During her chemistry Nobel Prize lecture in 2018, Frances Arnold said, “Today we can for all practical purposes read, write and edit any sequence of DNA, but we cannot compose it.”…
Category: Genetics
Key Biochemical Trigger of Huntington’s Disease Progression Identified
Summary: Researchers have identified a crucial biochemical mechanism that could allow Huntington’s disease to be studied before symptoms appear, offering hope for early intervention. The team found that disrupted dopamine…
Childhood Attention Problems and Genes Linked to Psychosis Risk
Summary: Childhood attention issues, coupled with genetic predispositions, increase the likelihood of experiencing psychotic-like symptoms in adolescence. By analyzing data from 10,000 youths, researchers discovered that variability in attention spans…
Viewpoint: Britain’s new Labor government signals it will move forward legislation to open the door to CRISPR and other crop gene editing innovations
There are increasingly positive signs that the newly-elected Labour administration will shortly bring forward the secondary legislation needed to implement the provisions set out in the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding)…
Rwanda launches Gates-funded project to develop drought, virus and blight resistant crops
Farmers and agriculture sector leaders have said they expect a new five-year scheme called Rwanda Agricultural Biotechnology Program, to support improvement in crop productivity, by addressing production challenges including pests, diseases,…
Viewpoint: Hurricane-caused drug and IV fluid shortages expose a vulnerability in U.S. supply chains. Here’s a solution.
The recent storms that ravaged Florida and other states affected more than homes and infrastructure. Hurricane Helene inflicted significant damage on a Baxter International drug production plant in Marion, North…
New Genes Linked to Muscle Aging Discovered
Summary: Scientists have identified new genes linked to muscle aging, offering potential targets for therapies to slow muscle loss in older adults. The study used artificial intelligence to analyze gene…
Florida’s anti-vaccine surgeon general takes his disinformation campaign on the road with RFK, Jr., anti-vaxxers, and Nazi-promoting ‘health specialists’
Florida has much going for it, but the state’s public health system doesn’t make the list. The opprobrium is largely due to its head, Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo. He is…
Exploring the sustainable challenges of genetically modified crops
Genetically modified (GM) crops are widely used around the world, but their effects on the environment need to be explored more. New research, published in Science on August 30, 2024,…
Key Brain Protein Tied to Motivation and Mood Identified
Summary: A new study has identified a brain protein, vesicular nucleotide transporter (Vnut), as essential for regulating mood and motivation in mice. When Vnut was removed from brain cells called…
