Cyclotides are a unique group of plant proteins with unusual properties. Kalthera, a small Queensland biotech company, is developing technology to use them in therapeutic applications. [ + ]

Australia's biotechnology industry may be in for a big boost after a team from BASF, an international plant and chemical company, visited to find potential collaborative ventures. [ + ]

When Australia's best known stem cell researcher told a parliamentary committee on cloning that the nation had enough cell lines to maintain its research needs, even he couldn't foresee how swiftly the scenario would change. [ + ]

Australia's Anglican Church faces a split in its ranks with senior ministers at odds over embryonic stem cell research. [ + ]

A consummate politician he may be, but John Howard is no scientist. [ + ]

The Federal government has no constitutional power to ban embryonic stem cell research, even if it wanted to. [ + ]

Promising medical device start-up company Inhalix has reassessed its strategy and has temporarily parked the company while it reviews its future options, according to CEO Graeme Woodrow. [ + ]

Kevin Andrews, the man accused of having the power to potentially scotch embryonic stem cell research in Australia, certainly can't be accused of ignorant zealotry. [ + ]

The US subsidiary of homegrown drug discovery group Biota Holdings has announced plans to focus on treatments for hepatitis C virus. [ + ]

A range of employment opportunities is opening up for fledglings of the biotechnology industry as well as for young entrepreneurial scientists returning from overseas. [ + ]

Professor Grant Sutherland, one of Australia's leading geneticists, is retiring as the director of the Department of Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics at the Women's and Children's Hospital in Adelaide. [ + ]

Overseas research has boosted the argument for conducting stem cell research on human embryos, according to Peter Mountford, the head of Melbourne based company Stem Cell Sciences.

A $4 million SGI Origin 3000 supercomputer has been officially launched by Paul Lucas, state minister for innovation and information economy, at the University of Queensland.

John Thwaites, Victoria's Health Minister, has ruled out introducing his own laws to allow surplus IVF embryos to be used for stem cell research.

A significant number of Australian and New Zealand Biotech companies will showcase their wares to business angels and venture capitalists in San Fransisco mid-year. [ + ]