Scientists sequence genome of kind of organism central to biosphere's carbon cycle
...o shed additional light on how this diatom species uses fats, or lipids, that it is known to store in huge amounts. "Learning the actual pathways they use to metabolize their fats helps explain the ability of diatoms to withstand long periods with little sunlight even to overwinter and then start growi...DNA lends scientists a hand, revealing new chemical reactions
...echnique, known as "DNA-templated synthesis," that uses DNA to code not for RNA or proteins but instead for synthetic molecules. The researchers, led by Harvard University chemist David R. Liu, report this week in the journal Nature that their system for reaction discovery, driven by DNA-templated synthes...Cancer vaccine based on pathogenic listeria bacteria shows promise targeting metastases
...nds on how the flag is waved. "This immune therapy uses bacteria that induce both inflammation and an immune response to specific tumor antigens," which together hit the tumor with generalized antitumor chemicals, such as interferon and tumor necrosis factor, as well as activated T-cells that attack and k...A test case for DNA barcodes to identify species
...their controversial "DNA barcoding" concept, which uses genes to identify species much like supermarket barcodes identify products. Using a region of one specific gene, they correctly identify 260 North American bird species. The idea is that a short stretch of genetic code from a reference gene is suf...USAID, Conservation International & Starbucks launch Conservation Coffee Alliance in Central America
...partnership between Starbucks and CI, the Alliance uses a field-to-cup approach to community-level conservation that includes all aspects of producing, processing and marketing specialty coffee. The work supported by the Alliance is intended to provide economic incentives and technical assistance that wil...DNA barcode finds four new bird species
...ents of animals and reconstruct food cycles. Other uses include identifying birds that fly into airplane engines and testing for protected fish species, for example, that sometimes make their way to market. It also works for identifying organisms at different stages of life, such as the eggs and larvae of...'Gene chips' research in cotton could lead to superior variety
COLLEGE STATION A technology that uses "gene chips," which can help analyze tens of thousands of different DNA elements in a cotton plant, could lead to cotton varieties with superior traits and improved fiber quality. Dr. Jeff Chen, a Texas Agricultural Experiment Station scientist, is...Study explores gene transfer to modify underlying course of Alzheimer's disease
...r have successfully initiated a new technique that uses gene therapy to deliver nerve growth factor into r... the only center in this study. The new technique uses CERE-110 as the gene therapy agent. CERE-110 carries the Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) gene encased in a...DuPont introduces in-home personal protection from dangers of hurricanes
...knives. "The DuPont TM StormRoom TM with Kevlar uses the same molecular science and high-performance material found in the bullet-resistant vests that help protect military personnel and police around the world," said DuPont Advanced Fiber Systems Technology Leader Roger Siemionko. "By capturing both ...Scientists explore genome of methane-breathing microbe
...oncentrations," he says, noting that M. capsulatus uses two separate systems at high and low copper concentrations for oxidizing methane. Scientists say the organism's potential significance for biotechnology include the use of bacteriophage (viruses that infect bacteria) that have made a home in the ge...22nd amino acid synthesized and added to genetic code of e. coli bacteria
... different path. Each of the canonical amino acids uses a specialized translator protein to decode genetic information as that amino acid. But selenocysteine lacked its own translator protein and is put into the protein through a more circuitous route. That left open the question of whether future amino a...Popular Science announces Third Annual 'Brilliant 10'
...ecords. The data is fodder for numerical models he uses to interpret past climate changes and predict future ones. His research reveals an Earth where ice sheets can melt more--raising sea levels faster--than anyone previously imagined. Brian Enquist , 35, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ) for his wor...News tips from the Journal of Neuroscience
...Kawasaki The African fish Gymnarchus niloticus uses a weak, quasisinusoidal electric organ discharge (EOD) to both communicate and navigate. The problem is that if neighbors use the same signal, it creates a serious "who's who" problem. The fish deal with this by shifting the frequency of their EOD, t...First glimpse of DNA binding to viral enzyme
...elieve that inside the virus particle the protease uses the DNA as a guide wire, sliding along the genetic material to remove the internal "scaffolding" proteins, all located near the DNA. The team used a technique called synchrotron footprinting, which was pioneered by paper co-author Mark Chance an...Laboratory grows world record length carbon nanotube
...an any current structural material. In addition to uses in lightweight, high-strength applications, these ...arly endless applications. Actually, the potential uses for long carbon nanotubes are probably limited only by our imagination." Long metallic carbon nanot...Early detection hope for eye disease
...ersity in Edinburgh, outlined a new technique that uses spectral imaging, a non-invasive and safe method of taking pictures of the retina, to study the blood vessels of the eye and reveal the presence or progression of any disease. They modified a standard ophthalmoscope, adding a liquid crystal tuneable ...Sandia experiments may reduce possibility of future water wars
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - A method that uses roughly only one-hundredth the fresh water customarily needed to grow forage for livestock may leave much more water available for human consumption, as well as for residential and industrial uses. As a byproduct, it also may add formerly untapped so...Imitative parrots just might tell you it's all in the tongue
...umans." It's known that to produce sound, a parrot uses its syrinx, a voice boxorgan nestled between the trachea and lungs. The lingering question hasbeen: What happens to that sound as it moves up and out of the throat?Ornithologists and bird enthusiasts have long noticed that parrots bobtheir tongues ba...New imaging technology at Joslin shown to detect early signs of type 1 diabetes
...w the technology works The new imaging technology uses tiny probes called long-circulating magnetofluorescent nanoparticles (CMFN). These particles contain magnetic nanocrystals of iron oxide, which are very easily detected by MRI. After being injected intravenously, CMFN travels throughout the body, in...Scientists discover proteins involved in spread of HIV-1 infection
...ntains a specific sequence of amino acids which it uses to recruit the human tumor susceptibility gene 101 (TSG101). The virus then uses TSG101 to take control of the protein sorting and vesicle formation machinery and use it for its own...