Gene therapy has been used successfully to breed large animals capable of producing therapeutic proteins in their milk, such as insulin or those that fight cancer. This represents a significant milestone, as previous methods involved cloning, which takes more time and generally costs more. This new research should reduce the cost and increase the availability of several drugs.
A new study may explain why women with a mutation in the BRCA1 gene face up to an 85 percent lifetime risk of breast cancer. Researchers from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center found that BRCA1 plays a role in regulating breast stem cells, the small number of cells that might develop into cancers.
Heart surgeons at Johns Hopkins have evidence to support further tightening rather than easing of standards used to designate hospitals that are best at performing heart transplants. New findings contradict the recently lowered government standard.
It is well established that changing people's sense of responsibility can change their behavior. Surprisingly, the link between fatalistic beliefs and unethical behavior has never been examined scientifically -- until now. In two recent experiments, psychologists decided to see if otherwise honest people would cheat and lie if their beliefs in free will were manipulated.
Ancient light absorbed by neutral hydrogen atoms could be used to test certain predictions of string theory, say cosmologists. Making the measurements, however, would require a gigantic array of radio telescopes to be built on Earth, in space or on the moon.
In the first study to use imaging technology to see what goes on in the brain when we scratch, researchers have uncovered new clues about why scratching may be so relieving -- and why it can be hard to stop. The researcher said patients occasionally report that intense scratching -- to the point of drawing blood -- is the only thing that relieves chronic itch. Of course, this is not recommended.
Astronomers believe they can "simplify the dark side of the universe" by shedding new light on two of its mysterious constituents. Only 4% of the universe is made of known material - the other 96% is traditionally labeled into two sectors, dark matter and dark energy. "Both dark matter and dark energy could be two faces of the same coin," according to an astrophysicist.
Scientists say they have identified a gene that is the key switch that allows embryonic cells to form into muscles in zebrafish. Much like students in a kindergarten class lining up to go to lunch, the trigger gene, which is identified as Smarcd3, must align correctly with two other genes for muscle formation to begin, a process known as myogenesis.
Genetic mutations in an enzyme related to amino acid metabolism called MTHFR and coagulation protein Factor V appear to have significant association with blood clots and tissue injury to the placenta and developing baby, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh's department of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences report. "This indicates a possible genetic predisposition to a condition of real clinical consequence in terms of intrauterine growth restriction, preeclampsia and spontaneous preterm birth," the researchers said.
A drug already used to treat parasitic infections, and once looked at for cancer, also attacks the human immunodeficiency virus in a new and powerful way, according to new research in Retrovirology. Researchers seek to deny HIV its safe havens in the human body.
CANBERRA (Reuters) - Research into the common rat has revealed how people and certain diseases migrated around the ancient world, Australian scientists said on Friday.
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazilian paleontologists said on Thursday they had found the fossil of a new species of prehistoric predator that represented a "missing link" to modern-day crocodiles.
Scientists believe a chimp virus may hold the clue in the long-running battle to develop a malaria vaccine. Source: BBC News | Science/Nature | UK Edition | 1 Feb 2008 | 12:14 am
· International aviation not included in figures· Mild winter means UK used less fuel for heating Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 1 Feb 2008 | 12:07 am
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Giving a woman an infusion of Epsom salts when she goes into premature labor can help protect her baby from cerebral palsy, U.S. researchers reported on Thursday.
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese researchers have implanted a small camera inside a mouse's brain to see how memory is formed, in an experiment they hope to some day apply to humans to treat illnesses such as Parkinson's disease.
South Asia and southern Africa may be hardest hit by climate change-related food shortages by 2030. Source: BBC News | Science/Nature | UK Edition | 31 Jan 2008 | 8:05 pm
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Oh, it brings such blessed relief and now scientists can tell you why -- scratching an itch temporarily shuts off areas in the brain linked with unpleasant feelings and memories.
LONDON (Reuters) - Eurasian reed warblers captured during migration and then dumped 1,000 km (620 miles) off course were able to find their way back to their original route, according to a study suggesting some birds can truly navigate.
The first consignment of seeds bound for the "doomsday vault" on Svalbard has arrived in Norway. Source: BBC News | Science/Nature | UK Edition | 31 Jan 2008 | 5:02 pm
BERLIN (Reuters) - A team of experts has unearthed an 800-year-old cellar under a central Berlin car park which they say dates the city back to the 12th century, earlier than previously thought.
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict said on Thursday that embryonic stem cell research, artificial insemination and the prospect of human cloning had "shattered" human dignity.
MILAN (Reuters) - If pizza maker Simone Padoan saw a slab of cloned meat in his local supermarket, the Italian chef says he would be too scared to bring it into his kitchen.
The European Parliament backs a call for a ban on outdoor heaters as a measure against climate change. Source: BBC News | Science/Nature | UK Edition | 31 Jan 2008 | 12:31 pm
Remarkable new footage of Canada's Arctic wolves is caught on camera by a BBC film crew. Source: BBC News | Science/Nature | UK Edition | 31 Jan 2008 | 10:50 am
