Photosynthetic molecule exhibits extraordinary self-control
Biological systems excel in their ability for adaptive self-regulation. Plants are the perfect example, shedding destructive high-energy chemical intermediates as heat. Scientists now understand this process and have designed an artificial molecule that does the same thing.
Biochips spot cancers before symptoms develop
Working from the knowledge that antibodies respond to proteins sloughing off tumors, scientists at Argonne National Lab have developed a biochip with 1,000 protein fractions that can quickly diagnose diseases based on the patient’s own antibodies. The technology has already attracted several licensees.
Scientist induces pluripotent stem cells without genetic manipulation
A nongenetic approach has been successfully employed by a Scripps Research Institute scientist to create both mice and human iPS cells. The methods is claimed to be safer: previous methods utilizing gene induction produced cells prone to developing tumors.
Cyclin research gives rise to theory of transcription factors
Genomic advances have allowed researchers to study the big picture of controlling genes (known as cyclins) and have found that many cells use tags to function without these “managers,” changing assumptions about the cell cycle.
Artificial Golgi Apparatus synthesizes cellular sugar factory
Devised by a student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the lab-on-a-chip uses lab-developed recipes that replicate important sugars—such as heparin—created in a cell’s Golgi organelle. The invention suggests a way to artificially manufacture anticoagulents and other medicines.
Rare HIV-fighting agent synthesized in the lab for the first time
Effective treatments in the battle against HIV diseases such as AIDS have turned in recent years to prostratin and DPP, related compounds sourced from tropical plants. R&D has been stymied by a lack of availability of these compounds, however, so Stanford Univ. researchers turned their efforts to synthesizing the compounds, which act as a sort of "bird dog" flushing out dormant viruses.
Iron oxide nanoworms travel the body with impunity
Science fiction films of the 1960s imagined traveling the human body with little interference. However, instead of a submarine, scientists hope to battle cancerous tumors with drugs attached to nanoscale chains of spherical nanoparticles, which are guided to the target by peptides.
Idaho team readies artificial beak for wounded bald eagle
The idea of a prosthetic beak has been largely unexplored. This bird, however, which lost its beak to a gunshot two years ago, has nothing to lose. The tricky grafting process will rely on computer modeling, lightweight nylon, and glue. But there’s no guarantee it will work.
Previously unknown cancer tell-tale caught in the act
A Massachusetts biotechnology firm has today published work about its discovery of a new form of the cell surface receptor MUC1, a common marker for tracking cancer. The advance, says the company, could lead to both better diagnostics and the potential for blocking cancer cell growth.
Mice don’t need genes indispensible to humans Favored by laboratories everywhere, mice have a genome similar to ours. Unexpectedly, researchers have found almost a quarter of the identical genes, many of them dealing with cell waste, are unnecessary and unused by mice. The study may put mouse models in question for studying human disease.
Scientists identify protein critical for iron absorption We have a delicate relationship with iron. The mineral is critical to life function, but too much is toxic, and not enough brings on anemia, a common malady. Until recently, we didn’t understand what proteins regulate the uptake of iron. Now, a complete picture is forming.
Zebrafish shine with inner light Working off the knowledge that a body’s cells are naturally coated with sugars, scientists have taken a step beyond tagging individual proteins: they have marked chains of carbohydrates throughout a fish’s body, making it glow from the inside out.
Soft rot fungus is the muse for biofuel developers The big problem with cellulosic biofuel production is the prohibitive cost of converting tough plant cells to fermentable sugars. The genome of Trichoderma reesei, a proficient producer of cellulase enzymes, is being examined for ways to improve the bottom line.
Botulinum assay can detect just half a femtogram Called ALISSA, a new fluorescence technique improves detection sensitivity of the neurotoxin botulinum by a factor of ten thousand. The method, which relies on antibody-coated beads that contain reactive photochemicals, will help reduce the terrorist threat of one of the worst known toxins.
Scientists discover how some bacteria survive antibiotics Some pathogenic microbes can turn on genes when they “feel” the presence of erythromycin and other antibiotics, preventing these drugs from blocking proteins the bacteria need. The phenomenon—inducible antibiotic expression—has been known for decades, but until now the mechanism was inscrutable.
New genome map dispels assumptions on large-scale genetic disparity Most genetic differences among individuals were once thought to be the result of small variations on the scale of single nucleotides. A new sequence-based map of larger structural variations in the human genome—pulled from eight people of diverse background—show there’s much more to learn.
Chemist: U.S. has low risk of contaminated drugs
Contaminated heparin, which recently caused deaths and illnesses, put the spotlight on the distribution and manufacturing practices of big pharma. Though risk will always be a measurable part of the system, a Purdue Univ. expert says, in general, these are low and usually come from manufacturing equipment being misused.
New testing tool a boon for bioengineers Progress in the field of biomaterials depends on innovation in all aspects of experimentation. Researchers have recently created libraries of miniature porous, bone-like scaffolds which differ only a tiny bit from each other. The study, which moves away from flat films used previously, sped up sample testing by a factor of four.
Lab-made nanostructures work like DNA, only with bells and whistles DNA is perhaps the best example of natural self-assembly. Arizona State Univ. biological engineers have taken the latest step in emulating the iconic helix by creating a synthetic DNA analog out of glycerol nucleic acid. Better yet, it’s relatively simple to make and can be mirror-imaged for complex structures.
Disease-fighting cells have a surprising response mechanism Despite their importance to the body’s ability to stave off infections, memory T cells wait days before multiplying to fight a detected threat. The finding by Scripps Research Institute, which used transgenic animal models, suggests the counter-intuitive delay is a way of stifling the risk of an autoimmune response.
Gene therapy is opening doors—finally Some have called gene therapy a snakebitten field, but two recent breakthroughs suggest a corner has been turned. First, U.S. physicians have used replacement genes to reverse the effects of an inherited form of blindness, and UK scientists have neutralized a side effect in cystic fibrosis treatments.
Biological clocks may align themselves to light, not sight In a Johns Hopkins Univ. study, genetically-modified mice were able to see light, but lacked the ganglion necessary to interpret light change. Their inability to adapt, say researcher, is clue as to what causes insomnia or depression in humans.
Cellulose biofactory needs only sun and salty water Thursday’s R&D Daily reported on a new book warning of the dangers of antibiotic-resistant bacterium. Today, we look a beneficial, lab-tuned microbe that acts as a nanofactory, churning out cellulose for potential use as ethanol or other fuels.
The battle with bacteria could be a futile campaign It’s not easy to visualize, but much of every human is bacteria: 100 trillion, more or less. As the power of antibiotics wanes, it’s not just our own health we should be worried about, says one prominent researcher. Bacteria’s first attack may hit our food supply chain.
Replacing heart valves with a still-beating heart The implant procedure for the SAPIEN transcatheter is so minimally invasive, just an incision in the leg is needed to thread the device (compressed in a balloon) all the way to the heart. The procedure has the promise to eliminate multiple open heart surgeries for patients with congenital heart disease.
One easy way to measure the importance of a news story (or at least the importance the media places on the story) is to glance at the number of results hoarded by Google’s “News” search tool. I couldn’t say if this is an accurate metric—there are blog search tools out there that might be a better metric—but it does seem to reflect either public interest on a topic or the money involved.
I began watching this number more closely after seeing that
a recent story in the UK’s Sunday Times about a genetically modified human embryo created in New York last year generated just 270 unique stories (or blogs or editorials as of this writing) on Google News after more than a day out in the open.
What gives? Though the researchers involved rightly used a non-viable embryo, and destroyed it after five days (presumably once their research goals were accomplished), the story generated little more outrage than could be mustered by a few conservative groups and perhaps the media itself.
I had expected a firestorm of controversy, but I guess we shouldn’t be surprised. The tide has turned. An administration hostile to this sort of stem cell R&D is wrapping up its term; California has already pledged $271 million to build stem cell facilities.
We could also find answers back at Google News. There are just too many competing news stories of note this week. Coverage of the Chengdu earthquake, for example, is approaching 3,000 significant stories (or blogs or editorials). The HP bid for EDS has taken over as the business story of the moment with nearly 2,000 articles.
There are literally dozens of stories that outrank the embryo revelations, including web gems—the secret UFO files in the UK recently released to the public—and obligatory hard news—Bush’s arrival in Israel for the celebration of the country’s 60-year anniversary.
I think everyone has realized that if the U.S. doesn’t get on board with this type of research, which looks both promising and profitable, someone somewhere else will be happy to give it a try.
