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Influorescence of a tobacco plant (Nicotiana tabacum L.). Chappell and colleagues divert carbon from the plastidic and cytosolic isoprenoid bio-syntheic pathways to engineer elevated sesquiterpene and monoterpene production in tobacco (p 1441). Credit: Patrick Robert/Corbis.
The discovery of traces of unapproved genetically modified rice in United States exports has once again put the spotlight on biotech companies' failure to fully contain field trials and on governments' inability to keep the food supply free of unapproved traits.
A raft of companies offering stretches of synthetic DNA built to customer specifications at low-cost have been attracting biotechs attention with promises of ever-longer stands.
Two companies, Kosan Biosciences, and NeuTec Pharma, are vying for “first in field” status with drugs that take different approaches to squelching heat shock protein 90.
For South Africa's sparkling biotech sector not to fizzle, it must win over risk-averse investors, exploit local strengths, focus on simple business models and look to the East. Sabine Louët reports.
Contrary to conventional thinking, there are compelling reasons for investors to consider early-stage life science ventures, especially in the context of a maturing biotech business 'ecosystem'.
An analysis of 105 mergers among small UK biotech companies over a 10-year period shows that the improvement of shareholder positions, rather than product pipelines or business opportunities, is the main motivation for such transactions.
The sustainability of many research endeavors, particularly in controversial areas, requires an understanding of public concerns. As such, governance strategies should be developed to sustain public trust.
A large-scale chemical genetic approach for systematically linking gene expression profiles with compounds and phenotypes offers promise for both basic and applied biomedical research.
Implementation of the Minimal Information About a Microarray Experiment document provides several lessons for similar ongoing initiatives in other fields.
To avoid duplication of effort, slow adoption and inefficiency in development, those developing biological standards need to communicate more with each other, attract help from experts in the ontology/standards communities and keep focused on needs of users.