Taking stock of the fingerprint market

With recent news regarding Veridicom’s changing fortunes, and constant editorials in the mainstream media about the slowdown in the US economy, the collapse of technology stocks and the downsizing of many businesses, it would be easy to think that the fingerprinting industry’s fortunes are taking a turn for the worst. But while many changes are indeed occurring, there is still much to be optimistic about, as this month’s fingerprint survey reveals.     

Taking stock of our models: the function and future of stock centres

Stock centres for our animal models are as important as other scientific resources, such as the primary literature or genome databases. But they need forward planning, international cooperation and secure funding to keep pace with the explosion in functional genomics that relies so heavily on them.     

Taking stock of complex trait genetics in mice

The mapping of complex trait loci in mice has recently become very popular thanksto dense genetic maps, better approaches to linkage analysis and the continued value of the mouse as a key model organism for human disease. Neverthelless, the ultimate goal remains very difficult: to identify genes that underlie complex traits and to understand their function at a molecular level. In assessing the prospects of current efforts, it helps to review the findings of earlier studies of complex traits and, despite all the technology, to be reminded of the inherent benefits and limitations at the source of genetic variation: the laboratory mouse. With the right perspective it should be possible for geneticists analysing complex triats to take full advantage of the resources that the genome project will provide.     

Taking stock of gene therapy for cystic fibrosis

The identification of the cystic fibrosis (CF) gene opened the way for gene therapy. In the ten years since then, proof of principle in vitro and then in animal models in vivo has been followed by numerous clinical studies using both viral and non-viral vectors to transfer normal copies of the gene to the lungs and noses of CF patients. A wealth of data have emerged from these studies, reflecting enormous progress and also helping to focus and define key difficulties that remain unresolved. Gene therapy for CF remains the most promising possibility for curative rather than symptomatic therapy.     

Taking stock of the spectrum of arguments for biodiversity

This paper provides an analysis of the spectrum of arguments associated with the term biodiversity, as expressed in the literature. Through sampling of the grey and peer-review literature, and testing of results through semi-structured interviews, this review presents a total of 31 different instrumental and non-instrumental premises used in arguments for biodiversity. Based on the identified premise statements, this review offers a simple classification by which to understand the complex public discourse associated with arguments for biodiversity, and outlines the current frequency of use of arguments in the literature. Although a wide range of premise statements were identified, the majority of arguments were instrumental with the most frequently used ones putting forward economic perspectives as well as emphasising the role of biodiversity in underpinning ecosystem services. Results from interviews with decision-makers emphasise the need to combine arguments in order to strengthen biodiversity conservation generally, and minimise possible risks associated with individual arguments.     

Waste biotech

US market for environmental biotech products for waste treatment worth $261.3 M by 2013 Marine pharmacognosy Recent patents related to biowaste and bioactive compounds Project profile: Concentration and separation of bioactives in food science Microbial-based motor fuels Dairy fermentation, cell factories and bioactive peptides Earliest genetic material: Waste from the stars? Marine bacteria use carbon dioxide     

Taking stock: inventory of alien species in the Mediterranean sea

573 alien marine metazoan species have been recorded in the Mediterranean Sea. The present checklist is the first to present the species’ native range, presumed mode of introduction, spatial extent, and the date of the first record in each country. The majority of aliens are thermophilic species originating from the Indo-Pacific or Indian Oceans, which have entered the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal. However, the means of introduction differ greatly among the phyla, and the basins of the Mediterranean. The temporal records of the alien species reflect political crises, economic development and scientific interest in studying the phenomenon—in the past two decades on average about 10 alien species new to the Mediterranean are recorded annually. Many have established durable populations and extended their range: 125 alien species have been recorded from four or more countries. The possible impacts of regulatory instruments and environmental management options are examined. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

New biotech books

The 60th Frankfurt Book Fair takes place in Frankfurt/Main, Germany, from October 15-19, 2008. The Frankfurt Book Fair is the largest of its kind in the world and is also the place to get to know and browse through the newest scientific books and journals published all around the globe. As not all our readers will be able visit the Wiley-Blackwell booth, we would like to seize the occasion to present here new book publications in the field of biotech, most of which are already available or soon to come.