Gene silencing patent argument grows louder
06 March, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillQueensland biotechnology company Benitec says CSIRO has "no claim" to its patented technology for gene silencing by RNA interference (RNAi).
Patently, a battle for genetics' next big thing
28 February, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillWho invented hairpin gene silencing? It's literally a $64 million question, as the claimants to one of the most valuable biotechnology patents of the past decade begin skirmishing over its ownership.
New director seeks broader role for AGRF
25 February, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerDr Sue Forrest, the new head of the Australian Genome Research Facility, is keen to raise the facility's profile as a natural home for agricultural genomics as well as biomedical, she said today.
More than meets the eye as Affymetrix chases transcription
25 February, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerWith the increasing recognition of the importance of non-coding RNA in regulation and control of gene expression, it now appears there is much more to the genome than meets the eye.
Proteomics facility launches its latest phase
20 February, 2003 by Iain ScottThe Australian Proteome Analysis Facility (APAF) today launched the latest phase of its development, unveiling a new logo and plans to become self-sufficient within the next five years.
The world is getting smaller for Australian nanotech ventures
19 February, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerAs a nation, Australia has often lagged behind bigger and better-funded countries when it comes to seizing on a new technology and taking it to new places. But with the emerging nanotechnology industry, Australia is finding itself in a position of relative strength, despite our size.
Genomics: doing Moore with less
17 February, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillGenomics is experiencing its own manifestation of computing technology's Moore's law of cost and efficiency, says Prof Richard Gibbs: the volume of sequence data is increasing by around 10-fold every year as sequencing costs continue to plummet.
DNA shuffling in the genetics game
13 February, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillDr Willem (Pim) Stemmer has spent the past decade demonstrating, in the most graphic manner possible, the value of biodiversity, and the existence of a massive genetic treasure trove in nature, far greater than the sum of its individual components.
Nobel headcount grows for Genetics Congress
13 February, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillThe Nobel winner count for July's International Congress of Genetics has risen to eight, with confirmation that Sir John Sulston will be joining fellow 2002 Medicine laureates Sir Sydney Brenner and Prof Robert Horvitz in Melbourne.
Revolution in genetics tipped as brave new world of RNA revealed
11 February, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillA new branch of genetics is being born. It might legitimately be called junk science, but Prof John Mattick has dubbed it 'Rnomics'... and it's the stuff of revolution.
New supercomputers for Queensland facility
30 January, 2003 by Pete YoungQuadrupled throughput capacity at the Queensland Parallel Supercomputer Foundation (QPSF) is part of an upsurge in high-performance computing resources becoming available to life science-oriented researchers.
Gene therapy shouldn't be abandoned: Australian researcher
15 January, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillThe US Food and Drug Administration this week suspended about 30 gene-therapy trials in the US after another 'boy in a bubble' patient in a French gene-therapy trial developed leukaemia. But Australian gene-therapy expert Assoc Prof Panos Ioannou said the setback did not mean gene therapy should be abandoned, or that it posed unacceptable risks.
CSIRO maths guru quits for private sector
20 December, 2002 by Pete YoungCSIRO is losing the services of one of the country's premier biostatisticians, Dr Mervyn Thomas, who is leaving to launch his own consultancy in the private sector.
New SA fund to help early-stage companies
13 December, 2002 by Melissa TrudingerA new biotech funding initiative in South Australia, the BioCatalyst Program Fund, will provide grants of up to $250,000 to start up and early stage companies to help them commercialise their ideas.
Genetic research joins centre of excellence roster
13 December, 2002 by Pete YoungGenetic research will occupy the focus of two of eight new centres of excellence which together will share almost $90 million in Federal funding over the next five years.
