This Week in CGREAL

May 2, 2007 

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Genetics in the News

genome.gov | Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 "The Genetic Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 (GINA) has been passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, by a vote of 420-3. The act will protect individuals against discrimination based on their genetic information when it comes to health insurance and employment. These protections are intended to encourage Americans to take advantage of genetic testing as part of their medical care. ..."

Curing Cancer: Running on Vapor Genetic Engineering News "It s easy to tell when an area has run out of ideas. The hype becomes extreme, and technology substitutes for brainpower. The cancer research area has reached this sorry state. The tiniest increase in the survival time of drug-treated cancer patients or median time to progression is touted as a cure, and wildly unrealistic claims about personalized cancer medicine emanate from the highest governmental and academic sources. ..."

The Age of Personalized Medicine - Knowledge Center - Events "Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services, has identified Personalized Health Care as one of his top priorities, and has outlined new steps that HHS is taking to achieving gene-based medical care combined with health information technology. ..."

Genetically Modified “Smart” Mice Remain Smart Into Old Age "Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) researchers report that genetically modified smart mice have maintained their superior learning and memory function even at advanced age. ..."

23andMe "23andMe is an early stage startup developing tools and producing content to help people make sense of their genetic information. Our goal is to take advantage of new genotyping technologies and help consumers explore their genetics, informed by cutting edge science. ..."

Canine Heritage Breed Test "Introducing the first DNA-based diagnostic test that can genetically determine the breed composition of your dog... The Canine Heritage" product uses state-of-the-art SNP-based DNA technology to genetically identify breed characteristics and certify 38 potential breeds ..."

BBC NEWS | Health | Drugs may boost your brain power "The government is assessing the impact of a new generation of drugs that are claimed to make people more intelligent. ..."

The prospect of all-female conception - Independent Online Edition > Science & Technology "Women might soon be able to produce sperm in a development that could allow lesbian couples to have their own biological daughters, according to a pioneering study published today. ..."

People with gene variant may weigh more - Yahoo! News "Researchers have found another gene that may keep you from fitting in your jeans. . ..."

Gene Linked to Aging Is Studied - WSJ.com"Researchers say they have found a key gene that helps to regulate the process by which extremely low-calorie diets can extend life spans. ..."

Man tries new tricks to find father - USATODAY.com "Marshall logged into an Internet database. He entered his DNA profile, and was astounded to find that virtually every person who closely resembled him genetically was named Sizemore. ..."

Technology Review: The Next Human Genome Project: Our Microbes "A proposed project to sequence the microorganisms that inhabit our bodies could have a huge impact on human health. ..."

Establishing a code of conduct in the life sciences "The goal of a Hippocratic oath for life scientists would be to instill a sense of professionalism and responsibility so that they will not engage in potentially harmful activities. . ..."

Is Genetic Genealogy A Scam? "As a scientist, I believe that a DNA sequence is a DNA sequence and a person can t argue with those results. But, using that DNA sequence to tell a person that they are 50% Native American is the type of data interpretation that should be viewed skeptically. ..."

Colorstruck "The lower half of the page was given over to a more lurid headline ("Baby Bungle: White Folks' Black Child") trumpeting "a Park Avenue fertility clinic's blunder" that "left a family devastated--after a black baby was born to a Hispanic woman and her white husband. ..."

Daily pill to beat genetic diseases-News-UK-Science-TimesOnline "A pill that can correct a wide range of faulty genes which cause crippling illnesses should be available within three years, promising a revolution in the treatment of thousands of conditions. ..."

TwinCities.com - Minnesota / Rules on study of baby DNA refined "Parents may still need to opt out of having their newborns tested for genetic and metabolic diseases, but an administrative law judge wants them to have more information - and control - over that decision. ..."

WBIR.COM - Controversial database would create DNA library to track felons "Tennessee police could soon be collecting DNA samples from anyone arrested in connection with a violent felony and checking them against samples from other crimes if a currently proposed bill becomes law in the state. ..."

Hacking Your Body's Bacteria for Better Health "In sheer numbers, bacterial cells in the body outnumber our own by a factor of 10, with 50 trillion bacteria living in the digestive system alone, where they've remained largely unstudied until the last decade. As scientists learn more about them, they're beginning to chart the complex symbiosis between the tiny bugs and our health. ..."

ScienceDaily: Analysis: Medical technology gets personal "While the future for personalized medicine has far exceeded expectations, funding is critical in order to continue taking the necessary steps, health experts said Monday. ..."

African American Lives . Casting Call . Welcome | PBS "To acknowledge this interest, and believing that all of us can benefit from exploring our past, I have decided to help one 'regular' African American person discover his or her forgotten ancestry - and that person could be YOU! ..."

Scientist weighs possibilities of mankind's future, probabilities of genetic change "More than 99.9 percent of all species that ever lived on Earth are now extinct. Who is Homo sapiens to break that mold? ..."

Ethical implications of science's plans for our well-being | IndyStar.com "Against the backdrop of these powerful historical referents, what role should eugenics play in contemporary discussions of science and medicine, particularly as we enter the "genetic century"?..."

Will 'Chimeras' Produce a Chemical and Ethical Reaction? | The Jewish Exponent "Two British scientists seeking permission to create cloned human embryos using cow eggs have renewed an old debate about these "chimeras," which may offer a new embryonic stem-cell source for research, but are also a source of controversy. ..."

'Age management' is a controversial new medical focus - CNN.com "Some observers say the whole field is an expensive hoax. "There is no such thing as anti-aging medicine," huffs Jay Olshansky. ..."

NCSLnet: Genetics Legislation Database "NCSL's Genetics Legislation Database contains information on genetics bills and related research issues such as stem cell research. The database includes bills considered in state legislatures from 2004-2007. ..."

2 NYC hospitals to give patients more info before DNA test - Newsday.com "Two New York City hospitals have agreed to change the way they talk to patients about a DNA test that can reveal whether a person is more likely to develop certain hereditary diseases. ..."

Drug company payments to advocates an issue - Newsday.com"When the president of a cancer-fighting foundation implored government advisers to back the drug Tarceva as a treatment for pancreatic cancer, she didn't tell them its Long Island manufacturer had given thousands of dollars to her group. ..."

The Way We Age Now: The New Yorker "Medicine has increased the ranks of the elderly. Can it make old age any easier? ..."

Aging: Disease or Business Opportunity? - New York Times "Along the way, the academy has also become a consistent focus of criticism, derided by an establishment that calls anti-aging medicine quackery or hype, says growth hormone is dangerous and labels the academy s promotions as medically and legally specious. ..."

Chimpanzees: Almost Human, and Sometimes Smarter - New York Times "More recent examination shows that despite profound differences in the two species, just a 1.23 percent difference in their genes separates Homo sapiens from chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes. ..."

Senate bill requiring DNA samples from pregnant girls dies | Ocala.com | Star-Banner | Ocala, Fla "A Senate committee on Thursday voted down a bill that would have required health care providers to notify police whenever they learned a young girl was pregnant, and abortion providers to collect DNA samples. ..."

American Chronicle: Vatican To Face Tough Questions Over What It Means To Be Male, Female, HUMAN!? "For people of faith, the question might be why the Creator required humans, animals, and plants to reproduce "after their own kind." ..."

Atlantic Free Press The New Eugenics: Theofascism in America "Mohler implicitly acknowledged that sexual orientation has a genetic component and/or is hormonally determined prior to birth, but he looks forward to the day when medical science can change that ..."

Not so alien after all? - The Boston Globe "With preliminary funding from NASA, Ruvkun is working on a sensor designed to test the soil of Mars for DNA. Ruvkun hopes that the sensor his team is working on, the first part of a project he has dubbed the "Search for Extraterrestrial Genomes," will be a part of a Mars lander mission in the next decade. ..."

State Police may hunt for a suspect using kin's DNA - The Boston Globe "The State Police crime laboratory is considering expanding the use of its DNA database to search for close relatives of suspects whose DNA is recovered from crime scenes, a controversial crime-fighting technique that prosecutors say would help them solve more cases but that critics say would target innocent people, many of them members of minority groups. ..."

The Topic of Equine Cloning Takes Stage at Horse Expo ~ EquestrianMag "If you have an opinion about equine cloning (who doesn t?), you re not alone. At this year s Western States Horse Expo, experts from industry leader ViaGen will speak about the science of equine cloning and answer questions about the subject. ..."

Genes and biomarkers that allow doctors to choose the right therapy for the right patient "Now, researchers have the tools and the knowledge to help predict how individuals will respond to cancer therapies, enabling them to create more effective therapies for individual cancers personalized medicine. ..."

Mailman School of Public Health researchers report blood DNA can be early predictor of liver cancer "This is the first study to prospectively examine potential biomarkers for early detection of liver cancer in high-risk populations, including those with chronic hepatitis B and C virus infections. ..."

Many couples choose to donate surplus embryos for stem cell research "Nearly 50% of couples who were interviewed at least 3 years after undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) chose to donate their surplus, stored embryos for stem cell research ..."

New hereditary breast cancer gene discovered "A new hereditary breast cancer gene has been discovered by scientists . The researchers found that women with a certain hereditary deformity syndrome run a nearly twenty times higher risk of contracting breast cancer than expected. ..."

'No' doesn't always mean 'no' "Just because someone decides not to participate in a research project doesn't necessarily mean that they fundamentally object to taking part. Misunderstandings about the nature and process of a study often contribute to expressions of non-consent, a factor that should be incorporated in the design of future studies. ..."

No sign that ethnic groups' genes cause diabetes, international research team says "Our study challenges the presumption that Native American, Mexican American, African American, Australian Aborigine, or other indigenous groups are genetically prone to diabetes because the evidence demonstrates that higher rates of diabetes across population groups can be explained by non-genetic factors alone," ..."

A relative of anti-aging gene Klotho also influences metabolic activity, obesity "A relative of the anti-aging gene Klotho helps activate a hormone that can lower blood glucose levels in fat cells of mice, making it a novel target for developing drugs to treat human obesity and diabetes, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have found ..."

Revolutionizing prosthetics 2009 team delivers first DARPA limb prototype "An international team led by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md., has developed a prototype of the first fully integrated prosthetic arm that can be controlled naturally and provide sensory feedback, and allows for eight degrees of Freedom -- a level of control far beyond the current state of the art for prosthetic limbs. ..."

Scientists find new agent to fight genetic disorders "A study to appear in the June 2007 issue of The FASEB Journal describes a new agent, called "Zorro-LNA," which has the potential to stop genetic disorders in their tracks. In the study, researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, describe how they developed Zorro-LNA to bind with both strands of a gene s DNA simultaneously, effectively disabling that gene. This development has clinical implications for virtually every human condition caused by or worsened by dominant defective genes. ..."

Stanford scientists make major breakthrough in regenerative medicine "Findings described in a new study by Stanford scientists may be the first step toward a major revolution in human regenerative medicine a future where advanced organ damage can be repaired by the body itself. ..."

Study fails to verify gene variations as risk factors for certain cardiovascular problem"New research has failed to confirm findings from smaller studies that 85 gene variations are associated with an increased risk for acute coronary syndromes (ACS), which includes heart attack and a type of angina, according to a study in the April 11 issue of JAMA. ..."

Understanding personal genetic risk for familial breast cancer eases anxieties "Services that help women understand the way that their inherited genetic make-up influences their risk of getting breast cancer ease distress and decrease their levels of cancer worry. There is, however, insufficient evidence to make recommendations about the best way of delivering these services. ..."

Bell Curve Scribe Mulls Roots of Jews Brainpower - Forward.com "Charles Murray, famous for The Bell Curve, his book on the racial basis of intelligence, has published an article in this month s Commentary, titled Jewish Genius. In the essay, Murray theorizes that the preponderance of very smart Jews throughout the ages can be traced back to evolutionary processes that began even before the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. ..."

Privacy - Compliance and Enforcement "To coincide with the fourth anniversary of the enforcement of the HIPAA Privacy Rule, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today the launch of an enhanced Web site that will make it easier for consumers, health care providers and others to get information about how the Department enforces health information privacy rights and standards. ..."

Genomicists Tackle the Primate Tree -- Science "Primates are taking center stage in genomics, with the macaque serving as an early milestone in understanding our relatives' genomes--and therefore our own ..."

Oocyte Donation for Stem Cell Research -- Science "But the guidelines would in fact weaken important ethical standards that have already been established. We are particularly concerned about the recommendation that decisions about paying women for their eggs should be left to mostly local oversight committees. ..."

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Genetics in the Literature

(2006). "CONSERVATIVE BIOETHICS & THE SEARCH FOR WISDOM." Hastings Center Report 36(1): 44-56."Explores the moral anthropology and governing philosophy that inform conservative bioethics. Practical concerns of public bioethics toward embryo research; Ethical issues surrounding the practice of assisted reproductive technologies; Moral aspects of public bioethics. ..."

(2006). Note for Guidance on Establishing Definitions for Genomic Biomarkers, Pharmacogenomics, Pharmacogenetics, Genomic Data and Sample Coding Categories "In order to develop harmonised approaches to drug regulation it is important to ensure that consistent definitions of terminology are being applied across all constituents of the International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH). Agreement on definitions will facilitate the integration of the discipline of pharmacogenomics and pharmacogenetics into global drug development and approval processes. ..."

(2007). "Genomics of common diseases." Nat Genet 39(5): 569-569."Genome-wide association studies (GWAS or WGAS) have made the human the model organism of choice for discovery of genetic variants underlying common diseases and phenotypes. We have organized a conference to discuss the state of this research and the transition from detection to mechanisms and applications. ..."

(2007). "GINA, aGAIN." Nat Genet 39(2): 133-133."Legislation to prevent genetic discrimination in employment and insurance decisions is essential so that individuals can make use of existing genetic tests to manage their own health decisions. This legislation is also imperative to protect those who volunteer for genetic research that will benefit others affected by common diseases. ..."

Agar, N. (2006). "The Debate over Liberal Eugenics." Hastings Center Report 36: 4-5."Presents a letter to the editor in response to the article "Rethinking Liberal Eugenics: Reflections and Questions on Habermas on Bioethics," by Bernard Prusak in the November 2005 issue. ..."

Altman, R. B., N. Benowitz, et al. (2007). "Genetic nondiscrimination legislation: a critical prerequisite for pharmacogenomics data sharing." Pharmacogenomics 8(5): 519-519.

Anderson, G. (2007). "Patient decision-making for clinical genetics." Nursing Inquiry 14(1): 13-22. " I discovered a conceptual model of decision-making while carrying out a phenomenological-hermeneutic descriptive study of a convenience sample of 12 couples who were interviewed while deciding whether to undergo prenatal genetic testing. . ..."

Barnoy, S. and N. Tabak (2007). "Israeli nurses and genetic information disclosure." Nurs Ethics 14(3): 280-94. "A sample of Israeli nurses, untrained in genetics, were asked for their theoretical opinions and what practical steps they would take in the case of patients' refusal to disclose.. ..."

Bennett, P. and S. J. Smith "Genetics, insurance and participation: How a Citizens' Jury reached its verdict." Social Science & Medicine In Press, Corrected Proof." These normative indicators, which in this case relate to fairness and trust, are often overlooked by policy makers. However, they are key to democratic decision-taking and relevant for health promotion. ..."

Berg, J. S., S. L. French, et al. (2007). "Ethical and legal implications of genetic testing in androgen insensitivity syndrome." J Pediatr 150(4): 434-8.

Brown-Borg, H. M. (2007). "Hormonal regulation of longevity in mammals." Ageing Res Rev 6(1): 28-45. " The relevance of these hormones to human longevity remains to be established, however the evidence from other species including yeast, nematodes, and flies suggest that evolutionarily well-conserved mechanisms are at play and the endocrine system is a key determinant. ..."

Chokshi, D. A., M. A. Thera, et al. (2007). "Valid Consent for Genomic Epidemiology in Developing Countries." PLoS Medicine 4(4): e95.

Curran, S. P. and G. Ruvkun (2007). "Lifespan Regulation by Evolutionarily Conserved Genes Essential for Viability." PLoS Genetics 3(4): e56."We screened 2,700 genes essential for Caenorhabditis elegans development and identified 64 genes that extend lifespan when inactivated postdevelopmentally. ..."

de Knijff, P. (2007). "Hidden African Ancestors: Hidden secrets of your ancestors." Eur J Hum Genet 15(5): 509-510."What these companies offer is what I call a blindfold scenario: a male with surname X has his Y-profile typed and compared to all other types in the companies' database in the hope of finding a (near) match to someone else in the database irrespective of its surname. The error-prone nature of such a process is perfectly illustrated by the link by Oxford Ancestors of one of their clients to Genghis Khan.1 . ..."

Dekkers, W. and M. Rikkert (2006). "What is a genetic cause? The example of Alzheimer’s Disease." Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy 9(3): 273-284."This paper focuses on the causation of diseases, particularly on the idea of a “genetic cause” taking Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) as an example. ..."

Djulbegovic, B. (2007). "Articulating and Responding to Uncertainties in Clinical Research." Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 32(2): 79 - 98."This paper introduces taxonomy of clinical uncertaintes and argues that the choice of scientific method should match the underlying level of uncertainty...."

Duncan, R. D., S. Prucka, et al. (2007). "Pediatric Otolaryngologists' Use of Genetic Testing." Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 133(3): 231-236."Many pediatric otolaryngologists use DNA-based testing in their evaluation of prelingual SNHI. However, many pediatric otolaryngologists do not have an adequate knowledge of the implications of genetic testing. . ..."

Elhefnawy, N. (2006). The promise and the peril: Science fiction's depiction of technology. Literature, University Of Miami. Doctor of Philosophy."My dissertation of modern English-language speculative fiction suggests that as technology has become more powerful and invasive, literature has grown increasingly pessimistic about technology's impact. At the same time, there has been an undercurrent of hope among those anticipating a posthuman future. ..."

Engelhardt, H. T., J. R. Garrett, et al. (2006). "Bioethics and the Philosophy of Medicine: A Thirty-Year Perspective." Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 31(6): 565 - 568."

Evans, J. H. (2006). "Between Technocracy and Democratic Legitimation: A Proposed Compromise Position for Common Morality Public Bioethics." Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 31(3): 213 - 234. "In this article I explore the underlying political philosophy of public bioethics by comparing it to technocratic authority, particularly the technocratic authority claimed by economists in Mexico in the 1980s and 1990s. . ..."

Faust, H. S. (2006). Protection of Human Subjects and Scientific Progress: Can the Two Be Reconciled? Hastings Center Report, Hastings Center. 36: 5-6."Presents a letter to the editor about a discourse on the potential benefits of requiring clinical trial participation of patients to scientific research. ..."

Fostel, J. M. (2007). "Future of toxicogenomics and safety signatures: balancing public access to data with proprietary drug discovery." Pharmacogenomics 8(5): 425-430.

Gifford, F. (2007). "So-Called “Clinical Equipoise” and the Argument from Design." Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 32(2): 135 - 150."In this article, I review and expand upon arguments showing that Freedman's so-called “clinical equipoise” criterion cannot serve as an appropriate guide and justification for the moral legitimacy of carrying out randomized clinical trials. ..."

Glascoe, F. P. and J. Squires (2007). "Issues With the New Developmental Screening and Surveillance Policy Statement." Pediatrics 119(4): 861-862.

Glass, K. C. (2006). "Protection of Human Subjects and Scientific Progress: Can the Two Be Reconciled?" Hastings Center Report 36: 4-4."Presents a letter to the editor about a discourse on the ethical issues involved in the protection of scientific research subjects. ..."

Goto, S., R. Takahashi, et al. (2007). "Beneficial Biochemical Outcomes of Late-Onset Dietary Restriction in Rodents." Ann NY Acad Sci 1100(1): 431-441."These findings in rodents suggest a possibility that DR/CR is beneficial if applied in middle-aged or early senescent obese people. We argue, however, that application of late life DR/CR can be harmful if practiced in people who are already eating modestly. ..."

Greene, M. (2006). "TO RESTORE FAITH AND TRUST." Hastings Center Report 36(1): 57-63."Discusses issues regarding biodemographic disparities in the access of minority ethnic groups to stem cell therapies. Problems associated with providing a good tissue match among cell lines in a publicly accessible stem cell bank; Factors which contribute to waiting times for kidney transplants; Practical amendments for funding bank stem cell lines targeting the African American community. ..."

Grey, A. D. N. J. D. (2007). "The Natural Biogerontology Portfolio: "Defeating Aging" as a Multi-stage Ultra-grand Challenge." Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1100(1): 409-423."We are in a position to explain that the disparate strands of contemporary biomedical gerontology are not in conflict, but rather that they constitute a portfolio of approaches with a range of potential efficacies and degrees of difficulty of implementation, which can save more lives together than any can save individually, and all of which thus merit intensive pursuit. ..."

Griffiths, P. and K. Stotz (2006). "Genes in the Postgenomic Era." Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics 27(6): 499-521. "We outline three very different concepts of the gene—instrumental, nominal, and postgenomic. This final concept of the gene poses a significant challenge to conventional assumptions about the relationship between genome structure and function, and between genotype and phenotype. ...

Guston, D. H. and D. Sarewitz, Eds. (2006). Shaping Science and Technology Policy: The Next Generation of Research. Science and Technology in Society, UW Press."Shaping Science and Technology Policy brings together an exciting and diverse group of emerging scholars, both practitioners and academic experts, to investigate current issues in science and technology policy. Essays explore such topics as globalization, the shifting boundary between public and private, informed consent in human participation in scientific research, intellectual property and university science, and the distribution of the costs and benefits of research. ..."

Gutala, R., D. Carvalho-Silva, et al. (2006). "A shared Y-chromosomal heritage between Muslims and Hindus in India." Human Genetics 120(4): 543-551."We find that the Muslim populations in general are genetically closer to their non-Muslim geographical neighbors than to other Muslims in India, and that there is a highly significant correlation between genetics and geography (but not religion). ..."

Hathout, H. (2006). "An Islamic perspective on human genetic and reproductive technologies." East Mediterr Health J 12 Suppl 2: S22-8."This paper gives an Islamic perspective on some of these advances, including abortion, in vitro fertilization, genetic engineering, cloning and stem cell research. ..."

Haynes, C. L., G. A. Cook, et al. (2007). "Legal and ethical considerations in processing patient-identifiable data without patient consent: lessons learnt from developing a disease register." J Med Ethics 33(5): 302-307."The legal requirements and justifications for collecting patient-identifiable data without patient consent were examined. The impetus for this arose from legal and ethical issues raised during the development of a population-based disease register. . ..."

Hendrikse, J. L. (2006). Explanation and inheritance. Philosophy, University Of Calgary (Canada). Doctor of Philosophy."The dissertation surveys three prominent views on the relation between evolution and development and on the significance of genes in both the phenomena and the study of evolution and development. I review three standard justifications for the centrality of genes and look at contemporary counters to those claims. ..."

Hoffmaster, B. (2006). "What Does Vulnerability Mean?" Hastings Center Report: 38-45."Presents insights on vulnerability. Definition of vulnerability; Reflections on a father's and mother's vulnerability; Strategies for responding to the fear of vulnerability; . ..."

Huey, T. A. (2005). The legitimization of knowledge in discourse about genetically modified food, University Of Pennsylvania. Doctor of Philosophy: 207 "A critical deconstruction of activist and corporate discourse, along with a content analysis of mainstream news coverage in the United States and the United Kingdom, shows that both GM food and globalization are problems of 'intelligibility,' and this dissertation raises questions about the news as an arena for the deliberation of increasingly global systems. ..."

Ilkilic, I., M. Wolf, et al. (2007). "[The brave new world of prevention? On the prerequisites and scope of public health genetics]." Gesundheitswesen 69(2): 53-62. "This study analyses the scientific venture points and the larger framework of the implementation of strategies of public health genetics. The applicability of predictive and preventive measures of public health genetics are scrutinised with regard to their effect on both public and individual health. A major focus is on the economical, social and ethical challenges arising from any implementation of public health genetics. ..."

Iltis, A. S. (2006). "Look Who's Talking: The Interdisciplinarity of Bioethics and the Implications for Bioethics Education." Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 31(6): 629 - 641."This essay considers the interdisciplinarity of bioethics and the contribution of new disciplines to bioethics. It also explores the implications of interdisciplinarity for bioethics education. As bioethics develops, it will be helpful to identify essential elements in the education of bioethicists and to distinguish between members of other disciplines who make important contributions to bioethics and bioethicists. ..."

Insoo, H. (2006). "Magic Eggs and the Frontier of Stem Cell Science." Hastings Center Report 36(2): 16-19."Discusses the controversy on a research being done by Doctor Woo Suk Hwang and colleagues at Seoul National University in South Korea regarding the transformation of human eggs through the wonder of somatic cell nuclear transfer. Findings by Korean investigators on the research; Response of researchers and scientists to the research scandal; Bioethics at the stem cell frontier. ..."

Joly, Y., F. Wahnon, et al. (2007). "Impact of the Commercialization of Biotechnology Research on the Communication of Research Results: North American Perspective." Harvard Health Policy Review in press. "Evidence demonstrates that academic biotechnology research has become increasingly commercial in the last twenty years in Canada and in the US. This article demonstrates the existence of a significant correlation between commercialization and withholding of information in biotechnology research conducted in these two countries. It then attempts to find out where and how, in the commercialization chain, the free dissemination of information could be put in jeopardy by commercial pressures. ..."

Kaati, G., L. O. Bygren, et al. (2007). "Transgenerational response to nutrition, early life circumstances and longevity." Eur J Hum Genet.

Kaebnick, G. E. (2006). "Stem Cells: Starting Over?" Hastings Center Report 36(2): 2-2."Introduces a series of articles on the effect of damage to the body on personhood. ..."

Kahn, J. (2005). "From disparity to difference: how race-specific medicines may undermine policies to address inequalities in health care." South Calif Interdiscip Law J 15(1): 105-30.

Kahn, J. P. (2006). "What Happens When Politics Discovers Bioethics?" Hastings Center Report 36(3): 10-10."Focuses on the disadvantage associated with the purported politicization of bioethics. Reason behind the influence of bioethics in political debates; Problems arising from the politicization of bioethics such as increased skepticism on the quality of the field; Scientific fields that have been politicized including climate studies. ..."

Kakuk, P. (2006). "Genetic information in the age of genohype." Med Health Care Philos 9(3): 325-37."We will analyse the representations and conceptualisation of genetics and genetic information in bioethical discourse. Genetics and genetic information is widely believed to be revolutionizing medicine and is sometimes misconceived as having a high predictive value compared to traditional diagnostics. We will attempt to present the inherent limitations of genetic information within its health care context. ..."

Kimmelman, J., F. o. Baylis, et al. (2006). "Stem Cell Trials: Lessons from Gene Transfer Research." Hastings Center Report 36(1): 23-26."Discusses ethical issues regarding clinical trials on gene therapy research. Therapeutic misconception of patient on gene transfer trials; Assumptions of experts on the scientific aspects and medical risks associated with stem cell transplantation; Factors which may discourage investigators from volunteering trial information to the public. ..."

Knoppers, B. M., M. H. Abdul-Rahman, et al. (2007). "Genomic Databases and International Collaboration." KLJ in press. "A review of existing norms at the international level—particularly with regard to benefit sharing and access to data—and their application in different countries, reveals areas of both convergence and divergence. But, most of all, it reveals the need for international harmonisation in order to secure interoperability and the public participation, trust and investment in such large initiatives that are crucial to their success. ..."

Knoppers, B. M. and Y. Joly (2007). "Our Social Genome?" Trends in Biotechnology in press. " Characterizing fundamental genomic data as a public resource might counterbalance the current overemphasis on individual rights but this will not be simple. It is only through an attachment to justice and solidarity that the dignity and wellbeing of persons, both as humans and as citizens, can truly be fostered. ..."

Kockler, N. J. (2006). Courage for a brave new world: Medical genetics, evolution, and a Roman Catholic approach to human gene transfer. Health Care Ethics. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Duquesne University. Doctor of Philosophy."This dissertation answers the question, 'How does one know what forms of human gene transfer are morally permissible from a Catholic perspective, within an evolutionary worldview, and in the context of genetic medicine?' ..."

Kopelman, L. M. (2006). "Bioethics as a Second-Order Discipline: Who Is Not a Bioethicist?" Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 31(6): 601 - 628."A dispute exists about whether bioethics should become a new discipline with its own methods, competency standards, duties, honored texts, and core curriculum. Unique expertise is a necessary condition for disciplines. Using the current literature, different views about the sort of expertise that might be unique to bioethicists are critically examined to determine if there is an expertise that might meet this requirement. ..."

Kumar, V., A. Reddy, et al. (2007). "Y-chromosome evidence suggests a common paternal heritage of Austro-Asiatic populations." BMC Evolutionary Biology 7(1): 47."Our findings are consistent with the linguistic evidence, which suggests that the linguistic ancestors of the Austro-Asiatic populations have originated in India and then migrated to Southeast Asia. ..."

Leinhos, M. R. (2006). Doing the right thing: The logic and legitimacy of American bioethics at the turn of the millennium. Higher Education, The University Of Arizona. Doctor of Philosophy: 348 "This dissertation research project examines how contemporary academic bioethics in the U.S. balances the aspiration to guide biomedical research and practice with the need to become an institutionally legitimate influence in society. . ..."

Lewis, M. J. and S. K. Peterson (2007). "Perceptions of Genetic Testing for Cancer Predisposition among Ashkenazi Jewish Women." Community Genetics 10(2): 72-81.

London, A. J. (2007). "Two Dogmas of Research Ethics and the Integrative Approach to Human-Subjects Research." Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 32(2): 99 - 116."This article argues that lingering uncertainty about the normative foundations of research ethics is perpetuated by two unfounded dogmas of research ethics. The first dogma is that clinical research, as a social activity, is an inherently utilitarian endeavor. The second dogma is that an acceptable framework for research ethics must impose constraints on this endeavor whose moral force is grounded in role-related obligations of either physicians or researchers. . ..."

Maitland-van der Zee, A. H., K. Aitchison, et al. "Workshop outcomes report: Initiatives to establish a European Network of pharmacogenetics/genomics and progress." European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences In Press, Corrected Proof.

Malik, H. S. (2007). "Genes get diabolical." Nat Genet 39(5): 577-577." Reading this book from a narrow viewpoint, one could see it as a recurrent tale of genetic conflict, but even from that perspective, the staggering variety of selfish strategies it discusses alone makes it worth reading. A broader view of this compilation is as a recurrent tale of genetic opportunity, revealing the innovative and insidious nature of genes as they vie with each other in complex sociogenetic negotiations for evolutionary survival. ..."

Mariman, E. C. M. (2007). "Nutrigenomics in perspective." Pharmacogenomics 8(5): 421-424.

Miller, F. G. and H. Brody (2007). "Clinical Equipoise and the Incoherence of Research Ethics." Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 32(2): 151 - 165."n this article we argue that clinical equipoise is defective and incoherent in multiple ways. Finally, the difficulties with clinical equipoise cannot be resolved by viewing it as a presumptive principle subject to exceptions. In the final sections of the article, we elaborate on the non-exploitation framework for the ethics clinical research and indicate issues that warrant further inquiry. ..."

Miller, P. B. and C. Weijer (2007). "Equipoise and the Duty of Care in Clinical Research: A Philosophical Response to Our Critics." Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 32(2): 117 - 133."However, recognizing that constructive contributions to the field ought to enjoy priority, we presently scrutinize the constructive dimension of their work. We argue that it is wanting in several respects. ..."

Mittman, I. S., J. V. Bowie, et al. (2007). "Exploring the discourse between genetic counselors and Orthodox Jewish community members related to reproductive genetic technology." Patient Education and Counseling 65(2): 230-236."This work illuminates complex issues pertaining to medical encounters between providers and patients with ideological, social and cultural differences. In particular, issues of access to care and transcultural competence in serving religious minority groups, such as Orthodox Jews are presented.. ..."

Molnar, M. J. and P. Bencsik (2007). "Establishing a Neurological-Psychiatric Biobank: Banking, informatics, ethics." Cell Immunol." The analytical and informational demands being created by biobanking requires a "connectivity of community" that has not traditionally been present in the life sciences." ..."

Morren, M., M. Rijken, et al. (2007). "Perceived genetic knowledge, attitudes towards genetic testing, and the relationship between these among patients with a chronic disease." Patient Education and Counseling 65(2): 197-204."Chronic patients are ill prepared when they require genetic knowledge to make decisions regarding the treatment of their disease. This seems to result from a knowledge deficiency rather than from disagreement with the genetic developments.. ..."

Moscarillo, T. J., H. Holt, et al. (2007). "Knowledge of and Attitudes about Alzheimer Disease Genetics: Report of a Pilot Survey and Two Focus Groups." Community Genetics 10(2): 97-102.

Moss, L. (2006). "The Question of Questions: What is a Gene? Comments on Rolston and Griffths & Stotz." Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics 27(6): 523-534."If the question ``What is a gene?'' proves to be worth asking it must be able to elicit an answer which both recognizes and address the reasons why the concept of the gene ever seemed to be something worth getting excited about in the first place as well analyzing and evaluating the latest develops in the molecular biology of DNA. . ..."

Nicolis, S. K. (2007). "Cancer stem cells and "stemness" genes in neuro-oncology." Neurobiology of Disease 25(2): 217-229." This suggests that these genes may be important for the generation of cancer stem cells from more differentiated precursors, or for cancer stem cell maintenance. . ..."

Nyrhinen, T., M. Hietala, et al. (2007). "Privacy and equality in diagnostic genetic testing." Nurs Ethics 14(3): 295-308."This study aimed to determine the extent to which the principles of privacy and equality were observed during diagnostic genetic testing according to views held by patients or child patients' parents (n = 106) and by staff (n = 162) from three Finnish university hospitals. ..."

O'Hara, R. B. (2007). "Human expression patterns: Genetic differences between populations." Heredity 98(5): 245-246."It has often been observed that people are different. Indeed, some observers have gone further to suggest that this diversity exists between people from different parts of the world, or of different ethnic groups, and it is hereditary. This latter observation has led to a certain amount of contention over time. As a result, many geneticists have been wary about asserting that such differences exist. ..."

Otlowski, M., K. Barlow-Stewart, et al. (2007). "Investigating genetic discrimination in the Australian life insurance sector: the use of genetic test results in underwriting, 1999-2003." J Law Med 14(3): 367-96."Whilst underwriting in most cases appeared to be reasonable, the article highlights several cases involving disclosure of a positive predictive test result for breast/ovarian cancer that required further investigation. ..."

Parker, M. (2007). "The best possible child." J Med Ethics 33(5): 279-283. "JIn this paper, it is argued that this principle should be rejected, and it is concluded that while potential parents do have important obligations in relation to the foreseeable lives of their future children, these obligations are not best captured in terms of a duty to have the child with the best opportunity of the best life. ..."

Pellegrino, E. D. (2006). "Bioethics and Politics: "Doing Ethics" in the Public Square." Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 31(6): 569 - 584.

Räisänen, U., M.-J. Bekkers, et al. (2006). "The causation of disease – The practical and ethical consequences of competing explanations." Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy 9(3): 293-306. "Selecting one particular causal explanation over another will carry practical and ethical consequences that are acutely relevant for health policy. In this paper our focus is two-fold; (i) the different models of causal explanation that are put forward within current scientific literature for the high and rising prevalence of the common complex conditions of coronary artery disease (CAD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D); and (ii) how these explanations are taken up (or not) within national health policy guidelines. ..."

Resnik, D. B. (2006). " Protection of Human Subjects and Scientific Progress: Can the Two Be Reconciled?" Hastings Center Report 36: 4-5."Presents a letter to the editor in response to the article "Making Research a Requirement of Treatment," by David Orentlicher in the September-October 2005 issue. ..."

Ricker, C., V. Lagos, et al. (2006). "If We Build It…Will They Come? – Establishing a Cancer Genetics Services Clinic for an Underserved Predominantly Latina Cohort." Journal of Genetic Counseling 15(6): 505-514."This study demonstrates feasibility and acceptability of cancer genetics services in this population, suggesting the potential to reduce cancer morbidity in underserved, high-risk families. ..."

Roe, A. M. and N. Shur (2007). "From new screens to discovered genes: The successful past and promising present of single gene disorders." American Journal of Medical Genetics Part C-Seminars in Medical Genetics 145C(1): 77-86.

Savulescu, J. (2007). "In defence of Procreative Beneficence." J Med Ethics 33(5): 284-288. "The principle of Procreative Beneficence is the principle of selecting the best child of the possible children one could have. This principle is elaborated on and defended against a range of objections. It is necessary to be more active in making selection decisions about what kind of child to have. ..."

Savulescu, J. and R. Saunders (2006). "The "Hinxton Group" Considers Transnational Stem Cell Research." Hastings Center Report 36(3): 49-49."Focuses on the normative principles on international collaboration in embryonic stem cell research that are discussed at a convention in Hinxton, Cambridge. Information regarding stem cell research that must be provided by scientists to journal editors; Controversy surrounding the stem cell research. ..."

Schneider, C. E. (2006). "HIPAA-cracy." Hastings Center Report 36(1): 10-11."Discusses issues regarding the medical privacy regulations of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Exceptions and restrictions of the rules a covered entity may use to disclose information for treatment, payment or health care operations; Criticism against the agency's imposition of extravagant costs for its record-keeping requirements; Views regarding the agency's assumption that people want to keep information from their families. ..."

Schneider, K., A. Chittenden, et al. (2006). "Ethical Issues in Cancer Genetics: 1) Whose Information Is It?" Journal of Genetic Counseling 15(6): 491-503.

Schuppli, C. A. and D. Fraser (2007). "Factors influencing the effectiveness of research ethics committees." J Med Ethics 33(5): 294-301."The objectives of this study were to examine how the effectiveness of a research ethics committee is influenced by committee composition and dynamics, recruitment of members, workload, participation level and member turnover. These results, together with results from the literature on research ethics committees, suggested potential ways to improve the effectiveness of research ethics committees. ..."

Section on Hematology/Oncology and Section on, A. I. (2007). "Cord Blood Banking for Potential Future Transplantation." Pediatrics 119(1): 165-170. "This document is intended to provide information to guide physicians in responding to parents' questions about cord blood donation and banking and the types and quality of cord blood banks. Provided also are recommendations about appropriate ethical and operational standards, including informed consent policies, financial disclosures, and conflict-of-interest policies for physicians, institutions, and organizations that operate or have a relationship with cord blood-banking programs. ..."

Shabo, A. (2007). "How can the emerging patient-centric health records lower costs in pharmacogenomics?" Pharmacogenomics 8(5): 507-511.

Sharov, V. S. and C. Schoneich (2007). "Proteomic approach to aging research." Expert Review of Proteomics 4(2): 309-321.

Simon, A. F. and D. E. Krantz (2007). "Road rage and fruit flies." Nat Genet 39(5): 581-582."The genetic basis of aggression may be conserved from lobsters to humans. A new study uses the genetics of Drosophila melanogaster to explore the underlying neurochemical mechanisms. ..."

Smith, D. H. (2006). "Stuck in the Middle." Hastings Center Report 36(1): 32-33."Presents the author's views on the importance and role of autonomy or respect for persons in setting policies in the field of bioethics. Comment on the theological perspectives of bioethics; Factors to consider in setting public policy for bioethics; Moral conclusions that can be drawn from bioethics. ..."

Sodeke, S. O. (2006). "Protection of Human Subjects and Scientific Progress: Can the Two Be Reconciled?" Hastings Center Report 36: 5-5."Presents a letter to the editor criticizing an approach where patients are pressured by doctors to participate in research as a requirement for treatment. ..."

Sontag, D. N. (2007). "What is Wrong with "Ethics for Sale"? An Analysis of the Many Issues that Complicate the Debate about Conflicts of Interests in Bioethics " Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 35(1): 175–186."This article addresses all of the issues involved in the debate about whether or not bioethicists should be paid by private biomedical companies to perform consultations. ..."

Spevak, C. (2007). "Genetic testing in the workplace." Physician Exec 33(1): 62-4.

Stein, R. (2007). "'Embryo bank' stirs ethics fears; firm lets clients pick among fertilized eggs." Washington Post: A1, A8.

Stein, R. A. (2007). "Review of Mark A. Rothstein (ed.), <i>Genetics and Life Insurance, Medical Underwriting and Social Policy</i>. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 2004. 293 pp. $34.00, hardcover." The American Journal of Bioethics 7(4): 88 - 89.

Steinman, M. A., G. M. Harper, et al. (2007). "Characteristics and Impact of Drug Detailing for Gabapentin." PLoS Medicine 4(4): e134. "Detail visits for gabapentin were of high perceived informational value and often involved messages about unapproved uses. Despite their short duration, detail visits were frequently followed by physician intentions to increase their future recommending or prescribing of the drug. ..."

Swazo, N. K. (2006). "Calculating Risk/Benefit in X-Linked Severe Combined Immune Deficiency Disorder (X-SCID) Gene Therapy Trials: The Task of Ethical Evaluation." Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 31(5): 533 - 564."In this article, I review the transcripts and/or minutes of these meetings to evaluate the extent to which the ethical dimension of the research was engaged even as the molecular and clinical evidence was reviewed. I then provide representative ethical arguments to demonstrate the sort of ethical reasoning that should be included as part of the agenda of such committee meetings. ..."

Takala, T. (2007). "Setting a dangerous precedent? Ethical issues in human genetic database research." Medical Law International 8(2): 105-137."In this paper it is questioned whether relaxing the rules would be justified and shown how such changes, if adopted, might suggest similar changes in other fields of research. As a solution, to enable human genetic database research without unnecessarily sacrificing ethical codes, the concept of 'blind consent' is put forward and arguments for upholding the anonymity of the samples wherever possible are provided. ..."

Veatch, R. M. (2007). "The Irrelevance of Equipoise." Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 32(2): 167 - 183."The article argues that only the subject's evaluation of the options is morally relevant and that even the subject need not be equally poised or indifferent between the options in order to volunteer for randomization. All that is needed is adequately informed, free, and unexploited consent. It concludes equipoise is irrelevant. ..."

Vogel, L. (2006). "NATURAL LAW JUDAISM?" Hastings Center Report 36(3): 32-44."Focuses on the Leon Kass' interpretation of bioethics based on the book of Genesis. Criticism of Kass on the theory of ethics of his mentor Hans Jonas; Strands of human nature, according to Kass including the linguistic and the sexual strands; Factors that contribute to crisis of bioethics; Influence of Leo Strauss on the thinking of Kass. ..."

Watts, G. (2007). "Genes on ice." BMJ 334(7595): 662-663. "As the UK's biobank begins its campaign to collect samples, Geoff Watts looks at what the banks do and the problems they raise ..."

Woodmansey, E. J. (2007). "Intestinal bacteria and ageing." Journal of Applied Microbiology 102(5): 1178-1186. "Recent studies indicate shifts in the composition of the intestinal microbiota, which may lead to detrimental effects for the elderly host. Therapeutic strategies to counteract these changes have been suggested in ageing people. ..."

The Transitioning Germ Line -- Science "This special section highlights the transitioning germ line and otherwise expands on intriguing aspects of these cells of heredity. ..."

Zilberberg, J. M. (2006). The ethics of sex selection. Philosophy, City University Of New York. Doctor of Philsophy. "I analyze whether sex selection is morally acceptable as it typically happens in the contexts of the United States, and as it typically occurs in the contexts of India and China. ..."

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