Genetic Testing

A race against time for Down syndrome research

Michael Cook | 20 August 2011

Is it possible to cure Down syndrome? Alberto Costa, a 48-year-old physician and neuroscientist at University of Colorado-Denver School of Medicine, thinks so. He has started a clinical trial on young adults with Down syndrome to see if the drug memantine helps them become “smarter”. It is the first randomized clinical trial ever to take a drug that worked in mice with Down syndrome and apply it to humans.

New test reveals fetus’ sex as early as 7 weeks

Jared Yee | 12 August 2011

A new, highly accurate, blood test can determine a baby’s sex as early as 7 weeks into the pregnancy.

American Indian tribe considers DNA testing to determine casino profit entitlement

Jared Yee | 01 July 2011

With members of Native American tribes entitled to a share of casino revenues, many tribes are resorting to genetic testing to guarantee authentic descent.

Peddling genetic tests with the threat of death

Jared Yee | 18 June 2011

An American biotech has launched an aggressive marketing campaign for their direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic tests by playing on parents’ fears.

Testing for sports genes

Jared Yee | 27 May 2011

Appealing to parents who want to make their children champions, two companies have begun selling tests to match children with the sports for which they are genetically best suited. The DNA tests may even help children win college sports scholarships, the companies say, and to identify health and injury risks.

The US$700 test that tells you how long you’ll live

Jared Yee | 27 May 2011

UK commission calls for more widely available preconception genetic testing

Jared Yee | 15 April 2011

The UK government’s advisory body on human genetics has recommended that preconception genetic testing for genetic diseases should be made more available in screening programs.

Down’s Syndrome test breakthrough looming

Jared Yee | 18 March 2011

Test could be available by 2013

Genetic tests inadvertently expose cases of incest

Jared Yee | 18 February 2011

Gene tests raise social, legal issues

Protecting the public against shonky genetic tests

Michael Cook | 28 October 2010

A burgeoning field raises serious questions

Berkeley backpedals on releasing genetic information to college students

Jared Yee | 21 August 2010

California Dept of Public Health criticises, university backs down

Spinal tap may give definitive prediction of Alzheimer’s

Michael Cook | 14 August 2010

New policy dilemmas

Gene tests slammed in federal sting

Jared Yee | 31 July 2010

Undercover investigation finds “egregious examples of deceptive marketing”

Berkeley introduces students to genetic revolution

Michael Cook | 25 June 2010

Controversial program goes ahead

DNA and Argentina’s Dirty War

Michael Cook | 17 June 2010

Heirs of Argentine media fortune battle with government

Gene tests will solve parenting problems, website promises

Jared Yee | 11 June 2010

Direct-to-consumer genetic test has all the answers

The perils of ancestor testing

Michael Cook | 27 May 2010

Could pose “palpable threats to human welfare”

Walgreens withdraws over-the-counter genetic test

Michael Cook | 14 May 2010

FDA objects

Indian tribe wins legal battle to recover genetic samples

Michael Cook | 24 April 2010

Informed consent for DNA research under a cloud

BRCA gene patent struck down

Michael Cook | 02 April 2010

Case will be appealed