Keeping frog disease under control
11 April, 2005A workshop on new methods of detecting and controlling the spread of one of the world's most deadly frog diseases – chytridiomycosis – was recently held at CSIRO Livestock Industries' Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) in Geelong, Victoria.
Gene revolution in India
28 February, 2005It’s the news they have all been waiting for. After years of living under the threat of another devastating epidemic of downy mildew, a disease similar to that which caused the Irish potato famine, India’s poorest farmers have been offered a lifeline in the form of a new disease-resistant hybrid. The hybrid has been produced in record time using modern biotechnology techniques.
Cell processing facility contracted for clinical trials
16 February, 2005Australia’s adult stem cell company, Mesoblast has signed an agreement for production of specialised adult stem cells, known as Mesenchymal Precursor Cells (MPCs), to be used in human pilot clinical trials in patients with orthopaedic and cardiovascular diseases.
Why does cloning create abnormalities?
20 September, 2004Significant abnormalities observed in cloned mice help reinforce the need to continue to avoid the reproductive cloning of humans, claims Dr Takumi Takeuchi, from Cornell University.
Super ants threaten to take over Melbourne
03 September, 2004A giant supercolony of Argentine Ants stretching across the Greater City of Melbourne has been discovered by Ms Elissa Suhr from the School of Biological Sciences at Monash University.
Bird flu vaccine on way
27 August, 2004CSIRO Livestock Industries has developed an experimental vaccine to protect chickens from the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza (bird flu).
Glaciers contribute to climate change
11 August, 2004The response of the world’s glaciers to global warming is an important element in understanding climate change, involving sea-level change and changes to the circulation in the North Atlantic. To predict changes, scientists believe it is vital to understand the behaviour of glaciers.
Duo fears for DNA privacy
11 August, 2004Two Monash law academics are calling for urgent state government action following the disclosure that a private Melbourne company holds the DNA records of millions of Victorians.
Flies uncovered
10 August, 2004Australia will have a much greater capacity to understand its fly biodiversity with a generous endowment from an American benefactor.
Clandestine laboratories
08 August, 2004Clandestine drug laboratories present hazards and dangers to the community in all areas across Australia, including urban and rural centres
Acoustic research helps fishery
28 July, 2004Scientists and fishers will use deep ocean acoustic remote sensing techniques developed by CSIRO to help give long-term sustainability to the largest fishery in Australia's south-east.
Death does not always signal the end of life
26 July, 2004Biochemistry PhD student David Carter is examining cadaver breakdown and soil biology to provide answers to life's toughest question; what happens to us after we die?
Bacteria helps dryland salinity fight
05 July, 2004Australia's efforts to reverse dryland salinity have received a boost with the development of a granular inoculant that helps wattles establish up to five times faster than normal.
Smallest cells put to work
01 July, 2004The first recordings of the brain’s smallest cells at work, sensing the outside world, have been made by scientists at University College London (UCL). Their findings could help unlock the secrets of the cerebellum, a key motor control centre in the brain which, when damaged, can lead to movement disorders such as ataxia and loss of balance.
Frogs muscle in on 'wasting' process
21 June, 2004Scientific studies of a unique Australian frog could lead to the development of new ways to improve livestock production levels and boost the prospects of maintaining human muscle strength into old age.
