the distant past, every minute biological decision results in ongoing human natural selection ...
Predicting Alzheimer’s: 31-gene test may offer strongest risk assessment
The APOE4 e4 gene has long been associated with an elevated risk for alzheimer's. But a new test panel involving ...
University student reflection: Let’s take a balanced ethical and scientific look at genetic engineering
Rapid advancements in the realm of gene editing are raising all sorts of questions with social and ethical implications. But ...
