Stories by Heidi Ledford

Chemists generate variations on erythromycin in "daring" synthesis

A breakdown product of the drug reduces signs of depression in mice without side effects 

The total area sown with genetically modified plants fell 1 percent in 2015

Rhetoric in US presidential campaign concerns researchers — particularly Muslims.

Genetic study deals blow to the idea that high levels of HDL cholesterol reduce heart risk

Study suggests stem-cell stimulation is behind obesity’s contribution to cancer risk

Clinical trials expert Robert Califf clears major hurdle despite some lawmakers' concerns about industry ties

Research advocates worry that the president's budget proposal could backfire in the face of political opposition

Debate surrounds relative importance of environmental and intrinsic factors

Engineered enzyme makes fewer mistakes cutting DNA

What everyone should know about cut-and-paste genetics

Mutant mozzies could rapidly spread through wild populations

Long-awaited decision authorizes a genetically engineered animal to grace U.S. dinner tables for the first time

A look at the legal landscape suggests where human genome editing might be used in research or reproduction

A team from the Francis Crick Institute wants a permit to use so-called CRISPR/Cas 9 technology in basic research

Thomas Insel will expand Google parent company Alphabet’s medical technology efforts to encompass mental health

Rapid alteration of gene pools could fight disease—and harm ecosystems

Bioengineers have successfully engineered the ribosome, paving the way for synthetic cells

Legislation revised from last year would spare universities from being penalized in the same way as unscrupulous companies

Printers now can unleash creative cookery, with such technology set to become available to consumers later this year

The gene editing method called CRISPR is already used in the lab to insert and remove genome defects in animal embryos

Potential drug kills pathogens such as MRSA—and was discovered by mining "unculturable" bacteria

Geneticists debate whether focus should shift from sequencing genomes to analyzing function

The ability of ezetimibe to combat heart disease previously was in dispute