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Despite all of the scientific advances in genomic sequencing, genetic testing, and gene editing, science writer Carl Zimmer suggests we lack a rich understanding of what heredity means and how traits travel from one generation to the next. Cultural and environmental conditions have complex and nuanced influences on human biology, personal and family characteristics are not embedded exclusively in our ancestral DNA, cells within our own body birth new cells, and an infant’s DNA endures for years in a mother’s bloodstream. All of that, and much more, play significant roles in the legacies we inherit and pass on.
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Society
The highest court often seems distanced from our day-to-day lives, but the rulings that come out of the Supreme Court are woven into the fabric of the nation. Though it aims t...
More and more, companies are embracing the concept of corporate purpose as Americans' perceptions of big business have shifted. While declaring a purpose beyond profit is a st...
Artificial intelligence is working its way deeper into our lives. Intelligent systems are reading and responding to human emotions, playing a critical role in medicine, and ga...
The divide between targeted values-based approaches and broad-based efforts remains a fascinating reflection of the tensions inherent in Trump-era women’s organizing.
While all emotions are valid, their usefulness might ultimately come down to how well a person is able to interpret the signals that their feelings provide.
Rick Doblin wants to be a legally licensed psychedelic therapist. Learn about his work using MDMA, or ecstasy, to help people suffering from PTSD.
History has made the term "socialism" vague and unproductive, according to linguistics professor John McWhorter. Should it be retired?
What would happen if genetic sequencing were standard care for undiagnosed diseases? And how can we ensure that the future of genomics benefits everyone, not just the one perc...
Small moments of joy are often the first to go when we're stressed or in a crisis. But they're actually a tool to restore our emotional well-being, says designer Ingrid Fetell...
Valerie Jarrett shares advice on stepping out of your comfort zone, her favorite memories from inside the White House, and how we can empower women and working families.
Alex Honnold's successful free solo of El Capitan is a remarkable triumph of humankind in collaboration with nature. But let's be careful about what lessons we take away from...
Love is an emotion and an instinct for sure, but the ability to love is a skill that every young person should be taught, given how important relationships and love are to eve...
Musician Yoko Sen remembered listening to the beeping and the chaos when she was in the hospital and wondering if those were the last sounds she would ever hear.