Health & Medicine
Through the study and use of genetics, we can identify measures that could lead to the improvement of human health and wellness. These methods and procedures aim to prevent years of chronic disease and thousands of dollars in health care costs, and provide families and communities with knowledge of how to live healthier.
Below is the complete archive of related articles sorted by date.
Anatomy of the demon Demogorgon from ‘Stranger Things’: Is there a real-life counterpart?
The Demogorgon, a creature from the hit Netflix show 'Stranger Things', resembles real life cellular slime mold ...
Can we solve the patent issues that threaten CRISPR research?
[Editor's note: Lawrence Horn is President and CEO of MPEG LA, which provides licenses for standards and other technology platforms.] Although recent ...
Podcast: CRISPR co-creator Jennifer Doudna addresses ethics of human genome editing
In this episode of the Waking Up podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Jennifer Doudna about the gene-editing technology CRISPR/Cas9. They ...
Five new genetic links to autism found
Five novel genetic variants have been linked to autism spectrum disorders (ASD), according to a new study. The research, released ...
Insecticide resistance threatens to derail malaria control in Africa
The largest genetic study of mosquitoes has found their ability to resist insecticides is evolving rapidly and spreading across Africa, ...
Glyphosate, Monsanto and Europe: How science and reason almost lost out to hysteria and emotion
The glyphosate saga is a fascinating case study in how easily politics can derail science. In watching the glyphosate issue ...
CRISPR and agriculture: Technology improving crop yields, nutrition and stress tolerance
The present study reviews agricultural applications related to the use of CRISPR systems in plants from 52 peer-reviewed articles published ...
GMO sugar beets help farmers reduce herbicide, water and fuel use, improve soil
You could say sugar-beet sugar runs through the blood of Luke Adams. “I grew up a sugar beet farmer,” Adams ...
Mom was right: Teenagers’ brains can’t process what’s important and what’s not
Adults are generally pretty good at being able to tell when a situation is worthy of extra time or concentration ...
What are the genetics behind this amazing-looking ‘two-faced’ cat?
Meet Quimera the cat—she’s no ordinary feline! You’ve probably never seen any animal quite like her. Her furry face is ...
UN FAO, African Union urge governments to adopt biotech to address food insecurity, malnutrition
The African Union Commission and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), urged African governments to proactively employ science, technologies and innovations – ...
Kenya field trail shows promise of GMO insect-resistant Bt corn to combat fall armyworm African invasion
Scientists in [Kenya] have successfully tested genetically modified maize samples that are resistant to stem borer and are drought tolerant ...
How France, Italy and Belgium would profit if glyphosate is banned or restricted
If Paris and Rome carry through with their plans to ban glyphosate, a small group of French, Italian and Belgian ...
Kissing cousins: Understanding the genetic risks and benefits when close relatives marry
Endogamy––the marriage of relatives––is a controversial cultural practice. It can play surprising roles in health and disease ...
How our autistic ancestors helped shape human evolution
[W]hen we talk about the autism spectrum – we are all “a bit autistic” – and we all fit somewhere ...
Viewpoint: How to choose the right consumer genetics test to map your family tree
Every so often, someone asks me which [genetics] test I recommend. And my answer boils down to one question: What ...
Health or ancestry? How to choose the right genetic test for you
Every so often, someone asks me which [genetics] test I recommend. And my answer boils down to one question: What ...
What foods have pesticide residues? When do the chemical traces pose dangers?
Dosage and length of exposure determines whether a compound actually produces toxic effects and could lead to such diseases as ...
Chimeras: The genetics behind this amazing-looking ‘two-faced’ cat
Meet Quimera the cat—she’s no ordinary feline! You’ve probably never seen any animal quite like her. Her furry face is ...
Higher prices and uncertain benefits: Are organic foods worth it?
Consumers have been paying a lot to eat organic; foods with the certification sometimes costs twice as much as conventional products. The premium prices may not be ...
Brain addiction: Why stopping drug use is so difficult
Drug addiction is a commonly misunderstood disease. Once addicted, it’s not only about pleasure seeking or choice, but chemical reactions ...
Viewpoint: Newsweek’s surprisingly unscientific view of the genetics of obesity
[Editor's note: Dr. Charles Dinerstein is a retired vascular surgeon.] In a nod to science, Newsweek reported that there might be genetic underpinnings ...
Vote to approve glyphosate herbicide shakes up German, EU politics
European Union countries found themselves at odds on Monday [Nov. 27] over weed killer. After a long deadlock over renewing the ...
Bacterial DNA used in innovative Hepatitis B vaccines
Two hepatitis B virus vaccines are currently on the market. Earlier this month, however, the Food and Drug Administration licensed ...
Should we ‘genetically modify’ humans to fit the demands of space travel?
It takes something special to be an astronaut – an extraordinary combination of bravery, fitness, intelligence, lightning-fast decision-making and calmness ...
Senator Chuck Schumer sounds alarm over personal genomics privacy
[W]ith the holiday season in full swing, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on [November 26] called for more scrutiny into popular ...
Viewpoint: Zen Honeycutt’s ‘inexcusable’ attack on orange growers betrays science
Activist group Moms Across America, run by someone with zero scientific training, makes a living attacking farmers and scientists that ...
