Melbourne's Genetic Technologies (ASX:GTX, Nasdaq:GENE) has formed a strategic alliance with MetaMorphix, a developer of new genetic markers. [ + ]

Melbourne-based Epitan (ASX:EPT) will now be known as Clinuvel. [ + ]

Independent research teams from Harvard Medical School and Children's Hospital Boston have identified a master protein that sheds light on one of neurobiology's biggest mysteries - how neurons change as a result of individual experiences.

Melbourne's Zenyth Therapeutics (ASX:ZTL), formerly Amrad, has posted a smaller loss for the half year to December 31, but also revealed a drop in revenues. [ + ]

A team at Monash Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne has grown a human prostate from embryonic stem cells, and hopes the discovery will lead to better understanding of what causes prostate cancer. [ + ]

Sherwood Technology has entered an exclusive worldwide licence agreement with Sessions of York. The collaboration enables Sessions to combine its labelling expertise with Sherwood's colour change and specialist manufacturing know-how in order to produce the Gamma Sterilisation Indicator labels over a ten year period. The labels provide an immediate visible record of all products and equipment that have undergone a volume sterilisation process. Sessions of York will continue to apply its registered brand name of 'Detex' to the Gamma Sterilisation Indicator labels.

A discovery from University of Missouri-Columbia scientists about the formation of an embryo and a placenta before implantation could explain why cloning often fails in farm and laboratory animals.

Botanical biotech Solagran (ASX: SLA) has been granted approval from the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for Bioeffective A as a new complementary medicinal substance for topical and internal use. [ + ]

Scientists in the US have used the DNA from fish waste to make optical components. The team, led by James Grote of the US Air Force Research Laboratory, says that the material could be used to make optical waveguides, modulators and light-emitting diodes. They also claim that fish DNA, which is abundant and environmentally friendly, could outperform other polymer-based devices.

A new $5 million grant to wheat breeders could shorten the time between the outbreak of diseases and the development of resistant wheat varieties, said the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station state wheat breeder.

The first of 80 patients have been enrolled in Norwood Immunology's (AIM:NIM) phase II clinical trial using its thymus-rejuvenating technology in cancer patients receiving self-derived (autologous) bone marrow transplants. [ + ]

Bone Medical (ASX:BNE) has reported that its oral parathyroid hormone (PTH) product Perthoxal, for the treatment of osteoporosis, proved safe and tolerable in a phase I trial. [ + ]

Melbourne's CSL (ASX:CSL) today reported a net profit after tax of AUD$176.4 million for the first half of the financial year, up 34 per cent from the previous first half, and has upgraded its full year profit forecast by about 15 per cent to $335 to $350 million. [ + ]

A review of CSIRO’s role in providing science input into policy development will be undertaken, the organisation's chief executive, Dr Geoff Garrett has announced.

Penn State University researchers have developed a prototype sonic gas analyser that automatically and continuously tracks the concentration of a gas in an air/gas mixture based on changes in pitch.