Biofuels - North America and India are into it in a big way, Brazil wants everyone to play, and China is spending a packet to join in. Now a group of Queensland biotechnologists have teamed up with the Swiss to sweeten the game. [ + ]

The ability to diagnose breast cancer by studying human hair may sound a little out there, but Sydney company Fermiscan is about to finalise a validation trial of technology that will do just that. [ + ]

Wei wins premier award for early-career researchers. [ + ]

Victorian company Biosol is pioneering the use of microbial control to reduce corrosion in sewage pipes and cut greenhouse gas emissions at wastewater treatment plants. [ + ]

It's been a big year for Starpharma, the Melbourne-based biotech working on a portfolio of applications for its dendrimer technology. [ + ]

Animal sera producer Selborne is exhibiting at BIO 2008 for the first time and promoting the image of the clean, green beauty of its home manufacturing base, Tasmania. [ + ]

With the lifting of two moratoria on genetically modified crops in Australia recently, so did the inevitably polarised debate take off. Those for and against are unlikely to change their minds and, unfortunately, some scientists are now afraid to speak theirs. [ + ]

Australia will have a virtual and a physical presence at BIO [ + ]

BIO 2008, the world's largest conference for the biotechnology industry, is being held in San Diego from June 16. In our annual preview, we take a look at how the Australian sector is travelling. [ + ]

The prestigious CRC STAR Award has been awarded to two separate CRCs this year, for their high-level achievement in developing successful enterprises through the transfer of CRC innovation.

Kriek follows Watson in having DNA sequenced. [ + ]

Researchers at the UK’s University of Nottingham have taken some important first steps to creating a synthetic version of a living cell.

Astronaut Andy Thomas opens UNSW's new Australian Centre for Astrobiology and gives education funding a serve. [ + ]

A 375 million-year-old fossil fish has been discovered with embryo and umbilical cord attached. [ + ]

Brian McNamee named as co-chair of Government's pharma industry advisory group. [ + ]