Ben Locwin
Genetic Literacy
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Past articles by Ben:
Can't get motivated? You may be able to blame your genes
Being apathetic may feel like following the path of least resistance. But studies of apathy in the brain show otherwise. → Read More
Neurologic disorders may be linked to brain's immune system
A newly-discovered pathway of vessels in the brain may lead the way to new treatments for brain diseases and neurological problems. → Read More
There's a reason you have trouble thinking and remembering when hunger sets in
Why is it so hard to think while you're hungry? Researchers now believe it may come down to one protein which is working in an unexpected place. → Read More
Time to stop treating men and women the same when it comes to drug treatments
Drugs treatments don't work the same way in men vs. women. We could make better ones if we developed them with this knowledge. → Read More
What do we know about wine as a magic elixir?
Is wine good or bad for you? Much of the attention surrounding the drink has focused on the compound resveratrol, but scientists are still unsure how it exerts any beneficial effects on our bodies. → Read More
Tick tock, circadian clock research wins Nobel Prize—and why it may help us sleep and travel to Mars
Scientists have just won the Nobel Prize in Medicine for discovering the genes involved in our sense of wake and sleep. → Read More
Is natural sleep the only kind that counts?
People spend billions on sleep remedies. The act of sleep and artificially assisting sleep are not on the whole a zero-sum game. → Read More
'Designer babies' just around the corner? More scare than science
As CRISPR technology advances, old fears about 'designer babies' resurface. But we are a long way from being able to do the sort of genetic modification of embryos we often hear about. → Read More
Unraveling the paradox: Why GMO drugs and GMO foods are treated differently by critics
Many of the people who express outrage over genetic modification of crops because it 'tinkers with nature' are supportive of GMO drugs. Yet there is little difference in the technologies used to produce GMO food or GMO drugs. → Read More
Does the 'Nordic diet' reduce stroke risk? Maybe, maybe not
You may have heard of yet another diet - the Nordic diet - but does it really offer any benefits over other approaches to eating? Read on. → Read More
Sports and war: With concussions, there's little difference between football, fighting
Evidence suggests "early aging" in the brains of troops is a result of experiencing bomb blasts. It may be similar to injuries experienced by athletes and may even occur without any concussion-like symptoms. → Read More
Does fitness supersede reducing fatness?
Being fit seems to provide a more healthful effect than weighing less in terms of overall mortality. → Read More
Why identifying 'autism genes' is so elusive
Researchers are unlocking the mystery of autism's origin. Yes, it's mostly 'in the genes,' but what that means is one of many questions that remain to be answered. → Read More
Rare genetic diseases can arise from unsuspecting carriers
A new rare disorder has been determined to be the result of mating between two people with a rare recessive genetic variant. → Read More
Colon cancer rates spiking among millennials, but no one knows why
Colon cancer rates seem to be increasing across millennials; but is it due to diet, activity, or some other factor? → Read More
The sun also rises: Genes and rethinking your sunscreen choices
We're entering sunscreen season, which means 'high alert' for sun-related skin damage. How does our DNA impact our susceptibility? → Read More
Behold the octopus: Problem solver, tool user and now, gene editor
The octopus and other 'smart' cephalopods have been found to change their genes on a very large scale. What does this mean? Read on for more. → Read More
This year's flu vaccine has been 50% effective, and that's not shabby
How well did the flu vaccine do this year in preventing illness and death? Read on to find out more on this topic. → Read More
Omega Fatty Acids and Your Health
It's not just about omega 3s - omega 7 fatty acids have many healthy benefits → Read More
Genetics of Eating Disorders
The basis of eating disorders seems to be variation in preferences stemming from individuals' genetics and their effect on the brain. → Read More