Free Republic

The breakthrough opens up the possibility of avoiding a range of disorders which can lead to early childhood death. Around one in 6,500 children in the UK is severely affected by the disorders, which can cause muscle weakness, blindness, heart and liver failure, diabetes and learning disabilities. The diseases are all linked to genetic deformities in mitochondria - a component of cells that act like batteries to generate energy Mitochondria DNA is separate from that of the cell nucleus and contains far fewer genes. It is only passed from mothers to their children. There are no treatments available which can...

Therapists are still offering treatments for homosexuality despite there being no evidence that such methods work, research suggests. A significant minority of mental health professionals had agreed to help at least one patient "reduce" their gay or lesbian feelings when asked to do so. The survey, published in the journal BMC Psychiatry and conducted by London researchers, involved 1,400 therapists.

Don’t suppress gays’ emotions or rights Thursday, July 20, 2006 Marie LeDuc of Silver Spring, Md., wrote to express her family’s emotional distress at having to witness two women kissing on a park bench Downtown during Columbus Gay Pride week (letter, July 13). OK , let me see: We’re not supposed to join the armed services, get married, ask for civil unions, adopt children, ask for any sort of domestic-partner benefits at work or show affection in public. We are supposed to pay taxes, bring gifts and cry (public displays) at heterosexual, legally sanctioned weddings (and be thrilled!), and support...