ScienceDaily: Biotechnology News

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• Computer simulations aid understanding of bacterial resistance against commonly used antibiotics
• Hot species for cool structures: Complex proteins in 3-D thanks to simple heat-loving fungus
• Identical virus, host populations can prevail for centuries
• Researchers identify seventh and eighth bases of DNA
• Paternity testing helps fill in family tree for Puget Sound's killer whales: Inbreeding could reduce whales' genetic diversity
• Proteins enable essential enzyme to maintain its grip on DNA
• Targeting toxin trafficking in plants and bacteria
• 'Freaky mouse' defeats common poison: House mice found unexpected ways to evolve resistance, study shows
• Scavenger cells accomplices to viruses
• Software helps synthetic biologists customize protein production
• Unlisted ingredients in teas and herbal brews revealed in DNA tests by high school students
• Repairing our inner clock with a two-inch fish: Humans and zebrafish share mechanisms that regulate our circadian system
• Key to 'bifocals' in mangrove fish species: 'Four-eyed fish' shows how gene expression enables adaptation

Computer simulations aid understanding of bacterial resistance against commonly used antibiotics Posted: 21 Jul 2011 02:23 PM PDT A recent study into the interactions between aminoglycoside antibiotics and their target site in bacteria used computer simulations to elucidate this mechanism and thereby suggest drug modifications.

Hot species for cool structures: Complex proteins in 3-D thanks to simple heat-loving fungus Posted: 21 Jul 2011 12:04 PM PDT A fungus that lives at extremely high temperatures could help understand structures within our own cells. Scientists in Europe were the first to sequence and analyze the genome of a heat-loving fungus, and used that information to determine the long sought 3-D structure of the inner ring of the nuclear pore.

Identical virus, host populations can prevail for centuries Posted: 21 Jul 2011 11:24 AM PDT A scientist, analyzing ancient plankton DNA signatures in sediments of the Black Sea, has found for the first time that the same genetic populations of a virus and its algal host can persist and coexist for centuries. The findings have implications for the ecological significance of viruses in shaping algae ecosystems in the ocean, and perhaps fresh water as well.

Researchers identify seventh and eighth bases of DNA Posted: 21 Jul 2011 11:24 AM PDT For decades, scientists have known that DNA consists of four basic units -- adenine, guanine, thymine and cytosine. Those four bases have been taught in science textbooks and have formed the basis of the growing knowledge regarding how genes code for life. Yet in recent history, scientists have expanded that list from four to six. Now, researchers have discovered the seventh and eighth bases of DNA.

Paternity testing helps fill in family tree for Puget Sound's killer whales: Inbreeding could reduce whales' genetic diversity Posted: 21 Jul 2011 10:12 AM PDT Scientists using DNA testing to fill in a missing link in the lives of killer whales that seasonally visit Washington's Puget Sound, have discovered that some of the progeny they studied were the result of matings within the same social subgroups, or pods, that are part of the overall population.

Proteins enable essential enzyme to maintain its grip on DNA Posted: 21 Jul 2011 09:15 AM PDT Scientists have identified a family of proteins that close a critical gap in an enzyme that is essential to all life, allowing the enzyme to maintain its grip on DNA and start the activation of genes. The enzyme, called RNA polymerase, is responsible for setting gene expression in motion in all cells. RNA polymerase wraps itself around the double helix of DNA, using one strand to match nucleotides and make a copy of genetic material.

Targeting toxin trafficking in plants and bacteria Posted: 21 Jul 2011 09:15 AM PDT Toxins produced by plants and bacteria pose a significant threat to humans, as emphasized by the recent effects of cucumber-borne Shiga toxin in Germany. Now, new research provides a clearer view of the combination of similar and divergent strategies that different toxins use to invade a human host cell.

'Freaky mouse' defeats common poison: House mice found unexpected ways to evolve resistance, study shows Posted: 21 Jul 2011 09:15 AM PDT Researchers have discovered common house mice found two distinct ways to evolve resistance to warfarin-based rodent poisons.

Scavenger cells accomplices to viruses Posted: 21 Jul 2011 07:20 AM PDT Mucosal epithelia are well-protected against pathogenic germs. However, individual viruses, such as the HI virus, still manage to enter the body via the mucous membrane somehow. Cell biologists have now identified a new infection mechanism, demonstrating that the viruses use the body's own scavenger cells for the infection. The new findings are important for cancer-gene therapy and the development of anti-viral medication.

Software helps synthetic biologists customize protein production Posted: 21 Jul 2011 07:15 AM PDT A software program developed by a Penn State synthetic biologist could provide biotechnology companies with genetic plans to help them turn bacteria into molecular factories, capable of producing everything from biofuels to medicine.

Unlisted ingredients in teas and herbal brews revealed in DNA tests by high school students Posted: 21 Jul 2011 06:58 AM PDT Take a second look at your iced or steaming tea. Guided by scientific experts, three New York City high school students using tabletop DNA technologies found several herbal brews and a few brands of tea contain ingredients unlisted on the manufacturers' package. The teen sleuths also demonstrated new-to-science genetic variation between broad-leaf teas from exported from India versus small-leaf teas exported from China.

Repairing our inner clock with a two-inch fish: Humans and zebrafish share mechanisms that regulate our circadian system Posted: 21 Jul 2011 06:58 AM PDT Prof. Yoav Gothilf of Tel Aviv University says that his discovery of the genetic resemblances between the zebrafish and the human body is a breakthrough for continuing research on the still mysterious circadian system.

Key to 'bifocals' in mangrove fish species: 'Four-eyed fish' shows how gene expression enables adaptation Posted: 20 Jul 2011 11:21 AM PDT A "four-eyed" fish that sees simultaneously above and below the water line has offered up a dramatic example of how gene expression allows organisms to adapt to their environment.

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