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 […]
June 11, 2011
Published by admin at June 11, 2011
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A paper in Nature, summarised in The Scientist, reports success in making progenitor cells, that naturally exist in the outer layer of heart tissue, proliferate, migrate into heart muscle and transform into heart muscle cells (cardiomyocytes). The research in mice “suggests that the human heart could be encouraged to repair itself […]
May 22, 2011
Published by admin at May 22, 2011
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While lab-grown skin has been around for a while (relatively speaking!) and artifical bladders have already been used medically, the problem with growing solid organs is that their three-dimensional structure can be important, both in terms of localisation of cells with different specialisations and the blood supply to the organ. […]
May 21, 2011
Published by admin at May 21, 2011
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There is a curious debate on the final elimination of smallpox stocks, reported in The Scientist: Destroying smallpox stocks This week, health ministers from the World Health Organization’s member countries will gather to decide the fate of the last two known remaining stocks of smallpox virus. Scientists and health officials […]
May 6, 2011
Published by admin at May 6, 2011
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Good recent news is the sensible decision by a US Appeals Court overturning an injunction that barred the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from funding research using human embryonic stem cells. Good as far as it goes, but it doesn’t put a stop to court action, which is based on a […]
October 11, 2010
Published by admin at October 11, 2010
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An interesting statement in a recent post in The Scientist on human embryonic stem cell (“ESC”) rules in the USA: “Other countries have laws that provide researchers with legal and moral clarity.” The assumption that laws can provide any kind of “moral clarity” is a fascinating one. In terms of […]