Utrecht, The Netherlands. A mechanism by which left–right asymmetry in the body is established and maintained offers a new model of how families of genes interact to promote and direct body asymmetry.

Disturbances to asymmetry during development can result in congenital anomalies, indicating poor health. But it also can result in sufficiently healthy characteristics that are subjected to social barriers to acceptance. For example, substantial facial asymmetry is often thought unattractive.

Ghent, Belgium. New research focuses on the role of MicroRNAs encoded on the X chromosome to explain why women have stronger immune systems to men and are less likely to develop common illnesses and cancer.

The phrase man flu came into the use as a way of describing the seemingly exaggerated symptoms of males who have a cold, but claim a bad case of the flu. The term is pejorative, but there is growing scientific evidence to support the notion of a sex-linked difference in immunity.