Science Literacy Project Daily Digest
Study reveals rice genes involved in hybrid sterility
Fertility-fighting versions of three genes at the same genetic locus contribute to hybrid sterility in plants produced by crossing two ...
Greenpeace “out to sea” on GM rice issue, bioethicist says
Greenpeace, perhaps best known for its battles at sea to protect whales and the oceans, has gotten itself involved in ...
GM food production increasing
The future in feeding the projected more than 9 billion world population by 2050 will require doubling the world’s food ...
An open letter to California voters from an Iowa pro-GM farmer: “Prop 37 impacts me too”
I can’t vote on Proposition 37 this Election Day, but I’m watching it closely, all the way from my farm ...
Agricultural biotechnology ‘should be open source’
Open source biotechnology, through which biotechnology inventions are made freely available for others to use and improve upon, could help ...
Genes which determine human facial expressions identified
Scientists have identified five genes that determine the human facial expressions ...
Human, malaria-causing parasite genomes sequenced
THE human genetic instruction book just got more readable. Nearly a decade after the Human Genome Project assembled the genome’s ...
Geneticists verify cholesterol-cancer link
University of Rochester Medical Center scientists discovered new genetic evidence linking cholesterol and cancer, raising the possibility that cholesterol medications ...
Genes could be powerful predictor of our capacity to deal with stress, study shows
Work stress, job satisfaction and health problems due to high stress have more to do with genes than you might ...
Scientists find insulin sensitivity gene, may lead to new diabetes treatments
Oxford University researchers have discovered, for the first time, a single gene responsible for increasing insulin sensitivity in humans. The ...
Anti-GM protesters arrested outside Monsanto plant
Nine anti-genetically modified food activists were arrested this week during their protest against Monsanto, who is against Proposition 37, which ...
Anti-GM crops farmer Hector Christie prepares to go on hunger strike
A farmer fined for criminal damage at a genetically modified crop trial has told how he intends to go on ...
With food security in mind, India’s Agriculture Minister plans push for GM crops
Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar has said the lack of a cohesive governmental policy on genetically modified (GM) crops could harm ...
Project ENCODE decoded
This month, dozens of papers have been published in Nature, Genome Research and Genome Biology, all detailing scientists’ efforts in ...
Genetic role in nicotine addiction and cessation
As everyone knows, smoking kills. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking can lead to cancer, ...
Obesity linked to genes
There has been an alarming rise in the number of obese people in the last few decades and the epidemic ...
Breast cancer linked to genetic changes caused by mother’s eating habits
Mothers who eat fatty foods while pregnant may increase the risk of breast cancer among their daughters and granddaughters ...
Gene therapy cures siblings of “bubble boy” syndrome
Abbygail Ainslie was born perfect in July 2011. She weighed nine pounds and the genetic tests that have become standard ...
Nigeria: No GM foods in the Nigerian food market
The National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) has said there are no genetically modified (GM) foods in Nigerian markets, dispelling fears ...
GM crops given boost by European Union judges
The European Court of Justice has clarified the legal requirements involved in the cultivation of genetically modified crops in EU ...
Australian scientists develop genetic test to predict autism
Australian scientists have developed a genetic test to predict autism spectrum disorder in children, which could provide a long-sought way ...
Pain management: Is it time to start looking at the patient’s genes?
Most of you are now drawing the same conclusion that I used to draw. “Dammit, I am the doctor and ...
Debate: Do safety problems arise from cloning humans?
Debate.org provides a platform for individual's to voice their opinion on the bioethics surrounding human cloning ...
Epigenetics emerges powerfully as a clinical tool
A study coordinated by Manel Esteller, published in Nature Reviews Genetics, highlights the success of this area of research to ...
Re-evaluating the junk DNA discovery
Over the last few days, several interesting blog posts and pieces have cast doubt on those front-page claims that our ...
Is labeling of genetically engineered foods a losing proposition?
As Joe Six-pack munches Fritos and popcorn during the opening games of the NFL season, does he care what variety ...
Genetic proof for cilantro haters
Scientists have had a hunch for some time that cilantro hating might be partly inherited. But now a genetic survey ...