Category: Newsletter

Friday’s Elk, November 20, 2015

Posted on by Matt Kristoffersen

Greetings–

Here’s the week that was…

Denisovans and Other Mysterious Humans

–Ancient DNA continues to illuminate our family tree. In 2010, I wrote about mysterious ancient relatives of Neanderthals called Denisovans, which scientists only knew from a tooth, a fingerbone, and the 50,000-year-old DNA they contained. Now scientists have found some new Denisovan DNA in a tooth, and the broadening picture we’re getting is fascinating. Yet in some ways, the enigma of the Denisovans is only getting deeper. I wrote about the mystery in The New York Times this week. Continue reading “Friday’s Elk, November 20, 2015” →

Friday’s Elk, November 13, 2015

Posted on by Matt Kristoffersen

Greetings–

On this Friday the 13th, I wish you only good luck and offer you the following diversions…

The DNA of a Million Veterans

–I’ve got a new story at STAT, about the next chapter in the history of genetics. Researchers are launching massive studies of huge numbers of people in order to link genes to diseases. One of the biggest is being run by the U.S. military. The Veterans Administration is gathering the DNA of a million veterans to study everything from diabetes to PTSD. I went inside the Million Veteran Program to get a first-hand look at this new way of exploring our genes. (Be sure to check out the video of the enormous operation!) Continue reading “Friday’s Elk, November 13, 2015” →

Friday’s Elk, October 30, 2015

Posted on by Matt Kristoffersen

Greetings–

On Saturday, I gave a plenary talk at the annual meeting of the National Society of Genetic Counselors. I described the fast rise of CRISPR and encouraged the audience to consider the ethical questions that may arise if we gain the ability to fix diseases or even enhance traits in embryos. Laura Hercher, a genetic counselor at Sarah Lawrence College, also gave a talk in the session. She focused on mitochondrial replacement therapy, which is sometimes wrongly described as producing “three-parent babies.” Continue reading “Friday’s Elk, October 30, 2015” →

Friday’s Elk, October 23, 2015

Posted on by Matt Kristoffersen

Greetings–

There are few things more interesting than ancient human DNA and diseases (if you ask me). So the opportunity to write about both of them in one article was the highlight of my week.

Scientists who have been gathering DNA from Bronze Age skeletons wondered if they might have unknowingly scooped up some DNA from interesting pathogens. Turns out, they did. From 5,000-year-old skeletons, they extracted the DNA of Yersinia pestis, the cause of the plague. The discovery pushes back the plague 3,000 years, and allows us to see the stepwise evolution of the pathogen into its full-blown, flea-carried form. Continue reading “Friday’s Elk, October 23, 2015” →