April 30, 2007
Aldous Huxley was one powerful prophet. Back in 1932, in Brave New World, he warned us that in the future, rather than experience true emotions, humanity would instead opt for the feel good drug soma. (“Was and will make me … Read More
April 30, 2007
The Government is yet to formulate laws governing In-Vitro Fertilization, a year after it announced plans to commence the process. (The Standard)
April 30, 2007
Artificial skin that slowly releases a stem-cell-attracting protein could improve the healing process for patients with severe burns and for diabetics with foot ulcers. Preliminary studies combining a commonly used skin substitute with a growth factor have demonstrated faster healing … Read More
April 30, 2007
A 4-year-old boy lay on an operating table here a few weeks ago with a tumor that had eaten into his brain and the base of his skull. Standard surgery would involve cutting open his face, leaving an ugly scar … Read More
April 30, 2007
Mental stimulation and drug treatment may help people with brain ailments such as Alzheimer’s disease regain seemingly lost memories, according to research published on Sunday. (Reuters)
April 30, 2007
A convincing twin of Darth Vader stalks the beige cubicles of a Silicon Valley office, complete with ominous black mask, cape and light saber. (AP)
April 30, 2007
Although several animal species such as goats, sheep, pigs, mice and even kittens have been cloned, the mere mention of human cloning continues to spark a fevered debate. But if human cloning were to become acceptable one day would they … Read More
April 30, 2007
Neuroscientists Martha Farah and Andrea Heberlein, in the January issue of the American Journal of Bioethics (subscription link), wonder if empirical insights from their discipline can naturalize personhood. In other words, they explore the notion that a person is a … Read More
April 30, 2007
US researchers have simulated half a virtual mouse brain on a supercomputer. The scientists ran a “cortical simulator” that was as big and as complex as half of a mouse brain on the BlueGene L supercomputer. (BBC)
April 27, 2007
No doubt about it: whatever the speed of change that gets us there – and we may well believe it will be slower than Kurzweilian singularity-speak suggests – the significance of artificial intelligence will grow and grow. And meanwhile, the … Read More
April 27, 2007
One of the arguments made in favor of human cloning research, is that we need to be able to make cloned human embryonic stem cells in order to study disease processes. Frankly, this is the best argument for permitting cloning, … Read More
April 27, 2007
Imagine if scientists could peer into the blood and see the very first aberrant cells that will give birth to leukemia and then watch as the disease slowly progresses and takes over the body. (CTV.ca)
April 27, 2007
Modern humans are bacteria-killing machines. We assassinate microbes with hand soap, mouthwash and bathroom cleaners. It feels clean and right. (Wired)
April 27, 2007
Comment on Reproductive Ethics (Core) has said that the issues involved with hybrid embryos are ones that must be discussed by the whole country rather than just scientists. (inthenews.co.uk)
April 27, 2007
When does life begin? Most people seem to have an opinion on the issue. After all, “When does life begin?†seems like a reasonable thing to ask. We see personhood as an all-or-nothing thing — something either is a person … Read More
April 26, 2007
My partially tongue in cheek headline is in reaction to a story–yet again from Brave New Britain–of embryo screening employed to prevent a child from being born who might contract adult onset cancer–in this case, of the breast. Look how … Read More
April 26, 2007
This poll, published by the Michigan Catholic Conference, asked 500 likely voters in Michigan, their views on human cloning. The results were an overwhelming repudiation of cloning human life. Not so fast, some might say. It is, after all, a … Read More
April 26, 2007
A bill that would prohibit genetic discrimination against people, for instance not hiring or insuring someone predisposed to a given illness, won overwhelming approval in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday. (Reuters)
April 26, 2007
Electrically stimulating specific parts of the brain using an implanted electrode can help severely depressed patients, according to two studies published this month. The findings are the latest evidence suggesting that “deep brain stimulation,” a surgical therapy already widely used … Read More
April 26, 2007
Two couples whose families have been ravaged by breast cancer are to become the first to screen embryos to prevent them having children at risk of the disease, The Times has learnt. (TimesOnline)
April 26, 2007
A revolt by lawmakers has blocked Gov. Rick Perry’s effort to make Texas the first state to require sixth-grade girls to be vaccinated against a sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer. (New York Times)
April 26, 2007
Mammals are among the unlucky—and comparatively few—members of the animal kingdom who have lost the ability to regenerate body parts. But an increasing number of scientists are exploring molecular cues that could allow humans to regrow arms and legs the … Read More
April 26, 2007
The Texas medical community, worried about growing opposition to the law that allows hospitals to stop life-sustaining treatment in medically futile cases, is now embracing major compromise in the hope of salvaging it. (Houston Chronicle)
April 26, 2007
British scientists are calling for a public discussion on the increasing use of robots, while experts on Tuesday criticized a government-commissioned report that said calls could be made to grant intelligent machines human rights. (Technology Review)
April 26, 2007
Twenty years ago, then-FDA Commissioner Frank Young and I began a Wall Street Journal op-ed thus: “Defining the terms ‘biotechnology’ and ‘genetic engineering’ isn’t an easy task, since the terms don’t represent natural groupings of processes or products. They connote … Read More
