http://www.physorg.com/ en-us Physorg.com internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. In a research report published in the November 2009 issue of the journal Genetics, scientists show how a family of genes (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase, or ACS genes) are responsible for production of ethylene. This gas affects many aspects of plant development, and this information lays the foundation for future genetic manipulation that could make plants disease resistant, able to survive and thrive in difficult terrain, increase yields, and other useful agronomical outcomes. This discovery was made with the weed Arabidopsis thaliana, but it will be applicable to plants used in agriculture. http://www.physorg.com/news178186563.html Biology Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:40:03 EST news178186563 (PhysOrg.com) -- A specific protein on the surface of a common bacterial pathogen allows the bacteria to leave the bloodstream and enter the brain, initiating the deadly infection known as meningitis. The new finding, which may guide development of improved vaccines to protect those most vulnerable, including young infants and the elderly, is now available online in the Journal of Experimental Medicine. http://www.physorg.com/news169826150.html Medicine & Health Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:56:25 EST news169826150 A novel technique allows researchers to efficiently and precisely modify or introduce genes into the genomes of human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, according to Whitehead scientists. The method uses proteins called zinc finger nucleases and is described in the August 13 issue of Nature Biotechnology. http://www.physorg.com/news169385219.html Biology Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:27:56 EST news169385219 Research led by scientists at Iowa State University's Plant Sciences Institute has resulted in a process that will make genetic changes in plant genes much more efficient, practical and safe. http://www.physorg.com/news167310456.html Biology Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:08:09 EST news167310456 Scientists have discovered that growing mouse skin cells in spheres can lead to generation of cells with properties of cancer stem cells, even without genetic manipulation of stem cell genes. This unexpected finding, published by Cell Press in the April 3rd issue of the journal Cell Stem Cell, provides a potential pathway for generation of cancer stem cells from differentiated cells and may even eventually lead to safer strategies for creation of induced pluripotent stem cells for use in regenerative therapies. http://www.physorg.com/news157897187.html Medicine & Health Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:20:20 EST news157897187 The race to ensure that scientists stop drug-taking athletes from damaging sport by using performance enhancing drugs or undergoing genetic manipulation is a constant challenge, according to a major four-decade review by three of the World's leading experts on doping in sport. http://www.physorg.com/news136569019.html Medicine & Health Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:50:19 EST news136569019