affordable genetic testing for you…or them

A new company, Pathway Genomics, is offering affordable genetic testing for only $250. Some competitors charge $400 or more, up to $1,000. All you do is spit in a test tube, and drop it in an envelope in the mail. You recieve a report detailing what major diseases you could be at risk for, which medications might affect you more, and even your genetic history as far back as 150,000 years. I’m only slightly sceptical about that last one. My grandmother traced our ancestry back to England in the 1500’s with paper research, but it would be cool to see if I was in fact, part aboriginal, or asian. If you go back that far though, how could you not be?

Of course some people might be scared by this new accessibility to people’s genes. I mean, look at the company’s name. Pathway Genomics? How about, secret government black project to make genetically superior super-soldiers with a well placed, genetically tailored trigger in the public water supply. I’m not paranoid, just a sci-fi author. I guess we’ll just have to see what happens.

You can read the Yahoo article by Glenn Chapman here.

You want to live how long?

I want to explore the different methods available for life extension technology. Now, this post could be a pages-long research paper, or I could do what most bloggers do and make up half-remembered facts from Wikipedia. I will strive to strike a balance between these two extremes and present information in short but accurate form.

regrow your teeth!

This is just what I need! Genetics strikes again. Do you ever wonder why sharks can regrow their teeth so that they have multiple rows of backups and why humans can’t? Well now scientists may have an answer. The Osr2 gene. Sign me up.

genetically engineered food debate heats up

Around the world, the debate over using genetically engineered food is heating up. This is an article from Yahoo and the AP.

” “Influential voices around the world are calling for a re-examination of the GM debate,” says C.S. Prakash, a professor of plant molecular genetics at Alabama’s Tuskegee University. “Biotechnology provides such tools to help address food sustainability issues.”

Genetic manipulation to insert desirable genes or accelerate changes traditionally achieved through crossbreeding can help make crops resistant to insects and disease or enable them to tolerate herbicides. Livestock similarly can be altered by inserting a gene from one animal into the DNA of another.”genetically engineered food debate heats up

Genetically engineered food

First, this post was written to spark conversation (boy, has it!)

Second, this was written by someone (me) who is not a scientist and has not been studying this subject for years. I know there are downsides to GE foods, but I wanted to explore the positive side for once. For further information on my point of view, read my replies to comments below.

A good article on GE food can be found here, at Organic Gardening.

OK, here is the original post:

I don’t see what all the bother is about genetically engineered food.

There, I said it.     

Many people get all up in arms about GE or GMO food but they are usually ignorant of many of the facts. And did you know, food can be organic and GE at the same time? My main reason for saying this is