April 15, 2008

Designer DNA Analysis

Posted by Lisa Jarvis on April 15, 2008 in Chemistry is Everywhere, Uncategorized

En route to a meeting in Manhattan’s trendy SoHo area yesterday, I happened upon a bizarre store hawking, of all things, DNA analysis. So I stopped in to see what DNA NYC, a temporary installation of Redwood Shores, Calif.-based Navigenics, was all about. For a mere $2,500 and a bit o’ spit, I could find out if I have a greater than average risk of developing 18 different diseases, including breast cancer, type 2 diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer’s, and, oddly enough, restless legs syndrome.

Genetics testing, though vital to the introduction of that holy grail of personalized medicine, is also something of an ethical minefield. We’re only now starting to understand the emotional fallout from knowing in advance that we are likely to end up with a devastating disease. I asked the kind folks from Navigenics about this issue.

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Chemistry Newsbytes

Posted by Lisa Jarvis on April 15, 2008 in Chemistry is Everywhere

Spellements: Make your own personalized element banner. Theodore Gray

Winning teams: chemists and VCs. WSJ (sub req’d)

Scientists finally figure out why arsenic works as a cancer treatment. The Guardian

Metal bands planning their next tour take note: Lasers are now being used to create electrical activity in thunderclouds. Scientific Blogging

Community college students learn the art of preserving people in plastic. LA Times

Chemist aids art conservator. Concord Monitor

Musings on plastics. NY Times

Wired’s take on the ACS National Meeting. Wired Science

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