Can Culture Protect Genetics From Misuse?
Robert W. Sussman, a professor of anthropology at Washington University in St. Louis, says that science has struggled to understand the mysteries of “less-than-human” beings since the late 1400s when…
DNA Test for Rare Disorders Becomes More Routine
A new kind of testing is proving particularly helpful in diagnosing mysterious neurological illnesses in children. Scientists sequence all of a patient’s genes, systematically searching for disease-causing mutations. A few…
Landmark Patent Ruling Over Breast Cancer Gene BRCA1
Cancer Voices Australia brought the case as it believed Myriad Genetics Inc, which owns the patent on the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 linked to breast and ovarian cancer had an…
Study Links Genetics Of Fear And Conservative Politics
Biology, psychology and political science are rarely spoken of together. But according to a new study co-authored by Rose McDermott, professor of political science, the genetics of fear can exert…
Sequencing the Pigeon Genome
In 1855, in the garden of his country estate, Charles Darwin built a dovecote. He filled it with birds he bought in London from pigeon breeders. He favored the fanciest…
Dodging Death – is radical life extension too radical?
How old is too old? The 20th century added thirty years to life expectancy in the developed world, but are more candles on the birthday cake all we want? Some…