It now seems quite likely that life began with self-replicating RNA molecules. But under what conditions? New Zealand theoretical biologist David Penny is warming to the idea of a cold start. [ + ]

How B cells scramble to respond to foreign threats and produce antibodies has long been a mystery. Now the role of a key protein is shedding light on this crucial defence mechanism. [ + ]

It’s an age old debate: nature or nurture. But as Emma Whitelaw is finding, our individual differences may be due to neither, they might be down to dumb luck. [ + ]

ALS wishes you a merry Christmas and safe new year. [ + ]

Female ducks found to have evolved a counter mechanism to males with corkscrew-shaped penises. [ + ]

With the world’s phosphate reserves rapidly running out, Professor Hans Lambers suggests crop breeders and agronomists take a close look at nature’s solutions to the problem. [ + ]

Draft legislation following through on the government’s commitment to deliver a more generous, more predictable and less complex tax incentive by replacing the outdated and complicated R&D Tax Concession has been released.

Abbott has announced a definitive agreement to acquire laboratory information management systems company STARLIMS Technologies.

Submissions open before legislation introduced to parliament in 2010. [ + ]

Following the resignation of the Australian Synchrotron Science Advisory Committee (SAC) Chair, Professor Frank Larkins, and four SAC members, a new chair and members have been appointed.

The coral genome project is underway, powered by Illumina’s latest Genome Analyzer IIx technology. David Miller from James Cook University hopes it will help save the coral from the blight of bleaching. [ + ]

Prima BioMed, Patrys, Living Cell Technology, Blackmores, Cochlear, ResMed [ + ]

Results announced at HIV conference show BIT225 stops virus spreading. [ + ]

Gene, ABCA13, has been found to be linked to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. [ + ]

Manufacturing and social innovation are the focus of the latest Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program selection round.