Beyond family history: Should all women be screened for BRCA breast cancer genes?

New evidence shows that women without a family history of breast cancer often carry disease-causing mutations in BRCA 1 and 2 genes. Now prominent researchers are urging that recommendations be changed to screen every woman, regardless of their ancestry or family history.

Hornless cattle makes case for gene editing and less restrictive regulations of GM animals

Will new gene editing techniques that don't involve the insertion of "foreign" genes soften the opposition to genetic modification? Researchers claim they are light years more sophisticated than current methods, posing challenges to regulators and steadfast GMO opponents.

Recent court cases show the law favors hospitals and law enforcement rather than individuals when it comes to handing genomic property.

Mongolian ruler Genghis Khan marked 16 million males as his progeny after he conquered Eurasia with his sons and brothers. Male descendants of that empire still carry his Y chromosome. But relying just on the genetic data of his expansion casts further doubt about the story. When it�s available, matching genetics to rich historical and anthropological accounts can tell us much more about our modern day genetic lineage.

Some plants rely on specialized bacterial backup to help them synthesize nutrients. Instead of evolving these traits over and over again, the bacteria can transfer genetic packages back and forth to create more productive plant partners.

Skeptics of GMOs often voice concern over cross-pollination--what activists say is the potential for the 'contamination' of neighboring fields by GMO crops. How big a concern is this? A GLP guest contributor addresses what farmers do to mitigate cross-pollination and how can farmers co-exist.

Supermarket tomatoes have a sorry reputation for looking great but tasting like cardboard. Short of buying only heirloom tomatoes, which is not practical for everyone, what is the future of the tomato?

Marc Brazeau who blogs at Food and Farm Discussion Lab has posted an extremely useful guide covering many key GMO issues. He covers everything from the nuts and bolts of the basic science of genetic engineering to the quality of current research to potential impacts on the environment. Here are some highlights.