| Site Map | Contacts | Links | Newsletter | |
News:
Biology
Note: Due to the archiving policies of the various news Websites some links on this page may no longer be valid. All links will take you away from the IBSS Site - use your browser's "back" button to return to this page.
November 2005
November 9
Drug
Cuts Deaths after Heart Attack
Taking a blood-thinning drug in addition to aspirin daily after a heart
attack significantly reduced the risk of death, follow-up heart attacks
and strokes, according to a six-year study of nearly 46,000 patients in
China. Researchers found that the drug, clopidogrel, increased overall survival
by 9 percent.
Flu Chip
May Help Combat Future Epidemics, Pandemics Boulder CO (SPX) Nov 08,
2005
A novel "Flu Chip" developed at the University of Colorado at
Boulder that can determine the genetic signatures of specific influenza
strains from patient samples within hours may help world health officials
combat coming epidemics and pandemics.
Malaria
Vaccine Proves Effective in Clinical Trial
A new vaccine stimulated human immune cells to recognize and kill malaria
parasites in a recent clinical trial. The vaccine proved effective in both
infected human blood samples and mice whose immune systems had been modified
to mimic that of humans.
The
Land of Milk and Money
The first drug from a transgenic animal may be nearing approval.
September 2005
September 20
Exercise
Helps Reduce Pain In Old Age
People who exercise regularly experience 25% less muscle and joint pain
in their old age than people who are less active.
Chicken
Eggs Made to Produce Human Antibodies
For the past 50 years or so, chicken eggs have played a vital role in producing
the flu vaccine. Now scientists report another application for the breakfast
staple: manufacturing fully functional human monoclonal antibodies, molecules
that mimic the immune system to fight specific invaders.
Gene
defects plague stem-cell lines
Cancerous mutations threaten therapeutic future for cells.
Mouse
stem cells heal sheep hearts
Future therapy for heart attacks gets a boost.
Breakthrough
In Micro-device Fabrication Combines Biology And Synthetic Chemistry
Nanostructured micro-devices may be mass produced at a lower cost, and with
a wider variety of shapes and compositions than ever before, for dramatic
improvements in device performance.
Large-scale
Computer Simulations Reveal New Insights Into Antibiotic Resistance
Large-scale computer simulations have pinpointed a tiny change in molecular
structure that could account for drug resistance in Streptomices pneumoniae,
the organism that causes childhood pneumonia.
August 2005
August 2
One
Hit Of Crystal Meth Causes Birth Defects, Affects Fetuses At All Stages
Of Development
A single prenatal dose of methamphetamine -- commonly known as speed --
may be enough to cause long-term neurodevelopmental problems in babies.
Multiple
Genetic 'Flavors' May Explain Autism
In a pair of studies, the researchers identify and characterize a number
of mutations in the gene that regulate brain levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter
involved in breathing, digestion, sleep, appetite, blood vessel constriction,
mood and impulsivity. About 25 percent of people with autism have elevated
levels of serotonin in their blood.
Gene
Found In 90 Percent Of Breast Cancers May Be Cancer Vaccine Target
A gene that appears to help regulate normal embryonic development is found
at high levels in virtually all forms of breast cancer, according to a new
study led by Laszlo Radvanyi, Ph.D.
Combination
Hormone/Vaccine Therapy For Prostate Cancer May Benefit Patients Whose Disease
Returns
A new study finds that a cancer vaccine combined with hormone-deprivation
therapy can help patients with recurrence of prostate cancer.
New
Method Shows It Is Possible To Grow Bone For Grafts Within A Patient's Body
An international team of biomedical engineers has demonstrated for the first
time that it is possible to grow healthy new bone reliably in one part of
the body and use it to repair damaged bone at a different location. The
research, which is based on a dramatic departure from the current practice
in tissue engineering, is described in a paper titled "In vivo engineering
of organs: The bone bioreactor" published online by the Proceedings
of the National Academy of Science.
Studies
Reveal How Plague Disables Immune System, And How To Exploit The Process
To Make A Vaccine
Two studies by researchers at the University of Chicago show how the bacteria
that cause the plague manage to outsmart the immune system and how, by slightly
altering one of the microbe's tools
Chronic
Sinus Infection Thought To Be Tissue Issue, Mayo Clinic Scientists Show
It's Snot
Mayo Clinic researchers have found that the cause of chronic sinus infections
lies in the nasal mucus -- the snot -- not in the nasal and sinus tissue
targeted by standard
Immune
System's Distress Signal Tells Bacteria When To Strike Back
The human opportunistic pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, has broken the
immune system's code, report researchers from the University of Chicago,
enabling the bacteria to recognize when its host is most vulnerable and
to launch an attack before the weakened host can muster its defenses.
Carbon
Monoxide: Poison Gas Or Anti-inflammatory Drug?
Carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas that kills thousands of Americans every
year, could turn out to be a life-saver for patients recovering from organ
transplants, strokes or heart attacks.
July 2005
July 20
Faulty gene linked to obesity and diabetes.
Fundamental
Discovery About The Fracture Of Human Bone: It's All In The 'Glue'
A startling discovery about the properties of human bone has been made by
scientists at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The scientists
describe their results -- finding a sort of "glue" in human bone
-- in the cover story of the August issue of the international scientific
journal, Nature Materials.
Alzheimer's
symptoms reversed in mice
Switching off protein improves lab animals' memories.
Parkinson's
Treatment Linked to Compulsive Gambling
Researchers have identified a strange side effect to a treatment for Parkinson's
disease: excessive gambling. Some patients taking medications known as dopamine
agonists developed the problem within three months of starting treatment,
even though they had previously gambled only occasionally or never at all.
Protein
Tells Flowers When Spring Starts
The bursting blooms of many types of flowers herald the onset of spring.
New research is helping scientists unravel the cellular signaling that prompts
the plants to blossom after their winter slumber. The action of one protein
that responds to daylight apparently starts a chain reaction that allows
flowering to commence.
Living In The
Dead Sea Moffett Field CA (SPX) Jul 18, 2005
Over the years, a number of Weizmann Institute scientists have addressed
the question of how molecules essential to life, such as proteins, have
adapted to function in extreme environments.
Discovering
An Ecosystem Beneath A Collapsed Antarctic Ice Shelf Washington DC (SPX)
Jul 19, 2005
The chance discovery of a vast ecosystem beneath the collapsed Larsen Ice
Shelf will allow scientists to explore the uncharted life below Antarctica's
floating ice shelves and further probe the origins of life in extreme environments.
July 6
New
Movement in Parkinson's
So far researchers and clinicians have found no way to slow, stop or prevent
Parkinson's disease. Although treatments do exist--including drugs and deep-brain
stimulation--these therapies alleviate symptoms, not causes. In recent years,
however, several promising developments have occurred. Such findings are
feeding optimism that fresh angles of attack can be identified.
The
Future of Stem Cells
Stem cells promise fantastic therapies but also raise profound questions.
This special report--in collaboration with the Financial Times--provides
an essential guide to the pivotal scientific, business and political issues.
Agricultural
Antibiotic Use Contributes To 'Super-bugs' In Humans
A paper published in the open access journal PLoS Medicine discusses evidence
suggesting that antibiotic use in agriculture has contributed to antibiotic
resistance in the pathogenic bacteria.
May 2005
May 30
Breakthrough
In Stem Cell Research
Australian researchers from the University of New South Wales have developed
three clones of cells from existing human embryonic stem cells. The breakthrough
could lead to new treatments for diabetes, Parkinson's disease and spinal
cord injury.
While
On Trail Of Dioxin, Scientists Pinpoint Cancer Target Of Green Tea
Green tea appears to protect against cancer by affecting a "promiscuous"
protein that pharmaceutical experts are already targeting in an effort to
develop a new drug to stop the disease.
What's
Really Making You Sick? Plant Pathologists Offer The Science Behind Sick
Building Syndrome
Science-based identification of mold and other causes of Sick Building Syndrome
may improve its management, say plant pathologists with The American Phytopathological
Society.
Gene
Keeps Neural Cells On Correct Developmental Path
HHMI researchers report details from a new study that may be one of the
first to track a set of genes from stem cell to differentiated neuron. The
research reveals fundamental details of how stem cells retain developmental
plasticity.
Ageing
cells may lead to clogged arteries
US team helps explain why even healthy eaters get heart disease.
New
Study Links Colic, Maternal Depression To Family Problems
Some families with new babies face excessive infant crying, or colic. And
some new mothers go through maternal post-partum depression (PPD) following
childbirth.
May 16
Silencing
a Key Cancer Gene. MONDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News)
Scientists say they've developed a method of inhibiting a mutant gene found
in nearly a third of human tumors.
Insulin itself
may spark Type I diabetes
The hormone becomes the target of friendly fire from the immune system,
new studies show - the discovery may lead to preventative treatments.
Mouse
Research Bolsters Controversial Theory of Aging
Aging is a process we humans tend to fight every step of the way. The results
of a mouse study underscore the potential of antioxidants as a weapon in
that battle: animals genetically modified to produce more antioxidant enzymes
lived longer than control animals did. They also exhibited fewer age-related
health problems overall.
April 2005
April 11
The
Alternative Genome
Contrary to the old "one gene, one protein" axiom, complex organisms
coax more flexibility from their DNA by having small numbers of genes do
the work of many.
Animal-Human
Hybrids Spark Controversy
Scientists have begun blurring the line between human and animal by producing
chimeras—a hybrid creature that's part human, part animal.
Crippling
a single protein combats arthritis
Drugs that target a cartilage enzyme could treat joint decay.
Leafy
Letdown
Eating vegetables seems to do little in warding off cancer.
Bionic
suit offers wearers super-strength
The motor-driven exoskeleton offers its wearer freedom of movement and power
- it may help those with disabilities to walk or lift heavy objects.
Human blood
cells coaxed to produce insulin
The treatment returned blood sugar levels to normal in mice - it may mean
humans with diabetes could be cured with their own cells.
Genetic
patch treats 'bubble-boy' disease
Targeting sequences may prove key to successful gene medicine.
Once-Daily
Asthma Inhaler Approved
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Schering-Plough's once-daily
asthma inhaler Asmanex (mometasone furoate).
Zinc
Hones Teens' Thinking Skills
Zinc may give your teenager a mental edge. Researchers found that adding
the mineral to the diets of middle schoolers led to improvements in their
memories and attention spans.
New
Protein Treatment Could Curb Cat Allergies
Allergies can cause some would-be cat lovers to avoid having feline friends.
Now researchers have engineered a protein that could be used as a treatment
to block cat allergies.
March 2005
March 29
Schiavo Dilemma: Brain Death vs. Physical Life.
Is RNA inheritance
possible?
Researchers find plant clues to a non-DNA pathway for genetic transmission
(Laura M Hrastar)
Rogue weeds
defy rules of genetics
Some plants appear to be inheriting genes that their parents did not possess
- conventional wisdom says that should be impossible.
Key
Enzyme Is Secreted By Heart Mast Cells -- Weill Cornell Discovery Opens
Door To New Cardiovascular Therapies (March 28, 2005)
Weill Medical College of Cornell University researchers have made the startling
discovery that renin -- a kidney-secreted enzyme crucial to blood pressure
regulation -- is also synthesized and secreted by mast cells within the
heart.
Widening Waistlines Predict Diabetes in Men.
Protein
Packages Found To Activate Genes; May Be What Regulates Development And
Disease
It's all in the packaging. How nature wraps and tags genes determines if
and when they become active, according to researchers from Harvard and the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.). They did the largest, most
detailed study to date of the protein structure that surrounds the human
genome.
Women
get extra dose of X-chromosome genes
Data may help to explain differences between women and men.
DNA
gets a fake fifth base
Artificial sequences could one day answer questions about evolution.
March 8
HIV
Protein's Protean Prowess Revealed
HIV is a consummate trickster. Availed of a human body, it can thrive for
years on end, foiling the immune system's attempts to squelch it. All the
while, it continues to infect host cells. Scientists have recognized for
some time that a single protein on the virus's outer membrane known as gp120
is responsible for much of this chicanery. New research is yielding fresh
insights into how the protein operates.
New retroviruses
jump from monkeys to humans
The discovery of two viruses in bushmeat hunters suggests the species jump
- which happened with HIV - may not be such a rare phenomenon.
Paste
for Teeth Repairs Cavities: March 1, 2005
A team of Japanese dentists has invented a paste of synthetic enamel that
seamlessly heals small cavities, according to a paper in the latest journal
Nature.
February 2005
February 21
Alive!
The race to create life from scratch: What are the ingredients needed to
create life? Meet the people who claim they are about to find out.
YOU might think Norman Packard is playing God. Or you might see him as the
ultimate entrepreneur. As founder and CEO of Venice-based company ProtoLife,
Packard is one of the leaders of an ambitious project that has in its sights
the lofty goal of life itself. His team is attempting what no one else has
done before: to create a new form of living being from non-living chemicals
in the lab.
Dose
of spirituality has healthful effect
A variety of studies suggest that emotional happiness, including the kind
often found among members of spiritual and religious communities, bolsters
the immune system against the flu, colds, and other illnesses (The Boston
Globe)
Bigger brains aren’t always better.
Potatoes Deliver Hepatitis Vaccine in Human Trials.
Gene
therapy is first deafness 'cure'
The procedure caused the regrowth of crucial inner-ear hair cells in guinea
pigs, raising hopes that it may one day work in people.
How old cells can
regain youth
Researchers find a youthful environment invigorates regeneration in old
tissue (Laura M Hrastar)
January 2005
January 23
New
Insights Into Fat's Effect on the Body TUESDAY, Jan. 18 (HealthDayNews)
Scientists have identified a gene called lipin that regulates how your body
produces and uses fat. The researchers say lipin may offer a new drug target
for controlling obesity, diabetes and other weight-related health problems.
Their research with mice appears in the January issue of Cell Metabolism.
Protective
Protein May Hold Key To Halting Progression Of Neurological Diseases
Patients who suffer from neurological diseases such as Huntington's disease,
Parkinson's, Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) and Alzheimer's disease have dramatically
different symptoms. To doctors and researchers, however, how brain cells
die in these diseases actually is quite similar.
Professor's
Anatomy Web Quiz Garners Quarter-million-plus Hits (January 19, 2005)
A simple, instructional Web site in the department of biology is reaching
far beyond its intended use as a study aid.