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
Media overhypes stem cell breakthrough for Type 1 diabetes
As the Harvard Stem Cell Institute announced it's cured diabetes in mice with stem cells reprogrammed to produce insulin, the ...
Peer review on controversial science issues letting all of us down
There have been a slew of reports raising questions about the reproducibility of peer reviewed studies. But there is another ...
Can’t start the day without a cup of Joe? Zest for coffee linked to genes
The number of cups of coffee you have in a day is informed by your genetics as a combination of ...
Is ‘Frankenbacteria’ our best hope to defeat future bioterrorism?
Bioterrorism is terror by science, the intentional release of toxins, bacteria or toxins to cause illness, death and panic. When ...
Tall Genes: Thousands found responsible for height differences
There are more 600 of spots on the genome responsible for about a fifth of the variation in human height ...
Our GPS brain: What is the ‘doorway effect’ and how do we orient ourselves
How does memory and what amounts to a GPS system in our brain root us in the world? That's the ...
Science fiction meets Julia Child: An elegant cookbook for lab-grown meats
Although they've not yet hit the market, a Dutch art collective has created the definitive volume on how to cook ...
National Resource Defense Council reverses course, acknowledges ‘factory farms’ do not overuse antibiotics
Advocacy groups often claim antibiotic use on 'factory farms' is soaring, hurting animals and even humans who are developing resistance ...
Controversial fetal cell transplants revived for Parkinson’s trials
Fetal brain cell transplants fell out of favor as a potential therapy for Parkinson’s disease after mixed reviews from trials ...
DIY fecal transplant: Taking love of the microbiome a bit too far
Anthropologist Jeff Leach ended his last trip to Africa with a bit of self-experimentation. He gave himself a fecal transplant ...
Beware of the biomedical industrial complex
Dr. Steve McKnight, President of the American Society For Biochemistry And Molecular Biology, has written an article that must be as ...
Personal genomics company says it will solve puzzle of Welsh origins
A British genetics company is asking for Welsh participants to help discover the mysterious genetic origins of the famously redheaded ...
Are Ebola drug researchers developing ‘death drugs’ that could wipe out humanity? Yes, by logic of anti-GMOers
It's perplexing that strident anti-GMO critics who regularly harp on the "danger" of harvesting a "foreign" gene from one species ...
Do mysterious ‘jumping genes’ fast track evolution?
Genomes have a lot of moving parts. Some stretches of DNA try to assimilate and copy themselves in novel places, ...
Single dose of anti-depressant alters brain? Maybe, but what does that mean?
All drugs "alter" the brain's connectivity, so that's hardly a surprise. But what does that mean? Are the changes ongoing ...
Intelligence genes: Elusive but real
The question of the degree to which genes control intelligence has been so controversial that many geneticists avoid pursuing it ...
What’s life like for the transgendered after sexual reassignment surgery?
People who identify with a gender other than the one they were born with often suffer from societal pressures and ...
Can spider genes be genetically engineered to make eco-friendly cars?
Scientists are looking to create genetically engineered spider webs—which pound for pound is stronger than steel—to make products that might ...
Can the same regulatory systems that now oversee GMOs work for synthetic biology?
As synthetic biology is poised to leave labs and enter our lives, questions about regulation are cropping up. Can existing ...
Persistence of the massive microbiome myth
Scientists and layman alike have long touted the estimate that microbial cells outnumber humans by 10 to 1. While that ...
Who makes better space travelers–introverts or extroverts?
Is the long-run future of civilization to select-for those who are introverts? Is intro/extroversion genetically mediated? How might extended space ...
Apes R’ Us: Online misogynists wrongly hide behind the veil of ‘human nature’
As celebrity nudes were leaked online, hackers and their supporters justified the behavior by claiming that men are hardwired to ...
Start genetic literacy young: Take your family to “Unlocking Life’s Code” touring exhibit
“Genome: Unlocking Life’s Code” is an initiative of the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) and the National Human Genome ...
Stem cells: Stalled promises
Fifteen years ago, stem cell therapies captivated the public’s perception of emerging medical treatments and offered the promise of replacing ...
Ebola virus response “inadequate” to match new potential mutations
The virus poses new challenges: the possibility of mutations that would make containing its spread more difficult and fears it ...
Diet soda and sweeteners alter gut bacteria, contributing to obesity? Not so fast.
According to a just-released study in Nature, rather than helping you avoid consuming fat-producing calories, sugar-free sodas and 'diet' snacks ...
Advanced cancer screenings find early, slow growing cancers more often than fast aggressive ones
As cancer screenings grow more sophisticated, the chances of finding small, slow growing cancers has increased rapidly, at great cost ...
