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.
Synthetic biology comes down to Earth
The Chronicle of Higher Education profiles Jim Collins, a Boston University bioengineer and founder of synthetic biology ...
Myriad Genetics win on gene patents is appealed
The following is an excerpt. Myriad Genetics Inc. (MYGN)’s Australian court victory recognizing its ownership of patents for genes linked ...
Brain-net: Telepathic mice first step in creation of biological computer
Using neurotechnology, scientists have created rats that can communicate telepathically across continents. Some neuroscientists think the experiments could lead to ...
The papers of Watson, Crick, and other genetics pioneers now available online
The following is an excerpt. Codebreakers: Makers of modern genetics, which launches today atwellcomelibrary.org/codebreakers, contains more than one million pages ...
Genetics of age-related macular degeneration analyzed
The following is an excerpt. A coalition of 18 different research organizations has identified seven new genetic regions associated with ...
Genetic link between obesity, melanoma
The following is an excerpt. The gene most strongly linked to obesity and overeating may also increase the risk of ...
Scientists find mechanism by which Parkinson’s mutation kills brain cells
The following is an excerpt. March 3, 2013— (Bronx, NY) — Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have ...
Solid-State Sequencer Debuts at Genome Conference
The following is an edited excerpt. Nabsys, a DNA technology startup, showed off today its solid-state gene sequencing machine at ...
Lice genes reveal human migration
The following is an edited excerpt. Lice genes could offer insights into human migration, according to new research. The new ...
College genetics gets personal
Classes that deal with personal genetic results are popping up on college campuses with backing from 23andMe ...
Five major mental disorders share genetic link
The following is an edited excerpt. The psychiatric illnesses seem very different — schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism, major depression and ...
Thriving cancer’s ‘chaos’ explained
The following is an edited excerpt. The way cancers make a chaotic mess of their genetic code in order to ...
The gene machine and me
The following is an edited excerpt. It’s a fresh April morning in 2012 when I head to Connecticut to see ...
Circular RNAs throw genetics for a loop
The following is an excerpt. Behold the latest curio in the cabinet of RNA oddities: naturally occurring circular RNA molecules ...
Can genetics solve France’s twin rape mystery?
The following is an excerpt. A pair of identical twins is currently being detained in the French city of Marseille for six ...
Five most common mental illnesses may share genetic root
The following is an excerpt. The biggest study yet into genetics and mental health has come up with a stunning ...
Geneticists try to date the publication of the Illiad
The following is an excerpt. The Iliad—Homer’s story of the Trojan War, and the battle between Agamemon and Achilles—is one of ...
Louse genome offers insight into human migrations
The following is an excerpt. A new genetic analysis of human lice from across the world sheds light on the ...
An embarrassment of “-omes”: Which ones matter?
Forget the genome. We're drowning in transcriptomes, epigenomes, and other -omes. How many of these categories are useful and how ...
Human Genome Project leader weighs in on Supreme Court gene patenting case
The following is an edited excerpt. Late last year, the nation’s highest court said it would consider a legal challenge ...
UK’s sale of personal gene data condemned as ‘unethical and dangerous’
Critics say companies could acquire personal information that would identify patients without their consent ...
Myriad Genetics wins Australia bid to patent human genes
The following is an edited excerpt. Myriad Genetics Inc., owner of patents for genes linked to cancer risks, won an ...
Your politics are in your genes
It would be silly to think of newborn babies’ brains as being a blank slate. A preponderance of biological research ...
Lack of Sleep Messes With Your Genes
The following is an edited excerpt. Lack of sleep has been blamed for everything from poor driving to memory problems ...
The Supreme Court sees the future: 90-minute DNA matches, and less crime
The following is an edited excerpt. "I think this is perhaps the most important criminal procedure case that this Court ...
Detecting the ‘genetic’ characteristics of malware
The battle between malicious software and computer anti-virus programs is continuous and ever-evolving. But thinking of malware in a biological ...
To claim someone has ‘Viking ancestors’ is no better than astrology
Exaggerated claims from genetic ancestry testing companies undermine serious research into human genetic history ...
