Much has been written about genetics, especially online. There are a variety of blogs that deal with genetics, writing about biotechnology, evolution, pharmaceuticals, health, and more. Here we’ll take a look at 50 of the best blogs that deal with these topics and more.

General

These blogs cover anything and everything genetics.

1. MayoClinic Genetics Blog: Genetic counselor Carrie Zabel shares her knowledge on genetics through this blog.
2. Science blog + Genetics: This blogs offers insight and regular news updates in the field of genetics.
3. Gene Expression: Discussions on the Gene Expression blog include culture, religion, anthropology, and biology.
4. Mary Meets Dolly: Mary Meets Dolly offers a Catholic’s guide to genetics, genetic engineering, and biotechnology.
5. The Genetic Genealogist: This blog explores the intersection of genealogical techniques and modern genetic research.
6. Eye on DNA: Eye on DNA writes about anything and everything DNA, and how it relates to you.
7. Genetic Future: Read this blog to learn how genes affect your future and the future of society.
8. Information on Genes: This blog features answers to questions on genes, genetics, and genomics from experts.

Health

If you’re interested in how genetics can affect and be used in health, check out these blogs.

9. Genetics and Health: Grace Ibay’s blog is all about your genes and your life.
10. The Decision Tree: This blogger writes about predictive medicine and the future of healthcare.
11. MassGenomics: MassGenomics is all about medical genomics in the post-genome era.
12. DNA And You: Matt Mealiffe, M.D. discusses the intersection of genetics and your health.
13. PredictER: PredictER shares news and research about predictive health.

Biotechnology & Bioinformatics

These blogs deal with bioinformatics and biotechnology.

14. Think Gene: ThinkGene is a bio blog about genetics, genomics, and biotechnology.
15. Snowdeal: On this blog, you’ll find discussions of bioinformatics in the 21st century.
16. Omics! Omics!: Get an understanding of new technologies and publications on genomics and proteomics and their impact on drug discovery from this blog.
17. My Biotech Life: This blogger offers his take on biotechnology.
18. Aminopop: Aminopop writes about what’s fun in biotech.

Disorders

Understand some genetic disorders by checking out the writings of these bloggers.

19. Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Genetics Blog: This blog writes about genetics as they relate to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
20. Cancer Genetics: Check out this blog to learn about a personalized approach to human cancer genetics.

Evolution

These blogs discuss genetics as it relates to evolution.

21. John Hawks Weblog: John Hawks writes this blog about paleoanthropology, genetics, and evolution.
22. Genomics, Evolution, and Pseudoscience: Steven Salzberg’s blog discusses topics in pseudoscience and beyond.
23. Yann Klimentidis’ Weblog: Yann writes about evolution, genetics, human diversity, and more.

Academic

These genetics blogs are written by professors and students of genetics.

24. ScienceRoll: ScienceRoll features a medical student studying genetics and medicine through web 2.0.
25. Genome Boy: This blogger is an assistant professor at the Duke University Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy.
26. Genomics Policy: Genomics Policy from the University of Glamorgan offers insight on genomic-based medicine.
27. Genomicron: Check out this blog to learn about genomic diversity and evolution from an evolutionary biologist at the University of Guelph in Canada.
28. Sex, Genes, and Evolution: This blogger is a molecular evolutionary biologist and biology professor at the University of Iowa.
29. On Genetics: Steve Mount, a geneticist at the University of Maryland, writes about genetics, genomics, and gene expression.

Personal Genetics

Learn more about the field of personal genetics from these blogs.

30. The Genetizen: The Genetizen is written by experts to inform you about important issues in genetics.
31. deCODEyou: On this blog you’ll learn about the latest in health, genetics, and genetic testing.
32. The Gene Sherpa: The Gene Sherpa discusses how personalized medicine relates to you.
33. Let’s Get Personal: This blog discusses science, policy, and ethics in personalized medicine.
34. The Personal Genome: This blog explores genetics as a medical tool and lifestyle choice.

Food

These blogs explore genetically modified food.

35. Tomorrow’s Table: Tomorrow’s Table shares topics related to genetics, food, and farming.
36. Biofortified: Biofortified is a group blog about plant genetics and genetic engineering.
37. GMObelus: GMObelus delivers peer-reviewed news in the field of agricultural biotechnology.
38. GMO Pundit: David Tribe writes this blog to encourage Australian primary producers to understand GMO.
39. The Fruit Blog: Check out this blog for a discussion of fruit and fruit breeding.
40. Genetic Maize: Genetic Maize navigates the maze of GMOs.
41. GMO Africa: Here you’ll find news and more on the benefits of genetically modified food in Africa.

News

Stay on top of the latest news in genetics through these blogs.

42. Genetics in the News: The Oregon Genetics Program features updates on new developments in genetics.
43. GenomeAlberta: This blog shares research and news in genomics.
44. Epigenetics News: Epigenetics News is an independent news source for scientific discoveries in epigenetics.
45. The Daily Scan: This blog from GenomeWeb points out what’s worth reading on the web.
46. The OpenHelix Blog: OpenHelix is all about genomics resources, news, and research designed to keep researchers abreast of new genomics data.
47. Flags and Lollipops: This blog is about news in bioinformatics, genomics, and science on the web.
48. The Biotech Weblog: Here you’ll find news about gene therapy, stem cells, and more.
49. The Navigator: This blog from Navigenics shares new insights about genetics and your health.
50. DNA Policy: Check out this blog to find out the latest news on genetics public policy.

Pharmacy schools are mainly smaller sections of larger public schools around the country, which makes their entrance into schools reserved for those students who are serious about their studies.  California in general offers programs in only a handful of universities:

    University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, Los Angeles
    Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy, Loma Linda
    Western University of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Pomona
    University of California – San Diego School of Pharmacy, San Diego
    University of California – San Francisco School of Pharmacy, San Francisco
    University of the Pacific, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, Stockton

These schools represent the best pharmacy schools within the state of California, and the schools which students should focus on applying to. 

The USC pharmacy program was the first pharmacy school in the state, founded in 1905, and still remains one of the top choices for many pharmacists within the state (50 percent of pharmacists attended the school).  USC offers the Doctor of Pharmacy program as well as Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy, all of which are necessary within fields of pharmaceuticals.  This school was the first to establish the six-year Doctor of Pharmacy program and remains a model for pharmacy schools around the nation. 

Loma Linda is a relatively new school, which saw its first class of graduates in the fall of 2002.  This school caters specifically to pharmacists in a Seventh-day Adventist Christian setting, allowing students to achieve a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in this environment.  While the school grants entrance to a wide array of students, priority is given to those who have a bachelor’s degree in biological, chemical, or related sciences. 

Western University has undergone name and location changes since its inception in 1977, when it was known as College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific.  It was founded in response to a shortage of physicians in the western United States, and represents the fourth pharmacy school to be established in California.  The name of the school changed in 1996 to western University of Health Sciences to better reflect its true purpose. 

Another new school, the University of California Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences was established in 2000, graduating its first class in 2002.  This program specifically focuses on the intertwining of science degrees such as chemistry, biology, physics, and engineering, with pharmacy.  This school has recognized the need for students who are well-versed in all sciences and pharmacy in order to tackle modern diseases, which is why it now ranks third in the nation for the development of biotechnology products as a result of this emphasis on sciences.  Plans are still underway to create a new program that offers a B.S. in Chemistry and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in a joint seven-year program. 

The University of California, San Francisco Pharmacy School boasts the title of the nation’s top-ranked pharmacy school, as well as one of the oldest pharmacy schools in the West.  The school has focused over the years of the growing link between drugs and technology and has evolved its teaching methods as technology has allowed.  Therefore, as the top-ranked school, it has catered to evolutions within the technological field while still retaining the core pharmaceutical values. 

The Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is another school that has been around for more than fifty years in California.  Making a name for itself on the Pacific Coast, the school offers an extensive history of unique humanistic approaches to education.  The school recently celebrated its fiftieth anniversary and continues to be a beacon of strength on the West Coast. 

For many people, the iPhone and iPod Touch mean holding the world in your pocket. But did you ever consider that you can use your device to become healthier? It’s true, there are many apps out there that can make you leaner, fitter, all all around better. Check out this collection to find 100 of the best apps that do just that.

Tests & Tracking

Figure out where you are in your health by using these apps.

1. MyNetDiary: This web-based diet and exercise program is available on your iPhone, so you can remember your workouts and diet.
2. iPhodometer: If you don’t have Nike + iPod, you can use this alternative to track your calories burned on your walk or run.
3. Trixie Tracker: Track your baby’s sleeping and feeding habits with this iPhone app.
4. TheCarrot: Track your life, including your health, fitness, and nutrition using TheCarrot.
5. Lose It!: Using this app, you can set goals and establish a daily calorie budget to lose weight.
6. Weightbot: With this weight tracking robot, you can set goals, track your progress, and more.
7. Pet Phone: Don’t forget about your pet’s health-track their needs using this app.
8. Health Cubby: Set simple, realistic goals, and track your progress to achieve them in this social fitness app.
9. LIVESTRONG.com Calorie Tracker: This tracker will help you keep a digital diary of your daily calories on your iPhone.
10. FertilityFriend: Get a free menstrual calendar to track your cycle using this calendar.
11. SugarTracker: Stay on top of your sugar consumption by using this tracker for diabetics.
12. BP Buddy: This blood pressure helper makes it easy for you to track your blood pressure levels.
13. BodyBook: BodyBook is an exercise and fitness log app.
14. SparkPeople: Using SparkPeople, you can create a diet and fitness plan on your iPhone.
15. Mindful: This fitness tool will allow you to track your food intake.
16. RunKeeper Free: Use this GPS app to track your running progress.
17. Vision: Vision will not only test your eyes, it will protect them as well.
18. iPregnant: Use this iPhone app to calculate your baby’s astrological sign, days remaining, and more.
19. iPhit Fitness Tracking: Use this app to combine your Nike + iPod sensor with your iPhone and keep track of your walking and running.
20. Glucose Buddy: Glucose Buddy will help you stay on top of your diabetes.
21. FitReach: This program makes it easy for your to track your diet, training, and weight goals in your iPhone.
22. Wellness4one: Use this app to evaluate yourself, build fitness programs, and more.
23. The Bike Computer: This GPS tracking application will make it easy to track your progress on your bike.
24. Weightbot: Use this iPhone app to track your weight loss.
25. Limeade: With Limeade, you’ll be able to develop personalized fitness goals on your iPhone.
26. Ovulation Calendar: Keep track of your fertility using this iPhone app.
27. Gyminee: Stay on top of your workouts, nutrition, and more using Gyminee.
28. WeightDate: Keep an eye on fluctuations in your weight over time with the help of this application.

Calculators

These calculators will help you crunch the numbers on your health.

29. Blood Alcohol Concentration Calculator: This calculator will help you figure out your level of inebriation.
30. Calories Burned Calculator: Using this calculator for the iPhone, you can find out how many calories you’re burning in your workout.
31. PointsCalc: Calculate the calories, fat, and more of your food using this calculator.
32. BMR Calculator: Figure out your base metabolic rate using this iPhone calculator app.
33. Heart Rate Calculator: This calculator will help you figure out your target heart rate.
34. The Wheel: This gestational age calculator will help you determine your baby’s due date.
35. iPhone Calculator: This app will help you calculate your calories and find out how much exercise you need to burn them.
36. 2Fat: Using this simple application, you can calculate your body mass index.
37. Daily Calorie Calculator: With this app, you can estimate how many calories you should intake each day.
38. iPoint Calculator: Weight Watchers users can track points using this calculator app.
39. BMI Calculator: Use this calculator to figure out your approximate Body Mass Index.

Activity

Be more active by using these iPhone apps.

40. Health and Fitness Mobile: Health and Fitness Magazine’s iPhone app has workout videos, apps, and more.
41. iWorkout Lite: iWorkout Lite is full of useful advice for gym-goers.
42. CityRUNNR: Use this iPhone tool to track your runs and watch your progress.
43. GymFu: Do fitness training with your iPhone using GymFu.
44. iPump: Get a free workout from this app that targets all of the major muscle groups in the body.
45. Progio Mobile: Progio Mobile will make it easy for you to take your training program on the go.
46. Steps: Use your iPhone as a pedometer using this app.
47. SpeedoMeter: Use this tool to find out your speed when walking or running.
48. Pump10: With Pump10, you’ll be able to use lots of different workout videos to get fit.
49. iFitness: iFitness offers a comprehensive exercise database with pictures and instructions.
50. Nike Training Club: Use this app to get a personalized training program on your iPhone.
51. iMapMy: iMapMy will track your data for running, cycling, and more.
52. iTrailMap: Find ski and snowboard trail maps using this iPhone app.
53. Trailguru: Trailguru will help you find trails in the great outdoors.
54. FitSync: FitSync makes it easy to get training, logs, and a community of users.
55. MoboVivo: This app will allow you to download fitness videos to your iPhone.

Nutrition

These apps will help you make smart eating decisions.

55. iPhone Diet: This nutrition monitoring app will help you keep track of your diet and health.
56. Food Network: The Food Network app will give you access to healthy recipes and videos.
57. Fast Food Calorie Counter: With this handy guide, you can look up nutritional information for 49 top fast food restaurants.
58. Sensei for Weight Loss: This app will create a weight loss plan for you.
59. Food Information Database: This app will make it easy for you to keep nutritional information on restaurants handy when you’re going out to eat.
60. Dietician: Dietician will plan meals for you with recipes and more.
61. One Trip Shopping List: You’ll be able to keep your shopping list on you at all times with this app.
62. LVN to RN 8h2o: With the help of this app, you’ll be able to keep track of how many glasses of water you drink.
63. iPhone Nutrition: iPhone Nutrition allows you to find nutritional information on any food from your iPhone.
64. 101 Cookbooks: Find lots of great healthy recipes to cook on this app.

Diagnosis

Use these apps to figure out what’s going on with your body (or if you’re a nurse or doctor, use them at the office).

65. Symptom Navigator: Use the Symptom Navigator to figure out what you’re suffering from.
66. iEyeExam: With this app, you can give yourself a quick eye exam.
67. Medicomatic: Learn about illnesses and analyze your symptoms using this iPhone app.
68. Lab Tests: This app will help you determine whether or not your lab tests are normal.

Wellness

These apps will help promote your general wellness and health.

69. Yogi Says: In this app, the Amrit Yoga Institution offers a new inspirational quote each time you refresh.
70. Massage Me: Massage Me uses the iPhone’s vibration to give you a relaxing message.
71. White Noise: Use this app to generate white noise that can block out distractions.
72. iPosture Companion Free: This application is an instructional aid that will help you improve your posture.
73. aSleep: Use aSleep to set your iPhone to music you can sleep to.
74. Pain Free: This app offers exercises that can help alleviate aches and pains.
75. Quitter: Quitter is an app that will help you work to quit smoking.
76. Mind Wave: Use Mind Wave to set your brain into a certain state of mind.
77. Binaural Beats: This app for the iPhone will help you concentrate with binaural beats, background noise, and ambient noise.
78. Custom Hypnosis: This application will allow you to hypnotize yourself using your iPhone.
79. iLove Birds Lite: Get the sounds of birds and more from this iPhone app.
80. Prêt-à-Yoga: Prêt-à-Yoga offers a personal yoga guru on your iPhone.
81. Brain Hack: Use this app to hack your brain into specific states of mind.
82. Meditation Timer: Use this timer on your iPhone to time your meditations.
83. Custom Sounds of Nature: Use ambient sounds to relax using this app.
84. Brush Timer: This free timer will help you remember to brush your teeth for long enough.
85. Bob’s Sheep Counter: Relax or count yourself to sleep with these sheep.
86. Zen Timer: This timer will help you time your meditations.

Medications

Learn more about medications from these applications.

87. iRx: Put this app on your iPhone to have a handy reference from the FDA on pharmaceuticals.
88. Medicinal Herbs: Get access to a database of medicinal herbs from this iPhone app.
89. iPharmacy: Use iPharmacy to look into side effects, interactions, and more for drugs.

Reference

Keep medical information handy on your iPhone by using these apps.

90. Netter’s Anatomy: Use Netter’s Anatomy to keep a variety of different medical images on your iPhone.
91. Chondriac: Chondriac will make it easy for you to learn about health and medical information on your iPhone.
92. Natural Cures: This app shares information about natural and prescription therapies.
93. Bio Dictionary: Use this dictionary to look up health issues and medical terms.
94. Pocket First Aid Guide: Treat a variety of first aid injuries using this iPhone app guide.
95. Eponyms: Get a better understanding of medical terminology from this iPhone app.
96. iFirstAid Lite: Get an emergency first aid assistant using this iPhone app.
97. WebMD Mobile: WebMD’s app is like a portable nurse practitioner, and will make it easy for you to look up medical information when you need it.
98. My Life Record: Use My Life Record to keep all of your important medical information on hand in your iPhone.

Emergency

In case of emergency, be sure to have these apps on your iPhone.

99. 911 Help: Turn on this application to draw attention for help using your iPhone.
100. iPhone Emergency Card: This card for your iPhone will help you store health and contact information in case of emergency.

The role of the pharmacist is ever-evolving as new methods come out to better serve patients and the health care industry in general.  Pharmacists serve dual roles in providing both medical care and furthering the technological aspects of current medical care.  Pharmacists additionally now have a more active role in making scientific breakthroughs and catering more to this side of the health industry.

Most people assume that pharmacists simply sit behind the counter at their local Walgreens and mix together prescriptions day-in and day-out.  While this is an accurate assumption for many pharmacists around the country, there are others who are deeply involved with the advances in technology and others who are more heavily involved with physician opinions.  This shift in description has evolved only in the past few years, as the role of the pharmacist now includes much more knowledge about the health-care industry than it ever did in the past. 

Currently, many of us are looking to pharmacists for comfort amidst the H1N1 flu scare.  Flu shots are more popular this year than they have ever been in the past, and there is a heightened focus on health care due both to H1N1 and the congressional bill.  As a result, pharmacists have become more important in the eyes of the public and the eyes of the health care industry as they make discoveries regarding viral infections almost yearly.  Additionally, physicians now work more closely with pharmacists than they have in the past in order to form revolutionary breakthroughs in the field and cater to their patients more efficiently. 

Pharmacists now additionally perform more of a physician role in several states, as they are allowed to administer lab tests and check diagnostics such as blood glucose levels or liver function tests.  This is helpful for physicians because patients who have chronic long-term conditions no longer have to come into the office for these tests, but can simply drop by their local pharmacist.  Pharmacists have thus become much more involved in patient care and now even perform private patient “counseling” over specific forms of drugs. 

As the years pass, the link between pharmacists and doctors will only grow, as breakthroughs in patient care push the two realms of the health industry closer together.  Both physicians and pharmacists are informed of the same information when new drugs come out, and both deal directly with the same patients, leading to heightened role of the pharmacist in modern society.