How to make a human nerve cell
Researchers have worked out how to reprogram cells from human skin into functioning nerve cells.
Nature News: 26 May 2011
TechNyou
The technique used top create the nerve cells is called transdifferentiation and is different from induced pluripotent stem cells, though it still involves genetic modification of the cells. More homework for me – ie I will endeavor to post an overview of the differences between transdifferentiation and induced pluripotency.
Similar stories
See previous TechNyou news post where Chinese scientists made liver cells using transdifferentiation
OECD check activity for safe use of manufactured nanomaterials
The OECD has released a review of information on activities related to the safety of manufactured nanomaterials.
The OECD has just released the document, Current Development/Activities on the Safety of Manufactured Nanomaterials. It is a overview of information on current/planned activities related to the safety of manufactured nanomaterials in OECD member countries and other delegations that attended the 8th meeting of OECD’s Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (Paris France, 16-18 March 2011).
Australia’s bit
Australia was at the meeting and the following is the basic stuff we have been up to in this area – more detail in the report:
- The National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) has introduced a working definition for industrial nanomaterials and new administrative arrangements for regulating nanoforms of new chemicals, effective from 1 January 2011.
- Safe Work Australia is implementing a Nanotechnology Work Health and Safety Program. Six research reports and a work health and safety assessment tool for handling engineered nanomaterials have been published.
- Safe Work Australia and the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science & Research (DIISR) hosted the Nanotechnology Work Health and Safety Symposium on 9-10 September 2010. The symposium brought together a wide range of stakeholders, and featured presentations on projects commissioned under the Nanotechnology Work Health and Safety Program and panel discussions to examine the implications of the research findings and options for addressing work health and safety issues in nanotechnology.
- FSANZ has completed a review of the scientific literature relevant to oral bioavailability, as a determinant of potential toxicological novelty, of nanomaterials.
Image: news.cnet.com
Teaching algae to make hydrogen fuel
Scientists have found a way to use bioengineered proteins to make algae forget about their food and make more hydrogen.
Science Daily: 24 May 2011
Bt insectidcide in pregnant women cont…
By Jason Major
TechNyou
I have noticed that the research finding the presence of Bt insecticide proteins in women’s tissues and blood is still getting bandied around the internet blogs and news, in the last two days in particular. Here is one story from TV New Zealand. Not sure why the sudden interest considering the story broke more than a month ago and TechNyou put up a post about then.
In response David Tribe has posted a response with some interesting papers about just how prolific in the environment the Bt bacterium is and it has nothing to do with the genetically modified crops carrying the Bt genes. The bacteria does what bacteria do – divide and get into stuff. Plus, as posted in the TechNyou post on this, the organic farmers use the Bt as an approved insecticide. Home gardeners, myself included, have a packet of Dipel or similar insecticide, of which the active ingredient is Bt, to control the pesky caterpillars that destroyed my mint and lettuce this year.
The questions to be asked is what is the source of the Bt proteins found in the blood and tissues of these women, and are these proteins actually toxic in the first place? They are toxic to the caterpillars of moths and butterflies and possibly some other closely related insect species, but not much else that I have found out about. Humans, as far as I know, don’t have the protein receptor on our cells that allow the Bt proteins to attach to our cells. Happy, however, for someone to enlighten me on this.
New technologies for a changing future
What do you think? Have your say.
This will be a post for those readers of the insert, New technologies for a changing future, in each state’s rural newspaper, and other interested people, to share your vision for the challenges, opportunities or concerns about the future and the impact of new technologies.
It will be published and available in the editions going out during National Science Week in August
I will add some content to kick this off soon
As promised – the content
The publication, New technologies for a changing future, is out and should be in your hot hands and we want your thoughts. It can be downloaded here
He is some initial food for thought:
What sort of world do we want to live in, now, in 20 years, in 50 years? By what means are we prepared to achieve this?
Earth and humanity itself are facing a barrage of issues that need to be circumvented if we are to keep a habitable planet with a bunch of healthy, happy humans on it.
For example:
Energy
We are facing climate change and the need to reduce greenhouse gases, there will also be constraints on fuel from oil as we near peak oil. Scientists are researching biofuels from a range of sources such as cellulosic waste and algae, in addition to finding ways to safely and efficiently use hydrogen. Energy to generate electricity can come from clean coal, nuclear, solar, wind, and other renewable.
Food
Food production is facing the constraints of needing to produce more food with less water, fuel and inputs such as fertiliser, and unless we halt or reverse land degradation, less land as well.
Health
We are living in an ageing world, at least for us here in the developed nations. This will eventually have implications for our health services and the need to treat and look after a growing elderly population and the ailments that come with it.
In the context of this publication, the question for society (ie you) is what role should technologies have in helping solve these problems – and loads of others? That is how can or should technologies fit in with the other potential solutions that could come from social/cultural, political, economic and humanitarian-based changes?
On page 2, Dr Alex Wonhas, Director of the CSIRO Energy Transformed Flagship, says, “We will need a culture of continued innovation to be able to respond more rapidly to unexpected changes and continue to strive for a fairer, richer, and more sustainable society.”
The future is not what it used to be
Probably all the technologies in this publication have potential, but as pointed out in the story on CSIRO’s report, Our future world, “In relation to nanotechnology, the report states that this recent and rapidly emerging field offer many solutions for human health and manufacturing, however, nanomaterials may present risks not captured within existing risk identification and mitigation processes.”
So in reference to my first paragraph, by what means are we prepared to solve these problems? What risks are acceptable and under what circumstances?
How much influence can the introduction of these technologies really make in relation to the differences that might come from changes in the political, cultural, ethical, and economic spheres?
Your turn now. I look forward to your thoughts.
Would you like gene tech with that vids on YouTube
By Jason Major
TechNyou
The last of the videos of our National Science Week forum, “Would you like some gene tech with that?” are finally up on our YouTube channel
The first four uploaded a few weeks ago are of the expert panel’s presentations. These last three are of the audience discussion surrounding the three questions we posed:
- How acceptable is the use of GM technology to generate rice enriched with nutrients such as iron and Vitamin A?
- How acceptable is the use of GM technology to generate drought-tolerant wheat?
- How acceptable is the use of GM technology to generate barley that needs less nitrogen fertiliser?
The audience got to vote on this before and after the discussion. The first question is below. The rest can be accessed from the YouTube link on the TechNyou home page or at www.youtube.com/technyouvids
Stem cells: The growing pains of pluripotency
Nature discusses the problems with iPS cells and what we are doing to try and solve these problems
Nature News: 18 May 2011
More on Education Union and sunscreens
By Jason Major
TechNyou
Andrew Maynard at 2020 science has entered into the fray by providing his thoughts on the Australian Education Union’s recommending that workplaces (eg schools) use only nanoparticle-free sunscreen.
He elaborates in more detail that I did in the TechNyou post last week. He expresses numerous concerns with the decision, but his key criticism seems to be, not the Friends of the Earth document which is what the AEU bases its recommendation on, but how the AEU use that document as an authoritative guide to sunscreen use, which it is not. That is their recommendations re: sunscreen use is not based on any evidence-based science regarding the safety and efficacy of sunscreen and its use.
AI hacking of your brain
Brain-machine interfaces (BMI) are poised to challenge our notions of identity, culpability and the acceptable limits of human enhancement.
New Scientist: 20 May 2011
Image: Merging with the machine (Image: Adrianna Williams/Corbis)
Escaped nanoparticles potential hazard to crops
Nanoparticles that escape during the manufacture and use of consumer products would substantially reduce the growth of wheat were they to end up in soil, say Chinese scientists.