HIV

With a little genetic tweaking, homo sapiens could become naturally resistant to HIV. A gene that can disassemble the HIV virus inside its cell before it spreads to another cell lurks dormant in the body of every person infected with HIV. The problem is getting that gene to turn on and start stopping HIV in its tracks. Right now, a team of researchers at University of Alberta in Canada have been destroying HIV viruses by inserting the gene, called TRIM22, into cells. Once they figure out how to control TRIM22, the question is whether everyone should get the gene activated in their bodies at birth as a preventative measure.

HUNDREDS of haemophiliacs may still be unaware that they contracted HIV or Hepatitis C from infected blood products up to 30 years ago, an independent inquiry heard yesterday. Campaigners warned that the 4,670 haemophiliacs who contracted either infection was "the tip of the iceberg".