Month: August 2015

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Identifying a Role for Genetics in Obesity

Understanding the genetic contribution to obesity has been difficult. Your DNA contains billions of positions that together specify the instructions your body follows, such as when to burn more energy, when to store energy as fat, and the size of your appetite. Recent attempts to understand what regions of DNA encode instructions about fat storage and appetite control have pointed to one region, the FTO … Continue reading Identifying a Role for Genetics in Obesity

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Weedkiller worries may be moot, warrants further study

Response to: Endocrine disruption and cytotoxicity of glyphosate and roundup in human JAr cells in vitro – Integrative Pharmacology, Toxicology and Genotoxicology In this article, the authors use the model system of placental tumor cells. This is because they produce hormones, a necessary feature if you’re going to measure how your chemical impacts hormone levels. No one is claiming that a placental tumor is an effective substitute for … Continue reading Weedkiller worries may be moot, warrants further study

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Printing Pills: FDA Approves First 3-D Printed Drug

Additive manufacturing – colloquially known as 3-D printing – can generate complex objects like firearms and human organs, but its latest technical milestone revolves around something much more unassuming: a pill.  Earlier this month, the FDA approved an anti-epileptic drug called Spritam that has the same active ingredient (levetiracetam) as a drug that was approved in 1999.  So why is this noteworthy?  It turns out … Continue reading Printing Pills: FDA Approves First 3-D Printed Drug

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Blog, Special Edition on GMOs

Good as Gold: Can Golden Rice and Other Biofortified Crops Prevent Malnutrition?

by Mary E. Gearing figures by Kristen Seim Summary: In addition to providing energy in the form of calories, our food also supplies us with essential vitamins and other nutrients to keep us healthy. Vitamin, or “micronutrient”, malnutrition is a substantial contributor to disease. To increase micronutrient consumption, many countries fortify their food with these vitamins. Another strategy to improve vitamin intake and prevent disease, … Continue reading Good as Gold: Can Golden Rice and Other Biofortified Crops Prevent Malnutrition?

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Blog, Special Edition on GMOs

The Patent Landscape of Genetically Modified Organisms

by Wen Zhou figures by Anna Maurer Summary: Among the many contentious issues related to genetically modified organisms (GMOs) under public discussion, legal issues are in the spotlight. There is debate as to how much patent protection, if any, should be granted to GMO companies, and whether the patent rights have been utilized rightfully against farmers. The court seems to be by and large standing … Continue reading The Patent Landscape of Genetically Modified Organisms

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Blog, Special Edition on GMOs

Challenging Evolution: How GMOs Can Influence Genetic Diversity

by Heather Landry Summary: The vast diversity in gene sequences are what create the large variety of plants and animals we see today. Genetic diversity is crucial for adapting to new environments, as more variation in genes leads to more individuals of a population having favorable traits to withstand harsh conditions. Low genetic diversity, on the other hand, can be very problematic during changing environments, … Continue reading Challenging Evolution: How GMOs Can Influence Genetic Diversity

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Blog, Special Edition on GMOs

Will GMOs Hurt My Body? The Public’s Concerns and How Scientists Have Addressed Them

by Megan L. Norris Summary: As the prevalence of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) continues to rise, there has been an increasing public interest for information concerning the safety of these products. Concerns generally focus on how the GMO may affect the environment or how it may affect the consumer. One specific concern is the possibility for GMOs to negatively affect human health. This could result … Continue reading Will GMOs Hurt My Body? The Public’s Concerns and How Scientists Have Addressed Them

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Insecticidal Plants: The Tech and Safety of GM Bt Crops

by Matthew Niederhuber figures by Kaitlyn Choi Summary: Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a common bacteria that has played a very uncommon role in agriculture and the development of genetically modified foods. The natural insecticidal abilities of these bacteria have made them an important pest control tool for nearly a century. While their use as a natural biopesticide is widely accepted and approved for organic applications, … Continue reading Insecticidal Plants: The Tech and Safety of GM Bt Crops

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Blog, Special Edition on GMOs

Not Your Grandfather’s GMOs: An Interview with Dr. Dan Voytas

by James Angstman images courtesy of Calyxt Dr. Dan Voytas, PhD. Courtesy of Calyxt. “I just got a text from my 14-year-old niece the other day, and she said, ‘Thought of a good idea for your next genetically modified treat,’” he told me. “So, you see, there’s a difference in the language, right? It’s a GMT. ‘Broccoli and asparagus in one vegetable. It should look … Continue reading Not Your Grandfather’s GMOs: An Interview with Dr. Dan Voytas

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Blog, Special Edition on GMOs

Epigenetics in Plant Breeding: Hard Science, Soft Tool

by Pierre Baduel figures by Kaitlyn Choi Summary: The legality of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) remains a controversial issue around the world, especially in Europe. Recent discoveries in the field of epigenetics, or heritable information not encoded in the DNA, have revealed promising alternatives to genetic engineering. As reported in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) this year, a team of British researchers … Continue reading Epigenetics in Plant Breeding: Hard Science, Soft Tool

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