medical research - 360

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Genomic sequencing, which reads the baby’s DNA, has the potential to look at many more conditions than current newborn screening. : Jonathan Borba Unsplash Licence

Compiling and storing the DNA of newborns could be a massive boon for public health. But the ethical questions are just as big.

The pros and cons of storing babies’ DNA

Compiling and storing the DNA of newborns could be a massive boon for public health. But the ethical questions are just as big.

Key advantages of long-read sequencing make it the technology of choice for many new scientific projects. : DNA sequence by ssalonso is available at https://bit.ly/3YaOmDL CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Cost, availability and sample preservation are the main concerns but progress is rapid.

The race to improve DNA sequencing

Cost, availability and sample preservation are the main concerns but progress is rapid.

New sequencing technologies bring valuable benefits but equitable access may be a challenge. : ‘Strawberries at Out Standing in the Field’ by SanFranAnnie is available at https://bit.ly/41mGl16 CC BY-SA 2.0

Advances in the field are revolutionary but require safeguards to curb misuse.

DNA could ensure strawberry fields forever

Advances in the field are revolutionary but require safeguards to curb misuse.

Science can read the DNA code, or ‘sequence’ DNA, faster and cheaper and create more raw data than ever before. But how do we interpret it? : Micah Baldwin CCBY2.0

Collecting DNA data is not much help without the key to understanding what it all means. And that key is centralised health records.

DNA data offers benefits many of us will never realise

The darker aspects of genome science were evoked in The X Men films such as Days of the Future Past. : Elliott Brown CC BY-SA 2.0

Unless people are brought into conversations about genetic discrimination dystopian scenarios may come to pass.

Genetic discrimination and the ghost of the future past

Microplastics enter our bodies in various ways with the top contributor being bottled drinking water. : Microbeads plastic particles by MN Pollution Control Agency is available at https://bit.ly/40lIjhC CC BY-NC 2.0

Measuring microplastics in humans is challenging but researchers already have preliminary figures.

Microplastics time-bomb

How much plastic are we ingesting?

: Michael Joiner, 360info CC BY 4.0

Combining several technologies to create a digital replica of an athlete’s body has made a giant leap forward in understanding what goes on.

Game changer: sport tech

How an athlete’s digital twin can prevent injury

Hypnosis can be workable as part of a holistic treatment regime to deal with pain. : Elowah Falls by Michael Matti available at https://bit.ly/3iu43GH CC BY-NC 2.0

While how it works is not fully understood, hypnosis shows potential for being part of a multi-pronged pain management approach.

Pain treatment myths

Trance away the pain

Covid testing in Shenzhen : Shengpengpeng Cai Unsplash

China and the US cooperated for many years on health issues and it’s in the world's best interests they continue.

Health diplomacy

Broken China-US relations put the world’s health at risk