In 1997, scientists announced they’d created a healthy sheep cloned from another ewe’s mammary gland cell. Two decades on, the technique is being refined and applied to new challenges.
Although genomics research has the potential to revolutionize medicine, it has limitations. It may not do much to prevent many of the leading causes of death.
A report released by the US National Academies of Science and Medicine underscores the potential of gene editing and acknowledges the sensitivities in managing the ethical dimensions.
Ian Godwin, The University of Queensland dan Yuri Trusov, The University of Queensland
When politics meddles with science, it can lead to tragedy, as was the case with Stalin’s favourite agricultural biologist Trofim Lysenko and his rival Nikolai Vavilov.
After almost four-and-a half decades and from modest beginnings, the Dunedin study has evolved into one of the most significant long-term tracking studies in the world.
Gaining a better sense of what genes are involved in regulating circadian clocks could put us on a path to find better treatments and therapies to help people adjust to time shifts.
Every single Cavendish banana plant worldwide is genetically identical. This vast monoculture sets them up for disastrous disease outbreaks. But researchers have ideas on how to protect the crop.
Overweight women have a higher risk of delivering biologically older babies who are are more susceptible to age-related conditions such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes in later life.
Testing some genes for Alzheimer’s disease, coeliac disease and folate conversion does not lead to improved health outcomes, and may create anxiety or false hope amongst patients.
Visiting Professor in Biomedical Ethics, Murdoch Children's Research Institute; Distinguished Visiting Professor in Law, University of Melbourne; Uehiro Chair in Practical Ethics, University of Oxford