'Durum' means 'hard' in Latin -- but for wheatgrowers who have tried to grow high-value, high-protein durum wheats in the semi-arid regions of Victoria, SA an WA semi-arid zone, durum wheats are in the too-hard basket. [ + ]

The recent upswing in biotech share prices has acted as a trigger point for the increase in investment in the sector, according to sector analyst and BioShares co-editor David Blake. [ + ]

October marks the culmination of our plans to develop a comprehensive suite of life science media products for the Australian market place. Australian Biotechnology News is now well entrenched as the newspaper of choice for local biotechnology leaders. And our acquisition of Today's Life Science has given us great depth across the sector. [ + ]

A United States decision to approve reimbursement of Ventricular Assist Devices has come as good news to Australian artificial heart developer Ventracor (ASX:VCR). [ + ]

Biomedical nanotechnology company pSivida (ASX:PSD) will strengthen its stake in its United Kingdom operating subsidiary following a AUD$6.5 million capital raising, the biotech announced today. [ + ]

Optiscan Imaging's (ASX: OIL) partnership with Japan's Pentax Corporation to develop a flexible endomicroscope has taken another step forward with the Melbourne biotech receiving its first major order for the supply of components. [ + ]

Biota Holdings' (ASX:BTA) second-generation influenza program has leap-frogged into clinical trials thanks to a partnership with a Japanese competitor. [ + ]

The Australian Research Council has launched a new program aimed at encouraging the development of research networks, and fostering interdisciplinary research. [ + ]

Technology investment company EQiTX (ASX:EQX) has more than doubled its cash reserves with a successful AUD$2.7 million capital raising, raised mostly through investors in the United Kingdom. [ + ]

Melbourne pharmaceutical development company BioDiem has taken an option over research involving the use of a peptide to treat major retinal diseases and age-related blindness. [ + ]

It seems that memories are made of... cadherins. While cadherins -- cell adhesion molecules -- do not actually store memories, at the very least they have a major role in organising the basic architecture of the brain, and the dense filigree of fine neural interconnections in which memories are mysteriously stored. [ + ]

The telomeres are intriguing repetitive structures found on the chromosome tips, which are responsible for preventing the gradual erosion of the ends of the chromosomes. [ + ]

Monsanto has opened a biotechnology research centre in Queensland to support its cotton product stewardship program. [ + ]

VRI Biomedical has completed a preliminary study demonstrating that their probiotic product Progastrim, which contains a proprietary strain of Lactobacillus fermentum, reduced respiratory symptoms in elite athletes. [ + ]

Britain's disastrous epidemic of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in 2001 cost the UK economy an estimated AUD$18 billion, and confirmed the what international veterinary authorities had feared: their insurance against the world's worst livestock disease had lapsed. [ + ]