Scientists from the Institute of Stem Cell Research (ISCR) in Edinburgh, Scotland and the Nara Institute of Science and Technology in Japan, announced independently last week that they have discovered a 'master gene' in embryonic stem (ES) cells. They believe that the gene is responsible for the 'pluripotency' (a unique...
The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) has published a report to guide the formation of laws and policies on human genetics. Entitled 'Essentially yours: the protection of human genetic information in Australia', the report is the end product of a two-year inquiry by the ALRC and the Australian Health Ethics...
The first large-scale collection of genetic information from African Americans will be based at Howard University in Chicago, officials announced last week. It plans to collect DNA samples and medical information from 25,000 black people, mainly patients at hospitals associated with the Howard College of Medicine. The database project organisers...
Scientists from the University of Idaho, US, have cloned the world's first animal from the horse family, it was reported last week in the journal Science. The mule, named Idaho Gem by his creators, was born on 5 May 2003 after a normal-length gestation. Mules are usually the product of...
Attractive men have healthier, faster sperm, according to a new study reported by New Scientist magazine last week. Scientists at the University of Valencia found that women judged men with symmetrical features to be more physically attractive, and that those men also tended to have better quality sperm. The group...
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Putting genes in their place
by Professor Marcus Pembrey
The 50th anniversary of the discovery of the structure of DNA presents a golden opportunity to take stock of what impact this and subsequent discoveries in molecular genetics have had and what it promises for the future of human health and happiness. Genetics is now big business. Worldwide anniversary celebrations...
Do women just want handsome men for their sperm?
by Juliet Tizzard
According to a recent news story in the New Scientist, 'handsome men have the best sperm'. And how do we know this? Because researchers recruited 66 women in Valencia, Spain, who looked at the faces of 66 male students and happened to identify as the most handsome those men who...