Science Facts & Fallacies Cameron English

The recently released Cass report has intensified an already ferocious debate over gender-affirming care for children. What are the key takeaways from the controversial review? An emerging field of medicine known as fetal genome surgery could allow doctors to prevent serious genetic disorders before children are born.  Our health and ancestry data is increasingly tracked and shared today. Could governments and corporations use this sensitive information against us?

Podcast:





 



Join hosts Dr. Liza Dunn and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 265 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:







* Viewpoint: Once greatly critical of those using unregulated medications, liberals now endorse unregulated puberty blocking drugs for kids as young as 10. Should we end this dangerous ‘experiment’?







The recently released Cass report has raised some critical questions about so-called gender-affirming care for minors. Among its many findings, the 388-page review concluded that some of the effects of puberty blockers are not reversible; that gender incongruence among children is normal and doesn't necessitate transitioning; and that sex reassignment does not reduce the risk of suicide in transgender children. How will the incendiary review impact the ongoing cultural debate over transgenderism?









* Saving human lives: Using gene therapy and fetal surgery to cure diseases in the womb





Gene editing has already yielded groundbreaking therapies for conditions ranging from sickle cell disease to cancer. In the coming years, the same technology may allow physicians to prevent genetic disorders during pregnancy, long before they can cause harm later in life. Known as "fetal genome surgery," this nascent field has generated lots of excitement among scientists. Can it live up to all the hype?















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* Viewpoint: ‘Body-tracking data is so much a part of our daily lives that we sometimes forget it can be used against us’
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A court in the Philippines has blocked the release of vitamin-A fortified Golden Rice in the country. What happens next? Could the weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy reshape America's eating habits? The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) misleads the public about cancer risk; let's correct some of the critical misconceptions the agency has encouraged in recent years.

Podcast:





Join hosts Dr. Liza Dunn and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 264 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:



* Rollout of Vitamin A enhanced GMO Golden Rice in the Philippines blocked by surprise court ruling







After roughly two decades of research and regulatory review, the Philippines finally approved genetically engineered Golden Rice for public consumption. An appeals court unexpectedly blocked the approval last week, however, finding that the government didn't appropriately assess the risk that Golden Rice posed to the environment. The government is expected to appeal the decision, and some experts anticipate that Golden Rice will eventually be approved. But for the time being, millions of children's afflicted by vitamin A deficiency will be denied access to a biofortified food that could save their lives.



* How Wegovy and Ozempic could transform our food systems



The blockbuster weight-loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic may do much more than help Americans rapidly shed their unwanted fat. Because the medicines help regulate blood sugar and reduce appetite, it's possible that consumer demand for calorie-dense snack foods could decline in the US, incentivizing food companies to offer more nutritious options in grocery stores and restaurants. Have we finally developed effective treatments that can help us rein in the obesity epidemic?















Follow the latest news and policy debates on sustainable agriculture, biomedicine, and other ‘disruptive’ innovations. Subscribe to our newsletter.





















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* How IARC and other ‘independent’ global cancer assessment agencies can distort the public’s understanding of the risks of cancer



The public is deeply confused about the cancer risk associated with many foods and consumer products. This is due in large part to the work of IARC and other public health agencies that issue confusing, and sometimes outright deceptive, hazard assessments that mislead people about generally harmless substances, including aloe vera and even coffee. Let's clear up the confusion and address some of the most common m...