Michael White
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.
What's the Point of Genetic Studies of Sexual Orientation?
Good science can combat misinformation, but it won't resolve public debates over homosexuality.
Why Gene Therapy Is No Longer a Pipe Dream
After decades of disappointment, cures to once-incurable diseases seem within reach.
Why Science Needs More Diversity
Without broad participation, science will lose its economic power and legitimacy.
Should We Fight Invasive Species With Genetic Engineering?
Why one scientist changed his mind on using gene drives for conservation.
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.
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.
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.
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.
How Trump's Biofuels Research Cuts 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.
How Cutting-Edge Medical Care Becomes Optional for African Americans
A new study looks at racial disparities in genetic testing for cancer patients.
Why Don't We Have Better Pain Drugs?
The answer involves both biology and economics, but the opioid crisis is forcing us to consider investing more in pain research.
The Future of Medicine Depends on Protections for Pre-Existing Conditions
Biomedical researchers can see a future where genetic tests are used to treat and prevent many diseases before major symptoms even present themselves. But that future won't be possible without strong insurance protections for pre-existing conditions.
Scientists, Not Politicians, Are the Biggest Threat to Science's Credibility
Political activism for science is fine as long as science itself remains trustworthy.
How to Free Personal Genetics
Consumer genetic tests like 23andMe aren't medical devices, and the FDA shouldn't regulate them like blood-sugar meters or pregnancy tests.
How Slavery Changed the DNA of African Americans
Widespread sexual exploitation before the Civil War strongly influenced the genetic make-up of essentially all African Americans alive today.
Electronic Health Records Could Change Genetics
A study of Neanderthal genes demonstrates the research power of electronic health records.
How Preventable Is Cancer?
The causes of cancer are complex, but many cases can be prevented by better public health programs.
Genetically Modifying Organisms in the Wild
A new genetic engineering technology could help fight malaria, but can it be used responsibly?
Why Scientists Need to Fail
As researchers think about how to improve reproducibility, it's important to remember that failure is a crucial part of the scientific process.
Why We're All Mutants
We all carry genetic mutations, and new studies are revealing their impact.
Researchers Turn to Big Data to Justify Basic Science
A new method of citation network analysis could be used to make the case for the importance of basic research.
Next-Generation Prenatal Genetic Tests Are Turning Fate Into Choice
As a new non-invasive technology makes prenatal genetic tests more common, many more pregnant women will have to choose whether or not to have a disabled child.
How Our Understanding of Neanderthals Has Dramatically—and Rapidly—Shifted
The discovery of an ancient man with a recent Neanderthal ancestor illustrates how quickly the science of Stone Age humans has changed.
Why the Future of Drugs Is in Genetically Engineered Microbes
Though a new generation of genetically engineered microbes is raising fears about home-brew heroin, a technology de-coupled from the whims of growing seasons could also mean cheaper, legal drugs.
How Scientific Progress Is Changing the Stem Cell Debate
The morality of human embryonic stem cell research has long been contentious, but new discoveries could end the controversy.
Redesigning Crops for the 21st Century
The world needs to double its food supply, and scientists have proposed a major genetic engineering program to make it happen.
Why We Should Think Twice About Giving Genetic Tests to Our Kids
Genetic tests are becoming increasingly common, but a major medical organization argues that we should be cautious about testing children.
The Complicated Science—and Conflict—Behind Identifying the First Native Americans
Genetic studies of living Native Americans and ancient remains are revising our theories about America’s first inhabitants.
Genes May Cause Educational Struggles for More People Than We Ever Expected
A study finds a new link between mutations and intellectual disability, but that doesn’t mean we should ignore non-genetic factors.
How to Change the Centuries-Old Model of Academic Publishing
Academic publishing has been slow to make use of social media, but new experiments could push the industry—and science—forward.
Why Curiosity Should Drive Our Scientific Agenda
Basic research can seem wasteful, but politicians should resist the temptation to set science’s priorities.
Do We Need Formal Quality Standards for Science?
New guidelines proposed by the National Institutes of Health have already been rejected by several major scientific journals.
The Debate Over GMOs Is About to Change
A new generation of biotechnology crops designed to appeal to consumers is likely to radically change the controversy over GMOs.
The Frustrating Hunt for the Genes That Make Us Human
Researchers are finding many genes unique to our species, but so far they reveal little about our most human traits.
Designer Babies Aren't Coming Anytime Soon
Genetically engineered babies raise a host of disturbing, science fiction-worthy ethical questions, but we have a more mundane and much more urgent issue to consider: safety.
Epigenetics Is Not Revolutionizing Biology
But the research is helping us to accept the role that biology plays in our lives and our society.
The Ethical Risks of Detecting Disease Outbreaks With Big Data
The stakes of the analysis are much higher when lives are on the line.
Why Precision Medicine Will Not Create a Medical Revolution
Medicine, with few exceptions, grows by evolution, not revolution. And geneticists working on complex diseases have a long, difficult road ahead.
Obama Just Announced the Next Big Thing in Medicine, but Will the FDA Kill It?
By imposing burdensome regulations on genetic testing, the FDA will put small, innovative players out of business and leave the field to "large commercial entities" with near-monopoly power and few incentives to keep up with the latest science.
Both Genetics and Lifestyle Matter in the Obesity Epidemic
People with a specific mutation in one gene are substantially more likely to be obese than those without it. But they are also at higher risk of suffering from environmental factors.
How Trustworthy Is Published Science?
There's some evidence of a reproducibility problem. But the more recent emphasis on exact replication of experiments may be misguided.
How Scientists Contribute to Bad Science Reporting
By not taking university press officers and research press releases seriously, scientists are often complicit in the media falsehoods they so often deride.
Why Scientists Hate Their Journals
The publishers seem to care more about their image and financial bottom line than their core scientific functions.
How Gut Microbes Can Help Us Detect Cancer
Behavioral changes in our gut ecosystems will likely become key to spotting cancer—but can the new diagnostic methods help scientists treat it?
To Read Our DNA, We Need to Crack Another Genetic Code
The only problem is that it may not be much of a code at all.
'Shirtstorm' and Sexism in Science
Following the recent T-shirt controversy, it's clear that sexism in science persists. But the forces driving the gender gap are still being debated.
The Ways Climate Change Is Already Killing Us
In ordinary ways, it's erasing some of the last century's impressive progress toward eliminating preventable illnesses and deaths.