The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "genetic test" ...
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Freedom for Anthony Caravella
This series is an investigation of the conviction of Anthony Caravella and potentially how it was flawed. He was convicted of rape and murder, without proper DNA testing and a biased prosecutor. Eventually, the investigation led to his release, but now he is faced with a number of challenges. Also, an investigation was launched on the prosecutor, who wrongly convicted four other people of murder.
Tags: court; judge; jury; genetic testing; Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA); prison; prisoner; law enforcement; confession
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"Who Is Testing Your DNA?"; "Could Your DNA Betray You?"; "How My Genome Was Hacked"
In this series, reporters take a look at how the DNA left behind by humans can be gathered and studied by regular, everyday people. The reporters also explain how the industry of underground DNA testing can pose a serious threat to one's privacy and health.
Tags: DNA; genetic testing; DNA chips; genome; paternity testing; infidelity
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GMA Gets Answers
This series takes a hard look at the problems Americans are facing with insurance carriers, both public and private. In each story, Anchor Chris Cuomo profiles people fighting battles against insurance companies that are denying their claims. The investigators tried to get answers to claimants' questions about why their claims were being denied, even though they appeared to be following their insurance policy rules to a tee. They found that many consumers find themselves enmeshed in a complex and confusing system that allows insurers to wrongfully deny or delay claims with little possibility of penalty.
Tags: disease; genetic test; Medicaid; Insurance; claims; deny claims; public health
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Mistaken Identities
DNA-based exonerations of wrongly convicted men hit a record high after it was discovered that police used suggestive lineups procedures and pressured witnesses to pick out a suspect. Sometimes shaky identifications were preserved by withholding evidence that would lead to other suspects in the cases.
Tags: accusation; eyewitness; false conviction; DNA test; genetic; rape;
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Whose Body Is It Anyway?
CBS News explores the "controversial practice of patenting human genes," and warns that it can possibly have adverse effects on the development of health care, as researchers do not share scientific knowledge anymore. The report tells the stories of two homosexuals who felt like "walking miracles" because their AIDS tests continued to come up negative. They offered themselves for research and contributed to a genetic discovery that explained their immunity. Now Steve Crohn and Eric Fuchs insist on becoming co-owners of the rare gene that has been patented by the research organization, CBS reports. The segment extensively quotes Lori Andrews, adviser to Congress on biotech issues, whose point is that "greed has become a cultural value in health care."
Tags: TAPE; TRANSCRIPT; Myriad Genetics; Human Genome Project; Aaaron Diamond AIDS Research Center; science; trade; patents
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Who Owns This Body?
Esquire reports on the growing debate over the patenting of genetic material. If it was invented in a lab it can be patented -- and this applies to genetically altered living organisms. GE patented an oil eating bacteria. But with the publication of the human genome map, the rush is on to patent your genes right out from under you. The gene for breast cancer has already been patented and if you want to get a test to see if you have that gene there are royalties to be paid. Patents are supposed to keep scientific discoveries public, while allowing patent holders to turn a profit. The lines get blurry when genetic information is at stake.
Tags: genetics; human genome; patents; U.S. Patent Office; National Institute of Health; Plant Patent Act; oncogenes; National Cancer Institute
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DNA Databank
A WNEM-TV investigation uncovers the existence of "a government warehouse where DNA from millions of Michigan newborns is stored." The reporter finds that the genetic information is taken from newborns' blood samples collected for various health tests. The series tells the story in the light of the "mapping of entire human genome" and the "potential danger such a database could impose on a family's privacy." The story reveals that "few parents had ever been told sensitive information on their kids was being collected." It also warns about potential discrimination problems because of genetic diseases.
Tags: TAPE; TRANSCRIPT; human genome; genetics; DNA; newborns; health
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Seeds of Doubt Some Ingredients Are Genetically Modified, Despite Labels' Claims
Callahan and Kilman find that even though many foods are labeled "non-GMO," they do actually contain genetically modified crops. "Consumers are getting more genetically modified ingredients than they think." A prominent food laboratory tested 20 food products for The Journal. "Each of the products bore a label that read 'non-GMO' or 'GMO-free,' or otherwise specified that none of the crops used to make ingredients were genetically modified. Of the 20 products tested, 11 contained evidence of genetic material used to modify plants and another five contained more substantial amounts."
Tags: food; genetically-modified crops; chemicals; natural food
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The Genetic Surprise
Should people with genetic predisposition for certain diseases be charged more for health insurance? In 20 states, laws are on the books to preserve the privacy of genetic testing, but potential employers can still ask for a genetic profile. Is it really fair? Forced anti-discriminatory insurance rates, such as those that are in place in New York, force insurance companies to raise rates to cover costs of the outliers. It also prices many -- mostly younger people -- out of insurance. Is it "genetic discrimination" or "just another form of predictive information, like sex, age, weight, and past medical history?"
Tags: Genetic testing; insurance; Stanford Program in Genomics; Ethics; and Society; Risk Management and Insurance Program at U.T. -Austin; Denter for Biomedical Ethics at teh University of Pennsylvania; privacy
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No Miracles
This story explains how a botched blood test misdiagnosed a man as not being a Tay-Sachs gene. The gene, if both man and woman have it, can be passed onto their child and cause death before age five. This article tells the story of David and Cynthia Schloss and their son Max who died of this disease.
Tags: Tay-Sachs; Minkin; David and Cynthia Schloss; Max Schloss; genetic disorders