During the past decade, dramatic progress in the field of mass spectrometry has resulted in a large increase in the number of commercially available mass spectrometry (MS) instruments principally used for biochemical analysis. Advances in mass spectrometry instrumentation, driven primarily by proteomics and the need to identify low abundance proteins (<50 femtomoles) has resulted in the current generation of instruments having approximately 50 times more sensitivity combined with substantially greater resolution than mass spectrometers available only four or five years ago. [ + ]

Prof Bob Williamson's involvement in genetics goes back to a time when few people understood the possibilities of the science. [ + ]

The decision to pursue post-doctoral studies overseas is one of the defining moments in a young Australian scientist's career. [ + ]

Bio-researchers are burning through about one-quarter of the total computational cycles at some of Australia's largest computing centres. [ + ]

As well as the many clinical research projects looking for cures and better treatments, a major emphasis in stemming the level of adult-onset diabetes in Australia lies in education and awareness. [ + ]

Attend any major meeting on diabetes around the world and chances are there will be a fair contingent of Aussies in attendance. Australian researchers are renowned for their work in all facets of the disease, which experts say has now burgeoned to epidemic proportions. [ + ]

Similarities between New Zealand and Scotland are plentiful - the agrarian industries, the scenery, the weather. But one of the less heralded similarities is the two places' biotechnology industries - or at least, it was, before Scotland's received a major boost about four years ago. [ + ]

With New Zealand's general election imminent, many in the biotechnology industry believe the outcome could determine the sector's future. [ + ]

In terms of industry size, New Zealand and Australia have a similar number of biotech companies operating on their respective shores. [ + ]

If biotechnology is as old as agriculture, then biotechnology in New Zealand has been around for as long as the nation. New Zealand is a country that relies on its strengths in its primary industries - dairying and sheep, horticulture and forestry. [ + ]

Several myths, misconceptions and assumptions about genetically modified organisms and food have made their way into the public arena. What doesn't help the average punter to get a grip on the science is that there are huge swathes of information available, from scientists, policy-makers, lobbyists and industry. And for every opinion exists its opposite. [ + ]

On a recent visit to Sydney, IBM Life Sciences chief Caroline Kovac outlined her views on bio-IT, the life sciences and Australia's potential. [ + ]

The foundations for Japan's first stem cell company were laid in 1994 when two scientists from different countries met at an institute tens of thousands of kilometres from their respective homes. [ + ]

Fledgling businesses trying to carve themselves a spot in the Australian pure-play bioinformatics sector can be left feeling like television salesmen in the 1950s: everybody knows about the technology, but they're not quite sure if they want to spend their money on it yet. [ + ]

For sought-after biotech director Bob Moses, the industry has a lot of parallels with another of his passions - horse racing. [ + ]