“Survival of the fittest” is one of the most misunderstood terms in biology. Evoking images of physical prowess, it actually refers to…
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post Genes That Protect Against Dementia (Maybe)Read more
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post A Conversation with CRISPR-Cas9 Inventors Charpentier and DoudnaRead more
At the American Society of Human Genetics meeting in October, CRISPR-Cas9 inventors Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier accepted the Gruber Genetics Prize, then…
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post Turkey Genetics 101Read more
I love watching the turkeys on Martha’s Vineyard. They travel in small family groups of two parents with chicks and adolescents, coalescing…
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post Will Layla Save Gene Editing?Read more
I had planned to blast last Thursday’s news of the use of gene-editing to save a British baby from aggressive leukemia. “Two…
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post Jono Lancaster Fights Treacher Collins Syndrome With AttitudeRead more
When Jono Lancaster was born 30 years ago, his parents took one look at his face, and abandoned him. Today Jono, who has…
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post Sequencing the Genomes of Dead PeopleRead more
Last Wednesday, at “Career Night” during the American Society of Human Genetics annual conference in Baltimore, I was stationed one table over…
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post Understudy Gene Offers Hope for Spinal Muscular AtrophyRead more
I began writing about genetics decades ago, and the best thing about getting older is witnessing the development of targeted treatments for…
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post Precision Medicine: Much More Than Just GeneticsRead more
When President Obama uttered the words “Precision Medicine” in the state-of-the-union address, I scoffed at a politician’s finally noticing a field that’s…
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post Tess’s Tale: Social Media Catalyzes Rare Disease DiagnosisRead more
Attention to the plight of families with rare diseases continues to grow this week, and provides a backdrop to another compelling tale…
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post The Ripper Gene: A Book ReviewRead more
Because I write nonfiction, I love to read fiction. But I avoid crime novels, especially about serial killers who carry out gruesome…
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post Targeting Cancer: A Basketful of HopeRead more
Targeted treatments for cancer have been extending and saving lives for more than 15 years — precision medicine isn’t a new idea…
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post Another Evil TV Geneticist on Netflix’s “Between”Read more
Ten years ago this month, I attended the Catalyst Workshop at the American Film Institute. The week-long program taught screenwriting to a…