Andrew Porterfield
Sex not as simple as X and Y
Everybody assumed that the Y chromosome's sole purpose was to rigidly assign male sex. The truth is much more complicated ...
‘Bad genes’ may not mean you’ll get a disease
Today, personalized medicine hinges on genetic information on risks of disease. Unfortunately, having a disease-associated mutation may bear little to ...
Claims of nutritional superiority of organic milk, meat challenged by scientists
Two new papers published in the British Journal of Nutrition claim that organic milk and meat is more nutritious, but ...
Are schools teaching ‘anti-GMO propaganda?’
More and more, anti-GMO groups are looking to sway students toward "big organic" with unscientific lesson plans ...
Can next generation crop precision editing avoid marketing pitfalls of GMOs?
To avoid the GMO public perception bog, CRISPR and other new generation technologies need a unique marketing approach ...
Climate change and GMOs: Can non transgenic varieties address global challenges?
Since biotech rice has yet to catch on commercially, what does the future hold for improving rice quality, adaptability to ...
After early struggles, ‘biopharming’ poised to make big impact on medicine
Biopharma, which almost disappeared as a technology, has returned, with a treatment for Ebola treatment, a drug producing chicken, and ...
Are products touted as supporting ‘healthy gut-biome’ scamming consumers?
The microbiome is a promising area of research for disease treatments. Just avoid the scams ...
Accuracy of eyewitness testimony: Is it all in our head?
The credibility of eyewitness testimony has taken some hits from DNA evidence-based refutation of memory. But there's more here than ...
Could genetic engineering be a valued tool against climate change?
How can genetic engineering help against climate change? By many, many ways, but only if we let it ...
European Union reviews, rebukes bizarre Ayyadurai claim of formaldehyde in GMO soy
The "study" claiming that formaldehyde accumulates in genetically modified soybeans--widely touted by anti-GMO activists-- is an example of junk science--no ...
Endocrine disruption and fat-causing “obesogen” theories crumbling as research rolls in
The theory that certain industrial chemicals disrupt our endocrine system and contribute to obesity gained traction in some rat studies ...
As Chipotle struggles with poisoning crisis, it’s under fire for GMO and sustainability claims
Chipotle has made than a food poisoning crisis--it's also yet to face up to its deceptive marketing around its use ...
Taboo: Modern genomics key to understanding basis of ‘race’
The fierce decades-long debate between postmodernist social scientists and population geneticists over the biological basis of group human differences is ...
Anti-GMO Mexican activists target biotech researchers with bomb attacks
A new Mexican pro-GMO organization was the target of bombing attacks, suggesting an escalating level of aggression from GMO opponents ...
James Watson: Basing ‘war on cancer’ on genome research diverts resources
Billions have been spent on the "ultimate weapon" against cancer--gene-based, personalized medicine. But the money may be mis-aimed on the ...
Trade and economic growth, not pesticides, major driver of beehive declines?
Declines in bee health have been blamed on pesticides and other factors. A new study suggests that economic changes may ...
It’s all bug spray in the end: Organic pesticides not necessarily safer for bees
Many critics of conventional agriculture claim organic food is grown with "natural" and "botanical" pesticides that are safer than synthetic ...
Obesity is in our head and in our genes
The sources of obesity look more biological, and less psychological, which opens new avenues toward addressing the crisis. Finding answers ...
Is Europe’s opposition to importing GMOs violating trade agreements?
The World Trade Organization ruled that the EU violated treaties when it banned GM imports. What's happened since? ...
Are GMOs to blame for the loss of nutrients in our fruits and vegetables?
Mineral and nutrient depletion, blamed on GMOs by anti-biotech activists, began long before GMOs were introduced. Time to look for ...
Myth busting: Why Agent Orange has nothing do to with GMOs and the herbicide 2,4-D
By spreading misinformation about the herbicide 2,4-D, which IARC says is less hazardous than glyphosate, anti-GMO activists seek to deny ...
Could TransPacific Trade agreement enable corporations to block GMO labeling laws?
The controversial Trans Pacific Trade agreement has been attacked by anti-GM0 activists for supposedly watering down the ability to regulate ...
Glyphosate is no bee killer
The science is in. Challenging anti-GMO claims, glyphosate (Roundup) doesn't kill bees, unless you drop a bottle of it on ...
The high-risk world of rare genetic diseases
judging from headlines, rare diseases seem like afflictions of the wealthy. But they are widespread and attention is finally drawing ...
Colicins dilemma: Bio-pharmed food-borne illness-fighting drug in anti GMO dungeon
Colicins are a natural antibacterial that could help reduce outbreaks of infectious disease. But they face a lot of opposition ...
A co-existence peace plan for GMOs and organics
Could organic and GM farming step past the rhetoric and vitriol, and co-exist? The science says yes ...
