"It also serves as a reminder that not all mutations are negative or neutral."

George Church told us why he's listing "superhuman" gene hacks

Inside Look

Harvard geneticist George Church explains why he built a database of protective and harmful gene variations, and predicts how it could improve medicine.

George Church Told Us Why He’s Listing Superhuman Gene Hacks

The "beneficial mutations" database, explained.

The spreadsheet looks like a mad scientist's field notes.

This Harvard prof is listing genes that could make you superhuman

Hulk Serum

Harvard geneticist George Church has assembled a database of genetic mutations that could give people superhuman-like capabilities or medical benefits.

This Harvard Prof Is Listing Genes That Could Make You Superhuman

Gene-hack your way to huge muscles, radiation resistance — and much more.

Sexual offenders seeking parole will need to take testosterone inhibitors for however long the court decides.

New law: Alabama will chemically castrate pedophiles

Dialing Down

A new law in Alabama will require that inmaes convicted of sexual crimes against a minor seeking parole will need to be chemically castrated.

New Law: Alabama Will Chemically Castrate Pedophiles

Alabama is the seventh state to enact a chemical castration law for convicted pedophiles.

Harvard just gene-hacked stem cells inside a living organism

White Hat Hackers

A new biomedical technique lets scientists gene-hack an animal with CRISPR in vivo instead of having to remove and re-inject their cells.

Harvard Just Gene-Hacked Stem Cells Inside a Living Organism

DNA is starting to look like one more type of code to hack and rewrite.

"Patients will again be at risk of lacking access to information about their genes, about their very selves."

New law would let corporations patent human genes

Restricted Access

U.S. lawmakers proposed an amendment to federal patent law that would let biotech and pharma companies patent human genes.

New Law Would Let Corporations Patent Human Genes

If passed, companies could dictate and own all the tests and treatments for genetic conditions.

But that doesn't mean you should run to the nearest vampiric biotech clinic.

Yeah, young blood transfusions do seem to fight aging

Fill 'Er Up

A new study figured out how young blood seems to revitalize older neurons. Two proteins from newborn mouse blood revitalized lab-grown human neurons.

Yeah, Young Blood Transfusions Do Seem to Fight Aging

Proteins found in mouse blood could explain this ghoulish phenomenon.

"What we found is that they had significantly increased mortality."

Those gene-hacked babies may be doomed to die young

No Take-Backs

He Jiankui gene-hacked human embryos in an attempt to make them immune to HIV. Instead, he may have cut down on their life expectancy.

Those Gene-Hacked Babies May Be Doomed to Die Young

"This is a lesson in humility."

Mice with herpes and a predisposition for Alzheimer's showed symptoms in two days instead of six months.

New Research: Herpes May Make You Get Alzheimer's Earlier

Dangerous Combo

As they travel in the body, viruses like herpes can soak up proteins that they use to produce the amyloid plaques linked to Alzheimer's symptoms.

New Research: Herpes May Make You Get Alzheimer’s Earlier

A new mouse study could change our understanding of Alzheimer's disease. 

"If we're successful, this revolutionizes the treatment of infections."

Scientists gene-hack viruses to hunt and kill super-strong bacteria

Teaming Up

In order to kill antibiotic-resistant superbugs, scientists are gene-hacking viruses to target the bacteria and kill them from the inside.

Scientists Gene-Hack Viruses to Hunt and Kill Super-Strong Bacteria

The idea is to recruit viruses to kill superbugs.

"How do you make sure you can align the person who is consenting and the person who is taking the risk?"

Third gene-hacked baby's impending birth has scientists scrambling

Three's A Crowd

The next gene-hacked human is due to be born next month, and scientists are trying to sort out what that means for the future of humanity.

/Medicine