Rhomboids give biological heresy a cold shower
05 February, 2007 by Graeme O'NeillFour years ago Matthew Freeman discovered the first of a new family of membrane-active protease enzymes, rhomboids. They disturbed the sleep of biophysicists, but are now inspiring drug researchers to dream.
Proteins while you wait
05 February, 2007 by Fiona WylieThe need for high-throughput methods for rapid, larger scale purification and production of recombinant proteins is a major challenge for biomedical research. A team from Monash University is taking that challenge.
The genes that maketh the man
25 January, 2007 by Graeme O'NeillA Melbourne research team has identified a gene which when deleted causes male-to-female sex reversal in XY mice.
Sex and the single toad
22 January, 2007 by Fiona WyliePut away the cricket bats: scientists are using sex as weapon in the fight against the menace that is the cane toad.
When p is greater than n
19 January, 2007 by Kate McDonaldCrunching the numbers from multivariate statistics sounds a rather dry topic to wet lab specialists, but a group of CSIRO researchers has taken a rather philosophical approach to managing the data mountain.
Common parasite genome sequenced
17 January, 2007 by Staff WritersThe genome of the Trichomonas vaginalis parasite, responsible for a common sexually transmitted disease, has been sequenced.
Decoded sea urchin genome shows surprising relationship to humans
17 November, 2006 by External Press Release AuthorThe genome of the sea urchin has been sequenced, with discoveries including a novel immune system, unexpected sensory proteins and a broad similarity to human genes.
RNAi: sense and antisense
15 November, 2006 by Kate McDonaldGene silencing by small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) has emerged as an extremely useful technology for discovery biology, but off-target activity has proved a stumbling block. Detailed mechanistic insights and chemical modification of siRNAs can now improve the robustness of RNAi experiments, as Kate McDonald reports.
GOBsmacking tales from the RNA world
15 November, 2006 by Graeme O'NeillGraeme O'Neill speaks with RNAi pioneer Peter Waterhouse and meets Drosha, Dicer, Argonaute and other characters.
Dicer and double-stranded RNAs
15 November, 2006 by Steve KulischBio-Rad Laboratories' Steve Kulisch explains how synthetic 27-mer double-stranded RNAs can be designed to be processed by the Dicer endonuclease in a more predictable and efficient way.
How Big Blue created the Blue Gene and is now delving into the Blue Brain
15 November, 2006 by Kate McDonaldHow did a chemistry PhD become one of the 50 most powerful women in business by hooking up the world's largest computer company with the life sciences? Kate McDonald spoke to IBM's Carol Kovac, who admits to being rather excited about the world of biology.
Newly discovered proteins associated with cystic fibrosis
07 November, 2006 by ABN StaffResearchers have found a highly unusual distribution of two proteins in the lungs and airways of people with cystic fibrosis, a discovery that could be a step in determining how the disease progresses.
Genetic riddle solved by kangaroo and platypus
06 November, 2006 by ABN StaffAustralian scientists have unravelled a mystery behind the evolutionary origins of two debilitating human genetic diseases by studying the kangaroo and platypus genome.
100 genomes, 10 days and 10 million dollars
05 October, 2006 by ABN StaffThe US-based X Prize Foundation has launched an audacious competition to find a private company that can successfully map 100 human genomes in just 10 days. The winner will receive US$10 million (AU$13.75m).
US scientists win Nobel Prize for RNA interference discovery
03 October, 2006 by ABN StaffAmerican geneticists Andrew Fire and Craig Mello have won the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery of RNA interference, a mechanism for controlling the flow of genetic information.
