Smoking Causes Cancer. But How?
By Cayla Solomon Smoking just one pack of cigarettes a day can lead to 150 extra mutations in the DNA of lung cells in a year. This causes a cascade …
PAC-MAN: From Video Games to COVID-19 Treatment
By Cayla Solomon My name is Cayla Solomon. I am a junior at Pacific Ridge High School just north of San Diego. My goal through this blog is to share …
Serving Huntington’s Disease One Dog at a Time
By Olivia Burns (guest blogger) Bob’s foot shook with the thoughtless determination characteristic of Huntington’s Disease. His uncontrolled movement was erratic and unstoppable—that is, until Exeter rested his head on …
Me and My Faulty Gene
In honor of breast cancer awareness month, we are proud to share one young woman’s personal journey to uncover the roots of her family tree and face the real possibility of breast …
Genetics and Mental Illness
By Carly Elder (guest blogger) On July 5th 2011, Kelly Thomas, a mentally ill homeless man, was beaten by police officers in a Fullerton parking lot. Five days later Thomas …
Breeding for Taste and Losing Nutrients
By Andrea Tunnard The produce sections of many supermarkets are stocked with large, bright, flavorful fruits and vegetables. The shelf appeal of these vibrant fruits and vegetables, coupled with the …
Interview: Genetic Testing for Huntington’s Disease, and a Very Personal Decision
By Nazin Sedehi and Laura Rivard Introduction A few months ago, we posted a case study on our Nature Scitable site about “Scott”, a man who tests positive for the …
A Little Too Perfect: 23andMe’s Patent on “Designer Baby” Technology
By Andrea Tunnard Couples planning on starting a family in our modern age of genetic technology have options that no previous generation of prospective parents have had before: the opportunity …
Illegal Sterilizations in California Prisons
By Saxony Busta In an audit released in June 2014, it was confirmed that at least 39 women were illegally sterilized in California prisons from 2006 to 2013. Nearly 150 …