Genes
and biology
News from 2005
30 December 2005: Fall of
South Korea's stem cell hero ignites US debate. Call for more research
to be moved to the US, where more scrutiny is possible
29 December 2005: Gene therapy could help untreatable angina sufferers. Cardiac regeneration clinical trials
28 December 2005: Look to
siblings for signs of heart trouble – study. Having a sibling
with heart disease is a strong risk factor for the illness although it
is unknown whether the cause is shared genes or similar childhood diets
24 December 2005: Successful
aging may be partly in the genes. Researchers have identified genes
related to reaching age 90 with preserved brain function
23 December 2005: Evolution
named 2005's top scientific breakthrough. 2005 stands out as a banner
year for uncovering the intricacies of how evolution actually proceeds
- Science
22 December 2005: US court ruling won't stop evolution row-experts. Ruling may have a wider effect on the teaching of science
20 December 2005: Genes influence risk from second-hand smoke. Children with the TNF gene have an increased risk - US study
19 December 2005: Gene therapy could help untreatable angina sufferers. Cardiac regeneration clinical trials
17 December 2005: US cloning
researcher tainted by South Korean scandal. University of Pittsburgh's
Gerald Schatten is senior author of the controversial stem cell paper
16 December 2005: Stripy fish
helps pinpoint human skin colour gene. A gene in the African zebrafish
has helped scientists explain the light-coloured hair, skin and eyes of
many Europeans
15 December 2005: Scientists
develop test for bird flu in food. While not guaranteeing zero risk,
Eurofins Scientific claim their test is "as close as one can get" of
detecting the H5N1 strain in raw products
14 December 2005: Narwhal's
tusk is a giant sensor, study finds. Dental medicine researcher says
the whale's 2.4m long tusk with 10 million nerve connections to the
outer surface is unique
14 December 2005: US launches
cancer gene mapping project. The Cancer Genome Atlas project will take
samples of selected tumour types and use the human genome map to try
and find all the changes that mark cancer
9 December 2005: British
medical tests on animals hit 12-year high. About 85 percent of
experiments involved mice, rats and other rodents, while dogs, cats,
horses and non-human primates accounted for less than 0.5 percent
9 December 2005: NZ potato
researchers join international effort on spud genome. Husband and wife
biotech researchers Tony Conner and Jeanne Jacobs, of Crop and Food
Research, have joined an international consortium trying to map the
genetic sequence of the potato
6 December 2005: New treatments
for severe chronic pain. Two novel therapies that involve breaking the
circuit that connects pain nerves to the brain through the spine are
being developed by US dental and craniofacial researchers
3 December 2005: UK: doctors
identify "root" of prostate cancer. Researchers at the Yorkshire Cancer
Research Unit have isolated prostate cancer tumour stem cells for the
first time, a breakthrough they say should enable a new approach to
therapies to treat the disease
1 December 2005: Scientists say
too many fish are snared in the wrong nets. Commercial fisheries in the
US kill a pound of fish for every four pounds intentionally caught
28 November 2005: Research on
sheep left behind for shipwrecked mariners. As a wild population, they
have not been subjected to the same selective pressures as sheep in
farmed flocks
28 November 2005: Swiss adopt
five-year GMO farming ban. The moratorium does not apply to research
into GMOs, or prevent the importing of genetically modified food
28 November 2005: Glaxo hopes
to adapt measles shot to fight HIV. Europe's biggest drug maker and
France's Institut Pasteur intend to make the vaccine by fusing genes
from the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) onto an existing vaccine
for the childhood disease, the two organisations said on Monday
28 November 2005: Wasps put
sting into odour detection. Wasps trained to detect specific odours,
then placed in a hand-held device known as a wasp hound, have
successfully searched for a toxin that grows on corn and peanuts
25 November 2005: Swiss lean
towards referendum ban on growing GMOs. 48 percent of voters would vote
in favour of a 5-year moratorium while 36 percent would vote against it
24 November 2005: Key gene
increases lifespan, scientists say. A key gene in suppressing the
formation of tumours in humans, p53, has been shown to dramatically
lengthen the life in fruit flies
24 November 2005: African
beetle threatens Australia's honey industry. Australia is now host to
the world's worst infestations of what is known as the small hive
beetle (SHB)
22 November 2005: Kaka imported
to Mt Bruce to improve gene pool. The five new chicks from Hamilton Zoo
will bring the number of birds at the DOC site to 60
21 November 2005: Stem cell
researchers choose Singapore over Stanford. Leading US geneticists,
Neal Copeland and Nancy Jenkins say they will have fewer restrictions
on their research in Singapore
21 November 2005: Bug research boosted by new way of growing. A simple and effective way to grow bacteria in the absence of air found at Lincoln
19 November 2005: Museum
exhibition presents the life and work of Darwin. The touring
exhibition, put together by some of the world's leading science
institutions, begins at the American Museum of Natural History and ends
in London to coincide with the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth
19 November 2005: Past bouts of
killer flu give few clues. Scientists say the lack of documented
information on the 1918, 1957 and 1968 pandemics is not helping with
predicting how new killer strains might evolve
16 November 2005: Dozens of
wallabies die in Australian re-introduction. Only 14 of the 46 Hauraki
Gulf tammar wallabies released in Australia during the past year have
survived
16 November 2005: NY Museum
says Darwin's theory never more relevant. The theory that all life
evolves according to natural selection and is constantly changing is
helping scientists understand the danger bird flu poses to humans, says
a curator at the opening of a new exhibition on Darwin's work at the
American Museum of Natural History
15 November 2005: Baby's genes
affect mum's cholesterol levels. Results of a study on genes and
proteins involved in fat metabolism from the blood and placenta of
pregnant women have surprised researchers
14 November 2005: Scientists
seeking new treatments for male-pattern baldness. Includes hair
cloning, where cells found at the base of hair follicles can team up
with skin cells to produce new follicles
14 November 2005: Bears go
promiscuous to save babies, says researcher. Austrian researchers have
found the mating free-for-all reduces the male instinct to kill cubs it
has not sired
13 November 2005: Vietnam study
shows bird flu virus mutating – media. Results of 24 samples of
the virus taken from humans and poultry have shown a major change in
antigen variation, changes that could help it spread more effectively
in mammals
13 November 2005: Time picks
cloned dog as top invention in 2005. Snuppy was cloned at Seoul
National University using a single cell taken from the ear of an adult
Afghan hound
10 November 2005: Aussie
scientists unveil cause of Parkinson's. Discover an interaction between
dopamine, a major chemical in the brain which is deficient in
Parkinson's disease sufferers, and a protein known as alpha-synuclein
found in all human cells
5 November 2005: US
'intelligent design' case draws to close. The first legal challenge to
the teaching of intelligent design is being watched in at least 30
states where Christian conservatives are planning similar initiatives
2 November 2005: Mice sing in
the presence of potential mates. Lab mice not only produce
high-frequency sounds, they sing like songbirds when they pick up the
scent of a female mouse, scientists say
1 November 2005: Protein
discovery could lead to new neurological treatments. Otago University
researchers have made a major breakthrough with the discovery that a
protein that regulates reproduction also helps maintain crucial nerve
cells in the brain
29 October 2005: Genes aid
anti-cancer effects of veggies. Cabbage, broccoli and sprouts, together
with the genes GSTM1 and GSTT1, give the greatest protection
29 October 2005: Gene 'fusion'
could cause prostate cancer: scientists. But there was no evidence of
gene fusion in benign prostate tissue with non-cancerous changes
28 October 2005: MIT fires
professor for falsifying data. Biology researcher Luk Van Parijs
admitted falsifying research data in several manuscripts, grant
applications and a research report; unethical research behaviour on the
increase
28 October 2005: Australia uses
new methods to protect whales. To use tracking tags and DNA testing -
rather than killing - for scientific research
27 October 2005: Scientists
complete map of human genetic variation. HapMap a major step forward in
the search for causes of diseases such as cancer, asthma and Alzheimer's
27 October 2005: Nobel
Prize winner named as Rutherford Lecturer 2006. Sir Paul Nurse FRS, one
of the UK's foremost biological scientists, will be visiting NZ from 30
July until 12 August 2006
27 October 2005: Genetic map a
step closer to personal medicine. Scientists have charted genetic
differences between 269 individuals originating from Africa, the Far
East and western Europe
26 October 2005: Turned-off genes linked to ovarian cancer. Researchers are unsure what role the genes N33 and NFA6R play in the disease
25 October 2005: Supporters of
'intelligent design' theory gather in Prague. International experts
among 700 scientists attending a conference on "Darwin and Design"
20 October 2005: Farmers may
five-year wait for new weapon against parasites. Ovita scientists
following two research leads: a novel anthelmintic compound and a
parasite vaccine
20 October 2005: Genes still
evolving rapidly: scientists. An article in Nature reports how certain
genes such as those that influence the way genetic instructions are
"read" can change quickly, while those that make cell-building proteins
take time to evolve
18 October 2005: US intelligent
design proponent an outcast at own university. Lehigh University
biochemistry professor Michael Behe has been marginalised by the
science community after a decade of trying to defend himself on his
theory of evolution
17 October 2005: Singapore
develops breakthrough cancer detection kit. The test detects early
changes in a patient's DNA long before the first physical symptoms
appear
14 October 2005: Gene may be linked to Tourette's syndrome. A gene called SLITRK1 appears to contribute to some cases of Tourette's
14 October 2005: New organism
caught in the act of kidnapping plant. A one-celled creature found on a
sandy beach may be in the process of kidnapping and incorporating an
even tinier plant to use as a living energy source
14 October 2005: Scientists look to DNA for personalised advice on nutrition. Nutrigenomics is still in its infancy
12 October 2005: New Zealand
proposes broader approach to ethics. New Zealand science commissioners
to UNESCO, Rosemary du Plessis and Roy Geddes, are in Paris to attend
the organisation's Plenary Assembly where they will argue for a more
inter-disciplinary and inter-sectoral approach to the ethics of science
12 October 2005: Penguin DNA
study suggests ancestral tree for species' fossils. Otago University
palaeontologist Ewan Fordyce says he is sceptical about new timelines
proposed by Canadian scientists for the evolution of penguins
11 October 2005: Crohn's
disease study looks at genetic and lifestyle factors. University of
Auckland researchers are looking for participants for a study which
aims to develop individually tailored diets to alleviate the symptoms
of Crohn's disease
10 October 2005: Cell protein a
link to cancer cure. Queensland scientists name the new protein Cep55,
and say without it cells end up with twice the amount of DNA needed, as
well as too many chromosomes
6 October 2005: Call for NZ
report on human glands used to make horses run fast. ESR scientists
called in to audit work on DNA testing at a suspect forensic centre in
Queensland say their findings are likely to be part of a further
investigation into unethical behaviour at the lab
5 October 2005: Cardinal backs
evolution and 'intelligent design'. A senior Roman Catholic cardinal
seen as a champion of "intelligent design" against Darwin's explanation
of life has described the theory of evolution as "one of the very great
works of intellectual history"
4 October 2005: Better barley
to boost beer ingredient. Researchers at the Molecular Plant Breeding
Cooperative Research Centre in Adelaide have used DNA technology to
turn hardy feed barley into premium malting plants that are good enough
to use to make high quality beer
1 October 2005: A new class of evidence for the courtroom. Microbial forensics, for tracking down the source of a disease outbreak
30 September 2005: Wild
gorillas seen using tools for first time. Female Congo gorillas spotted
using sticks to test for water depth, act as a bridge to get them
through swampy ground
29 September 2005: US
company to work on jabless avian flu vaccine. MedImmune will try to
make an inhaled vaccine by splicing selected genes from avian flu
viruses into a weakened human flu virus
28 September 2005: NZ
researcher beaten to giant squid photographs by Japanese team. Steve
O'Shea had tried unsuccessfully to lure the giant squid into camera
range by squirting squid pheromones into the ocean off the East and
West coasts of the South Island
25 September 2005: Early
snowmelts heating Alaska Arctic. Vegetation change from shorter winters
could have profound impact on migrating caribou, study suggests
23 September 2005: Scientists implant human chromosome in mice. Chromosome 21 breakthrough could reveal new insights into Down's syndrome
22 September 2005: Scientists
close in on genes for anorexia, bulimia. New international studies
trace traits such as a tendency toward anxiety or perfectionism to
regions on chromosomes that may influence susceptibility
22 September 2005: Debate over
avian flu spread divides scientific community. Medical experts blame
the scourge's spread on migratory birds but naturalists say the theory
is nonsense
20 September 2005: $35,000
awards made to authors to write biographies. Christchurch author Rowan
Taylor to write biography of noted evolutionary biologist, Allan Wilson
16 September 2005: Genes from
both parents can cause pregnancy problem. New research has shown that
daughters of men born after a pre-eclampsia pregnancy have a raised
risk of developing the condition
13 September 2005: S. China
perfect incubator for bird flu pandemic? A country where pigs, birds
and humans live in close proximity provides the ideal environment for
gene reassortment, the swapping of genes between viruses for instant
change, unlike simple mutation that takes time
9 September 2005: Detection of
DNA from allergens in foods. The new Lincoln University test could lead
to more accurate food choices for allergy sufferers who are hampered by
a lack of precise information on food labels at present
8 September 2005: Otago Uni
investigates gene, proteins that guard against cancer. To probe the
workings of p53, and its protein at the hub of a complex network of
other genes and proteins that act as a team to detect and prevent cancer
6 September 2005: Genetic
mapping to give thoroughbreds winning edge. Animal genetics researchers
say they are a step closer to being able to furnish race horse buyers
with information on inherited diseases that could curtail a horse's
career
6 September 2005: Genes found
that may improve knowledge of spina bifida. Two genes involved in the
metabolism of folic acid linked to the common birth defect
2 September 2005: Gene discovery opens the door for cures. Discovery of thousands of genes that weren't mapped during the Human Genome Project
1 September 2005: No allergy problems from GM corn or soy. Allergy-prone adults and children fail to react to four genetically-modified foods
1 September 2005: Chimp genome
sheds light on what makes US human. Scientists are a step closer in the
search for the key biological differences between Man and ape, with the
unveiling today of the genetic code of the chimpanzee
1 September 2005: Neanderthals,
humans co-existed for 1000 years: study. Bone fossils and tools
belonging to both hominids have been found in a French cave, first
evidence to suggest they overlapped for a period about 36,500 years ago
1 September 2005: 'Bond
villain' gene may be cancer breakthrough. British scientists today said
they hoped the discovery of gene linked to breast development could
provide more clues to tackling cancer
31 August 2005: Major study
looks at role of genes in diseases affecting Maori. ESR project to
investigate whether there are underlying reasons why so many members of
Nuhaka's Ngati Rakaipaaka iwi suffer from cancer, diabetes, gout and
heart disease
30 August 2005: Sheep not as
woolly as you think. Merino sheep put through a complex maze were able
to better their performance each time it was repeated, suggesting they
may carry a "smart gene"
29 August 2005: Scientist wins
award for research into neuroscience. Debbie Young of Auckland
University has won the 2005 Invitrogen Queenstown Molecular Biology
Award for her research into new treatments for brain disorders
24 August 2005: Pacific Edge to
start final trials. Dunedin biotech company discovers genetic marker
that diagnoses the presence of bladder cancer with 95 percent accuracy
24 August 2005: Biotech
researcher wants further $2.5 million from shareholders. Pacific Edge
Biotechnology signs licensing agreement with a Taiwanese company to
develop a test for diagnosing gastric cancer
23 August 2005: Creating life
from scratch, one molecule at a time. A new breed of biologists is
attempting to bring order to the hit-and-miss chaos of genetic
engineering by bringing to biotechnology the same engineering
strategies used to build computers, bridges and buildings
22 August 2005: New treatment
works against SARS in monkeys. RNA interference works by preventing the
virus from infecting cells, reducing the spread and severity of the
disease
22 August 2005: Research
identifies DNA region linked with endometriosis. Australian researchers
have found a family link with the common condition that affects female
infertility
22 August 2005: Tackling threat
of biological invasion. The Centre for Biodiversity and Biosecurity
(CBB), a joint initiative of The University of Auckland and Landcare
Research, was launched in Auckland today
22 August 2005: Scientists send
skin cell back to embryo stage. New method may lead to a way to create
medical treatments without using controversial cloning technology
20 August 2005: Cloned cats have kittens, doing what comes naturally. The first cloned wild cats to reproduce naturally
19 August 2005: Tiny science
provides big answers for new technology. Australian scientists embark
on major nanobiotechnology research with the hope of one day being able
to build tiny machines to help the body to heal
18 August 2005: Drop in animals used for experiments and teaching. Lowest number of animals "manipulated" since 1997
17 August 2005: Gates
Foundation makes biggest PNG grant for malaria. The Institute of
Medical Research in Papua New Guinea has been awarded $US2.58 million -
the largest scientific grant in the country's history - to enable it to
assess the potential of a new treatment it introduced in 2001
17 August 2005: Contamination maize found in food supply. Greens questions why human food should be stored in the same place as animal feed
15 August 2005: Harvard jumps
into evolution research with new initiative. Prestigious US university
announces multi-million dollar project on origins of life
12 August 2005: Alcoholism may
be in the genes - for flies. Fruit flies carry a gene - aptly named
"hangover" - that appears to help them become tolerant to alcohol
12 August 2005: Research grant
boosts future of chocolate supply. Researching the effects of changed
growing conditions on genes for quality, yield and disease resistance
12 August 2005: Cancer
geneticist awarded distinguished service medal. Royal Society Fellow
and director of Otago University's Cancer Genetics Laboratory Anthony
Reeve has been awarded the university's highest research distinction
11 August 2005: Scientists map
rice genome, predict higher yields. Researchers from 10 countries have
worked together to identify all 37,544 genes in rice and establish the
position of each gene on rice's 12 chromosomes
10 August 2005: New test to
save needless prostate surgery. The new technique Checkerboard Tissue
Microarray (TMA) looks for multiple markers of genes associated with
the disease to predict how aggressive the cancer will be
10 August 2005: AgResearch,
university doctors team up for womb-to-tomb health. Animal genetics
scientists join forces with researchers at the Liggin Institute in a
new approach to integrate research to improve human health
10 August 2005: Scientific
report says more could be done to save kiwi species. An article
published in the International Journal of Vertebrate Zoology suggests
more research needs to be done to fully understand why their numbers
continue to fall despite programmes in place to save them
9 August 2005: Gene study shows
sabertooths were no pussy cats. DNA tests show the cats that lived
about 13,000 years ago are not closely related to modern-day cats
4 August 2005: Singapore says
developed chip for faster, cheaper dengue testing. Chip analyzes the
DNA of blood samples for genes and viruses and carries out multiple
tests simultaneously to identify the different strains of dengue
4 August 2005: Dog cloning
reignites ethical debate over human replica. The world's first cloning
of a dog has raised concerns that scientists are one step closer to
replicating human embryos
3 August 2005: South Korean
scientists announce cloning of a dog. Overcome the problem of egg
suitability to successfully clone an Afghan hound using the same
technique used to create Dolly the sheep
2 August 2005: Family key to
breakthrough gene find for epilepsy, autism. An Australian family has
played a key role in the breakthrough discovery of a gene associated
with intellectual disability that may also have implications for people
with severe epilepsy and autism
30 July 2005: Arctic depths
teeming with life, say explorers. Robot submarines and sonar probed an
isolated 3800m basin off Canada's Arctic coast
29 July 2005: Bone marrow
proves source of egg cells, too. Study challenges long-held scientific
belief that mammals including mice and humans generate egg cells only
when they are fetuses
28 July 2005: Genes linked to
spread of breast cancer discovered. Scientists have identified genes
enabling breast cancer cells to spread to the lungs, a discovery that
could improve diagnosis and treatment of the disease
26 July 2005: Flu viruses can
quickly swap genes – study. New research shows that several genes
can be exchanged at once, not change gradually as was previously
believed
26 July 2005: Stressed-out
worms die young, study finds. Scientists show for the first time how
genetically identical worms respond differently to stress, with those
exhibiting more active stress responses likely to live longer
22 July 2005: High DDT levels
found in breastmilk of HK mothers. Findings point to illegal use of the
pesticide banned in the region more than twenty years ago
15 July 2005: Chemical
contamination in Arctic linked to bird droppings. Sea birds, which feed
in the ocean but then come back to land, are returning not only with
food for their young but with contaminants as well
15 July 2005: Mouse study
suggests Alzheimer's damage reversible. Mice regained the ability to
navigate mazes after the genes that caused their dementia were
de-activated
15 July 2005: Scientists decode
three deadly parasite genomes. Mapped out the genomes of the parasites
that cause African sleeping sickness, Chagas disease and leishmaniasis
14 July 2005: First GE
contamination of a food crop confirmed. GE trace was likely to have
come from a Canadian gene "inadvertently" imported into Australia in
conventional seed
14 July 2005: Genetic links to
human intelligence found. A study of around 1000 Australian and Dutch
adolescents has pinpointed specific areas of DNA which researchers
believe may explain wide variations in intelligence
7 July 2005: NZ health boards,
blood service roll over and pay fees to GTG. The Melbourne company
holds patents in NZ for three DNA processes taken out in 1989 and 1990
before their significance was realised by mainstream researchers
6 July 2005: Even identical
twins grow apart genetically – study. The genetic code itself
does not change, but chemical changes after birth alter the way the
gene is expressed
5 July 2005: 'Talking' chemical
may signal aggressive cancer. A chemical that nerves use to talk to
each other might help show which tumours are the most likely to spread,
US researchers reported on Monday
1 July 2005: High-tech
approach to scrapie susceptibility screening. New Lincoln University
test will give New Zealand exporters of live sheep an edge in countries
seeking flocks resistant to the disease
1 July 2005: Gene "dimmer
switch" found. Scientists identify a protein in cells they say acts
like a librarian by helping to find the right instructions from genes
1 July 2005: New centre to be
built at wildlife sanctuary. Victoria University is to open an
international Centre for Biodiversity and Eco-restoration at
Wellington's Karori Wildlife Sanctuary
30 June 2005: Male and queen
little fire ants clone after gender battle. Must clone their genes in
order to produce ants that are not sterile - Nature magazine
28 June 2005: 'Breakthrough'
in treatment for skin condition. UK scientists have discovered how an
ointment derived from the araroba tree actually works to kill off the
cells that cause psoriasis, a finding they say will help them develop
better treatments for the widespread genetic disorder
24 June 2005: GMO foods can
bring benefits, vigilance needed – WHO. Current GMO foods can
bring benefits, but safety assessments must continue
23 June 2005: Lowly amoeba may
provide early warning for big quakes. Type of amoebas change in certain
shallow coastal areas five to 10 years before a megathrust earthquake
occurs
23 June 2005: WHO: current GE
foods unlikely to pose unusual risks. But the potential risks of any
new transgenic food should be judged on a case-by-case basis
22 June 2005: Common virus
kills cancer, study finds. The harmless adeno-associated virus type 2
(AAV-2), which infects about 80 percent of the population, kills
multiple types of cancer cells, but does not effect healthy cells
22 June 2005: Unique genetic
profile could help woman over 45 conceive. Israeli scientists have
identified the genes that protect ovaries from ageing
19 June 2005: USA asked Japan
to end health study after bomb test: letter. A document in the US
National Archives shows the US exerted pressure on the Japanese health
ministry to drop research into the radioactive contamination of tuna
following a 1954 US hydrogen bomb test that irradiated a Japanese
trawler in the South Pacific
17 June 2005: Chinese and
Japanese researchers indicted in Harvard theft. Cell biologists accused
of taking research material without permission to another institution
within the US
16 June 2005: Scientists flock
to big NZ conference on genetics and evolution. 500 scientists, most of
them from overseas, taking part in NZ's largest international
conference on molecular biology
16 June 2005: Researchers identify new species and family of catfish. Only the third new family of fish found in the last 60 years
13 June 2005: Smoking, overeating can age you 10 years. Accelerates chromosome damage central to biological ageing
10 June 2005: When is gene manipulations OK? Debate over what is permissible
9 June 2005: Biotech's hype and
hope have yielded cures - and losses. Despite some very significant
breakthroughs in treating cancer, diabetes and other widespread and
deadly diseases - the industry's combined losses continued to mount in
2004
8 June 2005: Genes can't keep
pace with lifestyle changes: biochemist. Human genes haven't been able
to keep pace with rapid changes in diet and lifestyle, triggering
dramatic increases in cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer,
research suggests
8 June 2005: Ethicist says it's
OK to create 'better people'. Society has a moral obligation to use
genetic technologies to create "better people", an Australian ethics
expert says
4 June 2005: Gene change alters
orientation in fruit flies. Australian researchers have reversed the
courtship roles in a male and female fruit fly, confirming behavioural
switch genes do exist
3 June 2005: Grandpa's poisons
may affect you, rat tests show. Shows how toxins may play a role in
inherited diseases now blamed on genetic mutations
3 June 2005: Extinct cave bears
get their DNA sequenced. Researchers have sequenced the DNA of two
extinct cave bears and say their method is accurate enough to try doing
it on extinct humans such as Neanderthals
1 June 2005: Scientists clear
major hurdle in stem cell research. Have shown that human embryonic
stem cells are highly stable and not liable to undergo changes that
could make them unsafe
28 May 2005: Scientists
discover mystery of plant growth. Plant biologists figure out how the
plant hormone auxin, discovered in the 1920s, combines with a plant
protein to activate growth genes in response to light or gravity
26 May 2005: Wildflower
feared extinct discovered in California state park. Eriogonom
truncatum, commonly known as Mount Diablo buckwheat, was last seen more
than six decades ago
25 May 2005: Britain pledges
extra cash to cut animal testing. The pledge to inject a further 3
million pounds into the new National Centre for the Replacement,
Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research coincides with a
bioethics report that calls for more transparency on animal
experimentation and better regulation of GM animals in research
25 May 2005: DNA barcodes help
track disease. The new Australian technology has the ability to detect
MRSA infections within hours rather than days, reducing the cost
considerably
24 May 2005: Monsanto defends
results of rat studies on GM corn. The studies showed rats fed a corn
genetically modified to resist rootworm had smaller kidneys and a
different blood composition from rats not fed the corn
20 May 2005: Sperm may hold key
to cancer, chimp study suggests. The evolutionary path that separated
humans from chimps 5 million years ago may have made human sperm
survive better but paradoxically may have made humans prone to cancer
19 May 2005: Earliest modern
human in Europe dated to 31,000 years ago. The dating is important
because it may help solve the mystery of what happend to the
Neatherthals that predominated in Europe before Homo sapiens showed up
19 May 2005: DNA links Indian
island tribes directly to African Eve. Two primitive tribes in India's
Andaman and Nicobar islands are believed to be direct descendants of
the first humans who migrated from Africa at least 50,000 years ago
13 May 2005: UK: ancient humans
lured by seaside – study. Genetic evidence points to a migration
route from East Africa that followed the coast of the Indian Ocean
13 May 2005: Let
tsunami-damaged reefs recover naturally, scientist says. The chair of
the World Bank's Coral Restoration and Remediation Working Group says
governments should not fund costly repair programmes when history shows
damaged reefs can mend themselves with time
12 May 2005: We're all capable of murder – scientist. Evolutionary psychologist says humans are programmed to kill
11 May 2005: Big tackle makes
fish easy prey. Australian animal evolution and sexual selection expert
comments on new US research that showed there may be an evolutionary
trade-off between the mosquitofish's ability to attract females and its
ability to out-swim predators
10 May 2005: Premature birth
could have genetic component. Risk of early delivery more likely if a
relative has given birth prematurely, genetic analyses show
6 May 2005: Darwin on trial in
Kansas debate. Conservative groups are trying to convince state
education officials to change guidelines for how evolution theory is
taught in science classes at a time when Kansas education authorities
are producing new science teaching guidelines
5 May 2005: Human egg
breakthrough could delay menopause. Viable human eggs have for the
first time been grown in the laboratory from ovarian stem cells
5 May 2005: Environment and
genes hold key to adult problems – researchers. "Bad" genes
together with a bad environment cause problems: Dunedin
Multidisciplinary Study
29 April 2005: Greens say
genetic vulnerability a reason to regulate cannabis. But Progressive
Party deputy leader Matt Robson says there is no room to liberalise
cannabis law while there is not scientific consensus that it is totally
safe
28 April 2005: Malaysia
looks to jump on biotech bandwagon. Unveiling big tax breaks and a new
state agency to hot-house ventures ranging from healthcare to high-tech
agriculture
27 April 2005: Scientists
identify sleep gene defect. The mutated fruit fly gene blocked the flow
of potassium to cells, already linked with sleep in humans
26 April 2005: Institute of
Medicine calls for stem cell research ethics guidelines. The US
government advisory wants a standard set of requirements for deriving,
storing, distributing, and using embryonic stem cell lines
24 April 2005: Tests reveal
awkward truth about China's famous mummies. Genetic tests show the
Beauty of Loulan and Charchan Man of Caucasian origin
22 April 2005: Midnight snacker? Blame your genes. Mice study links faulty gene to malfunctioning body clock
21 April 2005: Male disease
linked to female genetic material. Scientists think they have found a
gene that predisposes men to prostate cancer in parts of a cell that
come exclusively from mothers
21 April 2005: Geyser microbes
may point to Mars life – study. A "weird" community of microbes
living in a hot, acid geyser in Wyoming's Yellowstone Park may help
scientists know what to look for in seeking life on Mars and elsewhere
in space
20 April 2005: Method devised
for whole-population DNA analysis. Nobel-laureate Dr Sydney Brenner
says his new method will allow researchers to discover information
about genetic differences of whole populations very quickly
17 April 2005: Italian
scientists say they've cloned second horse. Scientists classified the
birth as a breakthrough that paves the way for preserving the lines of
the best race horses by creating clones that can breed
14 April 2005: New treatment
targets inherited breast cancers. The new drug, known as a PARP
inhibitor, kills cells where the DNA repair mechanism is missing
13 April 2005: Meat, milk from
clones look normal, study finds. The products from cloned cattle are
virtually identical to the same products from animals bred the
old-fashioned way
13 April 2005: Greenpeace says
China growing GE rice, as row breaks in US. The GE rice had not been
approved for human consumption and may have contaminated Chinese rice
exports, says a Greenpeace campaigner
12 April 2005: Interview -
Alnylam says in talks with US on avian flu. The potential treatment,
using the company's gene-silencing technology, would be stockpiled by
the US government in the event of a pandemic
12 April 2005: Top vaccine
researcher Maurice Hilleman dies at 85. The Merck employee helped
develop vaccines for mumps, measles, chicken pox and other childhood
scourges
9 April 2005: Swiss
biotechnology company reaches settlement over corn. Syngenta, which
sold farmers a genetically engineered corn seed that had not been
approved by American regulators, will pay a fine of $US375,000
8 April 2005: Aussie researchers make malaria discovery. Beginning to understand how malaria parasite disguises itself in the body
6 April 2005: Australia scientists develop GMO fish oil plants. Develop the first land plants that can produce their own omega-3 fatty acids
4 April 2005: Animal laughter
may shed light on human problems. A new study of animal emotions
appears in this week's edition of the journal Science
1 April 2005: NZ researchers
work with Japanese on methane emissions. The research will compare
rumen bacteria from grass-fed New Zealand dairy cows with Japanese cows
fed grain to assess the general effects of diet in methane formation
31 March 2005: An Imperial
College study of yeast has found that while it can reproduce both
sexually and asexually, under extreme conditions sexy yeast performs
better
30 March 2005: Hidden costs
of s*x. An evolutionary biologist at The University of Auckland has
answered one of biology s most puzzling questions, Why did s*x evolve
and persist?
25 March 2005: Scientists
recover preserved soft tissue from ancient dinosaur. Recover rare soft
tissue from a 70-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex
24 March 2005: UK scientists to
probe need for monkey research. British scientists are to take the
world's first hard look at whether monkeys should continue to be used
in biological and medical research
21 March 2005: News release:
Footrot advances in New Zealand. Lincoln researcher identifies DNA
sequence of six new strains of the bacterial disease that affects
sheep, goats and cattle
18 March 2005: Cancer cells may hold the key to immortality. Researchers keen to better understand why cancer cells never die
17 March 2005: Women get more
work out of genes on the X factor. One of two new studies on the X
chromosome published in this week's issue of Nature magazine. By
cracking the genetic code of the female X chromosome scientists have
discovered it is far more complex and variable than the male Y
chromosome and linked to a wide variety of human diseases ranging from
haemophilia, blindness and autism to obesity and leukaemia
17 March 2005: Visiting
biochemist helps at scene of accident. Kurt Krause not only had taken a
proposal to establish a research group into structural biology at Otago
University a step further, but he was also able to offer practical
medical help
17 March 2005: NZ beef sector
invests $2 million in huge Aust research project. Meat and Wool NZ is
investing $2 million over seven years in a new $NZ129 million
Australian co-operative research centre for beef genetics technologies
from July
16 March 2005: Scientists put skin cancer cells into endless coma. Researchers discover new way to stop melanoma cells dividing and growing
15 March 2005: Biotech
recognition for researcher seeking milk protein pathways. AgResearch
scientist Sue McCoard has been named emerging biotechnologist of the
year at the inaugural NZ Bio Conference in Auckland
11 March 2005: MRI scans could
have antidepressant effect. Treating depression without drugs a
possibility after MRI scans prove effective in improving the level of
helpless behaviour in rats - new US study
9 March 2005: UK smoking may
raise cancer risk in unborn babies. The preliminary study is the first
to show direct evidence that smoking can damage DNA in the foetus
7 March 2005: DIY genetic
testing opens deep Pandora’s box. US companies offering online
genetic tests not able to interpret their results - expert
7 March 2005: News release:
University of Auckland research aims to find out how butterfish buck
the system. Fish biologists are to study the diet of the cold-blooded
butterfish to better understand why they thrive in warm ocean
environments
3 March 2005: Fasting mice aid
research into diabetes. Fasting may help some species of animals to
live longer, according to research that highlights a key gene which
alters the way glucose is processed
3 March 2005: Govt to give
Wrightson $3m to develop GE ryegrass in Australia. Part of $6.76
million announced in grants today to NZ partners in four trans-Tasman
biotech projects
3 March 2005: Wrightson expects consumers to accept milk, meat from GE grasses when product is released in 7-9 year's time
26 February 2005: Nutrigenomics
'next wave' in nutritional research. Speaking at the Nuffield Trust
international conference, AgResearch scientist Warren McNabb says the
science, based on personal genetic information to deliver a better
diet, is some way off
25 February 2005: Wallaby
genome a leap in explaining human DNA. Australian and US researchers
find many similarities between wallaby DNA and the human genome in the
early stages of mapping the genome of the Tammar wallaby
24 February 2005: Frozen
bacterium has implications for Mars – NASA. A newly discovered
life form that froze on Earth some 30,000 years ago was apparently
alive all that time and started swimming as soon as it thawed
23 February 2005: Maori
addiction to smoking might be triggered by gene – research. An
ESR study has confirmed earlier overseas research that ethnic groups
are more susceptible to nicotine addiction because they have a much
higher proportion of a gene that slows the processing of nicotine in
the liver, resulting in higher concentrations of nicotine in the brain
and heightened pleasurable feelings that could lead to addiction
22 February 2005: Team succeeds
in cloning human kidney in rats. Researchers in Japan have succeeded in
cloning a human kidney by cultivating human stem cells extracted from
adult bone marrow into rat embryos
18 February 2005: Scientists map gene variation in quest against inherited disease. First map of common human genetic variation
18 February 2005: Genome map
offers first look at human differences. Scientists believe the new map
is a major step towards truly personalised medicine
18 February 2005: News release:
Merino wool industry given boost. Research undertaken by a PhD
candidate at Lincoln University has resulted in the identification of
three gene markers that could be exploited in a gene-assisted selection
programme
17 February 2005: Aussie
scientists create world's first cloned cow. Method had been used to
clone mice and pigs before, but this was the first time a bovine had
been created using the technique, known as serial nuclear transfer
17 February 2005: Lobster shell
disease spreading along New England coast. The disease's cause and how
it spreads remain a mystery, though theories are emerging and the
scientists said they will seek state and federal money for further
studies
10 February 2005: AgResearch to
spend millions moving animal reproduction to south. Spending $8 million
in a joint reproductive science and mammalian genomic centre with the
University of Otago
2 February 2005: Genetic
breakthrough could kill pacemakers. Australian researchers have
discovered they can kick-start scarred heart cells by injecting genetic
material into the damaged cells
1 February 2005: Pig grafts
into humans may require new laws to control patients. Patients who
receive animal organs and other tissue may need lifetime monitoring to
prevent viral and bacterial diseases spreading to humans
1 February 2005: Harvesting
organs from animals for human transplants 'cruel'. Lobbyists strongly
opposed to the practice they say could lead to new epidemics in humans
31 January 2005: Ancient
beasts raise questions about climate change. For the last 200 million
years the turtle has survived periods of change in global temperatures
and sea levels, raising questions about the impact of climate and sea
level change on biodiversity
28 January 2005: Gene
breakthrough in schizophrenia study. An Australian study has identified
a major gene associated with the oversupply of D2 dopamine receptors, a
feature of the disease
28 January 2005: Davos - call
for new "Manhattan Project" to fight bioterror. An attack using the
smallpox virus is overwhelmingly the largest risk
27 January 2005: How the Venus
flytrap snaps up its prey. An article to be published Thursday in
Nature magazine explains how the plant can flip from convex to concave
in just 100 milliseconds
27 January 2005: Fertility
group offers embryo stem cells to public. Could be a small boost for
scientists in the United States who have been stymied by strict federal
limitations on stem-cell research
25 January 2005: Lack of mating
choice a health problem for modern humans. Researchers say modern
human's "sloppy" gene control mechanisms resulted from a poor
population base thousands of years ago
24 January 2005: Protest
planned at site of GM tree field trial. The People's Moratorium
Enforcement Agency is to protest against Forest Research's Rotorua
field trial of genetically modified pine and spruce trees
17 January 2005: Gene
arrangement makes some Europeans more fertile. Iceland researchers say
the genetic pattern that causes fertility has been found to be
prevalent in Icelanders and Europeans, but is quite rare in Africa and
virtually absent in Asia
14 January 2005: Judge rejects
Georgia school board evolution stand. A US judge on Thursday ordered a
Georgia school district to remove stickers challenging the theory of
evolution from its textbooks on the grounds that they violated the US
Constitution
11 January 2005: Scientists
find clue to Aids origins, new therapy. Find a crucial difference
between a gene in humans and one in rhesus monkeys that blocks
infection of the virus in the animals
6 January 2005: Rapid brain
expansion propelled human intelligence – study. Smarter may not
be better say University of Chicago researchers who have found some of
the genes that make for a bigger and better brain may also be the ones
that predispose people to mental disorders and addiction
4 January 2005: Age-old warning
systems may have saved India's island. The ancient tribes of India's
Andaman and Nicobar islands who fled to higher ground before the
tsunami struck, may have been warned by the behaviour of birds and
marine animals, researchers say
