Genetics

Health & Medicine

At-home telomere testing is not a reliable marker of aging, researcher says

Telomere testing for consumers offers a poor measure of “biological age,” says Johns Hopkins oncologist Mary Armanios.

Genetics

Privacy and consumer genetic testing don’t always mix

Interested in taking a direct-to-consumer genetic test? Here are some things you should know.

Genetics

What consumer DNA data can and can’t tell you about your risk for certain diseases

Consumers face lots of choices and unanswered questions when they get personal genomic information related to disease risk from the Internet.

Genetics

Guidelines call for limits to whole genome testing for fetuses

Powerful tests offer unprecedented detail about fetal genomes. But whole-genome tests aren’t ready for widespread use yet, doctors caution.

Science & Society

The power of great editors, their lessons and legacy

Editor in Chief Nancy Shute reflects on the history and legacy of Science News editors.

Genetics

The history of heredity makes for a fascinating, and chilling, read

From eugenics to gene editing, Carl Zimmer’s She Has Her Mother’s Laugh recounts genetics’ biggest discoveries.

Genetics

Genetic sleuthing again IDs a murder suspect in a cold case

The arrest of a second murder suspect with the help of genetic genealogy raises worries that suspicionless searches may be next.

Genetics

Consumer DNA testing promises more than it delivers

Chances are your DNA doesn’t contain dark secrets. But there may be lots of variety in results from testing company to company.

Genetics

Special report: Genetic testing goes mainstream

Consumer genetic tests may not tell customers that much about themselves. Science News delves into these tests in a multipart series.

Genetics

What genetic tests from 23andMe, Veritas and Genos really told me about my health

A Science News reporter tried out three consumer genetic testing companies to see what people really learn about their health.

Anthropology

Ancient Chinese farmers sowed literal seeds of change in Southeast Asia

Two waves of ancient migration from China to Southeast Asia spread farming and languages.

Science & Society

We’ve got the genes for science journalism

Editor in Chief Nancy Shute discusses how genetic testing might not be reliable enough for people to plan for the future.