Scientists identify enzyme that could help accelerate biofuel production
Reading Time: 2 minutesRESEARCHERS at Tokyo Institute of Technology have honed in on an enzyme belonging to the glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT) family as a promising target for increasing biofuel production from the red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae. Algae are known to store up large amounts of oils called triacylglycerols (TAGs) under adverse conditions such as nitrogen deprivation. Understanding precisely […]
Lab-Ind Resource – On a mission to democratise science
Reading Time: 3 minutesLAB-IND RESOURCE SDN BHD (LIR) was established at the turn of the new millennium with the aim of being a premier provider of biotechnological solutions on the international stage. In a span of eighteen years, we provided biotechnological services to companies and institutions, both domestic and abroad. Through state-of-the-art molecular and protein technologies, we are […]
Fund set up in memory of Randy
Reading Time: < 1 minuteINTERNATIONAL Services for the Acquisition of Agribiotechnology Applications (ISAAA) SEAsiaCenter Global Coordinator, Dr Randy Hautea devoted over two decades of his life to fulfill ISAAA’s mission to contribute towards the alleviation of poverty and hunger through sharing and disseminating scientific knowledge to the global community, and by facilitating the transfer of technologies to developing countries. […]
Four journalists awarded for consistent reporting
Reading Time: 2 minutesTHE Kenya Chapter of Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB) has recognised journalists for their consistent reporting on agricultural biotechnology. The event, held in Nairobi on August 9, 2018, brought together more than 150 biotechnology stakeholders, including journalists, scientists, policy makers, regulators, and producers. Presiding over the event, Principal Secretary (PS) in the […]
Why did dodo birds go extinct?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteTHE island of Mauritius was once a haven for the endemic dodo birds (Raphus cucullatus). But this ended when the Dutch sailors landed on its shores in 1598. They found the birds easy to catch as they were unafraid of their two-legged visitors. In less than 100 years, these birds were believed to be eaten […]
Because ‘food matters’, here’s food for thought
Reading Time: 2 minutesFOOD MATTERS. It is a basic human need, yet its availability in adequate, safe, nutritious and regular amounts for humans is by no means assured. While land and water for food production are both declining at alarming rates due to natural and human causes, the demand for food is still growing as populations all over […]
EU will regulate gene-edited organisms as GMOs
Reading Time: 6 minutesBY GREGORY JAFFE THE long wait is over. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has reached the unambiguous conclusion that organisms made by any mutagenesis method are GMOs under the European GMO regulations. In the decision released on July 25, the Court stated that a small subset of mutagenesis techniques “which have been conventionally used […]
A case of man failing technology
Reading Time: 3 minutesSO, Clearfield Rice has failed in Malaysia. For those who are new to Clearfield Rice, here is the background information. It is high-yielding and weed-resistance rice variety developed by BASF and further improved by the Malaysian Agricultural Research & Development Institute (MARDI) to suit local environment. MARDI took seven years to perfect it for local […]
Why The Great Famine happened?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteDID you know there was a disastrous event that hit Ireland between 1845 and 1849? It was known as The Great Famine. It caused at least one million deaths and triggered the migration of 2.5 million people due to potato crop failure. The crops failed due to disease. The disease called late blight came from […]
Is a common antimicrobial harmful to gut health?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteSCIENTISTS have discovered that triclosan, an antimicrobial additive found in thousands of consumer products, causes colon inflammation and exacerbates colon cancer in mice. Their sobering results suggest that health authorities may want to investigate if they should reassess regulatory policies regarding the usage of this common ingredient. Triclosan is found in more than 2,000 consumer […]