As the campaign group Human Genetics Alert accused the Government of ‘setting the lights to green for the genetics runaway train’, the Science Media Centre asked fertility experts to comment. read more
The three-year-old boy had been successfully treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital two years previously for X-SCID, a serious immune system disorder. read more
The Science Media Centre asked climate change experts for their take on negotiations at the conference in Bali on its final day. read more
Global annual temperature figures were released by the University of East Anglia and The Met Office, at the same time as the World Meteorological Office released their figures at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali. read more
The research, published in the journal Nature, found that transplanting genetically engineered muscle cells into the hearts of mice who had been induced to have heart attacks reduced the risk of a condition called ventricular tachycardia. read more
The HFEA recommended that IVF clinics implant fewer embryos at a time, to reduce the rate of multiple births and the complications associated with them. read more
The research published in the journal Nature Biotechnology shed more light on which genetic factors are critical in the reprogramming of adult skin cells to become other types of cell. In this study the researchers achieved reprogramming of adult cells without the use of a gene which has been linked to the development of tumours. read more
Results presented at the Federation of Infections Societies Conference in Cardiff highlighted the dangers posed by particular strains of MRSA which are spread outside of hospitals and can lead to a serious lung condition called necrotising pneumonia. read more
The plan, announced by Health Secretary Alan Johnson, included the doubling of the UK’s current stockpile of antiviral drugs. read more
Following the loss of child benefit data from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, the Science Media Centre found experts on data storage and security who were available to answer journalists’ queries. read more
The findings, made in parallel by two research groups, were published in the journals Cell and Science. The researchers were able to ‘reprogram’ adult skin cells to become cells of a different tissue type. read more
The Science Media Centre asked climate change experts to comment on the 4th and final report from the UN’s climate science panel, which summarises the findings of the three more comprehensive reports released earlier this year. read more
Dr John McCauley, MRC National Institute For Medical Research, said: “The virus is most closely related to H5N1 viruses isolated … read more
The virus was discovered in turkeys on a farm in Diss, Norfolk. read more
The Queen’s speech includes measures for building a new generation of nuclear power stations. read more
Figures released by the Health Protection Agency show that MRSA cases have fallen and C.Diff cases are still increasing, albeit at a lesser rate. read more
The STC report on abortion includes recommendations on the number of doctors required to approve an abortion, the length of time at which abortion can be safely carried out, and the question of whether the fetus has the ability to feel pain. read more
The Government has announced that a vaccine for the Human Papilloma Virus, which causes cervical cancer, will be routinely given to all girls aged 12 and 13. read more
Two papers published in Science, from scientists from the Universities of Washington and Oxford, discuss the role of uncertainty in current understanding of climate change, and our future efforts to tackle it. read more
Watson has retired from his post following the controversy surrounding his comments on race and intelligence a few days previously. read more
