Agriculture
The Lead
An Unexpected Finding
March 28, 2013 9:28 am | by Robert Fee | Articles | Comments
Some of science’s most interesting stories arise from accidents or unexpected results. Sir Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin is probably the most famous example, but a more recent discovery could lead to a way to block disease transmission between insects and, ultimately, lead to healthier humans and less crop damage.
Genes Behind Fruit Ripening Revealed
June 12, 2013 9:53 am | News | CommentsIt's common wisdom that one rotten apple in a barrel spoils all the other apples, and that an apple ripens a green banana if they are put together in a paper bag. Ways to ripen, or spoil, fruit have been known for thousands of years. Now, scientists have traced the thousands of genes in a plant that are activated once ethylene gas is released.
Unapproved, GM Wheat Found in Oregon Field
May 30, 2013 4:21 am | by MARY CLARE JALONICK - Associated Press - Associated Press | News | CommentsField workers at an Eastern Oregon wheat farm were clearing acres for the bare offseason when they came across a patch of wheat that didn't belong. The workers sprayed it and sprayed it, but the wheat wouldn't die. Their confused boss grabbed a few stalks and sent it to a university lab in early May.
Biotech Potato Breeds Pitched to FDA
May 14, 2013 1:44 pm | by JOHN MILLER - Associated Press - Associated Press | News | CommentsA dozen years after a customer revolt forced Monsanto to ditch its genetically engineered potato, another company aims to resurrect high-tech spuds. This month, tuber processing giant J.R. Simplot Co. asked the U.S. government to approve five varieties of biotech potatoes. They're engineered not to develop ugly black bruises.
Lawmakers Weigh Bills on GM Food Labeling
March 21, 2013 5:06 pm | by LAUREN GAMBINO - Associated Press - Associated Press | News | CommentsOregon lawmakers heard testimony Thursday on several bills to require labels on genetically modified food and prohibit importing genetically modified fish. Supporters say consumers should know what kind of food they are buying at the grocery store.
Plant Epigenetics Can Benefit Disease Studies
March 7, 2013 10:06 am | News | CommentsScientists have identified patterns of epigenomic diversity that not only allow plants to adapt to various environments, but could also benefit crop production and the study of human diseases.
Re-Engineering Photosynthesis to Make Drugs
March 6, 2013 12:17 pm | News | CommentsScientists are reporting an advance in re-engineering photosynthesis to transform plants into bio-factories that manufacture high-value ingredients for medicines, fabrics, fuels and other products.
BIO Commends EPA Rule on New Biofuels
February 25, 2013 2:22 pm | by Biotechnology Industry Organization | News | CommentsWASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--EPA approved camelina, energy cane, and renewable gasoline as cellulosic and advanced biofuels that can meet the Renewable Fuel Standard volume requirements. Additional pathways await approval.
Resistant Starches Can Protect Against Cancer
February 20, 2013 11:35 am | News | CommentsA new study shows that resistant starch helps the body resist colorectal cancer through mechanisms including killing pre-cancerous cells and reducing inflammation that can otherwise promote cancer.
Reports of toxic milk trigger scare in Balkans
February 19, 2013 8:33 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsReports that milk in the Balkans has been contaminated by a cancer-causing toxin have triggered a major health scare throughout the region, with authorities appealing for calm before official tests are conclusive. Senior agriculture official Goran Jesic claims on his website that out of 35 tested...
High-stakes fight over soybeans at US high court
February 18, 2013 9:30 am | by MARK SHERMAN - Associated Press - Associated Press | News | CommentsVernon Hugh Bowman seems comfortable with the old way of doing things, right down to the rotary-dial telephone he said he was using in a conference call with reporters. But the 75-year-old U.S. farmer figured out a way to benefit from a high-technology product, soybeans that are resistant to...
'Green Revolution' center sees future in GM seeds
February 13, 2013 8:42 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsThe research center largely responsible for launching the "green revolution" of the 1960s is now planning to develop more genetically-modified seeds to help farmers in the developing world grow more grain in the face of changing climate conditions and increased demand. Donations of $25 million...
New, Disease Resistant Wheat Developed
February 12, 2013 11:50 am | News | CommentsWheat breeders have developed a higher-yielding soft white winter wheat, known as Kaseberg, that is also resistant to the disease stripe rust.
Further Evidence Found to Link Pesticides and Parkinson's
January 4, 2013 11:28 am | News | CommentsFor several years, neurologists have been building a case that a link exists between pesticides and Parkinson's disease. To date, paraquat, maneb and ziram have been tied to increases in the disease, not only among farmworkers but in individuals who simply lived or worked near fields and likely inhaled drifting particles. Now, researchers discovered a link between Parkinson's and another pesticide, benomyl.
Cheese first made at least 7,500 years ago
December 14, 2012 2:22 pm | by MARIA CHENG - Associated Press - Associated Press | News | CommentsA new study that finds the earliest solid evidence of cheese-making. Scientists performed a chemical analysis on fragments from 34 pottery sieves discovered in Poland to determine their purpose. Until now, experts weren't sure whether such sieves were used to make cheese, beer or honey.
Biotech in the Barnyard
July 11, 2011 12:31 pm | by Mike May | Articles | CommentsVarious molecular techniques produce higher yields and more resistance.
Powder-Free Gloves
May 13, 2009 10:47 am | Product Releases | CommentsSempermed offers SemperGuard Latex Industrial Powder-Free Gloves. The gloves provide optimal barrier protection while offering the property advantages of co-polymer technology.
Arabidopsis, Drosophila Genomic Assays
June 7, 2005 11:46 am | Articles | CommentsThe TaqMan Genomic Assay (Applied Biosystems) line, for real-time PCR gene expression analysis, has been expanded to include model organisms Arabidopsis and Drosophila.
Weekly News Roundup 2/4/05
February 4, 2005 9:42 am | Articles | CommentsGlaxoSmithKline Uses HIV Resistance Testing
Initiative for Annotating Genomes Proposed 1/24/05
January 24, 2005 11:38 am | Articles | CommentsReport calls for better annotation
Mississippi Takes on Tobacco-based High-Volume Antibody Expression 4/14/04
April 14, 2004 10:57 am | Articles | Commentsby Robert Ford A five-year agreement between Mississippi State University (MSU), Starkville, Miss., and Toxin Alert Inc., Toronto, Canada, plans to provide research funding to the university for the development of large-scale antibody production in tobacco plants.
SNP Analysis Determines Origin of Mad Cow Case 1/15/04
January 16, 2004 4:49 am | Articles | Commentsby Elizabeth Tolchin and Vivien Marx The origin of the recent case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, in the United States was determined
