African countries, including South Africa, have limited waste infrastructure and uneven water treatment systems, which exacerbates the problem of antibiotic resistance

Gender identity and sexual orientation are not a choice – they happen during pregnancy

Our DNA is similar but our societal values are not, which will make it difficult to reach concensus

If we take our commitment to the liberty of the individual seriously, we must accept that people should be allowed to use this technology

We can now control our species genetic future but this power is ‘awesome and terrifying’

By embarking on this new and daunting path, we are taking on incredible new responsibility

Science continues to shift the boundaries of what we think we know and 2016 will be no exception. Sarah Wild highlights the fields to keep an eye on.

The jury’s out on whether a new dietary programme is linked to a person’s genetic make-up.

It’s not important whether the roots of queerness are nature or nurture, and research into the question can cause real harm.

The success of gene therapy holds hope for the cure of other inherited life-threatening diseases.

If narcoleptics could be diagnosed and treated within a year of symptoms presenting the illness’s impact could be greatly reduced.

Many scientists are now focusing on the power of environmental factors.

A genetic test that can predict whether a person is likely to live long enough to see their 100th birthday has been developed by scientists.