Press monitoring
Engineering Alternative Fuel With Cyanobacteria
21.1.2013 | Press monitoring
Sandia National Laboratories Truman Fellow Anne Ruffing has engineered two strains of cyanobacteria to produce free fatty acids, a precursor to liquid fuels, but she has also found that the process cuts the bacteria's production potential. In general, this is how the process works: Eukaryotic algae grow in a pond to the density needed, then...
Research Revisiting the Safety of GM Weevil-Resistant Peas in Mice Contradicts Previous Findings
16.1.2013 | Press monitoring
Researchers at the Medical University of Vienna have conducted feeding trials with mice to investigate the allergenicity of genetically modified (GM) weevil-resistant peas. Development of the peas was discontinued in 2005 when a risk assessment conducted by the CSIRO and Australian National University showed negative reactions in mice to the peas...
Researchers Identify a New Gene With a Key Role in Obesity and Diabetes
15.1.2013 | Press monitoring
Scientists observed that blocking the expression of the gene TRIP-Br2 in mice protects them against obesity and insulin resistance. The study shows that the gene modulates fat storage by regulating energy expenditure and lipolysis, the process which transforms fat into lipids for the body's energy consumption. If the gene expression is blocked,...
Giant Tobacco Plants That Stay Young Forever
14.1.2013 | Press monitoring
Tobacco plants bloom when they are just a few months old -- and then they die. Now, researchers have located a genetic switch which can keep the plants young for years and which permits unbounded growth. In short, an ideal source of biomass. The life of tobacco plants is short. They grow for around three to four months, followed by flowering and...
Breast Milk Contains More Than 700 Species of Bacteria
11.1.2013 | Press monitoring
Spanish researchers have traced the bacterial microbiota map in breast milk, which is often the main source of nourishment for newborns. The study has revealed a larger microbial diversity than originally thought: more than 700 species. A group of Spanish scientists have now used a technique based on massive DNA sequencing to identify the set of...
Red Wine Could Mask Testosterone Levels, Experts Warn
9.1.2013 | Press monitoring
Red wine could give athletes and players a boost in the sports arena by increasing the amount of performance-enhancing hormone testosterone in their bodies, according to researchers from London's Kingston University. A team led by Professor Declan Naughton, from the University's School of Life Sciences, found that red wine might reduce the...
Improving DNA Amplification from Problematic Plants
8.1.2013 | Press monitoring
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a common technique used to amplify, or copy, pieces of DNA. Amplified DNA is then used in genetic analyses for everything from medicine to forensics. In plant research, PCR is a vital step in detecting and sequencing genes, and its applications are endless. However, compounds found in plants often inhibit...
Nature-Inspired Advance for Treating Sensitive Teeth
7.1.2013 | Press monitoring
Taking inspiration from Mother Nature, scientists are reporting an advance toward preventing the tooth sensitivity that affects millions of people around the world. Their report on development of the substance, similar to the adhesive that mussels use to attach to rocks and other surfaces in water, appears in the journal ACS Applied Materials &...
First Genome Sequence of Chinese Plum Provides Important Resource for Fruit Improvement
4.1.2013 | Press monitoring
A Chinese research team has completed the first genomic sequence of Prunus mume, known as mei. This work is extremely important for the deeper understanding of Rosaceae evolution and provides an invaluable resource for the improvement of fruit trees. The latest study was published online December 27 in Nature Communication. The availability of...
Production of 5-Aminovaleric and Glutaric Acid by Metabolically Engineered Microorganism
3.1.2013 | Press monitoring
We use many different types of chemicals and plastics for the convenience of our everyday life. The current sources of these materials are provided from petrochemical industry, using fossil oil as a raw material. Due to our increased concerns on the environmental problems and fossil resource availability, there has been much interest in producing...
