Summary: Researchers have built a detailed map of DNA methylation changes in nearly 1,000 human brains from six weeks after conception to old age. The work reveals dramatic epigenetic shifts…
Category: Genetics
7 ways biotechnology can mitigate climate change challenges
As the world grapples with escalating climate change, the impacts on agriculture have become acute and inescapable. In 2025, rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, increased frequency of extreme weather events, and shifting…
AI Reveals Bitter Taste Receptors’ Hidden Role in Gut-Brain Health
Summary: Researchers used AlphaFold3, the latest AI-based protein modeling system, to predict the structures of all 25 known human bitter taste receptors (T2Rs). Compared with AlphaFold2, AF3 consistently generated more…
How Neurons Pick Just One Scent Receptor
Summary: Researchers studying clonal raider ants have uncovered how each sensory neuron manages to express just one odorant receptor gene from a library of hundreds. Unlike fruit flies or mammals,…
Understanding why people reject science could lead to solutions for rebuilding trust
Rejection of science is a huge problem, with many people refusing to get vaccines and denying the existence of climate change. Why are so many people anti-science? As experts on attitudes, persuasion…
Mediterranean diet may offset much of the genetic risk of Alzheimer’s
Many observational studies have linked a Mediterranean diet to better cognitive health. … Now, new research suggests that people at high genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease may benefit the most…
Can native and conventional crops coexist with GM and gene-edited varieties? The case of Honduras
Over the last several years, it’s been more than evident there is an urgent need to increase food production at a global scale to satisfy the constant demand of a…
Viewpoint: If activists and trial lawyers have their way, the herbicide glyphosate will be banned. What would that world look like?
As a reminder for the doomsayers, the Environmental Protection Agency classifies glyphosate as “not likely to be carcinogenic to humans.” With that, let’s turn to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s August…
Evolution of Human Brain May Explain High Autism Rates
Summary: A new study suggests that autism may be linked to the rapid evolution of brain cell types unique to humans. Researchers found that outer-layer neurons in the human brain…
Viewpoint: Video — Big Solar is gobbling up productive agricultural land and hurting farmers yet providing little energy or sustainabilty gains
I made this 10-minute documentary, SUNBLOCK, because I love farmers and ranchers and want to tell their stories. This film is available for free here on Substack and YouTube. I made…
