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Sexual Paradox Research Update List July 2006 - Dec 2007

This includes all postings since the last upadte of the research resource in order of posting

'Laughs' not exclusive to humans 2 January 2008 Scientists found that orang-utans had a sense of empathy and mimicry which forms an essential part of laughter.
Bone stem cells turned into primitive sperm cells 13 April 2007
Rising seas 'to beat predictions' 17 December 2007 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change proposes a maximum sea level rise of 81cm (32in) this century. But in the journal Nature Geoscience, researchers say the true maximum could be about twice that: 163cm (64in).
Apes may lead to origin of language May 1, 2007 Scientists seeking clues to the origins of human language analyzed the way two types of apes genetically closely related to people -- chimpanzees and bonobos -- use such hand and limb gestures to communicate.
Mega-mouthy: Which is the talkative sex? 31 December 2007
Why are girls growing up so fast? 14 February 2007 A girl's sexual development is affected by her family environment - and fathers play a crucial role.
Neanderthals possessed crucial gene linked to speech October 18, 2007 The evidence stems from analysis of a gene called FOXP2 which is associated with language.
Twin IVF births 'need to be cut' 3 April 2007
Ancient human unearthed in China 2 April 2007 The Tianyuan remains display diagnostic features of modern H. sapiens. But co-author Erik Trinkaus and his colleagues argue, controversially, that the bones also display features characteristic of earlier human species, such as relatively large front teeth. The most likely explanation, they argue, is interbreeding between early modern humans emerging from Africa and the archaic populations they encountered in Europe and Asia.
Bonobos join forces to outdo chimps 09 April 2007 When the food was in a single bowl - making it easy to monopolise - chimps were less willing to work together (Current Biology, vol 17, p 619).
Changes create colourful continent October 24, 2007 A few dozen genetic changes can help explain why people of European descent have so many different shades of hair, eye and skin colour - but it is still impossible to tell the colour of someone's eyes or hair based on DNA alone, researchers in Iceland say.
Genes show female mammals much more likely to be creatures of habit October 21 2007 Through genetic manipulation and breeding, the researchers came up with two mice variants in addition to normal males and females: one mouse with male gonads but female sex chromosomes, and another with female gonads and male sex chromosomes. This made it possible to measure the impact of hormones and genes separately.
'Intelligence genes' reveal their complexity Dec 30, 2007 The research identified six genes that were strongly associated with high or low intelligence. The six together accounted for about 1 per cent of the variation in intelligence.
Malaysian row over word for 'God' Dec 28, 2007 A church and Christian newspaper in Malaysia are suing the government after it decreed that the word "Allah" can only be used by Muslims.
Aid plan for India's 33m widows Dec 23, 2007 India's Minister for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury has outlined ambitious plans to help the country's young widows. Government figures show there are 33 million widows in India - many of them poor and some very young.
Duetting birds found to be unfaithful Dec 22, 2007 Birds that sing in harmonious duets with one another have always been considered monogamous partners, with the singing thought to help in building faithful relationships. Now, research has shown at least that one such species sleeps around. Benedict, L. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. doi: 10.1007/s00265-007-0524-x (2007).
Humour 'comes from testosterone' Dec 20, 2007 Men are naturally more comedic than women because of the male hormone testosterone, an expert claims.
Women under siege in Afghanistan Dec 18, 2007
Sperm clue to 'disease immunity' Dec 16, 2007 sperm cells are "invisible" to the female immune system and could provide a vital clue to how diseases like cancer and HIV spread through the body, a study suggests.
Saudi king 'pardons rape victim' Dec 16, 2007 The Saudi king has pardoned a female gang rape victim sentenced to jail and 200 lashes for being alone with a man raped in the same attack, reports say.
A long way from the Kalahari Dec 15, 2007 The Gana, Gwi and Tsila Bushmen have lived in the Botswana's Kalahari game reserve for thousands of years. However, after diamonds were discovered on the land in the early 1980s the inhabitants were packed off to resettlement camps where they were banned from hunting and introduced to lives of boredom and alcoholism
Keep-'em-keen gene stops insects starting a family Dec 14, 2007
Semen boosts HIV transmission Dec 14, 2007
Not So Tall Tale: Why Pygmies Evolved to Be Shorter Dec 14, 2007 The Aeta and other pygmies have the highest mortality rates among all human populations; their small body size evolved as a life history consequence of early death
Culture Speeds Up Human Evolution Dec 14, 2007 Human evolution has sped up thanks to the population explosion caused by agriculture.
Afghan women make call for peace Dec 12, 2007 Women across Afghanistan have been holding meetings to call for peace in their country.
Father killed daughter for not wearing hijab, her friends say Dec 12, 2007
Why pregnant women don't fall over Dec 12, 2007
Caesareans 'may harm lung growth' Dec 12, 2007
Generosity 'may be in the genes' Dec 11, 2007 Gene tests revealed those who had certain variants of a gene called AVPR1a were on average nearly 50% more likely to give money away.
Human evolution is 'speeding up' Dec 11, 2007 In the past 5,000 years, genetic change has occurred at a rate roughly 100 times higher than any other period, say scientists in the US.
Voyeurs put male fish off their ideal mate Dec 8, 2007 Mating fish don't like an audience, it seems. When another male spies on them they change their mind about which female they prefer. Animal Behaviour (DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2007.05.013)
The gene that makes us once bitten, twice shy Dec 8, 2007 Research reveals a genetic mutation that helps to determine the extent to which certain people are doomed to repeat history. Dopamine D2 receptors Klein, T. A. et al. Science 318, 14621465 (2007)
Pheromone for mouse aggression found Dec 8, 2007 A whiff of a single type of protein from urine is enough to make a male mouse pick a fight, researchers have found.
Doctor sought over illegal scans Dec 6, 2007 A top Indian gynaecologist has had her licence to practise suspended after a BBC report into female foeticide.
Womb hormones 'lead to anorexia Dec 4, 2007 Babies who go on to develop anorexia may be programmed in the womb by their mother's hormones, evidence suggests.
Britain's unwanted girls Dec 3, 2007 Cultural pressure to have a boy is leading some British women of Asian origin to travel to India for abortions to avoid having a girl.
Red faces in Sudan over teddy row Dec 3, 2007
Sudan demo calls for jailed UK teacher to be killed Nov 30, 2007
Male topi antelope's sex burden Nov 29, 2007 Choosy males and aggressive females - a role reversal has been found in the sexual behaviour of the topi antelope.
Islam, Insult, Gender and Nature Nov 29, 2007
Diet may influence your baby's gender Nov 28, 2007 Research shows that mice given drugs to lower their blood-sugar levels produced significantly more female than male pups.
India's 'pink' vigilante women Nov 26, 2007
Writer leaves Calcutta after riot Nov 22, 2007 Controversial Bangladeshi feminist writer Taslima Nasreen has been flown out of the Indian city of Calcutta after violent protests by Muslims.
Saudi gang-rape woman victim get jail and lashes Nov 15, 2007
11 yr old Hamas Girl says that she is ready for Martyrdom Nov 15, 2007
Basra militants targeting women Nov 14, 2007
Iran launches anti-vice crackdown Nov 14, 2007 Iranian newspapers have printed a list of moral vices that the police are targeting, including wearing make-up and hats instead of headscarves.
Toads are 'open-minded' about sex Nov 10, 2007 Amphibians, under some conditions, will mate with other species to help boost the survival rates of their offspring. S. bombifrons, will often mate with another closely related species, D. multiplicata for rapid tadpole development in drying ponds.
Placenta 'fools body's defences Nov 10, 2007 The placenta uses neurokinin B to act like a parasite to avoid attack by a mother's immune system, researchers have discovered.
Iran 'must free' woman activist Nov 10, 2007 She has been ordered to begin her sentence of two-and-a-half years in prison and a flogging on Saturday. Ms Ali, 24, joined a protest last year calling for greater legal rights for Iranian women.
Masculine men 'are healthier' Nov 8, 2007 Testosterone suppresses the body's defence system, so the theory is that those men who have strong masculine characteristics must be in good health in order to withstand testosterone's effect on their immune system. Masculinity correlated modestly, but significantly, with actual health during adolescence.
'Hormonal' women most attractive Nov 8, 2007 Women with high levels of the sex hormone oestrogen have prettier faces, research suggests.
Sexy walks 'keep men off scent' Nov 8, 2007 A sexy swing of the hips may attract admiring glances, but it is not a covert sign a woman is ready to breed, according to researchers. They found those with alluring walks were the furthest away from ovulation.
Feminine males 'more attractive' Nov 8, 2007 Most women like a feminised face, but those who rated themselves attractive went for the classic masculine face. Feminine faces tend to be linked with stability and caring. Women who considered themselves highly attractive were more willing to take a risk with a highly testosterone-charged male, and were less likely to fear such a man straying.
Healthy women warned over egg freezing Nov 7, 2007 1% of the infants conceived and born from frozen eggs suffered from birth defects – a level comparable with that found in the general population. But not every egg survives the freezing and thawing process. And even then, experts estimate that each successfully thawed egg has only a 2% to 4% chance of producing a live birth.
Parasitic trick helps fetus avoid attack Nov 7, 2007 The placenta produces hormones containing phosphocholine the same molecule that some parasitic worms use to avoid the immune system (Journal of Molecular Endocrinology, DOI: 10.1677/JME-07-0007)
Gene 'links breastfeeding to IQ' Nov 7, 2007 Children with one version of the FADS2 gene scored seven points higher in IQ tests if they were breastfed. But the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences study found breastfeeding had no effect on the IQ of children with a different version.
Policeman killed in dowry brawl Nov 7, 2007 Official estimates show that every year almost 7,000 women are killed in India by their spouses and in-laws because of inadequate dowry payments.
Nursing not behind saggy breasts Nov 7, 2007 Pregnancy may make breasts sag, but nursing does not make it worse.
First UK birth from lab-grown egg Oct 24, 2007 Twins conceived using in vitro maturation (IVM) The twins - a boy and a girl - were born one minute apart A mother has given birth to twins using a revolutionary new fertility treatment for the first time in the UK. With IVM the woman needs only one injection. The immature eggs are retrieved from a woman's unstimulated ovaries under ultrasound guidance and then matured in the laboratory for 1-2 days. Some women develop a potentially fatal reaction to the powerful drugs needed for normal cycles of IVF.
Cave clue to 'first beachcombers Oct 17, 2007 The waste from shellfish dinners discarded in a South African cave is said to be the earliest evidence of humans living and thriving by the sea, at Pinnacle Point on the Cape. The remains were buried in sediments that are 164,000 years old. The researchers also found pieces of ochre, a soft stone that can be scraped to produce powders with rich pigments.
'More sex needed' to boost sperm Oct 16, 2007 Some men should have sex every day to maximise the chances of getting their partner pregnant, researchers say.
Chlamydia damages male fertility Oct 16, 2007 Researchers treated 95 of the infertile men with antibiotics and found their DNA sperm damage improved an average of 36% after four months. During that period, 13% of the couples got pregnant and, after the treatment was finished, 86% got pregnant.
Eating soya could slash men's sperm count Oct 16, 2007 Men who eat just half a serving of soya a day have drastically fewer sperm than those who do not consume such foods, according to a small, preliminary study. Many east Asian men consume much more soya than the participants in this trial and do not develop fertility problems. Many of the participants were overweight or obese. Men with high levels of body fat produce more oestrogen than their slim counterparts.
Would-be mums told to avoid soya Oct 16, 2007 Genistein found in soya causes human sperm in a dish to “pop their caps” prematurely, rendering them useless.
Lap dancers 'in heat' are the ones to watch Oct 16, 2007 Last month, biologist Randy Thornhill challenged the orthodoxy that women do not undergo regular bouts of hormone-induced oestrus, or "heat", when they are at their most fertile - something most female mammals experience (New Scientist, 15 September, p 18). Geoffrey Miller and his team at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, compared the earnings of lap dancers who were menstruating naturally with those of dancers taking the hormonal contraceptive pill. During the non-fertile periods of their menstrual cycle, both sets of dancers earned similar tips. But when naturally cycling lap dancers entered their fertile period they earned significantly more in tips than their co-workers on the pill (Evolution and Human Behavior, DOI:10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2007.06.002).
Women condemn Turkey constitution Oct 2, 2007 Women's groups in Turkey have condemned a new draft constitution, saying it sets the country back years in terms of gender equality.
Cholesterol link to early births Oct 2, 2007 The National Human Genome Research Institute study confirmed previous findings linking high cholesterol to a raised risk of premature birth. But the researchers were surprised to find low cholesterol levels also seemed to raise the risk.
Saudi women challenge driving ban Sep 26, 2007
Algerian women protest against attacks Sep 26, 2007 Thousands of people have taken part in peace rallies in Algeria after suicide bomb attacks in the past few days killed at least 50 people. The crowd, which was made up mainly of women, chanted slogans such as "Terrorists are not Muslims".
Deep-voiced men 'have more kids' Sep 26, 2007 Men with deep voices tend to have more children than those who speak at a higher pitch, scientists say. Their finding is based on a group of hunter-gatherers in Tanzania known as the Hadza, who can be studied without bias because they use no birth control. Males who hit lower notes as they talked had about two more children on average than squeaky speakers.
Neanderthal climate link debated Sep 26, 2007
Women 'choosier' over partners Sep 10, 2007 An Indiana University team looked at the behaviour of 46 people taking part in a speed-dating session. They found that the men were more likely to go for the more attractive women, while women opted for those who could give the best financial security. Men were also likely to want to date more women, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reported.
China to act on gender imbalance Aug 26, 2007 The Chinese government says it is drafting new laws to tackle the growing gender imbalance caused by the widespread abortion of female foetuses. The practice is already banned, but new rules are expected to set out specific punishments for parents and doctors. China's Family Planning Association has revealed the extent of the imbalance - in one city there are eight young boys for every five girls. On Friday it was revealed that the eastern city of Lianyungang had the most skewed population. Among children under four years old, there are 163.5 boys for every 100 girls.
Old age 'no barrier' to sex life Aug 26, 2007
Women may be hardwired to prefer pink Aug 26, 2007 Women may have an innate preference related to fruit gathering.
Chimps keep busy to control their urges Aug 22, 2007 Primates distracted themselves by playing with toys in order to avoid giving in to the temptation of eating instantly available candy so they could obtain even more treats at a later time.
Female hyenas prefer wandering males Aug 22, 2007 Foreign males are most attractive - for female spotted hyenas at least. And this female preference for the unusual is what drives young males to leave their clan and seek out another pack.
Pakistan MP in blood feud case Aug 16, 2007 Pakistan's top constitutional court has ordered the arrest of an MP for alleged involvement in forced marriages of five girls aged between one and five years.
Finds test human origins theory Aug 10, 2007 Previously, the hominid Homo habilis was thought to have evolved into the more advanced Homo erectus, which evolved into us. Now, habilis and erectus are thought to be sister species that overlapped in time.
What's keeping women out of the labs? Aug 10, 2007 Despite changing attitudes, there are still very few women at the highest levels in certain fields.
Orangutans use 'charades' to talk Aug 2, 2007
Uganda's 'sex tree' under threat Jul 27, 2007 The soaring demand for a tree which some Ugandans believe can boost a man's libido and virility, may lead to its extinction, researchers warn. The most popular part of the slow growing citropsis articulata tree, locally known as omuboro, is its roots.
In promiscuous primates, sperm feel need for speed Jul 26, 2007 Promiscuous primate species have faster sperm than their more monogamous counterparts.
Womb-on-a-chip may boost IVF successes Jul 26, 2007 Fujii's team has created a "lab on a chip" that is 2 millimetres across and 0.5 millimetres high, in which up to 20 eggs can be fertilised and then grown until they are ready for implantation. Endometrial cells, which line real wombs, are also grown in the device, so that the chemicals they produce can reach the embryos and help them grow.
Islamabad to impose burqa on women going on Hajj Jul 24, 2007
India probes baby body parts find Jul 24, 2007 It is thought the find could be linked to the killing of female foetuses - a practice fairly widespread in India.
Testicular protein vaccine may fight ovarian cancer Jul 24, 2007 The vaccine used in the trial relied upon fragments of a protein known as NY-ESO-1. Although both men and women carry the genes for this protein, it is normally only produced in the male testes. But, for unknown reasons, the gene gets switched on in 40% of ovarian tumours.
Primates on the pill Jul 19, 2007 Phyto-progestogens have a hormonal contraceptive effect similar to progesterone. Levels of these progestogens surged in females during the rainy plum season. (Hormones and Behaviour, DOI:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2007.06.003).
Mosque survivor 'willing to die' Jul 19, 2007 A female survivor of this month's violent storming by Pakistani forces of Islamabad's Red Mosque has spoken of how she wanted to be a suicide bomber.
India grandmother 'dumped on tip Jul 19, 2007
Wife's menopause trigger for men's mid life crisis, researchers say Jul 19, 2007
Saudis Prepare to Behead Teen Maid Jul 19, 2007 Nafeek claims the child had begun to choke before losing consciousness in spite of her desperate efforts to clear his airway.
Nepalese 'goddess' is reinstated Jul 19, 2007 A 10-year-old girl who is worshipped as a living goddess in Nepal has had her title reinstated after defying tradition and visiting the US.
Energy use 'drove human walking' Jul 17, 2007 The human bipedal gait is about four times more efficient than chimps getting around on either two or four legs, the researchers found.
Child wedding 'stopped by pupils' Jul 13, 2007 Classmates of a 13-year-old Bangladeshi school girl due to enter a forced marriage have united to stop the ceremony going ahead, police say
Self-centered cultures narrow your viewpoint Jul 13, 2007 When it comes to putting yourself in the shoes of others, cultures that emphasise interdependence over individualism may have the upper hand. In a new psychological experiment, Chinese students outperformed their US counterparts when ask to infer another person's perspective.
'Indian register' for pregnancies Jul 13, 2007 An Indian minister has proposed that all pregnant women register with the government and seek its permission if they wish to undergo an abortion. Women and child development minister Renuka Chowdhury says the move is aimed at stopping the aborting of unwanted female foetuses.
Police plea on genital mutilation Jul 12, 2007 The Metropolitan Police is offering a £20,000 reward for information which would bring to justice anyone involved in female genital mutilation. Up to 7,000 girls in the UK are seen as at risk of this form of circumcision.
Butterfly sex ratio shows evolution at work Jul 12, 2007 Six years ago, males accounted for just 1% of the Blue Moon population on two islands in the South Pacific. But by last year, the butterflies had developed a gene to keep the Wolbachia bacteria in check and male numbers were up to about 40% of the population.
A girl for nine sheep Jul 12, 2007 Afghanistan, Unable to scrounge together the $165 he needed to repay a loan to buy sheep, Nazir Ahmad made good on his debt by selling his 16-year-old daughter to marry the lender's son.
Testosterone Alone Does Not Cause Violence Jul 9, 2007 Testorserone mediates male dominance.
Tummy fat 'can grow new breasts' Jul 9, 2007 Scientists say they can create a fat mixture with concentrated stem cells, which, when injected into the breast, apparently encourages tissue to grow.
Hormones affect men's sense of fair play Jul 7, 2007 Men with high levels of testosterone are more likely to turn down low offers, even if they stand to gain money by accepting them.
Malaysia 'convert' claims cruelty Jul 7, 2007 A Malaysian woman held for months in an Islamic rehabilitation centre says she was subjected to mental torture for insisting her religion is Hinduism.
Men – the other talkative sex Jul 7, 2007 Contrary to the common belief that women are much more talkative than men, a new study has found that in fact they use only 3% more words each day.
Indian woman strips in dowry row Jul 5, 2007 A woman in western India has stripped to her underwear in public to protest over alleged abuses from her husband's family for not providing a dowry.
Mosque leader in burqa escape bid 4 July 2007 The leader of a radical mosque besieged by Pakistani security forces in Islamabad has been caught trying to escape wearing a woman's burqa.
Complementary therapy hampers IVF 4 July 2007 Women who used complementary therapies while undergoing IVF were 30% less likely to fall pregnant than those who used IVF alone.
Girl could give birth to sister Jul 3, 2007 A Canadian mother has frozen her eggs for use by her seven-year-old daughter, who cannot have children naturally. Should the girl opt to use the eggs and gain regulatory approval, she would effectively have a baby that was her half-brother or sister.
Cloned sperm created in the lab Jul 3, 2007 By injecting a single healthy mouse sperm into a mouse egg from which the genetic material had been removed, they were able to make new sperm.
Paying taxes feels good, say researchers Jul 3, 2007 The surprising discovery, based on brain scans, can also predict which people are most likely to donate cash to charity.
First baby from lab-matured egg Jul 2, 2007 The first baby created from an egg matured in the lab, frozen, thawed and then fertilised, has been born.
IVF turns one embryo into twins Jul 2, 2007 IVF ups the risk of a twin pregnancy even if only one embryo is transferred, claim scientists.
Egypt forbids female circumcision Jun 28, 2007 Egypt has announced that it is imposing a complete ban on female circumcision, also known as genital mutilation.
Sudan rape laws 'need overhaul Jun 29, 2007 Rape victims have almost no access to justice and even risk being prosecuted for having had sex outside marriage.
Mufti takes stand on circumcision Jun 25, 2007 Egypt's state-appointed Grand Mufti yesterday said that female genital cutting was forbidden by Islam after an 11-year-old girl died while undergoing the procedure at a private medical clinic in southern Egypt. The Grand Sheikh of Cairo's al-Azhar mosque had previously described the practice as un-Islamic, although some other clerics have supported it.
Pakistan students storm 'brothel' Jun 23, 2007 Students from a radical mosque in Pakistan's capital Islamabad have abducted a group of people, including women, accusing them of prostitution.
Twin brothers make women less fertile Jun 19, 2007 Researchers have found that women who have a twin brother lower their chance of getting married and are also less likely to have children than women with twin sisters.
Male twins 'can reduce fertility' Women were 25% less likely to have children if their twin was male.
Gene screening 'safe' for babies Jun 18, 2007 Carrying out checks on embryos for genetic disorders incurs no more risk than standard IVF, researchers suggest.
Medic held for 'female foeticide Jun 14, 2007 Police in India have arrested the owner of a clinic near Delhi on suspicion of illegally aborting female foetuses. Officials say the remains of several foetuses were found in a well nearby. According to one report, 10 million female foetuses may have been aborted in India over the past 20 years.
Daddy's girls pick boys who look just like their fathers Jun 13, 2007 A woman who enjoyed a good childhood relationship with her father is more likely than other women to select a male partner who resembles her dad.
Mass circumcision to fight Aids Jun 7, 2007 South African Aids experts have called for a mass circumcision programme after studies showed it reduced the rate of HIV infection by up to 60%.
World's oldest adornments found, Morocco says Jun 6, 2007 The small oval Nassarius mollusc shells, some dyed with red ochre, were probably pierced to be strung into necklaces or bracelets 82,000 years ago.
Female beetles have a thirst for sex Jun 7, 2007 The bean weevil Callosobruchus maculatus feeds on dry pulses. With a diet like this, the male's ejaculate is a valuable water source for females.
Low testosterone 'death risk' Jun 5, 2007 A study of 800 men over 50 found that those with low levels had a 33% increased risk of death over an 18-year period than those with higher levels.
Sex cues ruin men's decisiveness Jun 5, 2007 Catching sight of a pretty woman really is enough to throw a man's decision-making skills into disarray, a study suggests.
Wear a veil or we'll behead you Jun 4, 2007 Women working in Palestinian television in Gaza have been told to avoid walking alone in the street after radical Islamists threatened to behead them ff they did not dress in religious garb while on air.
Pakistanis executed for adultery Jun 5, 2007 Pakistani village after tribal elders found them guilty of adultery, officials said.
Iran talks up temporary marriages Jun 2, 2007 Iran's Interior Minister, Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi, has started promoting temporary marriage as a solution to the country's social problems.
Gene therapy 'hope' on impotence Jun 2, 2007 Rats treated with the gene therapy showed significant recovery and were able to regain normal penile function after four weeks.
Upright walking 'began in trees' May 31, 2007 The ancestors of humans began walking upright while they were still living in trees - not out on open land, according to a new theory.
Genes may help people learn Chinese May 29, 2007 Using statistical analysis, the researchers showed that people in regions where non-tonal languages are spoken are more likely to carry different, more recently evolved forms of two brain development genes, ASPM and Microcephalin, than people in tonal regions.
Cheating cheetahs caught by DNA May 29, 2007 DNA analysis of the spotted cats found that they were serial cheaters, with nearly half of their litters made up of cubs from different fathers.
Scholar suspended after allowing breastfeeding of adults May 28, 2007 The idea of women breastfeeding their co-workers has been rejected at the world's leading Sunni University.
Chinese fertility drugs challenge one-child policy May 27, 2007 Many Chinese take fertility drugs in the hope of a multiple pregnancy.
Riots as women forced to undergo abortions May 28, 2007 Residents in a riot-torn county in south China admit they violated family planning policy, but say government retribution, including forced abortions, was illegal and excessive.
Gene variant may be responsible for human learning May 25, 2007 Humans have a unique variant of a gene linked with learning and memory. This may help explain how we rapidly cut loose in intellect and language from our closest relatives. The gene, KLK8, makes the protein neuropsin II, which in mice is vital for memory and learning. Neuropsin II is made by humans but not by lesser apes and old-world monkeys. Now they have shown that orang-utans and chimpanzees don't make it either (Human Mutation, DOI: 10.1002/humu.20547).
Babies can spot languages on facial clues alone May 25, 2007 Young babies can discriminate between different languages just by looking at an adult's face, even if they do not hear a single spoken word. And babies who grow up bilingual can do this for longer than monolingual infants.
US approves birth control pill that blocks menstruation May 24, 2007 Lybrel, made by pharmaceutical giant Wyeth, is meant to be taken every day to indefinitely stop monthly menstrual bleeding and prevent pregnancy.
Pakistan fatwa minister to stay May 23, 2007 A fatwa was issued against her by the hard-line Red Mosque after she was pictured hugging a man following a paragliding flight.
Leading Afghan woman MP suspended May 21, 2007 An outspoken woman in the lower house of the Afghan parliament, Malalai Joya, has been suspended after comparing other MPs to animals. "A stable is better, for there you have a donkey that carries a load and a cow that provides milk," she said. Ms Joya is sometimes described as the most famous woman in Afghanistan.
Childhood years impact female fertility May 19, 2007 The conditions in which females are brought up could affect their fertility later in life, research suggests
Aspirin 'cuts pre-eclampsia risk' 17 May 2007
The face, not the body, attracts a mate 13 May 2007
Rivalry leaves its mark on primate brains 10 May 2007 A comparison of brains from 21 primate species, including gorillas and chimps, suggests that those with greater male-on-male competition have more brain matter devoted to aggression and coordination. Whereas those species in which there is more social mixing between males and females have evolved bigger brains with higher-level thinking.
China warns of population growth 7 May 2007 China's top family planning body has warned of a "population rebound" as couples flout one child policy rules.
Can culture dictate the way we see? 4 May 2007 Researchers found that the brains of older East Asian people respond less strongly to changes in the foreground of images than those of their Western counterparts.
Early baby sex test over the web at 6 weeks 4 May 2007 The kit, sold by DNA Worldwide for £189, is controversial. Critics claim it may prompt parents to abort if they are unhappy with the test result.
Women would endure most pain for a best friend 3 May 2007 For women, best friends rank higher than cousins, while men put all family members ahead of friends.
Turkey presidential vote hanging on a headscarf May 3, 2007 The prospect of the country's next President being married to someone who chooses to wear the veil has plunged the country into the most serious political and economic crisis for years.
Caesarean link to 50% increased placenta risk May 2, 2007 In mothers who had their first baby by caesarean, the risk of placental praevia - a condition where the placenta attaches over or near the internal opening of the cervix - was 47% higher in their second pregnancy than women who gave birth naturally. The risk of a second condition, placenta abruption - where the placenta separates from the womb prematurely - was 40% higher in women who had a previous caesarean. In the UK, the rate of placenta praevia is around 0.8% of all births.
Guinea's dirty dancing backlash May 2, 2007 Men in Guinea's capital have begun attacking women who they accuse of doing the popular buttock-swinging Wolosso dance from Ivory Coast. The provocative dance is considered by many in the mainly Muslim West African country to be pornographic.
Female ducks fight back against raping males 1 May 2007 Some vaginas had spiral channels that would impede sex by twisting in the opposite direction to that of the male phallus. Others had as many as eight cul-de-sac pouches en route, that could prevent fertilisation by capturing unwelcome sperm. Moreover, these features were only found in species renowned for forced sex.
Nigeria 'lesbian wedding' denied Apr 29, 2007
Crackdown in Iran over dress codes Apr 28, 2007 Thousands of Iranian women have been cautioned over their poor Islamic dress this week and several hundred arrested in the capital Tehran in the most fierce crackdown on what's known as "bad hijab" for more than a decade.
Prosecutor suggest Exile for Tehran Women Apr 30, 2007
Chimp cooperation goes beyond family 23 April 2007 Chimps who shared a mother were far more likely to cooperate with each other. In contrast, there was no evidence that the same applied to chimps with a shared father. This is probably because fathers do not stay with their offspring, so a chimp has no easy way to recognise his paternal brothers. However, since maternal brothers were rare in this population, most of the cooperating pairs were unrelated or only distantly related. Extensive cooperation among non-relatives suggests that chimps do it for selfish reasons, with the expectation that favours will be reciprocated.
Mother's puberty 'obesity clue' 23 April 2007 A study of 6,000 children found those born to mothers with an early puberty were more likely to grow rapidly as babies and be overweight as children.
Genes versus heat – a reptile sex trigger 19 April 2007 High temperatures can make an Australian lizard that is genetically male develop into a female.
Chimps 'more evolved' than humans 16 April 2007 233 chimp genes, compared with only 154 human ones, have been changed by selection since chimps and humans split from their common ancestor about 6 million years ago.
New York City considers promoting circumcision 15 April 2007 New York is considering whether promoting circumcision among the city's men might help limit the spread of HIV there.
Sperm made from human bone marrow 12 April 2007 If these can be grown into fully developed sperm, which the researchers hope to do within five years, they may be useful in fertility treatments.
Female genital mutilation banned in Eritrea 5 April 2007 Anyone who requests, incites or promotes female genital mutilation (FGM) will be punished with a fine and imprisonment. The move follows a campaign against the practice by the National Union of Eritrean Women, which says that 94% of Eritrean women have been circumcised.
Students raid Islamabad brothel 28 March 2007
Beef hormones 'damage sons' sperm' 27 March 2007 men whose mothers ate a lot of beef during pregnancy had lower sperm counts. They were three times more likely to have a sperm count so low they could be classified as sub-fertile.
Patch 'to boost female sex drive' 26 March 2007 Intrinsa will only be available on prescription for women who have had an early menopause because of surgery.
Bed sharing 'drains men's brains' 20 July 2006 When men spend the night with a bed mate their sleep is disturbed, whether they make love or not, and this impairs their mental ability the next day.
No sex please, we're Japanese March 14, 2007 Nearly 40% of men and women aged between 16 and 49 had not had sex for more than a month, up by around 5 percentage points from when the poll was last conducted in 2002. The figures were only slightly better among married couples, at nearly 35%.
Natural birth control is slippery but effective 3 March 2007 The "symptothermal" method uses two direct physical checks. The first is the condition of cervical secretions, which become slippery and clear during a woman's most fertile period. Then, when the secretions have ceased, the all-clear for contraception-free sex is signalled when her body temperature rises to 0.2 °C above normal on three consecutive days.
Natural contraception 'effective' 21 February 2007
'Trust' hormone helps mind-reading too17 March 2007 The researchers sprayed oxytocin up the noses of 30 men and tested how well they could read the emotions conveyed by photographs of eyes taken in real-life situations. Twenty of them performed significantly better on the test after sniffing the hormone (Biological Psychiatry, vol 61, p 731).
IVF babies draw short straw on birth defects 24 February 2007 The 1394 babies born via ART - IVF, ovulation induction and intra-uterine insemination - were about 60 per cent more likely to have birth defects than children conceived naturally.
Teen hormone may aid infertile women 10 March 2007 Called kisspeptin, the hormone can boost flagging concentrations of luteinising hormone (LH), which triggers ovulation.
Men who want children should skip the hot tub March 14, 2007 The investigators evaluated the men's semen quality before and after they stopped using hot tubs, etc., for 3 or more months. After 3 to 6 months, five of the men had an average increase in total motile sperm counts of 491 per cent.
Celibacy 'obligatory' for priests 13 March 2007 Pope Benedict XVI has confirmed that celibacy "remains obligatory" for Roman Catholic priests. He also restated the ban on Communion for divorced Catholics who remarry, and on abortion, euthanasia and gay unions which he said were "not negotiable".
Hormonal Reversal During Puberty Keeps Teens Totally Anxious March 12, 2007 Allopregnanolone (THP), a chemical that normally helps soothe the activity of brain cells in adults and children by binding to receptors that inhibit accelerating electrical activity, becomes an antagonist during puberty.
Curves were best for Stone Age women 12 March 2007 Female figurines dating back 15,000 years reveal that the preferred body shape for women was curvy with prominent buttocks.
Cervical cancer virus is common in the US 27 February 2007
Syphilis rates skyrocket in China 12 January 2007
'Stealth' gonorrhoea on the rise 9 March 2007
When Women Are Property Mar 9, 2007 Pakistani Husband Sells Wife's Kidney to Buy
Tractor Tradition deals girls a losing hand in life 8 March 2007 Daughter lost in card game in society where 'women treated like slaves'
Iran police stop women's protest 8 March 2007 Women activists say they have been subject to increasing intimidation since they launched a petition to change discriminatory laws on polygamy and child custody.
Iran women in jail hunger strike 6 March 2007 The women were arrested on Sunday after staging a demonstration outside a courthouse in the capital, Tehran.
Kill the sperm, spare the irritation 6 March 2007 Two new molecules kill sperm 25 times more effectively than the most commonly used spermicide, without irritating vaginal cells.
Iran women arrested over protest 4 March 2007 Iran's authorities have arrested more than 32 women activists protesting outside a courthouse in Tehran. The protesters were showing solidarity with five women on trial for organising a protest last June against laws they say discriminate against women. The five have been charged with endangering national security, propaganda against the state and taking part in an illegal gathering.
Fat toddlers 'risk early puberty' 5 March 2007
Second-born twin faces doubled risk of death 2 March 2007 Second-born twins are more than twice as likely to die during or shortly after vaginal delivery compared to their first-born siblings, from complications such as breech birth and premature detachment of the umbilical cord. Doctors suggest that delivering more twins by planned caesarean section might help reduce the risk of perinatal death.
China 'to punish' two-child rich 1 March 2007
Low-fat dairy infertility warning 28 February 2007 A diet rich on low-fat dairy food may make it harder for some women to conceive.
Fathers of non-identical twins have better sperm 20 February 2007
India police probe baby bone find 18 February 2007 Ratlam's police chief said they were investigating the possibility of female infanticide or illegal abortions.
Mother rots in Saudi jail as in-laws try to force divorce February 19, 2007
Women's bill in Pakistan assembly 13 February 2007
Over 50s Indulge in Final Flings 8 Feb 07 Nearly a third claim to be
having affairs.
Smell of manly sweat sets female hearts a flutter February 08, 2007 Women who sniffed androstadienone found in male sweat experienced elevated levels of an important hormone, along with higher sexual arousal, faster heart rate and other effects.
Male-killer makes female butterflies promiscuous 5 February 2007 Female butterflies become sexually promiscuous in the presence of a bacterium that fatally targets the male offspring of their species, a new study shows. However, the few males that survive become fatigued by the increased sexual demands of the females, and so release fewer sperm in each mating.
Why fat is a fertility issue 3 February 2007
Hope for safe prenatal gene test 2 February 2007 The new technique works by examining samples of foetal DNA present in the mother's blood for tiny variations in the sequence of the genetic material.
Natural oils gave young boys breasts 31 January 2007 Three young boys grew breast tissue after exposure to lotions and shampoos containing lavender or tea tree oil.
Vaginal birth boosts risk of baby brain haemorrhage 30 January 2007 Some of the newborns had suffered small haemorrhages. 26% of the babies born vaginally had bleeding in the brain, while none of those born through caesarean were affected.
Menstrual mood swings may have a use after all 29 January 2007 The monthly mood swings experienced by many women may serve an evolutionary purpose, researchers say, by helping to get them pregnant.
New IVF test may double success rates 30 January 2007 The new technique is known as "comparative genomic hybridization" (CGH). It involves taking a sample of DNA from the polar body – a chromosome-containing structure that is expelled from the egg before it fuses with a sperm. Around 75% of all miscarriages are thought to be caused by aneuploidies – an embryo having the wrong number of chromosomes – and the risk of these occurring increases as a woman gets older.
Sex, blokes and vasectomies - leg-crossing kiwi research Jan 17, 2007 At 18 per cent of all men, 25 per cent of all married men, and a leg-crossing 55 per cent of 40-49 year-olds, New Zealand's vasectomy rate towers above places such as the United States, where just 7 per cent of men have gone under the knife.
US doctors plan womb transplant 17 January 2007 The procedure would potentially allow women who have had their wombs damaged or removed to develop a pregnancy and give birth.
Chinese facing shortage of wives 12 January 2007
Best dressed women have babies on their mind 13 January 2007 Volunteers chose the woman in her "high fertility" photo some 59.5 per cent of the time more often than would be expected by chance (Hormones and Behavior, vol 51, p 40).
The hourglass figure is truly timeless 10 January 2007 Written texts of all ages have the same drift when it comes to the midriff - they consistently describe women’s thin waists as attractive.
Barbie-shaped women more fertile 05 May 2004 Women with a relatively low waist-to-hip ratio and large breasts had about 30 per cent higher levels of the female reproductive hormone estradiol than women with other combinations of body shapes - higher levels of estradiol are related to higher fertility in women trying to get pregnant.
A third of men 'bored with marriage' Jan 9, 2007 Nearly a fifth of couples in Britain are on the brink of splitting up and one in 10 say they no longer have sex, a survey says.
Don't pair up with matching genes 5 January 2007 As MHC genetic similarities increased, women were less sexually responsive to their partners, more likely to have affairs, and more attracted to other males, particularly during fertile days of their menstrual cycles. In relationships where MHC genetic differences were significant, these potentially relationship-splitting behaviours were either absent or greatly reduced. If the man and woman had 50% of the MHC genes in common, the women had a 50% chance of cheating with another man, on average. Men did not seem to be affected by genetics at all. Psychological Science (vol 17, p 830).
Ugandan men getting circumcised to avoid HIV 3 January 2007
Japan birth rate shows rare rise 1 January 2007 The fertility rate - the average number of children a woman bears in her lifetime - was expected to be 1.29 in 2006, compared to the record low of 1.26 in 2005. However, a rate of 2.1 is needed to prevent a population drop
Large families 'bad for parents' 26 December 2006 The situation was worst for women, because they were affected by the physical costs of bearing the children. Fathers' mortality risk increased the more children they had, but never exceeded that of mothers.
'Virgin births' for giant lizards 20 December 2006 Scientists report of two cases where female Komodo dragons have produced offspring without male contact. As the offspring are always male, they could breed to establish a new colony.
Triplets for woman with two wombs 21 December 2006 The condition, which is called uterus didelphys, affects one in 1,000 women in the UK.
Saying goodbye to periods 13 December 2006 Menstrual periods are an unnecessary nuisance that could be eliminated from women's lives with little harm. That's the message starting to spread from specialists in reproductive medicine.
Offerings to a Stone Snake Provide the Earliest Evidence of Religion December 01, 2006
Botswana bushmen win land ruling 13 December 2006 Bushmen from the Kalahari desert have won a court case in which they accused Botswana's government of illegally moving them from their land.
Feticide means 7,000 fewer girls a day in India December 12, 2006 Out of 71,000 children born every day in India, just 31,000 are girls -- giving a sex ratio of 882 girls to 1,000 boys.
Laughter: it's catching 12 December 2006 Researchers have shown that the mere sound of giggles tickles the same area of the listener's brain that is activated when smiling.
Indonesia head mulls polygamy ban 7 December 2006 Proposals by Indonesia's president to restrict the right of the country's public servants to practice polygamy have sparked an angry reaction.
Afghan women seek death by fire Nov 29, 2006 Increasing numbers of Afghan women are committing suicide by setting fire to themselves to escape difficult lives, according to NGOs based in the country. They say women forced into marriage or suffering chronic abuse are killing themselves out of desperation.
Pakistan votes to amend rape laws 15 November 2006 akistan's national assembly has voted to amend the country's strict Sharia laws on rape and adultery. Until now rape cases were dealt with in Sharia courts. Victims had to have four male witnesses to the crime - if not they faced prosecution for adultery.
Birds prove wisdom of 'opposites attract' 15 August 2006 Most aggressive cockatiels tend to court only those that are more docile, and vice versa. They have long, cooperative partnerships.
65 per cent of the 50,000 widows in Kabul see suicide the only option Aug. 14, 2006
Iranian woman awaits death by stoning decision August 3, 2006
The secrets of animal attraction 31 July 2006 The receptors, known as trace amine-associated receptors (TAAR), detect several chemicals present in the urine of mice, including one linked to stress and another thought to be a mating signal. The gene that codes for the receptor is found not only in mice but in fish and humans, suggesting that the behaviour of a diverse group of animals is influenced by pheromones.
Pakistani Honour killing in UK June 17, 2006 Azhar Nazir, 30, and his cousin, 17, used four knives to cut Samaira Nazir’s throat and repeatedly stab her after she fell in love with an asylum-seeker from what they saw as an unsuitable caste.
'Lab-made sperm' fertility hope 10 July 2006 Scientists have proved for the first time that sperm grown from embryonic stem cells can be used to produce offspring.
Mature sperm and eggs grown from same stem cells 23 June 2006 Stem cells from a mouse embryo have been coaxed into producing both eggs and sperm in the same dish.
Boy babies boost miscarriage risk 19 June 2006
Baby boy or girl? Take your pick in the US Jun 18, 2006 Well-off foreign couples are getting around laws banning sex selection in their home countries by coming to American soil —where it is legal—for medical procedures tbat can give them the boy, or girl, they want.