5 Big Mysteries about CRISPR's Origins
Where did it come from? How do organisms use it without self-destructing? And what else can it do?
Stories by Heidi Ledford
U.S. Scientists Fear New Restrictions on Fetal Tissue Research
A probe led by House Republicans concluded that such work is of limited value
U.S. Drug Approvals Plummet in 2016
Data highlight a slow year for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Fat Fuels Cancer's Spread in Mice
Dietary needs of these wandering cells could prove to be an Achilles hell
Weaponized Antibodies Use New Tricks to Fight Cancer
Next generation of Trojan-horse drugs designed to minimize damage to healthy cells
Plant-Genome Hackers Seek Better Ways to Produce Customized Crops
As gene editing opens doors, plant researchers are hamstrung by the need for better ways to slip their molecular tools into cells
Autism Study Finds Early Intervention Has Lasting Effects
Some autism symptoms reduced in children six years after their parents receive communications training
Safety Concerns Blight Promising Cancer Therapy
As the first T-cell therapies for tumors near U.S. approval, researchers race to engineer less-toxic alternatives
The Spats, Sniping and Science Behind the Nobels
The latest crop of prize predictions illuminates the century-long struggle to assign credit to individual researchers
Beyond CRISPR: A Guide to the Many Ways to Edit a Genome
The popular technique has limitations that have sparked searches for alternatives
Global Initiative Seeks 1,000 New Cancer Models
The effort will use next-generation cell-culture methods and fresh patient samples
Stem Cells for Snoopy: Pet Medicines Spark a Biotech Boom
Firms chase a new breed of advanced veterinary care, from antibodies to cell therapies
Fast-Spreading Genetic Mutations Pose an Ecological Risk
U.S. science academies advise caution in experimenting with gene drives
Hundreds of Antibiotics Built from Scratch
Chemists generate variations on erythromycin in "daring" synthesis
How the Club Drug Ketamine Works to Fight Depression
A breakdown product of the drug reduces signs of depression in mice without side effects
GM Crop Planting Declines for the First Time
The total area sown with genetically modified plants fell 1 percent in 2015
Trump's Immigration Stance Stokes Fears for Science
Rhetoric in US presidential campaign concerns researchers — particularly Muslims.
"Good" Cholesterol Mutation Linked to Heart Disease
Genetic study deals blow to the idea that high levels of HDL cholesterol reduce heart risk
Fat Mice Provide Clue to Obesity-Colon Cancer Puzzle
Study suggests stem-cell stimulation is behind obesity’s contribution to cancer risk
Obama's Pick to Lead FDA Nears Senate Confirmation
Clinical trials expert Robert Califf clears major hurdle despite some lawmakers' concerns about industry ties
