Daily Human Digest
Every day, the staff of the Genetic Literacy Project scours the Web for stories on a range of human genetics issues, including gene editing, regulations and bioethics, gene therapy, epigenetics, personal genomics, evolution, ancestry and artificial intelligence. We publish excerpts of those stories and encourage our readers to visit the original publications for the complete stories.
Laws should prevent genetic discrimination from damaging lives
[In the spring of 2016], the Senate unanimously passed Bill S-201, which would prohibit and prevent genetic discrimination in Canada ...
Smoking has long lasting ‘footprint’ on human genome
A team of scientists headed Stephanie London...conducted a meta-analysis of DNA methylation sites across the human genome using blood samples ...
Low-calorie diet may delay onset of rogue elements that damage DNA
A new study has found evidence that health becomes endangered when ageing cells lose control of rogue elements of DNA ...
Could genetics explain racial disparities in asthma deaths?
Despite the decrease [in asthma in recent years], racial disparities persist. One in six black kids suffers from asthma – the ...
Lack of knowledge, not fear of science, stands in way of GM mosquitoes
At long last, though, mankind may be on the verge of a mosquito-busting panacea...[F]aced with the Zika crisis, the Food ...
Genes play major role not only in IQ, but in academic success too
A new study of more than 6000 pairs of twins finds that academic achievement is influenced by genes affecting motivation, ...
Kuwait’s blanket genetic sampling efforts may harm its economy and science
Compulsory DNA testing of all citizens and visitors sounds like an Orwellian nightmare, but this is the new reality [for ...
Suppressing unwanted recollections may interfere with formation of other memories
[A] recent study...suggests that trying to banish that memory may cause you to forget the details of your conversation more ...
Human chimera research key to understanding unknown aspects of human development
How is it possible that we understand exquisitely well how worms, fruit flies, and rodents develop, but our own species’ ...
Hundreds of patients with genetic ailments denied treatment abroad
Hundreds of families with inherited conditions who have been waiting up to two years for an appointment at the State’s ...
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 ...
Blind use visual cortex region of brain to solve math problems
While a leading theory suggests our visual experiences are linked to our understanding of numbers, a study of people who ...
Commonplace helper cells may have key role in nerve regeneration
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have found a switch that redirects helper cells in the peripheral nervous system into ...
CRISPR-Cas9 gene scissors can cut most mutations linked to cancer
A group of researchers from Dresden’s National Center for Tumor Disease (NCT)...and the German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK)...have ...
Florida politicians cross party lines to support Zika-fighting GMO mosquitoes
Florida politicians are uniting to fight the Zika virus. 61 Republican and Democratic Representatives have written a letter, urging federal ...
Heart attack memory may be stored on genes via epigenetic changes
The memory of a heart attack gets stored in genes through epigenetic changes -- chemical modifications of DNA that turns our ...
Human hair may act as perfect support structure for growing nanoparticles
[Researchers have] demonstrated the use of human hair to grow catalytic nanoparticles (i.e., nanoparticles that are capable of carrying out chemical reactions). Why human hair? Nanoparticles, ...
Despite successful experiment, two-father babies still may not happen
Healthy mice have been created using sperm and cells that aren’t quite eggs for the first time. New Scientist questions ...
Will transparency quell people’s opposition against GMO mosquitos?
Transparency is the best way to overcome people's opposition to genetically-modified organisms (GMOs), says Jack Bobo.... ... Mr Bobo...says New ...
How evolutionary theory may complicate CRISPR as cancer fighting tool
Using guide RNAs, CRISPR-Cas9 can target and inactivate any gene in a living cell. That makes a powerful tool for ...
Stem cells injected into brain of Parkinson’s patient for first time
Doctors from the Royal Melbourne Hospital successfully injected stem cells onto the brain of a 64-year old Parkinson’s Disease patient ...
Drug administered pre-birth may stop common gene mutations from causing blindness
Researchers at Dalhousie Medical School have discovered a drug with the potential to stop babies born with familial exudative vitreoretinopathy ...
Is ‘warrior gene’ responsible for violent behavior?
At the root of their defence was monoamine oxidase A, known as MAOA. The gene MAOA encodes an enzyme whose ...
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? ...
Lack of diversity in genetics research systemic problem, not exclusive to personal DNA services
Genetics research has a diversity problem. This is widely recognized, but when you see the data it’s staggering. ... [However, ...
Pioneering stem cell treatment may help patients with spinal-cord injury
A company that stepped in to salvage the first-ever medical use of human embryonic stem cells says it has encouraging ...
