For the past half century hospitals throughout the Western world have routinely tested newborn infants to determine their likelihood of developing several major diseases, including cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia. But…
Ethics of Paleogenomics Research
Is genomic research on the DNA of ancient human remains ethical? The problem arises because of the age-old issue of “informed consent.” Normally, researchers must obtain the express written permission of study…
Genome Sequencing May Reduce the Risk of Heart Failure
Genomic research is helping the medical profession identify and target the specific genetic variants and risk factors associated with life-threatening illnesses. It’s part of growing focus on “precision” medicine aimed at deterring…
Genomic Research Can Help Protect Endangered Birds
Good news for the California condor. Genomic research can help protect endangered birds of prey. Thought to be near extinction just a few short years ago, scientists now believe that the bird’s…
Genetic Screening of Underserved Patients
Genomic research has the potential to enhance disease prevention and management by uncovering the specific DNA sequences that can leave patients vulnerable to major ailments like cancer and heart disease long before…
Genomic Research May Catch Diseases Before They Develop
Scientists are turning to genomic research to uncover the roots of major diseases like cancer but they’re doing it in a surprising manner: By focusing on the possible genotypes associated with these…
Should CRISPR be Used to Cure Deafness?
There’s an age-old ethical proposition: Just because you can do something, that doesn’t mean that you should. This age-old proposition applies in spades to the issue of gene-editing to eliminate certain kinds…
Sequencing the Residents of Pompeii, Italy (79 AD)
Sequencing the Residents of Pompeii, Italy recently revealed some interesting facts. About two thousand years ago, Census data on the demographics of small Roman cities and towns wasn’t easy to collect. The…
The Genome Editing Revolution: CRISPR and Beyond
Genome editing has been a topic of research for many years, but the introduction of CRISPR technology has revolutionized the field. CRISPR is a genome editing tool that uses a molecular mechanism…
The Human Genome: What We’ve Learned So Far
The Human Genome Project, a massive international effort to sequence the entire human genome, was completed in 2003. Since then, researchers have made numerous discoveries that have advanced our understanding of human…