ScienceDaily: Biotechnology News

---

• Shiny new tool for imaging biomolecules
• New epilepsy gene located in dogs
• Who knew? Fruit flies get kidney stones too
• Diatom biosensor could shine light on future nanomaterials
• Simulation explains why HIV cure is elusive
• High-throughput screening finds surprising properties for antioxidants: Some compounds can damage DNA, but may treat cancer

Shiny new tool for imaging biomolecules Posted: 23 Mar 2012 05:55 PM PDT Researchers have developed a technique for lacing artificial membranes with billions of gold nanoantennas that can boost optical signals from a protein tens of thousands of times without the protein ever being touched. This technique could provide a critical tool in the fight against a wide range of health problems including cancer.

New epilepsy gene located in dogs Posted: 23 Mar 2012 05:53 PM PDT A new epilepsy gene for idiopathic epilepsy in Belgian Shepherds has been found in the canine chromosome 37. This research opens new avenues for the understanding of the genetic background of the most common canine epilepsies. The research also has an impact on the understanding of common epilepsies in humans.

Who knew? Fruit flies get kidney stones too Posted: 23 Mar 2012 10:45 AM PDT Research on kidney stones in fruit flies may hold the key to developing a treatment that could someday stop the formation of kidney stones in humans, scientists have found.

Diatom biosensor could shine light on future nanomaterials Posted: 23 Mar 2012 06:40 AM PDT A biosensor made of fluorescent proteins embedded in the shell of microscopic marine algae called diatoms could help detect chemicals in water samples. The same research could also lead to new, diatom-inspired nanomaterials that could solve problems in sensing, catalysis and environmental remediation.

Simulation explains why HIV cure is elusive Posted: 23 Mar 2012 06:36 AM PDT New research shows why the development of a cure and new treatments for HIV have been so difficult for scientists to crack.

High-throughput screening finds surprising properties for antioxidants: Some compounds can damage DNA, but may treat cancer Posted: 22 Mar 2012 02:46 PM PDT Antioxidants have long been thought to have anti-aging properties, primarily by protecting a person's genetic material from damaging chemicals. The story, however, now appears to be much more complicated. Researchers have demonstrated that some antioxidants damage DNA and kill cells instead of protecting them. The findings also suggest that this surprising capability may be good for treating cancer, but may prove cautionary when using antioxidant-based medicines to treat other disorders, such as diabetes.

You are subscribed to email updates from ScienceDaily: Biotechnology News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610