Pete Shanks

The Politics of Sex Selective Abortion Bans

Recent publicity in the UK, and lawsuits and legislative hearings in the US, are a reminder that right-wing activists make cynical use of the sex selection issue to restrict women's reproductive rights.

Recent publicity in the UK, and lawsuits and legislative hearings in the US, are a reminder that right-wing activists make cynical use of the sex selection issue to restrict women's reproductive rights.

Illegal Sterilizations in Modern California Jails

The Center for Investigative Reporting has published a detailed exposé of unauthorized sterilizations of unwilling women in California jails from 2006 to 2010, and probably before, bringing the issue to overdue national attention.

The Center for Investigative Reporting has published a detailed exposé of unauthorized sterilizations of unwilling women in California jails from 2006 to 2010, and probably before, bringing the issue to overdue national attention.

Biotechnology for the Common Good

The U.S. Supreme Court's unanimous decision that human genes cannot be patented is a welcome and important step toward making sure that biotechnology benefits us all.

The U.S. Supreme Court's unanimous decision that human genes cannot be patented is a welcome and important step toward making sure that biotechnology benefits us all.

The resignation of Jason Richwine from the Heritage Foundation raised the profile of racist views about IQ. Expect new publicity soon for genetic claims about intelligence, as Chinese scientists try to find genes that affect intelligence.

Public Health or Public Relations?

Recent synthetic biology projects related to malaria, flu and conservation are providing PR cover for the field and its corporate sponsors.

Recent synthetic biology projects related to malaria, flu and conservation are providing PR cover for the field and its corporate sponsors.

Must Your Doctor Tell You All the Results of a Gene Test?

Doctors are now discussing how to respond to "incidental findings" in genetic tests — unexpected data that could be relevant to a different condition than the one tested for. Should they tell? Even if nothing can be done? Even if the patient is a child, and the condition won't appear till much later in life?

Doctors are now discussing how to respond to "incidental findings" in genetic tests — unexpected data that could be relevant to a different condition than the one tested for. Should they tell? Even if nothing can be done? Even if the patient is a child, and the condition won't appear till much later in life?