August 5, 2011
Published by admin at August 5, 2011
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Scientists have developed the technology to analyse gene expression in hundreds of individual cells in parallel. Technical details: it uses microfluidic devices to integrate single-cell processing and RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction). Dr. Hansen foresees the technology will have widespread applciations in fields ranging from stem cell research and cancer biology […]
August 5, 2011
Published by admin at August 5, 2011
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An essential for gene repair that fixes the problem without corrupting other genes (possibly causing cancer) is targeting the repair to the specific gene with the problem. We’ve already seen the use of “zinc finger” nucleases to repair blood mutations in mice; now for the first time, scientists have used them […]
July 30, 2011
Published by admin at July 30, 2011
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Good news on the stem cell front, a US judge has finally ruled that federal funding for research with human embryonic stem cells (hESC) is legal. Two scientists, of all people, had sued on the grounds that funding the research violated an earlier federal law prohibiting federal funding when a […]
July 15, 2011
Published by admin at July 15, 2011
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Well, it’s just a tooth, but a tooth is actually a complex organ and it is an exciting first for scientists to have implanted a tooth made from stem cells into a mouse, where it integrated, survived and functioned pretty much as a normal tooth. As the authors say: “This […]
July 13, 2011
An interesting article on the religious and supernatural implications of the Harry Potter series from eSkeptic reports this concerning witchcraft: Other Protestant critics have been even less forgiving; a woman in the documentary film Jesus Camp said, “Had it been in the Old Testament, Harry Potter would have been put to […]
July 12, 2011
Published by admin at July 12, 2011
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The Vaccine War was played on SBS2 last night: Public health scientists and clinicians tout vaccines as one of the greatest achievements of modern medicine. But for many, vaccines have become controversial. Young parents in America are concerned at the sheer number of shots, while others are choosing not to […]
July 10, 2011
Published by admin at July 10, 2011
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Scientists in Asia and Europe used the Ion PGM™ sequencer to determine the strain of the deadly German E. coli bacterium, sequencing its whole genome in only 2 hours and developing and delivering screening tests in 5 days. Back in the mid-1970s, it was thought that the challenges of sequencing DNA […]
July 3, 2011
Published by admin at July 3, 2011
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One of the problems with curing genetic diseases by genetic engineering is that the easiest method is randomly inserting the correct gene. But then you not only don’t take advantage of the natural gene function regulators, but you run the risk of disrupting other genetic elements, with a consequent risk […]
June 18, 2011
Published by admin at June 18, 2011
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One of the many issues of growing old is the slow deterioration in cartilage. Cartilage provides a “non-stick” surface to lubricate your joints, and while it is a remarkable material (often lasts a lifetime of wear!), it has little if any regenerative power. Hence the osteoarthritis that plagues so many […]