Michael White, Author at Pacific Standard

Home Archives for Michael White

Joseph DeAngelo appears in court for his arraignment on April 27th, 2018, in Sacramento, California.

News in Brief

After the Golden State Killer’s Apprehension, People Are Concerned About the Privacy of Genetic Tests. They Shouldn’t Be.

The Joseph DeAngelo case has raised concerns about the privacy of data produced by consumer genetic tests. But really, law enforcement should be using DNA evidence more often.

Michael White

A digital representation of the human genome.

News in Brief

What’s the Point of Genetic Studies of Sexual Orientation?

Good science can combat misinformation, but it won't resolve public debates over homosexuality.

Michael White

Social Justice

Why Gene Therapy Is No Longer a Pipe Dream

After decades of disappointment, cures to once-incurable diseases seem within reach.

Michael White

Education

Why Science Needs More Diversity

Without broad participation, science will lose its economic power and legitimacy.

Michael White

Environment

Should We Fight Invasive Species With Genetic Engineering?

Why one scientist changed his mind on using gene drives for conservation.

Michael White

Social Justice

As Technology Gets Better, Ethical Prohibitions on Genetically Modifying Human Embryos Are Getting Weaker

It's become too late to ask whether or not we should edit the human germline; we can now only ask how the experiments will proceed.

Michael White

Education

The Women Who Should Win the Nobel Prize—but Haven’t

When the Nobel committees ignore women who do Nobel-caliber science, the awards deserve to lose their relevance.

Michael White

Social Justice

Congress Is Considering Restrictions on Fetal Tissue Research. Here’s Why We Still Badly Need It.

Opponents dismiss fetal tissue research as unnecessary, but it plays a critical role in regenerative medicine.

Michael White

Social Justice

Four Good Reasons You Should Be Skeptical of the Claim That Biology Explains Inequality

Four crucial facts about race, sex, and biology that contradict this messy argument.

Michael White

Economics

How Trump’s Cuts to Biofuels Research Would Hurt the Planet and Our Economy

Biofuels can reduce emissions, benefit American corporations, and create jobs. But slashing the budget of the Bioenergy Technologies Office effectively eliminates those possibilities.

Michael White