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To Know Or Not to Know

Nov 03, 2009

People fall into two camps about genetic testing — some people just don't want to know and others are keen to, says Hsien-Hsien Lei at Eye on DNA. She points out a story in the Middletown Journal (Ohio) about a cancer patient who has undergone genetic testing and her family members who are apprehensive about doing it. Another story, Lei points out is that NIH Director Francis Collins was motivated to lose about 20 pounds after being genotyped and finding an unexpected risk for type II diabetes. As for herself, Lei says, "I should want to know but I don't."

Breaking News
The Scan

Pig Organ Transplants Considered

The Wall Street Journal reports that the US Food and Drug Administration may soon allow clinical trials that involve transplanting pig organs into humans.

'Poo-Bank' Proposal

Harvard Medical School researchers suggest people should bank stool samples when they are young to transplant when they later develop age-related diseases.

Spurred to Develop Again

New Scientist reports that researchers may have uncovered why about 60 percent of in vitro fertilization embryos stop developing.

Science Papers Examine Breast Milk Cell Populations, Cerebral Cortex Cellular Diversity, Micronesia Population History

In Science this week: unique cell populations found within breast milk, 100 transcriptionally distinct cell populations uncovered in the cerebral cortex, and more.