Three sequencing companies join 1000 Genomes Project
13 June, 2008
Three firms that have pioneered development of new sequencing technologies — 454 Life Sciences, Applied Biosystems and Illumina Inc — have joined the 1000 Genomes Project to build the most detailed map to date of human genetic variation.
Nobel winner finds complication for stem cell therapy
11 June, 2008
A single organ may contain more than one type of adult stem cell — a discovery that complicates prospects for using stem cells as a treatment for disease, according to a study by Nobel Laureate Prof Mario Capecchi.
Why most cells fail to reprogram
02 June, 2008
US researchers have uncovered critical molecular events that undermine the reprogramming of somatic human cells back to a pluripotent state.
CRC innovation and commercial success
02 June, 2008
The prestigious CRC STAR Award has been awarded to two separate CRCs this year, for their high-level achievement in developing successful enterprises through the transfer of CRC innovation.
One step closer to synthetic life
30 May, 2008
Researchers at the UK’s University of Nottingham have taken some important first steps to creating a synthetic version of a living cell.
Cancer research collaboration launched
23 May, 2008
Australia’s reputation for excellence in cancer research has been strengthened with the launch of the Peter MacCallum Pfizer Translational Oncology Research Collaborative Hub (TORCH) at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
Nano-bar codes could revolutionise diagnostics
22 May, 2008
A new technology which could aid the early detection of disease has been invented and developed by University of Queensland (UQ) researchers.
Neuroimaging researcher wins Australia-Harvard Fellowship
15 May, 2008
An internationally recognised expert in medical imaging, Dr Simon Warfield, has been awarded an Australia-Harvard Fellowship to travel to Australia and work with the biomedical imaging team at the Australian e-Health Research Centre on early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
International guidelines for genome databases
14 May, 2008
The Genomic Standards Consortium (GSC), an international organisation including representatives from a range of major sequencing and bioinformatics centres, has created a new guideline for describing genomes and metagenomes.
Platypus genome sequenced
09 May, 2008
UK-based researchers have revealed the genetic make-up of one of the world’s strangest mammals: the Australian platypus.
Online survey tracks the sneeze
08 May, 2008
A national online flu survey was launched recently, designed to track critical data on influenza infection and alert medical officials to large outbreaks of the virus.
Researchers grow heart and blood cells from reprogrammed skin cells
06 May, 2008
Stem cell researchers at UCLA were able to grow functioning cardiac cells using mouse skin cells that had been reprogrammed into cells with the same unlimited properties as embryonic stem cells.
First human DNA large-scale variation map is produced
05 May, 2008
Researchers in the US have produced the first sequence-based map of large-scale structural variation across the human genome.
Warm days and cold fish
05 May, 2008
Climate change doesn't come from the atmosphere alone. Ocean currents and temperatures have significant effects and some marine animals thrive when its cold.
Aircraft bacteria levels and traveller health
02 May, 2008
A study measuring bacterial concentrations in cabin air on 12 commercial passenger aircraft has shown that flying may be safer than we think. Elevated levels of bacteria were detected at several intervals during the flight, but they were common residents of human skin, dust and outdoor air.