DNA 'Barcode' For Plants

A 'bar code' gene that can be used to distinguish between the majority of plant species on Earth has been identified. This gene, which can be used to identify plants using a small sample, could lead to new ways of easily cataloging different types of plants in species-rich areas like rain forests. It could also lead to accurate methods for identifying plant ingredients in powdered substances, such as in traditional Chinese medicines, and could help to monitor and prevent the illegal transportation of endangered plant species.

The team behind the discovery found that DNA sequences of the gene 'matK' differ among plant species, but are nearly identical in plants of the same species. This means that the matK gene can provide scientists with an easy way of distinguishing between different plants, even closely related species that may look the same to the human eye.The researchers made this discovery by analyzing the DNA from different plant species. They found that when one plant species was closely related to another, differences were usually detected in the matK DNA.

DNA 'Barcode' Identified For Plants

Hair Test For Breast Cancer

A NEW detection test for breast cancer using patients' hair could help save the lives of thousands of young women. Mammograms are commonly used for women aged 50-plus to detect changes to the breast that signal possible tumors.

Women under 40 have much denser breast tissue than older women, so it is more difficult for mammograms to pick up the changes in younger breasts that indicate cancer. But mammograms could be a thing of the past with the development of a cancer-detecting hair test by Australian company Fermiscan Holdings Ltd.

The test bombards strands of hair with X-rays from a synchrotron particle accelerator. In hair from healthy people, the pattern produced by the X-rays is a series of arcs, while in people with breast cancer a distinctive ring is superimposed on top of the arcs.

Hair test cuts breast cancer errors - health - 07 February 2008 - New Scientist

Journal Call - Microbial Biotechnology

Published jointly with the Society for Applied Microbiology

A new journal for 2008!

All articles in Microbial Biotechnology will be free to download in 2008

Show your scientific and scholarly support for Microbial Biotechnology

Blackwell Synergy - Microbial Biotechnology

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Events : NIH Biotechnology Seminar Series

Speaker: Leo Linbeck III
CEO, Aquinas Corp., AlphaDev LLC, An Aquinas Corporation Business IBB

NIH Biotechnology Seminar Series (co-sponsored with Rice Jones School Biotechnology and Health Care Club)

Tuesday, February 19, 2008
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

Contact

Anderson Family Commons Jones School
Rice University
6100 Main StHouston,
Texas, USA

Events Calendar

Embryonic Stem Cells from Human Skin Cells

Embryonic stem cells (ES cells) are stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of an early stage embryo known as a blastocyst. Human embryos reach the blastocyst stage 4-5 days post fertilization, at which time they consist of 50-150 cells.

But, the new findings from University of California, Los Angeles, has found a new way to get those embrionic stem cells.

UCLA researchers used genetic alteration to turn back the clock on human skin cells and create cells that are nearly identical to human embryonic stem cells, which have the ability to become every cell type found in the human body. Four regulator genes were used to create the cells, called induced pluripotent stem cells or iPS cells.

Human Skin Cells Reprogrammed Into Embryonic Stem Cells


This research is a major step for embryonic stem cell research after a fail to implement this technique from somatic cells nuclear transfer (SCNT) to human.

A Blue-Green Algae Tof Fight Cancer

In BioMalaysia 2007, one paper in Biotechnology Business, has raised a flag for Malaysian. An algae planting. Universiti Sains Malaysia has started a research on algae for drug discovery.

The new findings on algae research is to fight cancer. found form blue-green algae from South Pacific. Dr Dennis Carson of UCSD Cancer Center, at University of California, San Diego.

The ScA compound was found in the cyanobacteria L. Majuscula, also known as "mermaid's hair," gathered off the coast of Fiji in the South Pacific by the laboratory of William Gerwick at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. A diverse team of researchers from UCSD's Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Scripps worked to identify, screen and test marine compounds in vitro and in vivo. They found that ScA inhibits neovascularization, the formation of blood vessels that feed tumors, and also had a direct impact on tumor cell proliferation

Novel Highly Potent Anticancer Drug From The Sea Identified

Cite Usage
University of California - San Diego (2008, February 11). Novel Highly Potent Anticancer Drug From The Sea Identified. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 12, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2008/02/080211172554.htm

Bug Guts Map

Did you ever imagine, how bugs reflect to our world? They everywhere including inside us! Using a Bug Guts Map, we may know something that cant be solved by scientist itself.

The research gives scientists a much better idea of which bugs are particularly key. For example, the researchers found that a common "friendly" species of gut bug known as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii was statistically linked to the presence of eight diverse chemicals involved in metabolism, suggesting that this bug plays a key role in co-regulating multiple metabolic processes.

Bug Guts Map Brings Scientists Closer To Understanding Different Bugs' Role In The Body

One observation has been done. The detail shown below

For the study, scientists used DNA fingerprinting of the gut microflora to gain a picture of which species of bug were living inside each of the seven volunteers. Each volunteer had a different makeup of gut bugs inside them, even though they were members of the same Chinese family and therefore were closely linked in genetic and lifestyle terms.

Bug Guts Map Brings Scientists Closer To Understanding Different Bugs' Role In The Body

Based on this findings, within 10 years we can find a solution for genetic problem. Why? When we talk about genetics, we will fingernails to our ancestor. We carry those genetics from our family. As state above, they (the researcher) has found similar to each other. The era of pharmacology is near enough.

Fluorescent Proteins - Biosensors

One problem haunted many researcher is an imaging a cell. Sometimes, a cell will be dead, if we put some reagent to him. Furthermore, conventional approach such as using an X-ray, beam will make many cell dead, and the recovery is about 3 to 4 months. That is an example for human body. How about, single cell, protein, or special cell that sensitive to light. Therefore

Carnegie Mellon scientists designed the FAPs to emit fluorescent light only when bound to a fluorogen, an otherwise non-fluorescent dye added by the scientists. This feature will allow biologists to track proteins on the cell surface and within living cells in very simple and direct ways, eliminating cumbersome experimental steps.Scientists say the fluorogen activating proteins are especially useful for developing molecular biosensors, because FAPs allow researchers to not only see where the target protein is within the space of the cell, but also to see color changes when it becomes fluorescent. Color changes may reflect changes in the local environment of the protein, and allow quantitative sensing in real time of the biological activity of proteins and biomolecules that are in close proximity to each other.

Fluorescent Proteins Developed For Live Cell Imaging, Biosensor Design

I thought within ten years, this biosensor will be the greatest influence and the best tool to fasten drug discovery