Identical twins start to differ in the womb, study shows
Despite sharing the same womb, identical twins are born with different alterations to their DNA that can affect the activity of individual genes...
Dr Rebecca Hill was formerly Genetics Editor at BioNews and at the charity that publishes it, the Progress Educational Trust (PET). She is a reporter at Research Fortnight and Research Europe, both of which are published by Research Research and cover news, analysis, funding opportunities and jobs for researchers and policymakers. She is also a freelance journalist specialising in science, and has written for the Guardian and Times newspapers, the journal Nature, New Scientist magazine's CultureLab and the Science and Development Network. She is cofounder of Science Brainwaves (part of the British Science Association), and she has been a judge at the National Science and Engineering Competition at the Big Bang Young Scientists and Engineers Fair. Previously, she studied Biochemistry and Genetics at the University of Sheffield, where she went on to obtain a PhD in Structural and Molecular Biology, and where her research focused on producing a system to purify and analyse groups of proteins in baker's yeast. She also has an MA in Science Journalism from City University London, and she has a particular interest in audio production, having produced audio packages for the Guardian's Science Weekly podcast. She has interned at the Science Media Centre and Sense About Science, and she has been a pie taster on the Pie Panel at Holland's Pies. She tweets as @BekiHill
by Rebecca Hill
Despite sharing the same womb, identical twins are born with different alterations to their DNA that can affect the activity of individual genes...
by Rebecca Hill
A previously unidentified type of stem cell, usually dormant in blood vessels, is at the heart of vascular disease, according to researchers...
by Rebecca Hill
The Human Genetics Commission (HGC) has published its final report, which marks the end of its 12 years as an advisory body to the Government...
by Rebecca Hill
The genetic landscape of breast cancer is much more complicated than previously hoped, according to the authors of two analyses of multiple tumour genomes...
by Rebecca Hill
The increase in birth defects in babies born after assisted conception could be partly due to underlying fertility problems, according to an Australian study...
by Rebecca Hill
Many bioscience graduates lack the practical skills that make them attractive to employers, according to a 2010 survey. In order to fill this skills gap, the Society of Biology launched a degree accreditation programme this week...
by Rebecca Hill
Genome sequencing for all, the abuse of stored genetic data and red tape halting research are just some of the issues the NHS will have to deal with this year, according to Sir John Burn, professor of clinical genetics at the University of Newcastle, chair of the British Society for Human Genetics (BSHG)...
by Rebecca Hill
US researchers have received approval to test whether cord blood stem cells could be used to reverse hearing loss in children...
by Rebecca Hill
In what is now synonymous with Progress Educational Trust (PET)'s ethos, the final session of the annual conference, 'The Best Possible Start in Life: The Robust and Responsive Embryo', was a free-form debate. Following on from the previous sessions where a wealth of eminent researchers gave informative and often provocative talks, Guardian columnist Zoe Williams had the task of chairing what proved to be an entertaining debate...
by Rebecca Hill
Short people can blame deleted sections of DNA for their diminutive stature, according to a study looking at variations in the genomes of over 12,000 children...
BioNews, published by the Progress Educational Trust (PET), provides news and comment on genetics, assisted conception, embryo/stem cell research and related areas.