Category: gene

Convicted Gene-Editing Scientist Has Hong Kong Visa Revoked After Public Outrage

A Chinese scientist convicted of illegal medical practice over gene-edited babies has gotten his Hong Kong visa revoked after widespread criticism from the public. He Jiankui was initially granted a visa to enter through the Hong Kong government’s new Top Talent Pass Scheme. The Hong Kong government (HKgov) confirmed that applicants were not required to…


Common Eye Disease Among Older People Could Pose Serious Risk of COVID-19, Study Says

A recent study suggests that people with age-related macular degeneration, a common eye condition, could be at greater risk of getting infected and sick from COVID-19. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) happens when aging causes damage to the macula, the part of the eye that controls one’s ability to see fine detail in objects and recognize…


Famed Alzheimer’s Researcher John Hardy Is a Knight … but Not in Shining Armor

The celebrated Alzheimer’s Disease researcher John Hardy was among the British doctors and medical researchers honored by Queen Elizabeth II with knighthoods at the dawn of the new year. It was just the latest on a long list of prestigious awards Hardy has collected, including the Potamkin Prize for his work identifying genetic aspects of…


Polish Scientists Find Gene That Doubles Risk of Serious COVID

WARSAW—Polish scientists have found a gene that they say more than doubles the risk of becoming severely ill with COVID-19, a discovery they hope could help doctors identify people who are most at risk from the disease. With vaccine hesitancy a major factor behind high coronavirus death rates in central and eastern Europe, researchers hope…


Bayer in Gene Therapy Collaboration With Mammoth Biosciences

FRANKFURT—Bayer on Monday struck a partnership deal with Mammoth Biosciences to develop therapeutic tools based on CRISPR/CAS9 gene editing as the German drug maker seeks to widen its cell and gene therapy development efforts. Unlisted U.S. biotech firm Mammoth will initially receive $40 million from Bayer plus potential milestone payments of more than $1 billion…


Polish Gene Project Moves to Drop Chinese Tech Over Data Concerns

WARSAW—A European Union-funded project to build a genomic map of Poland plans to drop gene-sequencing technology from China’s BGI Group over concerns about data security, one of the project’s leaders told Reuters. The Genomic Map of Poland’s concerns stem from questions over how Polish genomic data may be used that relate to national security, said…


Miscarriage: What I Wish I Had Known

Women throughout the world are experiencing infertility issues, including miscarriage. Research published in The New England Journal of Medicine estimates 30 percent of pregnancies result in miscarriage, making it the most common adverse outcome of pregnancy. In fact, miscarriage rates are rising at an alarming rate, approximately 1 percent per year according to research published…