Behind the Headlines

Human embryo stem cells cloning breakthrough

Thursday May 16 2013

"Human embryonic stem cells created from adult tissue for first time," The Guardian reports, while the Daily Mail's front page leads with the somewhat fanciful warning that new research raises the "spectre of cloned babies"…

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Young blood may help rejuvenate old hearts

Friday May 10 2013

The Daily Mail claims a study has found a ‘Vampire treatment that rejuvenates ageing hearts’. But before you go to grab your cloak and false pointy teeth, the research it reports on was actually in mice…

New bird flu strain requires vigilance researchers warn

Thursday May 2 2013

Most of the UK media are reporting on a worrying new strain of bird flu in China – the H7N9 strain of the bird flu virus. According to the media, virology experts at a recent press conference warned that the virus "should not be taken lightly"…

Have taller women evolved to have more babies?

Monday Apr 29 2013

“Taller, skinnier women have evolved to have more babies than their shorter counterparts,” the Mail Online website has claimed. It reports on research examining...

Parasite genes drive up antimalarial resistance

Monday Apr 29 2013

"New drug-resistant strains of the parasite that causes malaria have been identified," is the worrying news being reported on the BBC News website. Covering the same piece of research, The Guardian outlines the ongoing "scientific detective hunt in…

Gene that prevents heart regeneration discovered

Thursday Apr 18 2013

Scientists have discovered a gene that "could rejuvenate old hearts" according to The Daily Telegraph. The newspaper goes on to say that "damaged hearts could be regenerated simply by switching off a gene which prevents cells from dividing"…

No credible evidence that people are 'born lazy'

Wednesday Apr 10 2013

"Laziness may be written into our DNA, say scientists," the Mail Online website suggests. The claim is actually based on a study that selectively bred 'lazy rats' and then compared their genetic make-up to similarly bred 'active rats'…

Could new gene markers herald better cancer tests?

Thursday Mar 28 2013

Most of the UK media have reported on what has been described as landmark research into the genetics of breast, ovarian and prostate cancer. Many commentators state that this will lead to cheap and reliable screening tests…

Older dads 'more likely' to have autistic grandkids

Thursday Mar 21 2013

"Having an older grandfather 'raises autism risk'," the Daily Telegraph reports, saying that older fathers are much more likely to go on to have grandchildren with autism. However, this doesn't mean...

Skin cancer and obesity share genetic link

Monday Mar 4 2013

"A gene previously shown to be linked to obesity may also increase the risk of a deadly form of skin cancer," BBC News reports. The news comes from a study investigating the genetic factors associated with malignant melanoma...