Genetics & Molecular Biology

Before Mitochondria: An Enzyme-Free Krebs Cycle?

Metabolism, the set of processes through which we gain energy from food and produce the biomolecules we need in our body's cells, is universal to life. The biochemical pathways that underpin these processes are highly similar across all organisms and ...

Article - News Staff - Mar 13 2017 - 2:48pm

Stand Up For Science! The FDA Wants Your Opinions On Genome Editing In Plants

In case you haven’t been keeping up-to-date with the latest news in the biotechnology regulatory system (and how could you not?), the system is under revision. As part of the new Coordinated Framework the FDA stated it would clarify how it will deal with t ...

Article - Nathaniel Graham - Mar 16 2017 - 12:12pm

Cystic Fibrosis And The Mechanism Of Mucus

People with cystic fibrosis suffer repeated lung infections because their airway mucus is too thick and sticky to keep bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens from causing chronic infection. How mucus becomes abnormal in cystic fibrosis airways has never be ...

Article - News Staff - Mar 23 2017 - 11:32am

Separate Evolution: Men, Women, And Gene Expression

Though men and women obviously differ, that has become muddled in the name of equality. Drug reactions are different, obviously one gender gives birth to children. A new study shows there are still many similarities, but also a whole lot of biological dif ...

Article - News Staff - May 3 2017 - 4:04pm

CRISPR Gene Editing May Cause Unintended Mutations

A new paper found that the gene-editing technology CRISPR-Cas9 can introduce hundreds of unintended mutations into the genome, important as it starts to move into clinical trials. CRISPR-Cas9 editing technology—by virtue of its speed and unprecedented pre ...

Article - News Staff - May 31 2017 - 9:23am

Are New Government Guidelines For Genetically Engineered Products Going Far Enough?

Since 2014, China has spent $4 billion on advanced agricultural science and is approving new technologies rapidly. Meanwhile, our food science regulatory system remains trapped in the 1980s, paralyzed by environmental lobbyists who buy full-page ads in the ...

Article - Hank Campbell - Jun 20 2017 - 6:30am

Scholars Requested To Defend Film Propaganda Claim

The documentary film Food Evolution provides a fresh, scientific look at the technology of crop genetic engineering and some situations it has, or could, help solve problems for farmers. It shows the ugly politics and distortions that have maligned a use ...

Article - Kevin M. Folta - Jun 29 2017 - 5:32am

How Nature's Bleach Protects Against Sun Damage

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is best known for use in bleach and hair treatments and is often invoked as a scary chemical by environmental groups promoting concern about food and products, but it is produced naturally in our bodies. A new study shows it is a u ...

Article - News Staff - Jun 29 2017 - 5:16am

Genetically Engineered Wheat Can Boost Food Security

Though genetically engineering food using science remains controversial in some circles, with concerns about genetically modified corn syrup in candy and claims that CRISPR can somehow be harmful whereas mutagenesis-derived foods can be labeled organic, p ...

Article - News Staff - Oct 31 2017 - 2:23pm

Yes, We May Have No Bananas, But Monoculture Wasn't So Easy To Avoid