Heart diseases

Human embryos edited to stop disease

It potentially opens the door to preventing 10,000 disorders that are passed down the generations.

The US and South Korean team allowed the embryos to develop for five days before stopping the experiment.

The study hints at the future of medicine, but also provokes deep questions about what is morally right.

Science is going through a golden age in editing DNA thanks to a new technology called Crispr, named breakthrough of the year in just 2015.

Health services need to do more to help Samoans at risk of heart disease

Tua Taueetia-Su’a, an experienced practice nurse and primary health organisation researcher, has dedicated the last three and a half years to researching Samoan people’s knowledge and understanding of cardiovascular disease (CVD), its risks, risk assessments, and the reasons behind their decisions to undertake or abstain from making necessary lifestyle changes.

“Cardiovascular disease is prevalent among Samoans, and in fact all Pacific people. For my research, I interviewed 16 Samoan patients and seven practice nurses in the Wellington region about their experiences.”