TechNyou http://technyou.edu.au TechNyou Thu, 24 May 2012 02:06:54 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Artificial leaf’ hits development hurdlehttp://technyou.edu.au/2012/05/artificial-leaf-hits-development-hurdle/ http://technyou.edu.au/2012/05/artificial-leaf-hits-development-hurdle/#comments Thu, 24 May 2012 02:06:54 +0000 jasonmajor http://technyou.edu.au/?p=5800 More »]]> The company founded to commercialize the solar hydrogen device goes back to drawing board.

Nature News: 23 May 2012

]]> http://technyou.edu.au/2012/05/artificial-leaf-hits-development-hurdle/feed/ 0 A glass already half-full for nano-based water treatmentshttp://technyou.edu.au/2012/05/a-glass-already-half-full-for-nano-based-water-treatments/ http://technyou.edu.au/2012/05/a-glass-already-half-full-for-nano-based-water-treatments/#comments Wed, 23 May 2012 05:41:53 +0000 jasonmajor http://technyou.edu.au/?p=5796 More »]]> Clean drinking water is in short supply for most of the world’s population, but nanotechnology can go a long way to ensuring no one goes thirsty.

The Guardian: 22 May 2012

]]> http://technyou.edu.au/2012/05/a-glass-already-half-full-for-nano-based-water-treatments/feed/ 0 Quantum dots appear safe in primateshttp://technyou.edu.au/2012/05/quantum-dots-appear-safe-in-primates/ http://technyou.edu.au/2012/05/quantum-dots-appear-safe-in-primates/#comments Tue, 22 May 2012 23:12:30 +0000 jasonmajor http://technyou.edu.au/?p=5792 More »]]> A study to gauge the toxicity of quantum dots in primates has found cadmium-selenide quantum dots to be safe over intervals of time ranging from three months to a year.

Newswise, University of Buffalo: 21 May 2012

 

Nature Nanotechnology, Ling et al published online 20 May 2012

]]> http://technyou.edu.au/2012/05/quantum-dots-appear-safe-in-primates/feed/ 0 Gene patents challenged againhttp://technyou.edu.au/2012/05/gene-patents-challenged-again/ http://technyou.edu.au/2012/05/gene-patents-challenged-again/#comments Mon, 21 May 2012 06:44:14 +0000 jasonmajor http://technyou.edu.au/?p=5788 More »]]> A Labor backbencher has brought the gene patent controversy to the fore once again with a private member’s bill to ban patents on genetic material.

Australian Life Scientist: 16 May 2012

]]> http://technyou.edu.au/2012/05/gene-patents-challenged-again/feed/ 0 Two patients get eye stem cells transplanted to restore sighthttp://technyou.edu.au/2012/05/two-patients-get-eye-stem-cells-transplanted-to-restore-sight/ http://technyou.edu.au/2012/05/two-patients-get-eye-stem-cells-transplanted-to-restore-sight/#comments Mon, 21 May 2012 06:41:30 +0000 jasonmajor http://technyou.edu.au/?p=5785 More »]]> Two people have had stem cells transplanted into their eyes as part of a clinical trial to treat corneal blindness

BBC: 21 May 2012

]]> http://technyou.edu.au/2012/05/two-patients-get-eye-stem-cells-transplanted-to-restore-sight/feed/ 0 Next-generation disease resistance breedinghttp://technyou.edu.au/2012/05/next-generation-disease-resistance-breeding/ http://technyou.edu.au/2012/05/next-generation-disease-resistance-breeding/#comments Mon, 21 May 2012 01:16:32 +0000 jasonmajor http://technyou.edu.au/?p=5780 (TAL) effectors are molecules that can cut DNA at precise and known locations and might prove to be game-changing in everything from plant breeding to treating human disease.

 

This guest post on Biofortified explores the potential of (TAL) effector nuclease technology, but raises questions about its acceptability in crop breeding, comparing it (or trying to differentiate it) from genetically modified crops

TAL

The possibilities are immense for using TAL technology to induce targeted variations in the genomes of mammals, flies, worms and plants.

 

An application of TAL technology to crop breeding is described in a recent paper in Nature Biotechnology – link in Biofortified post. In this study, the authors used TAL-nucleases to remove a small stretch of DNA from the genome of rice that rendered it susceptible to bacterial blight, an important disease that affects millions of hectares throughout Asia.

 

TechNyou

This post on Biofortified asks for this breeding technology to be distinguished from transgenics – the technology that produces GMOs (or GM crops). Somehow I think this is wishful thinking because the genome has been modified and as the issue of GMO is more about values than the science, I suspect the same values that cause people to reject GMOs will be applied to the (TAL) effector technology. It will still be considered unnatural, and if it is as effective as predicted big companies will use it to their advantage. They will still questions its safety and potential effect on the environment….and so on

 

One comment I do align with is their reference to the random mutagenesis method, which requires highly toxic radiation or chemical treatment of seeds and why this is perfectly acceptable in the production of crop varieties that can be sold as “organic”, or simply accepted by those opposed to GM crops in general. I have yet to receive an acceptable answer from anyone about this.

 

Jason

TechNyou

]]> http://technyou.edu.au/2012/05/next-generation-disease-resistance-breeding/feed/ 0 Brain-controlled robotic arm toasts success with a drinkhttp://technyou.edu.au/2012/05/brain-controlled-robotic-arm-toasts-success-with-a-drink/ http://technyou.edu.au/2012/05/brain-controlled-robotic-arm-toasts-success-with-a-drink/#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 03:01:55 +0000 jasonmajor http://technyou.edu.au/?p=5776 More »]]> A study on people with tetraplegia has shown participants were able to control a robotic arm and hand over a broad space without any explicit training.

The Conversation: 17 May 2012

]]> http://technyou.edu.au/2012/05/brain-controlled-robotic-arm-toasts-success-with-a-drink/feed/ 0 International standards for trade in nanotechnology foods?http://technyou.edu.au/2012/05/international-standards-for-trade-in-nanotechnology-foods/ http://technyou.edu.au/2012/05/international-standards-for-trade-in-nanotechnology-foods/#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 00:55:46 +0000 jasonmajor http://technyou.edu.au/?p=5771 More »]]> Nanotechnology-derived food products will become increasingly available to consumers, but the Codex Alimentarius Commission has yet to agree on any agri-nanotechnology standards.

Nanowerk Spotlight: 16 May 2012

 

In Australia

Food Standards Australia New Zealand is the government regulator resposible for ensuring food is safe. They have recognised or acknowledged there may be risks with the use of some nanotechnologies in food or packaging, though their information on this issue is limited

]]> http://technyou.edu.au/2012/05/international-standards-for-trade-in-nanotechnology-foods/feed/ 0 Growing bone from embryonic stem cellshttp://technyou.edu.au/2012/05/growing-bone-from-embryonic-stem-cells/ http://technyou.edu.au/2012/05/growing-bone-from-embryonic-stem-cells/#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 06:01:57 +0000 jasonmajor http://technyou.edu.au/?p=5767 More »]]> Human embryonic stem cells can be used to grow bone tissue grafts for use in research and potential therapeutic application.

New York Stem Cell Foundation: 14 May 2012

]]> http://technyou.edu.au/2012/05/growing-bone-from-embryonic-stem-cells/feed/ 1 Gene therapy slows biological clockhttp://technyou.edu.au/2012/05/gene-therapy-slows-biological-clock/ http://technyou.edu.au/2012/05/gene-therapy-slows-biological-clock/#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 05:39:22 +0000 jasonmajor http://technyou.edu.au/?p=5763 More »]]> Scientists have extended the lifespan of adult mice by boosting the activity of genes that code for the enzyme, telomerase.

Spanish National Cancer Research Centre: 15 May 2012

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