Issue 279 (11 October 2004)

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Genetic screening: Is it ethical?

08 October 2004 - by Dominique Driver

The following commentary was triggered by a debate entitled 'Testing Times', on the ethics of genetic screening. It was organised by Progress Educational Trust, and took place in London, on 28 September 2004. Since the 1990s, prenatal screening and diagnosis have been available for a range of genetic disorders, including...[Read More]

Superman actor advanced the stem cell cause

11 October 2004 - by Dr Kirsty Horsey

People across the world will be saddened by the death of Christopher Reeve, the American actor best known for his role as Superman. Indeed, looking at some of the websites where people can send their tribute messages, many people have been shocked about the news of his death at such...[Read More]

DNA scientist Maurice Wilkins dies

07 October 2004 - by BioNews

Maurice Wilkins, the scientist who shared a Nobel Prize with Francis Crick and James Watson for working out the structure of DNA, has died. Wilkins was awarded the prize in 1962, following his work at King's College London, in which he used X-ray techniques to show that the DNA molecule...[Read More]

Embryo stem cells repair heart defect

11 October 2004 - by BioNews

Injecting embryonic stem (ES) cells into mouse embryos can correct serious heart defects, US scientists say. The researchers, who published their findings in the journal Science, also found that injecting ES cells into healthy female mice could prevent the same defect appearing in some of their future offspring. It seems...[Read More]

Christopher Reeve, actor and campaigner, dies

11 October 2004 - by BioNews

Christopher Reeve, the actor most famous for playing Superman, has died at the age of 52. Reeve was paralysed from the neck down after a horse riding accident in 1995. He recently developed a pressure sore, a common side-effect for people confined to wheelchairs, and the sore became seriously infected...[Read More]

Kerry steps up campaign on stem cell research

11 October 2004 - by BioNews

John Kerry, the US Democratic presidential candidate, has teamed up with Michael J Fox, the actor, to criticise President Bush's policy on embryonic stem (ES) cell research. The policy, which has been in place since 9 August 2001, restricts federally-funded researchers to working on ES cell lines already created by...[Read More]

Researchers milk cow genome

11 October 2004 - by BioNews

The cow joins the rat, mouse, dog, chimp and humans as the latest animal to have its draft genetic code unveiled. Scientists hope that the achievement will help agricultural researchers improve the health of cattle, as well as the quality of beef and dairy products. The data, which has been...[Read More]

Orkney disease gene project launched

11 October 2004 - by BioNews

UK scientists are launching a two-year project that aims to unpick the genetic and environmental factors involved in heart disease, stroke and diabetes, by studying people from the Scottish islands of Orkney. The study, based at the University of Edinburgh, will recruit 1000 adults living in Orkney. The participants will...[Read More]