A researcher uses a pipette to develop assay to detect specific gene of corn at a lab in Syngenta Biotech Center in Beijing, China. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
Like a Cut-And-Paste Tool, Gene Editing Transforms Research
Gene editing is getting fresh attention thanks to a successful lab experiment with human embryos. But for all the angst over possibly altering reproduction years from now, this technology already is used by scientists every day in fields ranging from agriculture to drug development. New gene editing tools let scientists alter the DNA of living cells—from plants, animals, even humans—more precisely than ever before.
Ultimate Bogs: How Saving Peatlands Could Help Save the Planet
Peatlands are created when dead vegetation subsides, partially decayed and partially preserved, into waterlogged landscapes or when the water table rises, overtaking the vegetation. The organic material doesn’t fully degrade due to a lack of oxygen in the wetlands. It accumulates and compresses, trapping the carbon the living plants had captured from the air. Over time, peatlands today could become coal deposits tomorrow, essentially storing carbon in perpetuity—unless someone decided to burn it for energy.
Breastfeeding for Economic Growth and Prosperity
Exclusive breastfeeding, that is feeding a child exclusively on breast milk until the age of 6 months—is by far the best way to nourish an infant, and failure to do so can lead to a host of pervasive problems that thwart both individual development and the development of society at large. World Breastfeeding Week presents an opportunity to showcase the evidence, unveil misconceptions, and discuss recommendations on the practice of breastfeeding around the world.
To Meet the UN Development Goals, Look to the Security Sector
UN secretary-general António Guterres has issued his first official report on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the world’s pre-eminent road map to fighting poverty, inequality, and injustice by 2030. The report frequently mentions the impact of violence and insecurity, with conflict identified as “the most insurmountable barrier to poverty eradication and sustainable development.” And yet the defense and security sector is not mentioned once.