Press monitoring
KeyGenes can predict future identity of human fetal stem cells
29.5.2015 | Press monitoring
A snapshot of gene activity is now all that's necessary to determine what organ or tissue type that a cluster of fetal stem cells will ultimately become. An algorithm developed by a team of Dutch scientists makes it possible to match what's happening inside of an immature stem cell to known human fetal cell gene expression, thus identifying...
Nano-capsules designed for diagnosing malignant tumours
27.5.2015 | Press monitoring
Japanese researchers have developed adaptable nano-capsules that can help in the diagnosis of glioblastoma cells – a highly invasive form of brain tumour. Polymersomes are hollow, synthetic, nano-sized capsules. They have been extensively studied for their potential in the targeted delivery of drugs within the body. PICsomes are a novel class of...
Partly human yeast show a common ancestor\'s lasting legacy
25.5.2015 | Press monitoring
Despite a billion years of evolution separating humans from the baker's yeast in their refrigerators, hundreds of genes from an ancestor that the two species have in common live on nearly unchanged in them both, say biologists at The University of Texas at Austin. The team created thriving strains of genetically engineered yeast using human...
Mosquito sex-determining gene could help fight dengue fever
22.5.2015 | Press monitoring
Researchers with the Fralin Life Science Institute at Virginia Tech have identified a gene responsible for sex determination in mosquitoes that can transmit yellow fever, dengue, and chikungunya viruses. Males aren't relevant—at least when it comes to disease transmission by mosquitoes. Only female mosquitoes bite because they need blood for...
Researchers use CRISPR to create \'kill switch\' for GMOs
20.5.2015 | Press monitoring
A pair of researchers at MIT has developed what amounts to a "kill switch" for genetically modified organisms (GMOs). In their paper published in the journal Nature Communications, Brian Caliando and Christopher Voigt describe the process they developed and how it might impact the development and use of GMOs. GMOs have been in the news a lot of...
Gel filled with nanosponges cleans up MRSA infections
18.5.2015 | Press monitoring
Nanoengineers at the University of California, San Diego developed a gel filled with toxin-absorbing nanosponges that could lead to an effective treatment for skin and wound infections caused by MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), an antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This "nanosponge-hydrogel" minimized the growth of skin lesions...
Massively parallel biology students: More than 900 students co-author genomics research paper
15.5.2015 | Press monitoring
The list of authors for an article on the comparative genomics of a fruit fly chromosome, published online May 11 by the journal G3, runs three single-spaced pages. Large author lists are the norm in high-energy physics, but a novelty in biology. What is going on? The 1,014 authors include 940 undergraduates from 63 institutions, all working in...
India eases stance on GM crop trials
13.5.2015 | Press monitoring
Five years ago, India was a hostile place for researchers testing genetically modified (GM) crops. Its government barred the commercial planting of a transgenic aubergine (a vegetable locally known as brinjal) after protests from anti-GM activists. Then it gave state governments the power to veto transgenic-crop field trials. The result: an...
Can we do without animal research? Not yet
11.5.2015 | Press monitoring
A million-strong petition is challenging the use of animals in experiments in Europe. Some are vital for the future of medicine In my lab we study the incredible ability of zebrafish to self-repair spinal cord injuries. It's an enormously complex process. To regain function, connections from the brain to the spinal cord must regrow, different...
Producing jet fuel compounds from fungus
8.5.2015 | Press monitoring
Washington State University researchers have found a way to make jet fuel from a common black fungus found in decaying leaves, soil and rotting fruit. The researchers hope the process leads to economically viable production of aviation biofuels in the next five years. The researchers used Aspergillus carbonarius ITEM 5010 to create hydrocarbons,...
