CRISPR pig joins a shortlist of genetically modified animals approved by the FDA for human consumption

Most pigs in the US are confined to factory farms where they can be afflicted by a nasty respiratory virus that kills piglets. The illness is called porcine reproductive and…

In a courtroom first, AI brings a road rage victim back to life to confront his murderer. What happened?

For two years, Stacey Wales kept a running list of everything she would say at the sentencing hearing for the man who killed her brother in a road rage incident…

Bigger Brains and Strong Immunity Linked to Longer Lifespans

Summary: New research reveals that mammals with larger brains and more robust immune systems tend to live longer lives. By studying 46 species, scientists found a clear link between maximum…

‘Massive breakthrough’: In breakthrough microsurgery, surgeons use an abdomen blood vessel to reconstruct breasts

A patient who had pioneering breast reconstruction surgery said she took part ‘for all the women who will come after me’. Tanya Tanna (pictured centre), 56, from South Ruislip, had…

Viewpoint: The science of reversing aging remains little more than a dream. Here’s why

The dream of reversing aging has captivated humans for centuries, and today science is closer than it ever has been to achieving that goal. Which is to say: It’s still…

Two Key Signals Shape Brain Structure Early, Varying by Person

Summary: A new study has revealed how two morphogens, WNT and Sonic Hedgehog, act as molecular “traffic cops,” directing early human brain development. Using a custom device and stem cell-derived…

Tea bags have more than just tea leaves in them. Nanoplastics are common and persistent

Plastic waste contamination represents a critical environmental challenge with growing implications for future generations, However, the health risks associated with this contamination remain the lack of information. Food packaging, however,…

How synthetic biology is producing greener chemicals, climate-resilient agriculture and repurposing food waste

Since the development of recombinant DNA technology 50 years ago – pioneered here at Stanford – we’ve seen the rise of breakthrough therapeutics that have transformed countless lives. What, then,…

Umbilical Cord DNA May Predict Future Metabolic Health Risks

Summary: DNA changes in umbilical cord blood may help predict which children are at higher risk for future health issues like diabetes, liver disease, and stroke. Researchers analyzed chemical tags…

Animals have developed a mind-boggling variety of ways to become male or female.

[S]o far, researchers have uncovered a dizzying array of exceptions to the XX/XY “rule:” birds and butterflies that use the ZW system, in which males have a matching pair of sex chromosomes (ZZ)…