Stories by Stephen S. Hall

 In a new book called Slither, Stephen S. Hall takes a deep dive into the biology and history of one of the most reviled animals.

In the Galápagos, invasive species are driving native animals to extinction. Some conservationists are asking whether genetic manipulation is the solution

Scientists are on the threshold of crossing a sharp ethical line: permanently altering the human genetic code

Scientists are set to cross a long-standing bioethical red line

A powerful new gene-editing tool is sweeping agriculture. It could transform the debate over genetic modification

The gene-editing technology known as CRISPR has spawned an increasingly unseemly brawl over who will reap the rewards

What was once known as junk DNA turns out to hold hidden treasures, says computational biologist Ewan Birney

A creative use of stem cells made from adult tissues may hasten drug development for debilitating diseases

The Human Genome Project has failed so far to produce the medical miracles that scientists promised. Biologists are now divided over what, if anything, went wrong—and what needs to happen next

New drugs to improve memory and cognitive performance in impaired individuals are under intensive study. Their possible use in healthy people already triggers debate