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Global migration spreads the genes linked to serious genetic disorders. These conditions can put pressure on health services. A team of scientists, lead by Dr Fred Piel at Oxford University, has been tracking the recent movements of the sickle cell gene across the globe to raise awareness of the disease in countries not used to dealing with the condition.

Dr Graham Easton found out more about the disease at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust from consultant haematologist Dr Mark Layton, and patient Bertrand, who had just been admitted to the ward with a sickle cell crisis.

Smelling Illness
We have known since ancient times that certain diseases have particular smells - for instance diabetes can produce a fruity, sweet smell. But what if we were all able to detect much more subtle smells – before someone was even ill? Professor Mats Olsson from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden devised a neat experiment to test this theory. There were smelly T-shirts involved – but the first step was to trigger an immune response in some volunteers.

ECT to Wipe Distressing Memories
Imagine if you could erase your worst memories - as in the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – where a couple use a procedure to wipe each other from their memories when their relationship turns sour. That is Hollywood fantasy. But according to scientists in the Netherlands, writing in the journal Nature Neuroscience, it may actually be possible to 'cleanse' parts of the brain using electroconvulsive therapy – or ECT. ´óÏó´«Ã½ Hague Correspondent Anna Holligan gets exclusive access to the lab in Rijnstate Hospital in the Dutch city of Arnhem.

(Photo: Blood sample is collected from a pricked finger. Credit: Stephane de Sakutin/ AFP / Getty Images)