Science Controversies
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, ...
Number of genetically engineered crops could balloon thanks to new technique using pollen DNA
[T]he war over GM crops, though intense, has so far been restricted to a small number of battlefields – corn, ...
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 ...
Video: World’s tiniest tape recorder made with CRISPR and built from microbes
[H]ere’s a use for the bacteria we bet you’ve never considered: Scientists at Columbia University Medical Center have created the world’s ...
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 ...
Genetic Literacy Project’s Top 6 Stories for the Week – Dec. 4, 2017
EU re-approval of glyphosate herbicide dodges farming economic woes—for now | Andrew Porterfield Have humans or any of Earth's creatures stopped evolving? | David ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Sharpening CRISPR gene-editing accuracy with ‘molecular glue’
[A]lthough [CRISPR] technology reliably finds and cuts the targeted stretch of DNA sequence, fixing that cut as desired has been ...
‘Unmitigated disaster’: South Australian farmers enraged by government’s GMO crop ban
South Australia’s farmers are unlikely to have access to genetically modified (GM) crops until at least 2025 after a bill to extend ...
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 – ...
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 ...
Video: CRISPR can do much more than gene editing
Using the CRISPR–Cas9 system, scientists can do much more than gene editing—they can boost gene transcription or use fluorescent proteins ...
Why life-saving gene therapy isn’t available yet to children who need it most
[The first patient to permanently edit his DNA,] Brian Madeux, 44, of Arizona, is part of a clinical trial testing ...
Viewpoint: France shows its irrationality in embracing nuclear power but rejecting glyphosate safety
[Editor's note: Cécile Philippe is an economist and Director-General of the Molinari Economic Institute.] In France, a glyphosate ban for ...
Long neglected by breeders, Africa’s staple ‘orphan crops’ undergoing a genetic revolution
Cassava and sweet potatoes. Lablab beans and water berries. Bitter gourds and sickle sennas. Elephant ears and African locusts. ... All ...
Gene could unlock high yield soybeans with increased protein for animal feed
Leftovers can be quite valuable. For instance, when soybean seed is crushed and the oil extracted, what’s left is called ...
Science Moms hit back at anti-GMO group’s Monsanto ‘shill’ accusations
[Editor's note: Alison Bernstein, Anastasia Bodnar, Jenny Splitter, Kavin Senapathy, Layla Katiraee, and Natalie Newell are part of a group called Science ...
Post-Brexit UK will continue GMO crop ban, environment secretary says
Food made from genetically modified crops will continue to be banned in the UK after Britain leaves the European Union, ...
GMO Bt cotton poised to revive Philippines’ industry, reduce pesticide use
Following a multi-year slump, the Philippine cotton industry is anticipating a renaissance through the help of an innovative, science-based crop that farmers ...
Geneticist Alison Van Eenennaam: Genetic engineering could save farm animals from disease
Alison Van Eenennaam is one of agriculture’s leading voices of reason and persuasion in support of good science in food ...
Indian scientist: For some crops, genetic engineering ‘only option’ to improve food security
[Editor's note: Rajeev Varshney is Research Program Director for Genetic Gains, at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics ...
