Nerve Regeneration with a Twist

Wang, an assistant professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University, discovered that he could integrate dopamine, a type of neurotransmitter, into a polymer to stimulate nerve tissues to send out new connections. The discovery is the first step toward the eventual goal of implanting the new polymer into patients suffering from neurological disorders to help repair damaged nerves. The findings were published online the week of Oct. 30 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Self Focusing Glasses in Three Yearshttp://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20060403/eyeglasses_tec.html

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20060403/eyeglasses_tec.html

April 7, 2006— New eyeglasses that shift focus from distant to near objects could soon replace bifocals and correct other vision problems.
The so-called switchable electro-optic diffractive lenses were reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by researchers at the University of Arizona in Tucson andf the Georgia Institute of Technology.

This is another example of things I have thought about that are invented almost as quick as you think of them. Could these self focusing glasses take on other roles. Binoculars for example or magnifying glasses. These would be neat if they work.

Australian Experts seek Samantic Nuclear Cell Transfer Rights

Forum chairman and Victoria's Chief Scientist Sir Gustav Nossal wrote: "We affirm that embryonic and adult stem cell research should be pursued as complementary avenues of investigation that hold promise for a better understanding of developmental processes, disease, assisted reproductive technology and stem cell-based human therapeutics. "There have been great advances in embryonic stem cell research in recent years, and sufficient evidence exists in animal models to justify the adoption of recommendations from the Lockhart review to enable the pursuit of this work in human systems."

Respect life activists debate stem cell research ethicshttp://www.palmbeachpost.com/business/content/local_news/epaper/2006/10/15/s1c_RespectLife_1015

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/business/content/local_news/epaper/2006/10/15/s1c_RespectLife_1015.html

This is another appeal to dishonest logic dealing with embryonic stem cells. This approach holds that somehow everyone has missed the fact that adult stem cells are an exact replacement for embryonic stem cells and that any money that is spent on ESC is taken away from adult stem cell work. Of course, stem cell research is not a zero sum game. Adult stem cell research is needed as is ESC. All claims to the contrary are at best ill informed and at worst dishonest.

Human Embryonic Stem Cells without Mouse Feeder Cells

A scientist in India is one of the first scientists to have created embryonic stem cell lines without using mouse feeder cells to grow them. Indira Hinduja, who created the country's first test-tube baby, used human feeder cells to grow the embryonic stem cell lines so they would not be contaminated.
http://www.lifenews.com/bio1795.html

Biodefence special: Fortress America? - opinion - 06 October 2006 - New Scientist

Biodefence special: Fortress America? - opinion - 06 October 2006 - New Scientist

This article describes some of the ways 44 billion dollars have been spent with not much progress on bio-terrorism since Sept. 11, 2001. The article explans that the military transformation plan deals with fundamental research, which it holds to be a more effective approach.

Gencasts. Genetic Engineering News - Biotechnology from Bench to Business

Gencasts. Genetic Engineering News - Biotechnology from Bench to Business

Gencast provides a podcast about the efforts of IBM to use information technology to transform medicine in all aspects from business systems to diagnosis. This page has a weekly podcast program on biotech.

Regenerative Medicine

http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/politics/14048547.htm

Growing a finger to replace one lost due to war injury. This sounds like science fiction but that is the goal during the next five years for a group called 'Pittsburgh Tissue Engineering Initiative'.

"Dr. Anthony Atala, director of the Wake Forest center, said it's already possible to create some simple body tissues. He said the key will be learning how to combine those smaller tissues to form something larger, such as a finger or an ear."

These procedures will surely shock the public since so little is know about them generally and the possibility is not thought to be possible.