●DEAD-box proteins: the driving forces behind RNA metabolism. Rocak, S. & Linder, P. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology March (2004). The authors of this Review discuss how the core element of RNA helicases functions to induce the unwinding of duplex RNA or the disruption of RNA–protein complexes.

●Close look at gene conversion hot spots. Wall, J. D. Nature Genetics February (2004). A News and Views article on work that has elucidated the fine-scale structure of linkage disequilibrium in the human genome.

●The fate of transgenes in the human gut. Heritage, J. Nature Biotechnology February (2004). A News and Views piece on the implications of an article in the same issue that shows that microbes in the small bowel of people with colostomy bags can acquire and harbour DNA sequences from genetically modified plants.

●Genetic, cellular and immune approaches to disease therapy: past and future. Nabel, G. J. Nature Medicine February (2004). A Historical Perspective on the remarkable progress that has been made over the past ten years.

●RASSF1A, the new guardian of mitosis. Máthé, E. Nature Genetics February (2004). New work indicates that the tumour-suppressor gene RASSF1 influences the spatiotemporal regulation of mitosis: the breakthrough is discussed in this News and Views article.

●DNA uptake during bacterial transformation. Chen, I. & Dubnau, D. Nature Reviews Microbiology March (2004).

●The prevalence of patent interferences in gene technology. Merz, J. F. & Henry, M. R. Nature Biotechnology February (2004).

●Genetic testing for cancer susceptibility: the promise and the pitfalls. Lerman, C. & Shields, A. E. Nature Reviews Cancer March (2004). This Science and Society article questions how we should address the psychological and social problems that surround genetic testing for cancer risk to maximize its benefits.

●Cell division: Guardian spirit blesses meiosis. Allshire, R. Nature 5 February (2004). How is the molecular tether between sister chromatids kept in place? The author of this News and Views article considers new research that addresses this question.