Meredith Knight
From the depths of an underwater cave emerge the genetic origins of Native Americans
A teenage cavegirl, the oldest intact human skeleton in North America, adds further proof that the continent’s first hunter gatherers ...
Will FDA regulations force US direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies overseas?
23andMe is reportedly looking to enter international markets. Will they find their international hosts' regulatory structure as unfriendly as the ...
Immunotherapy hype: Are biotech companies overshooting clinical evidence?
The business of oncology drugs that use a patient's own immune system to fight cancer is growing rapidly. But is ...
On penises and vaginas: Why maleness always wins the headlines
Biology's sexism isn't overt, but researchers and media can't help but propagate the war of the sexes and the importance ...
Stem cells can cure severe heart disease? Study suggests early reports may be oversold
A slew of positive reports showing that stem cells could be used to address severe heart disease are in question ...
Scientists create embryonic stem cell lines using adult cells, but pro-lifers still critical
Two new studies report the successful creation of embryonic stem cells using a human egg and a patient's DNA. The ...
GINA’s sixth birthday: Does legislation protecting our genetic information mean anything?
The Genetic Nondiscrimination Act nominally protects against nefarious use of genetic information by employers and health insurance companies, but it ...
Privacy for our electronic genomes: Who’s responsible? What’s at stake?
The level of security and anonymity provided to genetic information depends on the research project, direct to consumer company or ...
‘Electronic genomes’ vulnerable to attack
In a digital world, even our most sensitive information is vulnerable to hacking. In the case of DNA, people can ...
Neanderthal epigenetics probably not a great target for autism research
Sensationalized headline used keywords of autism and Neanderthal to oversell an important story about differences in epigenetic regulation between humans ...
Surrogacy without infertility: Is career reason enough?
Although still rare, rich women are choosing to use surrogates during pregnancy for social reasons without medical necessity ...
SAT revamp stirs IQ and genes debate, roiling egalitarian sensibilities
Are their differences among the sexes and races in IQ? Revamp of SAT test brings nature-nurture debate about human intelligence ...
State lawmakers hold genetic counseling regulation hostage with ‘conscience clause’
Seeking a state licensing processes genetic counselors have pushed for legislation. Lawmakers have forced the inclusion of conscience clauses that ...
Searching for the super genius genes
BGI wants to sequence everything and everyone on the planet. It's particularly interested in finding the genes for genius. A ...
Genetically engineering humans for enlightenment?
Transhumanist David Pearce thinks the best way to create a better world is through genetic engineering to halt human and ...
Non-invasive prenatal testing a global reality, but what’s next?
Non-invasive prenatal testing offers benefits to the developing world. But without regulation and policy guidance, it's difficult to know how ...
Pick the baby, then the mate?
A new computer technology allows potential parents to genetically screen sperm and egg donors for more than 600 conditions and ...
Newborn genome sequencing: Would every newborn be a patient?
With cost and access decreasing, sequencing the genome of every child at birth could become part of standard newborn screenings ...
Call to end anonymous egg and sperm donation points to lack of fertility industry regulation
A renewed call to end the anonymity of egg and sperm donors hopes to provide donor-conceived kids with important health ...
Black Plague’s quirky genetics, 700 years later
The Black Death ravaged the European population, but some survived due to a genetic mutation also implicated in HIV infection ...
Era of designer plants and animals edges closer with creation of synthetic yeast
A manmade yeast chromosome seems a far cry from designer animals and humans, but it’s a huge step forward in ...
New guidelines for patients who opt-out of DNA screens too limiting
The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics updated their policies to let patients decide if they want to participate ...
Epigenomic boom over hyped?
Epigenetics promises to explain the relationships between our genes and environments, but some scientists argue it may be going too ...
French fries and skinny genes: Are we programmed to be obese?
Genes and diet interact to pack on pounds, but not as much as the media thinks. Even as we learn ...
Gene studies suggest ‘races’ may exist but sociologists push back, fearing stereotypes
Sociologists worry that research into population differences will create a new kind of racism while geneticists believe that social scientists ...
