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.
Can early menopause be cured? A genetic mouse model may pave the way
Scientists have established a genetic mouse model for primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), a human condition in which women experience irregular ...
Tracing the world’s ancestor: How many generations does it take before someone alive today could be the ancestor of everyone on the planet?
The bloodline between Jesus and King David raises a wider genealogical issue. How many generations does it take before someone ...
Ancient human kin’s DNA code illuminates rise of brains
DNA analysis of an extinct human ancestor that lived 80,000 years ago has pinpointed fundamental genes tied to the brain’s ...
Worrying about eugenics in California: Is it a legacy of the past or the future? Public event brings scientists and ethicists together to discuss the possibility of eugenics in California
For much of the 20th century, California was at the forefront of eugenic ideology and practices in the United States, ...
Genome of ancient Denisovans may help clarify human evolution
Our ancestors didn't walk alone: Neanderthals and other ancient peoples shared Earth with them tens of thousands of years ago ...
New genetic risk factor for inflammation identified in African American women
African Americans have higher blood levels of a protein associated with increased heart-disease risk than European Americans, despite higher “good” ...
Gene control, delivered directly to the brain , could help cure diseases
A biotech company called Alnylam announced today that a small clinical trial for a genetic therapy based on RNA interference, ...
Synthetic ‘upgrade’ for fruit fly’s DNA
The genetic code of the fruit fly Drosophila has been hacked into, allowing it to make proteins with properties that ...
Genetically engineering ‘ethical’ babies is a moral obligation, says Oxford professor
Professor Julian Savulescu said that creating so-called designer babies could be considered a "moral obligation" as it makes them grow ...
Not all genes are created the same
The map to the right shows the frequencies of HGDP populations on SLC45A2, which is a locus that has been ...
As genes learn tricks, animal lifestyles evolve
To understand how snakes evolved their infrared detection systems, a group of scientists led by Prof. David Julius at the ...
How you vote may be in your genes
Ever wonder why we vote the way we do? Is it the influence of family? Or is it because of ...
Does the State have your child’s DNA?
The Citizens' Council on Health Care released a report in 2009 that raises concerns about the extension of eugenics into ...
Scientists to hunt for lifesaving information buried in cradle-to-grave data collected by doctors and hospitals
A revolution in medical research in Britain is to give academics and the life sciences industry unparalleled access to the ...
Multiple sclerosis patients see hope in Ann romney’s fight about MS using biotech drugs
Ann Romney’s poise as she addresses the Republican National Convention gives hope to 2.5 million multiple sclerosis sufferers, while showing ...
Unsung heroes behind those big genomics breakthroughs
Sometimes, when scientific research is done right, it may also be completely invisible to the public, who may never know ...
India: Becoming a powerhouse of innovation for neglected diseases and biotech drugs
The BRIC countries -- Brazil, Russia, India, and China -- are playing an increasingly important role in innovation. Their growing ...
Secrets to oldest living family’s longevity: genetics, quality of life and diet play role in Sardinian family’s long life
Researchers searching for clues to the elixir of long-life in these lands have studied these ancient island communities for years ...
Older fathers pass on more new genetic mutations to offspring
Men who become fathers later in life pass on more brand-new genetic mutations to their offspring, a study has found ...
Certain human diseases may have evolutionary epigenetic origins
Ninety-six percent of a chimpanzee's genome is the same as a human's. It's the other 4 percent, and the vast ...
DNA sleuths cure hospital infections
In one of the nation's most sophisticated hospitals, genome sequencing helped cure a deadly infection that spread through the hospital ...
U.S. Appeals Court: Government can fund stem cell research
A three-judge panel at the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia refused to order the Obama ...
Scientists grow lung cells from patients in lab to test drugs
Researchers have produced lung cells in the lab using stem cells grown from the skin of patients with cystic fibrosis ...
Eating disorders ‘may be genetic’
In a new study, researchers have uncovered fresh evidence of a genetic predisposition to eating disorders that is passed on ...
Volumise your face using your own stem cells
In your 20s, you may be crabby about a full, fat face and how it makes you look portly in ...
A GPS in your DNA
While your DNA is unique, it also tells the tale of your family line. It carries the genetic history of ...
Blood cells coaxed back into stem cell state
Johns Hopkins scientists have developed a reliable method to restore blood cells into a primitive stem cell state from which ...
