Colon cancer exhibits a corresponding epigenetic pattern in mice and humans Medical Xpress Scientists of the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin have now discovered a recurring pattern of more than 13,000 epigenetic alterations in young tumours of the mouse. This genome-wide pattern was found to be partly conserved in human ... and more »

Source:
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNE4XIfGAk7jAoivStaTZ_jT4YU_iA&url=http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-02-colon-cancer-epigenetic-pattern-mice.html

The Los Angeles Times yesterday modestly praised the $3 billion California stem cell agency for
taking some limited steps to deal with its longstanding conflict of
interest issues.

“After years of resisting all
criticisms of its operations, the California Institute for
Regenerative Medicine is finally listening — a little.“

“Yet the agency isn't exactly
embracing an ethical overhaul. It's doing just enough to address the
criticisms without triggering any oversight from the Legislature. The
modifications are more a bandage than a cure. Like a bandage, they
will probably do, but only for a limited time.”

“If the stem cell institute is just a
temporary agency that will last until its public funding runs out —
it plans to give its last grants with existing funds in 2017 — its
planned reforms will probably be enough. But if the institute wants
to be a permanent part of the research landscape — and possibly ask
for more public funding — voluntary recusals are an inadequate
patch. The agency's leaders should admit that the original setup was
flawed and seek a true fix. “

Source:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/uqpFc/~3/4TPMCEI6hDg/la-times-stem-cell-agency-conflict-of.html

A member of the governing board of the
$3 billion California stem cell agency is weighing in on an item on
the California Stem Cell Report that called for public disclosure of the financial interests of the scientific reviewers, who make 98
percent of the decisions on awards by the agency.

“ It seems to me there's a bit
of 'damned if we do and damned if we don't' here. If the ICOC (the
agency governing board) decides to listen to some of the members of
the public who come to our meetings and overrule a recommendation of
the Grants Working Group(GWG), we're slammed for letting emotion trump
science, or bowing to special interests. If we just accept the
rankings of the GWG and approve all their recommendations, we're
criticized for not being truly independent.  I think we don't do
it often (for good reason) but should and do retain the right to look
at other factors besides those our scientific reviewers do, and make
our own decisions about funding. We are ultimately responsible, not
the scientific reviewers. 

“As for the issue of their
disclosure of personal conflicts of interest, from what I've read of
the NIH processes, ours are no less strict. The NIH requires that
reviewers disclose any conflicts to their institutions which I
believe must disclose them to the NIH, but I have not seen anything
requiring them to disclose all their personal financial & other
interests publicly, as we (ICOC members) have to.  When we were
assembling our group of reviewers initially, the fear was that many
of the best scientists would turn us down if we required them to make
the kind of personal disclosures we have to. I don't know how many we
might actually lose if that were the case, but as you know we do
require them to disclose to CIRM, and they have to leave the room
when any application for which they have a conflict is discussed.”

Source:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/uqpFc/~3/OlA8vhJTIsA/cirm-director-prieto-on-disclosure-of.html

Early next month, the state of
California will sell $2.7 billion in bonds, a tiny fraction of which will go
towards the California stem cell agency.

“CIRM’s funding needs now are met
via the issuance of commercial paper (CP).  They’re authorized
a certain amount of CP periodically.  Then we work with them on
a regular basis to issue the commercial paper on an as-needed basis. 
Last fall, they were authorized $160 million of CP.  We will
issue the first $27 million under that authorization (this) week. 
This spring, CIRM is scheduled to receive another $100 million
authorization. The Department of Finance , consulting with CIRM
officials, determined the $100 million would be needed to meet CIRM’s
funding requirements through the end of 2013.

“Now, here’s where it gets a little
complicated.  The state pays down the CP with bond proceeds. 
The March ....bond sale includes $60 million of stem
cell bonds.  Those proceeds won’t provide new money for CIRM,
but will pay down the CP proceeds CIRM already has used.”

Source:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/uqpFc/~3/GGDUJVY45VQ/california-stem-cell-agency-bonds-on.html

State Controller John Chiang has posted
a useful, side-by-side comparison of critiques of the $3 billion
California stem cell agency, including the Institute of Medicine(IOM)
study, along with the responses from the agency.

Source:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/uqpFc/~3/Yb7Eb9xPMvo/california-stem-cell-agency-comparing.html

WASHINGTON, March 1, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --Family Research Council (FRC) Senior Fellow Dr. David Prentice, a native Kansan, congratulated the Kansas state senate for passing S.B. 199, a bill that would establish the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center, a regional hub to advance and deliver adult and cord blood stem cell therapies to patients and serving as a resource for adult and cord blood stem cells for therapies. The Center would also inform professionals and the public about such therapies.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080930/FRCLOGO)

Dr. Prentice, a cell biologist who was selected by George W. Bush's Council on Bioethics to write a comprehensive review of adult stem cell research in 2004, testified before the Kansas Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare in support of S.B. 199 on Feb. 25. Dr. Prentice additionally serves as adjunct professor of molecular genetics at the John Paul II Institute at the Catholic University of America, and formerly served as professor of life sciences at Indiana State University and adjunct professor of medical and molecular genetic at Indiana University School of Medicine.

The bill will now go to the Kansas House of Representatives for consideration.

In his testimony Dr. Prentice said:

"There are significant opportunities right now for Kansas to benefit from the establishment of a center of excellence specializing in the application of adult stem cell therapies for certain diseases, as well as educating physicians as well as the public about the advantages and availability of stem cell treatments.

"Kansas is moving forward as a potential leader in the area of adult and cord blood stem cell therapies. Estimates are that KU Med has done over 1,000 adult stem cell transplants, from bone marrow as well as a growing number from umbilical cord blood. These include stem cell transplants for various cancers and leukemias, but also initiating clinical trials to treat heart damage. Much more is possible.

"Kansas is well-positioned to become a leader in this area, and a global resource. The potential benefits for patients are incalculable. I urge you to support S.B. 199."

To read Dr. Prentice's testimony, click here: http://www.frc.org/testimony/testimony-of-dr-david-prentice-before-the-committee-on-public-health-and-welfare-kansas-senate

SOURCE Family Research Council

Read more here:
FRC's Dr. David Prentice Congratulates Kansas Senate for Passing Ethical Stem Cell Therapy Bill

HispanicBusiness.com

Biotechnology Competition: Winners HispanicBusiness.com Business, law, science and medical students from top universities around the nation converged at the Wake Forest University Schools of Business on February 8-9 for the 4th Annual Biotechnology Conference and Case Competition. The eight student teams ...

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http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNEGGYZHrXDIpqD7AK1HCgMkw_Ikng&url=http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/2013/2/21/biotechnology_competition_winners.htm

Crop biotechnology: A 'continuing success' globally Business Mirror CROP biotechnology has been achieving “continuing success” globally as the number of farmers who use it and the farms planted to biotech crops are increasing, recording 17.3 million farmers who planted the crops in 170.3 hectares in 28 countries in ...

Source:
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNH5c-bz4XoUn1VtX2iS5PX9czgpPg&url=http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/features/science/9670-crop-biotechnology-a-continuing-success-globally

USDA announces movement of biotechnology approvals Agri-Pulse 22, 2013— U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today announced several biotechnology regulatory actions sent to the Federal Register for publication. According to APHIS, the agency is making the ... USDA ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF BIOTECHNOLOGY REGULATORY ...PoliticalNews.me (press release) all 2 news articles »

Source:
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGItb8CPDo8aln_ETSidmR43EaxTA&url=http://www.agri-pulse.com/USDA-announces-movement-of-biotechnology-approvals-02222013.asp

Horsetalk

Concerns over spread of antibiotic resistant genes Horsetalk ... known as ARGs, some at levels 192 to 28,000 times higher than the control samples, said study co-author James Tiedje, Michigan State University Distinguished Professor of microbiology and molecular genetics and of plant, soil and microbial sciences.

Source:
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGNDK3Tfd1-6kcMbxngayIUibNTFQ&url=http://horsetalk.co.nz/2013/02/23/concerns-spread-antibiotic-resistant-genes/

W.Va. fisheries biologists using new methods San Francisco Chronicle "With the techniques developed in the field of molecular genetics, we are able to tell why some strains of fish do better than others. It started in the early 1980s when people started studying Florida-strain largemouth bass, and it just exploded from ... and more »

Source:
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Irish Times

Never a better time to eat a burger Irish Times There has never been a better time to dust down your CV if you have experience in animal or molecular genetics. DNA testing laboratories, such as Identigen in Dublin, cannot keep up with the demand for testing from the industry and regulators. DNA ... and more »

Source:
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHSHrKdwI1V_nmTokhXM-KRQ6pIZw&url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2013/0223/1224330397694.html

Cure for Common Hangover? 'Pill' Mimics Action of Human Liver in Fighting ... Science Daily (press release) Additional authors of the research include Wei Wei of UCLA Engineering; Ming Yan of UCLA Engineering and the UCLA Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics; Mo Yin Lau, Jay Hu, Hui Han and Cheng Ji of the Keck School of ... and more »

Source:
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFXlgKHS6ZEVsiEOZF6IuiM_tulpg&url=http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130220114337.htm

Discovery Institute

Speaking for "Answers in Genesis," Creationist Georgia Purdom Hits a Nail on ... Discovery Institute That's a distinction that many Darwinists egregiously and intentionally muddle, leaving the media and much of the public confused. Dr. Purdom, who has her degree in molecular genetics, works with the organization Answers in Genesis. In a brief video ...

Source:
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNF-hNVs4NoQccLGRQIVzNOzyCZuZQ&url=http://www.evolutionnews.org/2013/02/for_answers_in_069431.html

Popular Science

Silicon Valley Tycoons Bestow Surprise $33 Million Prize On 11 Unsuspecting ... Popular Science Hans Clevers, Professor of Molecular Genetics at Hubrecht Institute; For describing the role of Wnt signaling in tissue stem cells and cancer. Titia de Lange, Leon Hess Professor, Head of the Laboratory of Cell Biology and Genetics, and Director of the ... Mark Zuckerberg, Sergey Brin, Other Tech Moguls Launch 'Breakthrough Prize ...Huffington Post Breakthrough Prize: Mark Zuckerberg, Sergey Brin And Others Launch Huge ...Huffington Post UK all 118 news articles »

Source:
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Know Your Neighors: Understanding the Muslim Community in Twin Falls Twin Falls Times-News He holds a doctorate degree in plant molecular genetics from University of Helsinki in Finland and the Scottish Crop Research Institute. Eujayl immigrated to the United States when his name was drawn in the U.S. Diversity Immigrant Visa program (Visa ...

Source:
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Michael Friedman City of Hope photo

Source:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/uqpFc/~3/DWx8xx07ZOY/city-of-hope-exec-will-leave-california.html

The $3 billion California stem cell
agency appears unlikely to make any changes in who gets the cash from
any commercial products that its research grants help finance despite
recommendations from the Institute of Medicine(IOM).

“Because CIRM is a new institution
without a track record to reassure stakeholders, and because its
finite funding timeline means as yet unknown agencies will be
enforcing these policies years down the road, CIRM should “propose
regulations that specify who will have the power and authority to
assert and enforce in the future rights retained by the state” in
CIRM IP, specifically referring to march-in rights, access plans and
revenue sharing....

“Second, as other sources of funding
become more prevalent, the agency should “reconsider whether its
goal of developing cures would be better served by harmonizing CIRM’s
IP policies wherever possible with the more familiar policies of the
BayhDole Act.”

“CIRM staff has engaged in
preliminary discussions several years ago with other agencies
regarding future enforcement of CIRM’s regulations and agreements.
Staff proposes to restart those discussions and return to the
Subcommittee (or the Board) with a formal proposal to address future
enforcement of CIRM’s IP regulations.”

“In light of the IOM’s own
recognition that it may be premature to assess whether CIRM’s
regulations will act as a deterrence to future investment, the fact
that a number of CIRM’s regulations have been codified in statutes
and CIRM’s positive progress in its industry engagement efforts to
date, although quite early, CIRM staff proposes to continue to
monitor this area and not to pursue any changes at this time.”

Source:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/uqpFc/~3/xvosTob7Zo0/monitoring-cash-and-ip-at-california.html

The California stem cell agency's
editorial road show paid off a bit again this week with a mildly
approving editorial in the Oakland Tribune.

“California
must get its stem cell house in order”

“...{T)he agency must prove that it
understands how to properly handle the public's money. …. If
the stem cell agency can establish a record as a good steward of
public dollars to finance brilliant science, it can continue to play
a useful role in stimulating and guiding research to bring the
potential cures from stem cell research to fruition.

“If it cannot do that, it will be
just another expensive Tyrannosaurus rex.”

Source:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/uqpFc/~3/tMt6gs55Yvs/half-full-half-empty-editorial-on.html

Should the scientists who evaluate
and score the applications for $3 billion in taxpayer funds be
required to publicly disclose their financial interests?

“(T)he FPPC believes that, under
state regulations, working group members (including grant reviewers)
may act as decision makers if they make substantive recommendations
that are, over an extended period, regularly approved without
significant amendment or modification by the committee. Thus, as
decision makers, working group members would need to be subject to
the conflict-of-interest code. This would mean that working groups
would be subject not only to the (public) financial disclosure requirements of
the Political Reform Act but also to the prohibition against a member
participating in a government decision in which that member has a
disqualifying financial interest and may be subject to the penalties
that may be imposed on individuals who violate that act.”

"We have given careful
consideration to your recommendation and have decided it is not
appropriate to implement at this time. In almost three years of
operation and approval of four rounds of grants, the recommendations
of the CIRM working groups have never been routinely and/or regularly
adopted by the ICOC. Until the time that such a pattern is detected,
the question you suggest we raise with the attorney general is
entirely hypothetical, and is therefore not appropriate for
submission. We will, however, continue to monitor approvals for such
a pattern and will reconsider our decision if one emerges."

“No matter what the circumstances --
if an independent observer might reasonably question whether the
individual's professional actions or decisions are determined by
considerations of personal financial gain, the relationship should be
disclosed to the public during presentations, in publications,
teaching or other public venues.”

"The public trust in what we do is
just essential, and we cannot afford to take any chances with the
integrity of the research process."

Source:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/uqpFc/~3/oma-MLcANoY/time-for-public-disclosure-of-financial.html