Sometimes we all need a little perspective, both of our own complexity compared to the tiny atoms and microbes in and around us, but also when compared to the sheer scale of the universe that we can observe.
DNA previously written off as junk actually acts as a lever controlling genetic activity, leading to health or illness, reveals a massive new genetic mapping project.
Imagine a future where doctors take a strand of your hair or a drop of your blood and tell you…
This past year has seen a particularly dramatic increase both in the collection of DNA for forensic purposes, and in controversy over its ethical and social implications. DNA forensics can be an extremely useful tool for identifying perpetrators as well as exonerating people who have been wrongly convicted or accused. However, its use carries significant risks as well.