Like our oceans, today’s continents are brimming with life. Yet billions of years ago, before the advent of plants, continents would have appeared barren. These apparently vacant land forms were believed to play no role in the early biochemical clockwork known as the nitrogen cycle, which most living things depend on for survival. Researchers discover ancient biocrusts played an important role in the nitrogen cycle.
The research involved kinesin proteins: tiny, protein-based motors that interact with microtubules inside cells. The motors convert chemical energy into mechanical energy to generate the directional movements and forces necessary to sustain life. Microtubules are microscopic tubular structures that have two distinct ends: a fast-growing plus end and a slow-growing minus ends. Microtubules help make up a cell’s skeleton.
“It was as long ago as 1991 when we discovered that, in many elderly people infected with HSV1, the virus is present also in the brain, and then in 1997 that it confers a strong risk of Alzheimer’s disease in the brain of people who have a specific genetic factor.”
Scientists from The University of Texas at Austin took an important step toward safer gene editing cures for life-threatening disorders, from cancer to HIV to Huntington’s disease, by developing a technique that can spot editing mistakes a popular tool known as CRISPR makes to an individual’s genome. The research appears today in the journal Cell.
Biotechnology Innovation Platform Launch expected to become a national-level technology startup incubator. It aims to host at least 50 spinoff companies and commercialize the results of at least 10 HKU research projects within five years. The platform will focus on key areas including cancer treatment, medical devices and infectious disease treatment.
ACROMEC Limited (“ACROMEC”, SGX:43F), an established specialist engineering service provider in the field of controlled environments serving mainly the healthcare, biomedical, research and academia sectors, has secured three new contracts totaling approximately S6.2 million.
Dynacure, a biotechnology company developing new treatments for patients affected by serious orphan disorders, announced today the completion of a €47 million financing round (~US$55 million) to advance its lead program into clinical development. Andera Partners (formerly Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners) led the financing round, joined by Pontifax, Bpifrance, Kurma Partners and IdInvest Partners.
Catalent, Inc. (NYSE: CTLT), the leading global provider of advanced delivery technologies and development solutions for drugs, biologics and consumer health products, today announced that it has agreed to acquire Juniper Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: JNPR), including its Nottingham, U.K.-based Juniper Pharma Services division.
