Air pollution linked to poorer sperm quality
Men living in areas with higher air pollution are also more likely to have a higher proportion of abnormally shaped sperm...
News
IVF and ICSI linked to congenital heart defects in children
Children conceived using assisted reproductive techniques have a greater risk of congenital heart defects compared with children born through spontaneous conception, according to research...
Illumina wins NIPT patent case in UK High Court
The UK Patents Court has ruled that two separate non-invasive prenatal tests infringe patents licensed by the US firm Illumina...
Human stem cells help paraplegic rats walk again
Paraplegic rats were able to walk after being treated with human stem cells. This is the first time lower body movement has been restored after an animal's spinal cord has been completely severed...
Gene therapy effective for treatment-resistant leukaemia
A new gene therapy for leukaemia is effective for a majority of patients who showed resistance to previous therapies...
FDA issues warning on DIY gene-therapy kits
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking an active stance against the use of 'do it yourself' gene therapy kits...
Dolly the cloned sheep did not age prematurely
Fears that cloning caused Dolly the Sheep to have early-onset osteoarthritis are 'unfounded', according to new research...
Reviews
Event Review: Darwin Lecture: from gene identification to clinical benefit - the example of cystic fibrosis
The Darwin lecture held at the UK's Royal Society of Medicine in London, and jointly organised with the Linnean Society, gives an annual look at topics in science and medicine....
Comment
The reflex DNA method is an improvement on current antenatal screening in the UK
by Jonathan Bestwick
Antenatal screening for Down's, Edwards' and Patau's syndromes with the reflex DNA method was shown in our recent study to have higher screening performance compared with the combined test alone, and compared with the proposed recall DNA method...
Shared motherhood IVF for lesbian couples is gaining acceptance in the UK
by Daniel Bodri and 2 others
In 2008, parliament voted to scrap the controversial 'need for a father' requirement from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act; a consideration for 'supportive parenting' took its place. Alongside legislation giving rights to civil partnership (2004