Biologists have converted one species of bacterium into another by replacing all of its DNA, a critical step toward their ultimate goal of designing entire organisms from scratch, according to a study published yesterday.
The transplanted DNA took over its single-cell host in about three days. The resulting bacterium was indistinguishable from the donor species, […]
A new study has shown that activities that stimulate the brain like reading newspapers or playing chess, reduces the risk of the elderly developing Alzheimer’s.
For the study, researchers at Rush University Medical Center followed over 700 people in Chicago, with an average age of 80 for up to five years. These participants formed part […]
Latest research suggests that food items that are rich in calcium help to strengthen bones better than supplements taken in the form of pills.
Calcium is essential for the prevention of osteoporosis, especially in women after menopause.
Researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine asked 183 postmenopausal women to carefully log their diet and their […]
Australian scientists have played a key role in the discovery of a new virus carried by bats that can cause serious flu-like symptoms in humans.
Dr Linfa Wang, a molecular virologist with the CSIRO in Geelong, Victoria, said the new virus was named Melaka, after the area of Malaysia where it was isolated in early […]
Scientists have developed a pill that engorges in the stomach making the person feel like they have eaten a good meal. The pill made from cellulose has a highly absorbent powder that expands 1000 times when taken with water.
‘The sensation is like eating a nice plate of spaghetti,’ said Prof Luigi Ambrosio, who […]
A 14-year old girl is being kept ‘alive’ due to a bizarre mix of horse and rabbit blood. Antibodies that are drawn from the animals’ blood are giving Cara Heaney, a chance of survival as she fights the deadly bone marrow failure.
In a pioneering effort, doctors are hoping to kick-start the young one’s immune […]
A cell therapy company called Intercytex announced a clinical breakthrough as they managed to create living human skin in the laboratory. Not only that; this replica of human skin had fully integrated into the human body and had closed and healed wounds.
This artificial skin developed by British scientists could revolutionize the treatment of burns victims […]
A new research has shown that air pollution affects women more than men. A study was conducted by researchers at Pennsylvania State University on mice to see the effects of air pollution.
The researchers studied two groups of mice with pneumonia. One group of mice was exposed to ozone, an air pollutant. The other group […]
Researchers have now revealed that excessive intake of acidic foods such as fruit, yogurt, citric and soft drinks, which seem like harmless foods, may in fact lead to permanent damage to one’s teeth.
Known as tooth erosion, the effect of acid on teeth causes the break down of the tooth structure, and this leads to […]
An Anglo-American firm has claimed that they have the ability to create a spare copy of a person’s immune system. This spare copy can be used in case one’s immune system is destroyed by HIV or cancer therapy, the firm says.
The firm in question is called Lifeforce and is located at Newport in Britain and […]
