Health
As food insecurity rises in Zimbabwe, so do calls to repeal GMO ban
Food is scarce in [Domboshava]... Weather changes, including harsher winters and shorter rainy seasons, have compromised the earth's soil so ...
GMO ban in Chinese province highlights major difference between public and government on biotech crops
Heilongjiang province, the bread basket of north-east China, has banned the planting of genetically modified (GM) crops – the country’s first ...
Health care, energy, food could be transformed by synthetic biology
[Editor's note: Excerpts are taken from an interview with three experts in the field of synthetic biology: David Berry, general partner ...
Only conspiracy theories left to challenge science consensus that GMOs are safe
I have been writing about the GMO scientific consensus for quite some time, because this scientific consensus for the safety of GMO ...
Rett syndrome, other diseases could be treated by waking silenced genes
Rett syndrome...is a neurological developmental disorder and is classified as a particularly extreme form of autism. But, unlike most forms of ...
Molecular ‘Rosetta Stone’ could provide insight into autism
Distinct sets of genetic defects in a single neuronal protein can lead either to infantile epilepsy or to autism spectrum ...
Annoyed by loud chewing? It may be all in your brain
Misophonia, a disorder which means sufferers have a hatred of sounds such as eating, chewing, loud breathing or even repeated ...
Review of neonicotinoids’ effects on human health finds few studies, ‘methodologically weak findings’
Prior to 2000, neonicotinoid chemicals were virtually unknown, by farmers or anyone else. They have since become the most widely ...
14 new childhood developmental disorders identified
The largest-ever genetic study of children with previously undiagnosed rare developmental disorders has discovered 14 new developmental disorders...[T]he research led ...
Hype versus hope: Deciphering news about stem cell breakthroughs
For many people suffering from disabling conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, spinal injury and paralysis, heart disease, and even cancer, ...
Video: Here’s how RNA interference works
RNA interference (RNAi) is a crucial process necessary for the regulation of gene activity. In essence, RNAi can silence specific ...
Resurgence in ‘mad cow disease’? Recent death sparks focus on mystery prion protein
The original wave of mad cow only infected a limited number of people with a very specific genetic signature. Can ...
Random acts of kindness may be fueled by microbes
Why do people commonly go out of their way to do something nice for another person...and how could such altruistic ...
New GMO corn study: ‘Transgenic maize is as safe and nutritious as conventional non-transgenic maize’
[Editor's note: Researchers studied the impact of GMO corn on rats in a 90-day feed study. For background on GMO safety ...
Infographic: 5 popular foods genetically modified by humans–before GMOs
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to eat a completely "natural" diet? Well, for starters, you wouldn't ...
Cheaper blue jeans that are better for the environment? Genetic engineering can make it happen
Editor's note: This piece is written by Dr. Miller, a physician and molecular biologist, who was the founding director of the ...
How will CRISPR, gene editing be regulated?
[Editor's note: University of Virginia professor Randall Lutter talks about CRISPR and its regulation.] Now a member of the faculty at UVA’s ...
Tom Brady, ‘super human’? How genetics may contribute to his success
[NFL quarterback Tom Brady's] age-39 season was statistically among the best of his 17-year career with the New England Patriots...What’s ...
Why some autistic people can tolerate severe pain? Gene mice studies yielding answers
The gene SHANK3, a leading candidate for autism risk, helps sensory neurons respond to pain, according to a study in mice ...
Unraveling science mystery of how smoking causes lung cancer: It’s the basal stem cells
Years of painstaking tissue analysis have lead researchers to basal stem cells as the likely culprits that trigger a major ...
Too tall or too short? There could be 83 genetic reasons for it
Researchers have pinpointed 83 rare genetic variants that may directly affect a person’s height. These variants...don’t occur very often, but ...
How to stem farmer suicides in India? Help farmers expand farm size
Editor's note: GMO critics, most notably philosopher Vandana Shiva (Read her GLP profile here), have long contended that the introduction of Bt ...
Friends of the Earth activist campaigner calls for increased regulation of ‘GMO 2.0’ gene edited food
Editor's note: Dana Perls is the senior food and technology campaigner for Friends of the Earth, you can read GLP's profile ...
Epigenetics Around the Web: The dangers of romance?
Epigenetics Around the Web is a weekly roundup of studies and news in the field of epigenetics presented by GLP ...
UK votes support for first GMO crop since 1998, breaking with EU
A UK vote to approve EU proposals to authorise the first new GM crops for cultivation since 1998 suggests the ...
Collateral damage from Trump’s family planning aid ban? What it means in fight against thalassemia blood diseases
Reversal of current US policy that provides aid for countries around the world for family planning, including abortion counseling, could ...
Regrowing heart muscles without cancer risk, using synthetic stem cells
A new revolutionary stem cell technique is being used to treat those suffering from damaged muscles without the cancer risk ...