He Jiankui spent three years in prison after creating gene-edited babies. Now back at work, he sees a greater opening for researchers who push boundaries.
Tag: Genetics and Heredity
Brenna Henn Wanted to Improve Genetic Medicine. Then Her N.I.H. Grant Was Cut.
Brenna Henn had a long-term grant to study the genetic diversity of Africans and people of African descent. Then her N.I.H. funding was cut.
New Studies of Dog DNA Shed Light on Pets and People
New studies of canine genetics shed light on the diversity of dogs and our longstanding, still-evolving relationship to them.
What Scientists Are Learning From Brain Organoids
Lab-grown “reductionist replicas” of the human brain are helping scientists understand fetal development and cognitive disorders, including autism. But ethical questions loom.
He Studied Why Some Female Birds Look Like Males
Jay Falk explored a fundamental question: How do genes give rise to different bodies? But without funding, “there’s not really a future here.”
Life Lessons from (Very Old) Bowhead Whales
A gene that helped bowheads adapt to frigid Arctic waters also granted them extraordinary longevity. Could it help aging humans become more resilient?
How Did Hands Evolve? Look to Your Anus, a New Study Suggests.
The evolutionary blueprint for hands was borrowed in part from a much older genetic plan for our nether regions, a new study suggests.
Uncovering the Genes That Let Our Ancestors Walk Upright
A new study reveals some of the crucial molecular steps on the path to bipedalism.
How the Pygmy Sea Horse Lost Its Snout
The genome of a small, remarkable sea horse offers a surprising lesson in nature’s creativity.
Scientists Split Giraffes Into Four Species. Three Are In Trouble.
A reassessment of the iconic species has “some dramatic implications for how we view giraffe conservation across Africa,” a new study concludes.