TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY CLONING: The kitten called CC is a genuine clone

CATARACTS
Cataract operations have become routine—3 million are performed in the U.S. each year—but they are not perfect. In too many cases, the performance of the implanted lens is marred by imperfections caused by measurement errors or variations in the healing process. Solution: an implantable lens that can be recalibrated weeks after surgery. The new lens contains a photosensitive compound that is activated by a tiny beam of ultraviolet light, allowing doctors to fine-tune the thickness of the lens after it's in place. The lens is expected to be commercially available in Europe within the year. Look for it in the U.S. by 2006.

Related Sources:
University of California, San Francisco press release (June 2, 2002)
California Institute of Technology
Calhoun Vision
American Society of Cataract
and Refractive Surgery meeting (June 1-5, 2002)

CLONING
While Dolly the sheep settles into old age (and prematurely advanced arthritis), scientists continue to churn out carbon copies of cows, pigs, mice, goats, cats and maybe even humans. Last year saw not only the birth of a cloned calico cat called CC (the sole survivor of 87 embryos) but also the widely publicized claim by a bizarre sect called the Raelians that it had created the first human clone—a baby called Eve, born the day after Christmas. Experts have called for DNA testing to prove the baby is a clone, but the child's mother—whose identity and location have been kept secret—have so far refused.

Related Sources:
Nature (Feb. 14, 2002)
The Raelians
Clonaid

C-REACTIVE PROTEIN
You still have to count your cholesterol, but the latest thing your doctor is watching is your CRP level. C-reactive protein is a blood chemical that provides a good measure of the degree of inflammation in your heart vessels. New studies have provided the strongest evidence yet that inflammation is a better predictor than cholesterol levels of your risk of heart disease. What won't change is your doctor's advice. CRP levels are lowered in the same ways by which cholesterol is reduced: diet, exercise and statins.

Related Sources:
New England Journal of Medicine (Nov. 14, 2002)

<< Previous Next >>

Get the Magazine — Try 4 Issues Free!

Understanding Depression  By J. DePaulo and L. Horvitz Barnes & Noble: $13.45

	NATION Can This War Be Avoided? Many push for alternatives. But those who know Bush say, Don't bet on it NATION Get Ready for Class Warfare Critics say Bush's plan outrageously favors the rich. The President says nonsense, everyone gets a break. But here's the question worth exploring: Does the economy win or lose in all this arm wrestling? BUSINESS Tight Skivvies They're what everyone's wearing this season. Here's why ARTS What They Really Want Is to Direct Big-name stars like George Clooney, Nicolas Cage and Denzel Washington are using their box-office clout to get their shot behind the camera