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.
Desire changes everything, and it’s genetic
Fairbanks, Alaska native Lance Mackey knew all about performance sled dogs, and nursed a burning desire to breed and race ...
New evidence that being gay influenced by DNA
A study of gay men in the US has found fresh evidence that male sexual orientation is influenced by genes ...
Genetic markers that make couples work
Many things go into the mix to make a healthy relationship: Trust, understanding, a shared sense of humor and a ...
Genetic Atlas: Human history of moving around and fooling around
New statistical approaches are giving us our first real shot at pulling apart the genome to see when human populations ...
IBM’s Watson and DNA mapping to improve drug prescription process
Scott Megill hopes that his company can bridge the gap between physicians and geneticists and provide personalized patient predictions of ...
Biotech start-up targets Parkinson’s and ALS with new gene therapy
A Cambridge biotechnology company launching Wednesday is taking aim at Parkinson’s disease and ALS with a new gene therapy that ...
Company to offer workouts tailored to your genetics
Over the years, I’ve taken a quasi-scientific approach to fitness, trying a variety of exercise and nutrition regimens and analyzing ...
Study treats each person as his or her own experiment
What if we based decisions to exercise more, eat healthier or make other lifestyle changes to maintain our health on ...
Science inches toward science-fiction-style genetic augmentation
In 1953, molecular biologists James Watson and Francis Crick released what would be one of the most groundbreaking scientific discoveries ...
Study of chicken genetics might help in the fight against hunger and poverty in Africa
Animal science faculty members at Iowa State University are studying the genetic makeup of chickens in Africa in an effort ...
DNA can help guide your choice of life-saving drugs
Put yourself in the shoes of a psychiatrist. You just diagnosed a person with schizophrenia, and you can prescribe any ...
Ancestry of first Americans revealed by a boy’s genome
We may never know who the Anzick child was. Why he died, just 3 years old, in the foothills of ...
Genetic study reveals new species of rainbow-colored lizard
A genetic investigation into the illegal trade of sailfin dragons has unearthed a surprise: a new species of the rainbow-colored ...
DNA confirms two women who met via social media are identical twins
Adopted, raised on different continents, not knowing about each other, two sisters re-unite accidentally because of YouTube and Facebook. Samantha ...
IQ gene? Uh-oh, scientists believe they have found one
Scientists have identified a gene linking the thickness of the grey matter in the brain to intelligence; it may help ...
Self-directed evolution: Conversation with Craig Venter
J. Craig Venter is best known for sequencing the human genome. He recently spoke with The WorldPost: WORLDPOST: With what ...
Is it time to take DNA samples from felony arrestees in Utah?
On Monday, I had the chance to testify before Utah’s House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee in support of ...
Scientists hope for a glimpse of King Richard III through DNA analysis
Scientists are to analyze the DNA from the remains of Richard III to create the world's first complete genome sequence ...
Rewriting the genome with surgical precision
New, precise methods for genome engineering, like CRISPR and TALENs are poised to change the face of genetic disease ...
New method of locating and targeting mutations promises “letter by letter” genome editing
A new method of identifying the exceedingly rare and difficult-to-pinpoint mutations in the human genome gives researchers unprecedented ability to ...
Computational drug discovery technique targets microRNAs using genome sequencing
A team of chemists has developed a new computational drug discovery technique that targets microRNAs using genome sequencing. To demonstrate ...
Double mastectomies halve death rate for BRCA1 or BRCA2 breast cancer patients
Woman with a genetic form of breast cancer who have double mastectomies are nearly 50 per cent less likely to ...
Gene for a thick cerebral cortex linked to high intelligence
A gene which may make people more intelligent has been discovered by scientists. Researchers have found that teenagers who had ...
Gene doping may be the next dangerous athletic cheat
"Bionic man is not far away". That's the assessment of World Anti-Doping Agency director-general David Howman as his organisation prepares ...
Full genome sequencing is medically promising, but still expensive
Genome sequencing holds great potential for diagnosing diseases, finding treatments and ultimately cutting medical costs, experts say, but insurance companies ...
Hopes and fears surround new induced stem cell method
Two papers published in Nature on January 30 describe a new and remarkably simple technique for generating pluripotent cells: cells ...
Longleat Safari Park lions destroyed because of genetic defects
Five lions were destroyed at Longleat Safari Park because they had serious genetic defects caused by inbreeding, managers said. In ...
