Genetic research can open book on Jewish identity—for good and bad

By Adam Wills
Published on December 11, 2008

Critics fear that Jewish genetic research also opens a Pandora's box. The discovery of a shared genetic marker among men who claim to be descended from Kohanim grew into wild, exaggerated claims in the media that geneticists had confirmed the story of Aaron

Gene test kits—can they lead to dating services?

By Annalee Newitz
Published on February 21, 2008

The question I keep asking about home genomics kits is whether they're any worse than, say, parts of the self-help industry. Both promise to fix people by making vague pronouncements based on a little science mixed with a lot of rank speculation.

Editor’s Corner - Junk Science

By Rob Eshman
Published on August 11, 2005

"Both sides ought to be properly taught," President George W. Bush told reporters in Texas Aug. 1, "so people can understand what the debate is about. Part of education is to expose people to different schools of thought.... You're asking me whether or not people ought to be exposed to different ideas, and the answer is yes."

World Briefs

By JTA Staff
Published on August 19, 2004

World Briefs.

A Creepy Chapter

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on June 22, 2000

"The United States was the first country to legally sterilize people for eugenic reasons, and the Nazis took that from us," says exhibit curator Dr. Michael Nutkiewicz, adding that anti-immigration sentiment fueled the movement.