genetic engineering

John Oliver: Why We Should and Shouldn’t Freak Out About Gene Editing (Video)

Staff / Truthdig Jul 2, 2018 The "Last Week Tonight" host dismisses Hollywood-esque hysteria over genetic engineering, but highlights some of its very real dangers. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Added Gene Can Make Rice More Climate-Friendly

By Tim Radford, Climate News Network Aug 14, 2015 Scientists discover a way to boost production of the grain that billions rely on for food -- and reduce its damaging emissions of methane. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Save Us From Our Frankensteins, Genome-Editing Scientists Urge

Staff / Truthdig Jul 19, 2014 A new laboratory technique enables biologists to "edit" the genetic makeup of entire species for purposes ranging from the benevolent to the nefarious, with the "potential to cause ecological mayhem," Antonio Regalado reports in MIT Technology Review. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Gene Machinery Helps Plants Handle CO2 Rise

By Tim Radford, Climate News Network Jul 10, 2014 The discovery by U.S. biologists of how plants respond to increasing levels of CO2 in the atmosphere could provide agricultural scientists with new tools to engineer crops that can deal with droughts and high temperatures. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

The Amazing Spider-Goat!

Staff / Truthdig Jan 17, 2012 This is the kind of scientific story that's a little "ooh" with some "ew!" mixed in, too: Scientists at Utah State University have cleverly combined goat and spider genes to make a normal-looking strain of goat that happens to be able to produce extra protein in its milk that can be made into spider silk. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Goody ‘Toe Shoes’ Banned by Army

Staff / Truthdig Jul 5, 2011 The U.S. military bans FiveFingers shoes because they "detract from a professional military image"; Rupert Murdoch sells MySpace for a measly $35 million; and Google teams with the Getty Museum to create a smartphone application for art lovers. These discoveries and more after the jump. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Google and Adderall to the Rescue?

Staff / Truthdig Jul 22, 2009 It's not news that the planet is in trouble, that global food and energy supplies won't last long at the current rate of consumption, and that we've basically got a big mess on our hands as the species most responsible for all of the above and more. What's the human race to do? Why, the answer may lie in intelligence augmentation, according to The Atlantic's Jamais Cascio. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )