New Atlas

Medical Audio available

Genetic variant may explain why birth control is not effective in all women

Rich Haridy March 13, 2019

A fascinating new study has for the first time linked a specific genetic variant with the efficacy of hormone-based birth control treatments. The research suggests birth control may be less effective in women found with this particular gene.

A specific gene, found in five percent of women studied, could increase the chances of hormonal ...

Science Audio available

Coalition of scientists and ethicists call for immediate moratorium on human gene editing

Rich Haridy March 13, 2019

A collective of researchers and ethicists is calling for an urgent global moratorium on human germline gene editing, suggesting serious discussions on technical, scientific, medical, societal, ethical and moral issues need to be had before scientists move forward with the controversial technique.

Over a dozen influential scientists are presenting a proposal for a temporary moratorium on human gene ...

Science Audio available

Novel mechanism explains how sleep repairs damaged DNA in the brain

Rich Haridy March 5, 2019

A team from Israel’s Bar-Ilan University has uncovered a previously unknown function of sleep that may explain why the behavior is so fundamental to all complex organisms with a brain.

Using zebrafish as a model scientists have discovered repairing DNA damage in neurons may be one ...

Science Audio available

First CRISPR therapy administered in landmark human trial

Rich Haridy February 26, 2019

The first confirmed CRISPR gene editing clinical trial to take place outside of China is officially underway, after pharmaceutical companies CRISPR Therapeutics and Vertex revealed a human patient has been administered the experimental treatment targeting a rare blood disease.

The first reported human trial outside of China using CRISPR gene editing is now officially underway ...

Science

Two massive genetic studies home in on the origins of insomnia

Rich Haridy February 25, 2019

Two massive new studies have homed in on the genetic foundations of insomnia. The rigorous analyses reveal novel links between insomnia and certain brain regions, while paving the way for personalized treatments.

The research examined over a million people finding hundreds of genes that could be associated with ...

Science

How gut bacteria controls gene expression through “interspecies communication”

Rich Haridy February 21, 2019

Imagine a tiny microbe living inside you with the power to control the activity of your DNA. Scientists are increasingly discovering how much control our gut bacteria may actually have over us with a study describing how bacteria can secrete a molecule that literally turns genes off or on.

New research reveals insight into how our gut bacteria may changing the way genes are expressed ...

Science Audio available

First human gene therapy surgery attempts to halt common form of vision loss

Rich Haridy February 19, 2019

In an extraordinary milestone procedure, scientists in the UK have performed the first gene therapy operation aimed at stopping progression of the most common cause of vision loss. The success of the procedure is yet to be determined.

A novel form of gene therapy may save the vision of millions of people around the ...

Biology

Grasses found to cheat evolution by stealing genes from their neighbors

Michael Irving February 19, 2019

Plenty of students cheat on tests by copying off neighbors, and it turns out that grasses are doing the same thing. Scientists have found evidence that some species of grasses are stealing genes from their neighbors to help them adapt, effectively bypassing millions of years’ worth of evolution.

Researchers have found that a species of grass known as Alloteropsis semialata can steal genes from ...

Biology

Great white shark genome has been sequenced, revealing clues to longevity and cancer resistance

Michael Irving February 18, 2019

To many of us, the great white shark is a mysterious and scary creature from the deep – but now it’s a little less mysterious. Scientists have sequenced the entire genome of the great white shark, revealing a few clues as to how these animals are so good at healing wounds and resisting cancer.

The genome of the great white shark has been sequenced

Biology Audio available

Breeding bees with "clean genes" could help prevent colony collapse

Michael Irving February 17, 2019

Honeybees are increasingly under threat. To help save these creatures from extinction, researchers from York University have found a group of genes that appears to be related to how hygienic a particular colony of bees is, and selective breeding for these genes could help fight colony collapse.

Researchers have identified genes associated with cleanliness behaviors in bees, which could ultimately help protect colonies ...