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.
Kids who don’t cry: New genetic disorder discovered
What do you do when your baby lies limp in your arms, staring blankly into the distance while never crying? ...
Genetics says Sea Anemones are half plant, half animal
The sea anemone is an oddball: half-plant and half-animal, at least when it comes to its genetic code, new research ...
Uncharted waters of whole genome sequencing
A few years ago, when I spoke with Euan Ashley, MD, associate professor of medicine and of genetics, about the ...
Why, when and how did the chicken cross the Pacific?
Using ancient chicken DNA, researchers at the University of Adelaide’s Australian Centre for Ancient DNA (ACAD) have attempted to trace ...
Y chromosome: wimpy or lean and mean?
Fear not for genetic machismo: Reports of the human Y-chromosome’s demise are greatly exaggerated. Over time, it may have evolved ...
Genetic mug shots created from DNA samples
Using a new technique, researchers can build photorealistic 3d images of people, virtual mugshots, based on just their DNA ...
From scourge to saviour: Using viruses to treat serious disease
Viruses have traditionally been mankind’s enemies, causing disease and often mutating out of the reach of our medicines. But now ...
Half of meat product samples contained DNA of wrong animals, British council finds
Half of the meat samples tested by a local authority food safety team last year contained species of animals not ...
New York Times flunks genetic literacy challenge: No, mutations don’t kill-off genes
The New York Times failed a recent genetic literacy 'test' in a story on the genetic roots of diabetes ...
Is it riskier to give children experimental treatments, or not to?
In Colorado, a scientist places a needle in a developing embryo. He removes the cells and melts them to isolate ...
Social behavior affects genetic makeup in dolphins
A UNSW-led team of researchers studying bottlenose dolphins that use sponges as tools has shown that social behaviour can shape ...
Fried food packs a greater caloric punch for some, based on genetics
A diet full of fried foods isn't good for anyone, but it may result in more weight gain for people ...
Patient cracks her own mysterious diagnosis by studying her genetics
Kim Goodsell started noticing physical ailments about 20 years ago, when she was in her 30s and training for an ...
Evil twin of embryos: The tumor
Researchers are finding that the genes and biological mechanisms that guide the development of fetal cells within a fetus are ...
Chicken genomes and human history: What can the DNA of our animal associates can reveal about our past?
A new study uses chicken genetics to poke holes in the theory that Polynesians reached South America before Europeans. It ...
DNA evidence suggests humans drove New Zealand bird species to extinction
DNA says we are guilty. Early human settlers probably did wipe out the moas of New Zealand. Moa DNA suggests ...
British athlete genetically predisposed to injury
Jenny Meadows is a British professional runner who suffered a devastating achilles injury prior to the 2012 Olympics in London ...
How damaged is your DNA? A new startup wants to know
DNA stores the genetic information in each living cell, so its integrity and stability is essential to life. But it’s ...
Google invites geneticists to upload DNA data to cloud for research
Googling a person is about to take on a completely new meaning. The Mountain View search giant recently invited geneticists ...
Genetics plays a role in math anxiety
A new study of math anxiety shows how some people may be at greater risk to fear math not only ...
More complete story of BRCA1 and ovarian cancer
Hello. I'm Dr. Maurie Markman from Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Philadelphia. I wanted to briefly discuss an interesting ...
Scientists discover epigenetic mechanism linked to obesity-related disease
In one of the largest epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) to date, published in The Lancet, scientists have identified a new ...
What does it matter if there are non-coding regions of DNA?
John Brockman, the publisher and science impresario who runs the online science and culture salon Edge.org, has asked his provocative, ...
Health data boom heralds new era of personalized medicine
We are moving from a world where we treat illnesses to one where we predict and prevent them, advised by ...
Resurrection ecology: Searching for ancient DNA
Scientists can revive thousand-year dormant mosses and they're searching for viable cells that would make it possible to revive extinct ...
Art based on your DNA
Decorating an apartment is all about infusing your space with a sense of you. And what could be more integral ...
Scientists create radiation-resistant e.coli to learn about bacterial antibiotic resistance
Many disease-causing bacteria have been mutating, becoming antibiotic resistant, and forcing us to find new ways to fight them. How ...
