Science Literacy Project Daily Digest
UK: Modern genetics applied to 19th century potatoes
Researchers led by Professor Bruce Fitt, now at the University of Hertfordshire, have used modern DNA techniques on late nineteenth-century ...
Study shows steps to isolate stem cells from brain tumors
A new video protocol in Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE) details an assay to identify brain tumor initiating stem cells ...
Lawsuit: Should state allow DNA to prove native Hawaiian ancestry
A man who says he’s at least half Native Hawaiian but doesn't have the records to prove it is suing ...
Stem cells to shrink wrinkles?
Scientists are working on a new weapon in the war against wrinkles – injecting the patient’s own stem cells to ...
Genomic analysis of E coli shows multiple steps to evolve new trait
Several years ago researchers at Michigan State University (MSU) reported discovering a novel, evolutionary trait in a long-studied population of ...
Report says ‘biotech crops help farm income rise $78 b’
A new research, conducted by the UK-based PG Economics Limited, has claimed that the use of biotech crops had resulted ...
Genome project links breast and ovarian cancers
Scientists announced Sunday that they have finished mapping virtually all of the genetic mutations in breast cancer, an effort that ...
Twin study finds genetics role in personality disorders
A Norwegian study of twins expands the role of genetics in the development of a personality disorder, yet cautions that ...
Gene patent case could impact patients, research
Every time a woman is tested for gene mutations linked to significantly higher rates of breast and ovarian cancer, her ...
New Zealand may reverse its stance on GMOs
The debate of whether New Zealand should grow genetically modified crops could be shifting away from the anti-GM stance the ...
GMOs and junk science: Pro-GM supporter questions latest study condemning GMOs
In some ways it’s remarkable that Rachel Carson is still controversial, as we’ve been reminded by this month’s 50th anniversary ...
American Medical Association reiterates support for GM technology
The American Medical Association (AMA) released a statement reiterating its position on genetically modified crops. It continues to recognize the ...
Genetically engineered rice: Protection from arsenic?
In an article this week, Consumer Reports is calling on the Food and Drug Administration to set standards for how ...
Eurogenes Genetic Ancestry Project: There’s something very North Eurasian about Indo-European
Recently we learned that Europeans, especially North Europeans, are actually very North Eurasian genetically (see here). Then, last week, scientists ...
Obesity promotes prostate cancer by altering gene regulation
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men and early treatment is usually very successful. However, like ...
Khoe-San people represent earliest branch off human family tree
The Khoe-San people of southern Africa have been recognised as one of the earliest-formed distinct human genetic groups for several ...
Human brain atlas, revealing genetic activity in 3D, published online
The first detailed maps of genetic activity in the human brain have been published online by scientists. This freely accessible ...
GM crops may not resolve food crisis, scientists say
Genetically modified (GM) crops have so far been promoted as the 'breakthrough' technology that will help resolve food insecurity in ...
Genetic mutation may have allowed early humans to migrate throughout Africa
A genetic mutation that occurred thousands of years ago might be the answer to how early humans were able to ...
Transgenic tomato withstands bacterial spot, yields more fruit
When a gene from bell and hot peppers is inserted into tomatoes, it not only imparts resistance to bacterial spot—a ...
Researchers engineer novel DNA barcode
Much like the checkout clerk uses a machine that scans the barcodes on packages to identify what customers bought at ...
Whole Foods endorses genetically modified food labeling measure
Whole Foods Market, the upscale seller of organic products and other "natural" foods, has endorsed a California initiative that would ...
Does GM corn cause cancer? A flawed study fails to convince
Last week a scientific paper appeared that reported that eating genetically modified (GM) corn causes cancer in rats. Specifically, the ...
Federal court ponders legality of police DNA collection
Federal appeals court judges aimed tough questions Wednesday at a state lawyer defending California's voter-approved requirement that police take DNA ...
How do cats earn their stripes? It’s all in the DNA
A newly-discovered animal gene may explain how the common housecat comes to have a blotchy or stripey tabby fur pattern ...
Marijuana based drug may “turn off” gene that causes breast cancer
The "medical" bit of medical marijuana may be legitimate after all: Turns out a component of cannabis fights cancer, according ...
How do organisms evolve?
A team of researchers at Michigan State University has documented the step-by-step process in which organisms evolve new functions. The ...
