The debate about cloning and genetic engineering, which began in 1997, has been strongly influenced by fictional narratives, scripts, and images. They in turn provided the seeds for the creation of various metaphors used in the debate, especially by the media. The flow of metaphors and images associated with cloning is now ebbing away and is being replaced by a new wave of images and metaphors ...

The new strain of bird flu first identified in southern Asia has now reached Europe, raising local fears about a jump to humans as researchers have controversially reconstructed the deadly Spanish flu virus as a means to determine the factors contributing to its virulence. Michael Gross reports.

only given a rough idea of their actual numbers in the general community. They can also cause tremendous distress and disability to people over many years. Nevertheless, there has been a tendency in the past to treat them mainly as medical curiosities and few probics benefited much from the attentions of doctors. Even recent editions of standard psychiatric textbooks have dealt very inadequatel...