The Scan

Dec 17, 2019

Agreement on Budget

Lawmakers in the US have come to a budget agreement that includes funding boosts for many science agencies.

Dec 17, 2019

Updated Sequences, Affected Results

According to Retraction Watch, updated betaherpesviruses sequences in GenBank led to a paper being retracted.

Dec 17, 2019

PNAS Studies Examine Influenza B Evolution, Endogenous Retroviruses, More

In PNAS this week: evolutionary paths of influenza B virus lineages, APOBEC3 gene amplification with increasing endogenous retroviruses, and more.

Dec 16, 2019

Parakeet Extinction

A new genetic analysis implicates people in the extinction of Carolina parakeets, according to National Geographic.

Dec 16, 2019

More Complicated Than a Santa Tie

Consumer Reports examines the complexities of giving a DNA testing kit as a holiday gift.

Dec 16, 2019

Dating App or Eugenics?

The Washington Post reports that critics have called George Church's genetic dating app a form of eugenics, but he has pushed back against the characterization.

Dec 16, 2019

PLOS Studies on eQTL Fine-Mapping, Leishmania Sequencing, and Elderly Burn Patients

In PLOS this week: method to fine-map expression quantitative trait loci, gene expression patterns in elderly burn victims, and more.

Dec 13, 2019

New FDA Commish Confirmed

The US Senate has confirmed Stephen Hahn as the next commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, according to the New York Times.

Dec 13, 2019

That Rude Reviewer

ScienceInsider reports that rude and unprofessional paper reviewers are common and can have harmful effects.

Dec 13, 2019

DNA Screening for Apple Employees

CNBC reports Apple is partnering with Color Genomics to offer its employees free DNA screening for disease.

Dec 13, 2019

Science Studies Describe Role for Microbiome-Derived Immunity, Platform to Develop Flavivirus Vaccines

In Science this week: researchers use CRISPR tool to find gut microbiome molecules involved in immunity, and more.

Dec 12, 2019

Variant Linked to Heart Failure Risk

A genetic alteration appears to increase heart failure risk among people of African descent, according to the Washington Post.

Dec 12, 2019

Gene Editing for the Gold

Gene editing could be an issue competitive sports need to address soon, four researchers from Arizona State University write at Slate.

Dec 12, 2019

A Different Future

In his look back at the past decade, BuzzFeed News' Peter Aldhous writes that direct-to-consumer genetic testing has led to "Facebook for genes."

Dec 12, 2019

Nature Examines Lifespans, Fast and Accurate Method for Long-Read Assembly, More

In Nature this week: genetic "clock" that can predict the lifespans of vertebrates, new assembler called wtdbg2, and more.

Dec 11, 2019

Bill to Address Foreign Influence

Science reports a new US defense bill would establish two groups aimed at combating foreign influence on research.

Dec 11, 2019

Nobel Representation

In a cartoon, Vox explores the lack of women among this year's winners of the Nobel Prize.

Dec 11, 2019

Promising, But More Needed

Nature Biotechnology discusses promising early results from two clinical trials of CRISPR-based therapy for β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease.

Dec 11, 2019

Cell Studies Tackle Tissue Clones, Ocean Microbes, Polygenic Trait Prediction

In Cell this week: analysis of tissue clones, metagenomic studies of ocean water samples, and more.

Dec 10, 2019

GEDmatch Under New Owners

Forensic genetic firm Verogen has bought the genetic genealogy site GEDmatch.

Dec 10, 2019

Generations of Bunnies

Researchers have 3D-printed plastic bunnies that encase the information needed to make more such bunnies in DNA, according to Discover magazine.

Dec 10, 2019

To Inform the Discussion

Dan Rather, the former CBS Evening News anchor and executive producer of a new documentary, writes at the Guardian that everyone needs to know about CRISPR.

Dec 10, 2019

PNAS Studies on ER+ Breast Cancer Target, Skin Condition Gene Repair, Uveoretinitis

In PNAS this week: analysis of FOXA1 upregulation in ER-positive breast cancer, gene editing to correct recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, and more.

Dec 09, 2019

Taking It All On

60 Minutes speaks with Harvard's George Church about tackling the effects of aging and more.

Dec 09, 2019

Project to Discuss Race and Genetics in Class

The New York Times reports on an effort to address in high school biology classes misconceptions regarding race and genetics.

Science Presents Studies Into Disease-Causing Mutations Among Bone Marrow Donors; Links Between Heavy Drinking, Other Disease

In Science this week: potentially pathogenic mutations found in hematopoietic stem cells from young healthy donors, and more.

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