news

=Biotechnology in the news= A few recent headlines and scientific new related to biotechnology - Please feel free to add more!

WIRED Science Pilot Podcast
In January, PBS introduced pilots for 3 new science programs - WIRED Science was one of them. You can view the other pilots here (will only open with iTunes) http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=210934156&s=143441 The WIRED episode http://www.pbs.org/kcet/wiredscience/pilot.html has two segments that are interesting in the context of our class (although the others are also quite interesting, too). You can view the entire program above or you can click the link next to the episode title below. Brian Unger interviews premier stem cell researcher Dr. Renee Reijo Pera, the Co-Director of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Center at UCSF, a beneficiary of a 2004 California initiative to allocate $3.5 billion over ten years to potentially life-saving embryonic stem cell research. The piece profiles a pioneering scientist in one of the most promising but controversial areas of research. Aomawa Shields travels to Yellowstone National Park to harvest viruses that may hold the key to a technology revolution. She interviews Montana State University researchers Trevor Douglas and Mark Young,who are experimenting with virus shells for several commercial applications, including hydrogen production,more precise MRIs, and next-gen computer storage devices.
 * Stem Cell Explorer http://www.pbs.org/kcet/wiredscience/player-seg-stemcell.html**
 * Extremophiles http://www.pbs.org/kcet/wiredscience/player-seg-extremo.html**

Exploring the Sargasso Sea
http://www.genomenewsnetwork.org/articles/2004/03/04/sargasso.php Craig Venter, a key scientist in the human genome project, led a team to the Sargasso Sea near Bermuda, where they are isolating DNA from ocean samples to identify new species of microorganisms.

Cloned pigs produce healthy pork
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/03/0327_060327_pig_fat.html Transgenic pigs producing omega-3 fatty acids may be market as healthier meat

FDA moves toward approving cloned animals for human food
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01541.html - FDA bulletin http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/16/AR2006101601337_pf.html - Washington Post article; the comments submitted provide insight into how the general public is responding

Bush again vetoes stem cell legislation
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/06/20/MNGQ2QIL318.DTL

SNP mapping of human diseases
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=028CC15F-E7F2-99DF-31A6959945203F23&chanID=sa003 A flurry of research articles have highlighted the use of whole genome SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) mapping to identify genes associated with diseases and other traits

Hearing loss gene identified
http://www.scientistlive.com/17959/hearing-loss-gene-found.thtml European scientists use SNP mapping to identify a gene associated with hearing loss

The latest thing in pet services - Doggy DNA testing
http://www.courant.com/news/nationworld/hc-dogs0630.artjun30,0,2910259.story