A discovery from University of Missouri-Columbia scientists about the formation of an embryo and a placenta before implantation could explain why cloning often fails in farm and laboratory animals.

Botanical biotech Solagran (ASX: SLA) has been granted approval from the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for Bioeffective A as a new complementary medicinal substance for topical and internal use. [ + ]

Scientists in the US have used the DNA from fish waste to make optical components. The team, led by James Grote of the US Air Force Research Laboratory, says that the material could be used to make optical waveguides, modulators and light-emitting diodes. They also claim that fish DNA, which is abundant and environmentally friendly, could outperform other polymer-based devices.

A new $5 million grant to wheat breeders could shorten the time between the outbreak of diseases and the development of resistant wheat varieties, said the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station state wheat breeder.

The first of 80 patients have been enrolled in Norwood Immunology's (AIM:NIM) phase II clinical trial using its thymus-rejuvenating technology in cancer patients receiving self-derived (autologous) bone marrow transplants. [ + ]

Bone Medical (ASX:BNE) has reported that its oral parathyroid hormone (PTH) product Perthoxal, for the treatment of osteoporosis, proved safe and tolerable in a phase I trial. [ + ]

Melbourne's CSL (ASX:CSL) today reported a net profit after tax of AUD$176.4 million for the first half of the financial year, up 34 per cent from the previous first half, and has upgraded its full year profit forecast by about 15 per cent to $335 to $350 million. [ + ]

A review of CSIRO’s role in providing science input into policy development will be undertaken, the organisation's chief executive, Dr Geoff Garrett has announced.

Penn State University researchers have developed a prototype sonic gas analyser that automatically and continuously tracks the concentration of a gas in an air/gas mixture based on changes in pitch.

Genetic Technologies (ASX:GTG; Nasdaq:GENE) has appointed London-based lawyer SJ Berwin to help the company expand its licensing program for its non-coding patents in the UK and in Europe [ + ]

Research projects aiming to prevent, detect or control avian influenza and other respiratory disease outbreaks will receive $6.5 million in urgent research funding from the Commonwealth Government.

The federal government is considering whether to protect vaccine company CSL (ASX:CSL) against lawsuits by patients who suffer adverse reactions from its bird flu vaccine if production is fast-tracked in the event of pandemic. [ + ]

Biotechnology, genomics and molecular modelling will be boosted with grants from the Victorian Partnership for Advanced Computing (VPAC) with AUD$348,000 in funding for its round eight e-Research grants program. [ + ]

Unlisted immunotherapy company Replikun Biotech has contracted UK-based Cobra Biomanufacturing to build a cell line to manufacture their vaccine and immunotherapy products under GMP conditions. [ + ]

As new Australian restrictions on use of the treated-pine preservative copper-chrome arsenate (CCA) white-ant the profits of New Zealand's arsenic industry, stakeholders in Brisbane biopesticide company BioProspect (ASX:BPO) have cause for optimism. [ + ]