Healthline is the reincarnation of an older site formerly known as YourDoctor.com, and has been revamped as a specialized search engine geared towards patients and others who don't necessarily speak medicalese. The search results are all from doctor-approved sites, and the site also features hosted content licensed from medical content providers. Lay terms are defined in the search results, and the user is offered a number of different ways to refine queries. A "health map" function shows related concepts to the current query, and a click on a new concept generates a new search. Specialized content "channels" present feature articles, current news and related health tools in about 200 health-related areas. Special features for registered users include saving, annotating and rating articles, as well as emailing them to friends.

A new study in this week's Science reveals that a full 20 percent of the human genome has been patented in the United States. Of that 20 percent of patented genes -- about 4,000 in total -- around 63 percent are assigned to private firms while 28 percent are held by universities. Researchers patent genes as valuable research tools, for use in diagnostic tests, or to discover and produce new drugs. In the U.S., an isolated DNA sequence is treated by the patent system like other natural chemical products, such that a sequence of DNA can be patented in exactly the same way as a new medicine purified from a plant source could be patented.

The debate surrounding gene patenting is waged on one hand by advocates who claim that gene patents promote the disclosure of ideas by making important uses of genetic sequences publically known. In the critic corner, some warn that overly broad patents can obstruct future innovation by preventing researchers from investigating alternative uses for a patented gene. If one institution owns the rights to a gene, both academic and industry scientists may face a prohibitively complex process to obtain permission to use its sequence in their research. What are your thoughts on the debate?

[Via snowdeal]

Hello, readers -- I wanted to take just a brief moment to introduce myself, as I'll be helping fill in for the inimitable Catherine Calacanis over the next couple of weeks. I am excited to brush a bit of the dust off my degree in biochemistry and return to my science roots after having had my head squarely in the tech world for some years now! I'm looking forward to discussion with you all. Thanks!