Altered Peanuts and People

Though not completely allergen free, what you see on the left are genetically modified peanuts that 'silence' two of the genes responsible for the most fatal allergic reactions to food in the US. On the right are wild peanuts. Horticulturists at the University of Georgia shot a customized DNA sequence into peanut plants that then caused the RNA to halt production of two of the proteins known to cause reactions. As one commenter pointed out, the story is filled with "may be," "should," "could," "it's possible" and other such words we reporters use to cover our asses. Moms, your peanut allergic kids will still be waiting quite awhile to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich since it takes years to test the consequences of genetic alterations.

On Dec. 1, 1953, the headline read "Ex-GI Becomes Blonde Beauty" to announce the first sex change operation with HRT as part of the change procedures. The first photo is of George Jorgenson in 1943 and he was soon drafted into the Army after WWII. The second photo is the one George, now Christine, sent back to his family in 1953, no longer a woman trapped in a man's body. The last photo is Christine at age 50. Christine became a publicity hound, was a lounge singer then a transgender lecturer and died of cancer in 1989 after a lifetime of ridicule, disappointments and cruel jokes.