Scientists Make First Genetically Modified Embryo

For the first time, scientists have been able to genetically alter a human embryo. Researchers used an abnormal embryo that could never have developed into a baby to do the project.

The project raises the possibilities that people could be able to create designer babies in the future and scientists could insert certain genes into an embryo to produce babies with certain characteristics, such as higher intelligence and better athletic abilities. Some people think that this is wrong and turns children into designed objects and would create an unequal society where some people would be considered genetically superior while other people who are born without genetic injections would be inferior.

Scientists say that the main point of the project was to find out if a gene injected into an abnormal embryo could be traced in stem cells that are harvested from the embryo. The work could also explain why abnormal embryos don’t develop. Scientists found that abnormal embryos don’t develop well enough to produce stem cells.

Germs Taken to Space Come Back Stronger and Deadlier

The germ Salmonella was put on a space shuttle and sent into space because scientists wanted to see how space travel has an affect on germs. Researchers found that 167 genes had changed in the salmonella that went into space. They say that the germs change genetically because they sensed that they were in new environment. When they fed mice the germs from space they were three times more likely to get sick and die than the mice that were fed germs that didn’t go into space.

Study Shows that Alcohol Increases Risk of Cancer

A recent study has show that alcohol can increase the chances of getting breast cancer in women. Studies have shown a link between drinking alcohol and breast cancer but they have yet to determine if certain types of alcohol is more dangerous than others.

The study analyzed the drinking habits of 70,033 women and asked them various questions during health exams between the years 1978 and 1985. By the year 2004, 2,829 of those women had been diagnosed with breast cancer. The study found that women who had one or two drinks a day increased their risk by 10 percent and women who had more than three drinks a day increased their risk by 30 percent.

Experts think that alcohol raises hormone levels in the blood to levels that could cause cancer. Doctors say that other factors, such as genetics, obesity, and age are more important factors that can raise the risk of breast cancer.