A woman with Parkinson's was able to write for the first time in 15 years because of gene therapy. Parkinson's includes symptoms such as tremors, loss of balance which makes it impossible to do even simple tasks. Doctors injected a modified virus carrying the genes to the motor centre of her brain which provide coded instructions for proteins needed to make dopamine. Lack of dopamine leads of the symptoms associated with Parkinson's. This is part of the ProSavin therapy developed by Oxford BioMedica. Gene therapies hold a lot of hope for people with Parkinson's that could end the daily routine of drugs that most of them go through.

A study shows that genetics could play a role in determining "niceness". The kind behavior is found to be linked to receptor genes for oxytopic and vasopressin. People that are more responsive to it are more inclined to donate money, pay taxes, give blood, report crime etc. It isn't about how much of the hormone you have but how responsive you are to it. Of course genetics isnt the only factor, if you are surrounded by nice people it is likely that it would rub off on you.

Scientists have long wondered why autism is much more common among males than females. When males miss one copy of a gene it messes up the development process enough to cause autism but female biology differs enough to make it not matter. Now that scientists have identified that the SHANK 1 gene is involved they can test for it and could offer treatments early.

Scientists have found two gene variants that are likely to cause childhood obesity. This could be useful in knowing how to treat and prevent it. Although there is a genetic component to obesity, it is not the only factor. Biological, behavioral, cultural, environmental and economic factors can all play a role in obesity.

Scientists are trying to use bacteria in order to deliver nanoparticles and drugs into living human cells. David Gracias of John Hopkins University had success when gluing the nanoparticles to the bacteria by soaking it in a solution of nanoparticles and heating the mixture.