Graphical AbstractAn effort is made to frame memes within a human evolutionary context in which memes are complex emotion-related tools of enhanced learning and spread of language, art, culture and technology. The basic idea is that any information can become a meme if emotions are evoked in a recipient. The evolution of human brain with memetic capabilities thus produced modern humans.

Graphical AbstractRecent waves of controversies surrounding genetic engineering have spilled into popular science in Twitter battles between reputable scientists and their followers. Here, a cautionary perspective on the possible blind spots and risks of CRISPR and related biotechnologies is presented, focusing in particular on the stochastic nature of cellular control processes.