Sergio Pistoi's Blog

The Italian supermodel Bianca Balti recently announced she is  battling against ovarian cancer. Her story should raise a debate about how we manage and, more importantly, communicate with patients who carry BRCA1 mutations.

As a molecular biologist and science communicator, I’ve encountered these genetic predispositions frequently in my work and written about them in my books. These rare DNA mutations account for only a small fraction of all cancer cases but dramatically increase the risk of ...

When did we forget how to argue well? An old-fashioned skirmish between a scientist and a philosopher is something to miss today. 

The philosopher Gianni Vattimo, who recently passed away, is tied to one of the most entertaining and enlightening moments I’ve ever witnessed, and I still miss it. In the late 1990s, I had the privilege of attending a legendary debate between him and physicist Tullio Regge  in Turin. The title alone, “Science and Philosophy: Dialogue or Clash?” promised sparks to...

Many scientists see public communication and outreach as a way to give back to society, or they pursue them as mandatory activities required by some funding agencies, such as the EU.

But there is more to it. Investing in a good communication strategy has many practical and economic benefits that go far beyond the scope of a single project or grant. Drawing on my experience as a communications consultant, I present here some practical benefits of well-executed, strategic communication that are...

Induced pluripotent stem cells do not fully replace embryonic stem cells
as disease models, EU- funded study shows.

A study from the Hebrew University
of Jerusalem and the Children’s Hospital in Boston has shed a new light on the properties
of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells), reporting evidence that they may
not be able to replace embryonic stem cells in some research and medical
applications. The results of the study will be
presented  in Lisbon at the   International Symposium “Stem Cells...

University study sheds light on human embryonic stem cells’ DNA changes

****Images available***

A study on the genome of human embryonic stem cells
(hESCs) has brought scientist closer to identify and circumvent the adverse DNA
changes that naturally occur when these cells are multiplied in laboratory. The
findings could help researchers to prevent deleterious mutations in cultured
hESCs- a factor that hampers their future medical use – advancing towards application
of stem-cells-based regener...

Hello,

just a short note since  you may have received an old press release from me yesterday.

It was related to a 2011 EU project I worked on, and was sent by mistake while I was updating our website.

Please ignore it and accept my apologies for any confusion it may have caused.

By the way, I just wanted to reassure you that I am not experiencing any time travel or stuck in a time bubble – I’m very much in the present and enjoying 2023!

Best regards,

Sergio

The post Errata corrige appear...

A study coordinated by Lorenz Studer, a NEUROSTEMCELL principal investigator, has developed a new strategy for the efficient transformation of human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) into dopamine-producing neurons. The neurons can be implanted into animals where they show “robust performance” by forming new connections and achieving long-term survival. The result is a significant progress in the use of PSCs and...

Of the many dog DNA tests on the market, which one is right for you and your pet? How do they work, are they accurate, and what can you learn?

For the genealogically curious, DNA tests are increasingly popular as holiday gifts, and this is not just limited to test kits for humans: Dog DNA tests are now available to give you insights into your pooch’s genetic makeup. 

While genetic testing for human ancestry and disorders has been around for several years, dog DNA tests that can identify th...

Exactly how accurate are DNA tests, and how much can your genetic data really reveal about you? To find out, we asked a molecular biologist.

With genetic testing for health, ancestry, paternity and more becoming increasingly popular, many people are left wondering: exactly how accurate are DNA tests? Whether you are taking a DNA test to build your extended DNA family tree with an AncestryDNA(opens in new tab) testing kit, or want precise information on hereditary health conditions with 23andM...

Paul Levinson interviews Sergio Pistoi about his book

It was a great honor to be interviewed about my book DNA NATION by Paul Levinson, a writer of over 20 science fiction books and a media professor at Fordham University. We discussed about the rise of DNA social networks and the pervasive future of genetics with a little help from H.G. Wells, Spielberg and Netflix. Enjoy the interview like we did -and share!

The post DNA NATION and the future of home genomics a...