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
CRISPR-Cas9 is hot but it’s not the only way to edit a genome
Despite its growing track record and huge potential, CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing may not be the magic bullet for all applications ...
Does first-ever epigenetics-based test to assess male fertility rely on flawed science?
In as many as 40% of cases, the man is the sole cause or a contributing cause of a couple's ...
IVF doesn’t cause low sperm counts in boy babies—Genes do
Media coverage of a recent study about infertility among boys who were conceived through IVF highlights that many misunderstand how ...
Epigenetics and disease: No easy answers
How can epigenetics, the systems that turn genes off and on, help us understand disease? It may take a while ...
What are humanity’s greatest existential threats?
Climate change is not the greatest threat to our species. There are forces, both natural and human-made that could destroy ...
23andMe: Alt-right mistaken, DNA tests can’t ‘prove their whiteness’
A trend among members of the ultraconservative 'alt-right' movement is posting genetic test results online to prove their ‘whiteness.” They ...
2016 Presidential Race: Clinton, Trump, Stein and Johnson on Vaccines and Bio-Pharmaceuticals
Professional medical organizations could not be stronger in support of childhood immunizations, including mandatory vaccinations of school children. Only Clinton ...
2016 Presidential Race: Clinton, Trump, Stein and Johnson on Biomedical Research
GLP continues its series on the presidential candidate's positions on genetics and biotechnology. Today we assess Trump, Clinton, Johnson, and ...
How epigenetics, our gut microbiome and the environment interact to change our lives
There appears to be an incredible, largely invisible world, of cellular communication, symbiosis, and chemistry occurring between ‘us’ and the ...
Humans on Mars? NASA must find way to protect us from radiation
Radiation exposure has proven dangerous for Apollo astronauts who traveled to the Moon. But radiation encountered by astronauts flying in ...
Polio eradicated? Health officials mobilizing against AFM–rare polio-like condition
Cases of a rare condition that is characterized by polio-like symptoms have ballooned in North America and elsewhere. Here is ...
Forget about counting steps—Fitbit, other activity trackers won’t help you much to get healthy
Activity trackers may create a false assurance - when people see how much they are walking on a daily basis ...
After early setbacks, gene therapy’s comeback nearly complete
After some horrifying early setbacks, gene therapy's back. Researchers have learned from early mistakes to make the therapy safer and ...
Americans unearth surprises about immigrant ancestors using DNA, genealogy tests
Advances in the size and scope of vast digital databases, as well as the low cost of DNA testing, have ...
Native Americans fear potential exploitation of their DNA
To many tribal people, having a scientist come in from the outside looking to use their DNA to tell them ...
How CRISPR could change the world—And why that frightens many of us
Gene editing could revolutionize the world in a way akin to how the personal computer did. Most Americans are unaware ...
How human chimeras could revolutionize science and medicine
The NIH appears ready to fund scientists who want to make and study human chimeras. What can we hope to ...
Men are from Earth, women are too: Sexes not so different when it comes to sex
There are gender differences in sexual behavior, to be sure, but with certain phenomena, women are far more similar to ...
Hillary Clinton: Evolutionary “grandma hypothesis” meets the grandma candidate
Grandmothers played an important role in the evolution of human social relationships and as generational knowledge sinks. Now women of ...
Genetic therapies won’t solve depression anytime soon
Can a better understanding of the genetics of depression lead us to safer, more effective treatments for the disease? ...
Artificial intelligence: Should we worry?
Hollywood has a long history of depicting artificial intelligence. But as it inches closer to making the jump from the ...
Nutrigenomics: Can custom diets based on personal genetics help you lose weight?
Several companies offer services that will match you with the best diet based on your genes. But can genetic information ...
Should next US President abandon the Biden-Obama ‘moonshot’ cancer initiative?
Obama's cancer-cure initiative may sound like a winning policy, but critics are lining up to suggest it shouldn't be continued ...
Venus may have once been habitable: Can we make it that way again?
Much of the focus in astrobiology has been about life on Mars, but what about life on Earth's other neighbor, ...
Matching brain with genitals: Complicated neuroscience of gender identity
Finger length, empathy levels and even brain size don’t determine our gender identity. But what does? ...
Gene doping in sports entails challenges and dangers but may not be so dopey
Athletes experimenting with gene doping may not be ethical, but it could lead to potential treatments of human disease ...
Should FDA crack down on stem cell clinics?
Stem cell clinics operating in the U.S. market cures for nearly every kind of disorder without evidence they work or ...
