Nicola Davis
Articles written specifically for the GLP or the articles that are reposted from other sources (sometimes in modified form) with permission list the source as Genetic Literacy Project. Excerpted articles list the original media outlet as the source. Excerpts are posted under guidelines for Fair Use and Creative Commons for educational nonprofits (501c3). The GLP’s Fair Use policy for posting excerpts and using images is explained here.

Vikings not purely Scandinavian and many were dark-haired, claims genetic study
Vikings were far from a single group of flaxen-haired, sea-faring Scandinavians. A genetic study of Viking-age human remains has not ...

Extraterrestrial neighbors? Our galaxy contains over 30 intelligent civilizations, new calculations suggest
In 1961 the astronomer Frank Drake proposed what became known as the Drake equation, setting out seven factors that would ...

Twins study bolsters theory that genetics play a role in coronavirus symptom severity
Symptoms of Covid-19 appear to be partly down to genetic makeup, researchers at King’s College London have discovered. The finding ...

Structure of the brains of career criminals may shed light on ‘persistent antisocial behavior’
[A]dults with a long history of offenses show striking differences in brain structure compared with those who have stuck to ...

Protein tangles may help predict where and how Alzheimer’s will strike the brain
Tangles of a protein found inside the brain cells of people with Alzheimer’s disease can be used to predict future ...

New analysis of Dead Sea scrolls reveals minerals not typically from region
The Dead Sea scrolls have given up fresh secrets, with researchers saying they have identified a previously unknown technique used ...

Brain changes can be spotted ‘years before’ Parkinson’s disease emerges
Changes in the brain that can be spotted years before physical symptoms of Parkinson’s disease occur might act as an ...

Medieval crusader armies had remarkable genetic diversity
Crusader armies were made up of people from remarkably genetically diverse backgrounds, hailing not just from western Europe but also much further ...

Why being tall may increase your cancer risk
Taller people have a greater risk of cancer because they are bigger and so have more cells in their bodies ...

Insulin pill could replace daily injections for diabetics
An insulin pill for people with diabetes could be in the offing, say researchers, providing hope that a daily regime ...

Humans produce new neurons affecting learning, memory and emotion throughout our lives
Humans continue to produce new neurons in a part of their brain involved in learning, memory and emotion throughout adulthood, ...

How might humans react to alien life? ‘We will take it rather well’
[R]esearchers say the discovery of alien life is more likely to be welcomed with open arms than panic. … To ...

Growing human organs in sheep could help solve transplant shortage
Growing human organs inside other animals has taken another step away from science-fiction, with researchers announcing they have grown sheep ...

‘Chemical surgery’ could treat diseases by fixing genetic mutations
A breakthrough in “chemical surgery” that can correct a type of genetic mutation behind a host of diseases has been ...

Is sugar as addictive as hard drugs? Scientists say that’s ‘absurd’
An article suggesting that sugar should be considered an addictive substance, and could even be on a par with abusive ...

Genetics may explain tendency towards violence in our evolutionary history
Humans are predisposed to murder each other, new research suggests, although it remains unclear if it’s down to genetics or ...
Genes tied to birth weight in infants also linked to diabetes, heart disease later in life
Birth weight of babies is influenced by genes that are also linked to the risk of developing a range of ...

Can gene therapy reverse aging?
The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. In September 2015, [Elizabeth] ...
Does autism spectrum have clear cut-off points?
The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. The same genes involved ...
Scientists create human-pig embryo to harvest human organs for use in transplants
The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. Researchers at the University ...
Genes linked to autism also common in general population
The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. The same genes involved ...

Shorter men, heavier women earn less than their colleagues
The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. Taller men and slimmer ...