Meredith Knight
Genetic Literacy
Austin, TX, United States
Contact Meredith
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Past articles by Meredith:
How do you know if your mutation will lead to a genetic disease?
Sonia Vallabh, a scientist, carries a rare mutation that normally causes a neurodegenerative disease. How likely is it she will develop the condition? → Read More
Three-person IVF as an infertility solution has a long way to go
The procedure is typically targeted at parents who want to avoid passing a potentially fatal mitochondrial disease to their child. But some doctors are pushing to use it as a fertility treatment for older women. → Read More
Evolution and war: The ‘deep roots’ theory of human violence
War has long been viewed as a way for societies to acquire wealth and power, even though it often doesn't improve the lives of the victors. But engaging in a little violence, here and there, just might. → Read More
Mummy DNA: Ancient Egyptians more Middle Eastern than today's African-mixed population
Scientists have extracted and sequenced DNA from 151 Egyptian mummies with more certainty than ever. They found that ancient Egyptians remained genetically isolated despite Greek and Russian invasions -- and were different from modern Egyptians as well. → Read More
Settling of the Americas: Searching for pieces of the puzzle
DNA analysis of two ancient infants adds to evidence that humans stayed on the Bering strait for thousands of years before continuing their migration further into the Americas. → Read More
Pigs as human organ incubators? Pork producers gearing up for the potential demand
The pork industry is watching the potentially lucrative market that could be driven by a surge in demand for pigs to be used in human medicine, particularly in the area of organ transplants. → Read More
Game of chance: Are most cancers linked to nothing more than bad luck?
Two-thirds of the gene mutations that cause cancer are due to random chance, according to a new study. But environmental factors like sunburn and smoking amplify that randomness and increase risk significantly. → Read More
Early warning child allergy detection system? Competing theories of how to inoculate children against developing reactions
Allergic reactions to foods can strike young children without warning. Now, a controversial blood test may be able to detect allergies at birth, well before the child is exposed to the food. → Read More
How 1100 pound woman's rare genetic disorder helps unravel mystery of obesity
The root causes of the obesity epidemic remain elusive. Studying rare one-gene cases may provide clues to help scientists understand and find cures for this devastating condition. → Read More
Boy or girl: Should prenatal testing be censored for fear it may become a sex-selection tool?
Some prominent ethicists push for limiting the release of prenatal testing for fear the information could be used by parents to select the sex of their child. → Read More
Worried about low T? Treatments unlikely to deliver what they promise
Testosterone therapy does little to counter the effects of aging. But it does have the potential to be harmful for some men, studies show. → Read More
DNA test limits: Current direct-to-consumer tests provide only a glimpse into our ancestry
In a recent story that made headlines, a woman’s DNA test showed she was a descendant of a lost tribe of Native Americans. But the genetic evidence was scant, at best. Here’s the skinny on the validity of genetic ancestry tests. → Read More
Weak links? Criminal investigations using partial DNA matches raise concerns
Using DNA collected from a crime scene, police can identify relatives of unidentified suspects through partial, or familial, matches. Legal rights experts say the searches infringe on constitutional rights and aren't very effective. → Read More
2 young leukemia patients cured with T-cell immunotherapy using genetically engineered donor cells
Gene-edited immune cells cure two British babies with childhood leukemia. But instead of patient-specific cells, doctors used cheaper universal cells. Is one-size-fits-all precision medicine the future? → Read More
Can you be both fat and fit? Your genes may have a say in the matter
Scientists are in hot debate over whether it's possible to be obese without creating health risks. Two new studies take the dispute to the genetic level, but offer complicated answers. → Read More
Making monkeys just to suffer: Is new autism model ethical?
Genetic engineers created monkeys that model autism. But some question the ethics of creating such a model when our own understanding of the genetics of autism is lacking? → Read More