Risk of developing autism is mostly caused by genetics
Genetic factors may explain most of the risk of developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD), suggests a new analysis...
News
Epigenetics of addiction relapse probed using rats
Researchers have identified how the likelihood of cocaine addiction relapse is influenced by epigenetic changes in rats...
Child brain cancer redefined as 10 different diseases
Deadly childhood brain tumours are highly diverse and can be divided into 10 different subtypes, according to new research...
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
CRISPR used to uncover new drug targets for cancer
New potential drug targets have been identified for cancers associated with KRAS gene mutations, which are thought to drive around 20-30 percent of all human cancers...
Gene linked to schizophrenia is key in early brain development
A gene associated with schizophrenia influences a critical stage of early brain development in mice...
Genome editing targets beta-thalassemia in human embryos
A genome editing technique called 'base editing' has been used to correct the mutation causing the inherited blood disorder beta-thalassemia in human embryos...
Complaint on Irish IVF clinic's 'misleading' advert upheld
A complaint about radio and internet advertisements for a major IVF clinic in Ireland has been upheld by the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland...
Reviews
Podcast Review: 'The Why Factor: Surrogacy' BBC World Service
Why would a woman choose to carry a baby for another person? Should money be involved? Does surrogacy exploit vulnerable women? And what other ethical issues are involved in the surrogacy process?...
Video review: TED - Editing Our Evolution
The latest CRISPR offering in the TED world comes from Dr Helen O'Neill, a molecular geneticist at University College London, UK. Her talk aimed to 'explore how and why the world and its inhabitants are constantly changing'...
Comment
The UK courts remain unmoved on commercial surrogacy
by Andrew Powell
A recent case is noteworthy not only for clinical negligence lawyers but also those interested in surrogacy and the wider public policy debate in the UK...
How should we discuss genome editing in public?
by Sandy Starr
What do patients and laypeople think and know about genome editing and its implications? What are the best ways for experts and others to discuss genome editing in public, so as to improve public understanding and avoid confusion? The Progress Educational