An enzyme that 'unravels' DNA plays a key role in male development of the embryo and may provide greater insight into intersex conditions. [ + ]

Brisbane-based biotech Dendright has appointed Helen Roberts as CEO. [ + ]

The custodian of the world’s longest running laboratory experiment, Professor John Mainstone, has died at the age of 78 after suffering a stroke. The former Head of the University of Queensland’s (UQ) Department of Physics was the guardian of the world-famous pitch drop experiment. [ + ]

An international consortium of scientists, including researchers from the University of Western Australia (UWA), has made a major breakthrough in understanding the genetic basis of schizophrenia - a complex mental disorder which affects about 1% of people over their lifetime. [ + ]

Australian innovators are being given an extended opportunity to showcase their bright ideas, with the entry deadline for the $70,000 The Australian Innovation Challenge being moved to 23 September. [ + ]

Genea Biomedx's Gavi (Genea Automated Vitrification Instrument) was launched to fertility specialists, scientists and nurses at the Fertility Society of Australia conference in Sydney yesterday. It is said that the Australian invention will revolutionise one of the key IVF processes by removing the risk of human error. [ + ]

Coridon, Allied Healthcare's (ASX:AHZ) 50.1%-owned subsidiary, said no safety issues were raised during dosing of the first two cohorts in a phase I study of its herpes vaccine and treatment. [ + ]

The Advisory Council on Intellectual Property (ACIP) has just released an Options Paper for its Review of the Innovation Patent System. ACIP is seeking stakeholder comments on policy issues that address the full range of possibilities for the innovation patent system. [ + ]

Shell company Telesso (ASX:TEO) aims to raise up to $6.5m to help support its plan to acquire Mimetica, take on the company's name and fund phase II trials for Mimetica's acne drug candidate. [ + ]

Revenue from fonadaparinux sales and R&D Tax Incentive benefits helped Alchemia (ASX:ACL) reduce its FY13 loss by more than 68% to $4.8m. [ + ]

Genetic Technologies (ASX:GTG) has received the approval required to launch breast cancer test BREVAGen in NY, meaning the company can now provide the product in all 50 US states. [ + ]

Inspired by coiled nanostructures in butterfly wings, researchers have developed a photonic crystal that could steer optical communications technologies in a faster direction. [ + ]

Amid 48 submissions, AusBiotech responded to the Queensland 'Review of the Gene Technology Act 2001 (Qld)', seeking support for a nationally consistent scheme for gene technology regulation. [ + ]

A team of researchers from Macquarie University, the University of Adelaide and Peking University has discovered a way to measure the world's most sensitive nanoparticle from a distance using light. The research has been published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology. [ + ]

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) has recently installed one of the world's most powerful nanotechnology microscopes. The only one if its kind in Australia, the Zeiss Orion NanoFab enables researchers to examine natural or manmade structures in incredible detail and will create new insights wherever it is applied. [ + ]