From: Brett Paatsch (paatschb@optusnet.com.au)
Date: Thu May 08 2003 - 08:08:13 MDT
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufactures of America site
(http://genomics.phrma.org/today/index.html) is one I occasionally
check out. The bounty seemed a little richer today.
*Stem cells can become "normal" sperm.
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99993700
"Researchers are very close to creating sperm outside of the body
for the first time, New Scientist has learned.
As reported on 1 May, the feat has already been achieved with
eggs. It was accomplished with cells originally derived from mouse
embryos, but most experts see no reason why the technique would
not work with human embryonic stem cells too. If human eggs and
sperm created this way are healthy - and it is a big if - the
implications for reproductive technology and regenerative medicine
would be immense."
*Genetic regulator of lifespan identified (PNC1 gene)
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-05/hms-gro050503.php
"Researchers at Harvard Medical School (HMS) have discovered that
a gene in yeast is a key regulator of lifespan. The gene, PNC1, is the
first that has been shown to respond specifically to environmental factors
known to affect lifespan in many organisms"
*Gene holds clue to long life. (PNC1 gene again)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3007157.stm
"Researchers in the United States have identified a gene in yeast that
influences how long it lives."
"They believe the finding could boost efforts to identify similar genes
in humans."
How RNAi Will Untangle Gene Function
http://www.genomeweb.com/articles/view-article.asp?Article=200357152811
"Some call it the most revolutionary biological tool since polymerase
chain reaction. Nobel laureate and Biogen founder Phil Sharp says
it will "fundamentally change how we do cell biology." And technology
licensing officers at the Carnegie Institution and MIT, which sell
commercial rights to two separate pools of patents for RNA-mediated
-interference technologies, say that these could well be the most
significant
inventions, at least in biology, ever to cross their desks.
Brett
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