Some suggestions for future cladoceran research

The topics dealt with at the Cladoceran Symposium showed a largediversity. A high diversity is what characterises the world westudy, consisting of many different habitats and a rich speciesset. This easily leads to anecdotal research which then preventsthe building of a consistent and sophisticated body of knowledge.The contribution of cladoceran research to general ecologicaltheory is limited as a look in textbooks reveals. Therefore,choices have to be made for future research and a few suggestionsto this extent are shortly mentioned in this essay in consequenceof the Symposium on Cladocera held in Postojna (Slovenia), August1996.     

Single-molecule DNA sequencing technologies for future genomics research

During the current genomics revolution, the genomes of a large number of living organisms have been fully sequenced. However, with the advent of new sequencing technologies, genomics research is now at the threshold of a second revolution. Several second-generation sequencing platforms became available in 2007, but a further revolution in DNA resequencing technologies is being witnessed in 2008, with the launch of the first single-molecule DNA sequencer (Helicos Biosciences), which has already been used to resequence the genome of the M13 virus. This review discusses several single-molecule sequencing technologies that are expected to become available during the next few years and explains how they might impact on genomics research.     

The future of Golgi research

This essay looks backward on the past three decades of research toward understanding the mechanism of macromolecular traffic through and within the Golgi apparatus with an eye to the future. I also explain why I feel the Golgi should continue to hold the attention of molecular cell biologists.     

Malaria research: back to the future

One hundred years ago, Ross and Grassi provided us with the biological basis and fifty years ago, the human right declaration highlighted the moral responsibility of preventing death and reducing morbidity due to malaria. Yet one million children still die every year from the disease. The diversity in the parasite-host interaction surely represents a major obstacle, but modern scientific technology offers possibilities, at least partly or temporarily, to overcome the inherent ability of the parasite to evade chemotherapy and the immune system. True partnerships, North-South and others, represent the only way to respond to the scientific challenges. A strong commitment of different sectors in the global community to scientific achievements is necessary also with regards to malaria, a disease of the poor.     

Biosafety: future priorities for research in health care

Currently the public interest in biosafety issues has focussed on the discussions surrounding the use of genetically modified organisms, very specifically on the use of transgenic plants in agriculture. Although many of the questions raised in connection with genetically modified organisms are of legitimate scientific interest, attention should be drawn back to a number of other more classical biosafety research areas, namely the problem of control of new and reemerging infectious diseases, the need for new vaccines, control of transport and routes of dissemination, biosafety information exchange and networking, where research results are dearly needed. In the area of modern biotechnology new applications such as gene therapy and transgenic animals will be on the list of future priorities for biosafety related activities and research.     

Possibilities for future research on transposition and site-specific recombination

World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology -     

Calcium supplementation of breeding birds: directions for future research

Calcium is an essential nutrient for avian reproduction. Calcium-rich foods are consumed by breeding birds for production of eggshells and for provisioning chicks that are mineralizing skeletal tissues. A number of studies have documented calcium-limited reproduction, and calcium supplementation has been employed over the last decade to demonstrate degrees, causes and consequences of calcium limitation. However, supplementation studies have produced equivocal findings resulting from an absence of calcium limitation in the study species, a poorly designed supplementation procedure or both. Prior to effective calcium supplementation, many factors need to be considered. Calcium-limited breeding in birds can only be detected by monitoring breeding attempts for more than one year and by ensuring that the measured breeding parameters are sensitive to calcium availability. Natural calcium availability needs to be estimated, and daily calcium budgets for the appropriate reproductive stages determined for the study species. Most crucially, if calcium limitation of breeding is caused by secondary calcium limitation (e.g. through heavy metal toxicity), calcium supplementation will probably be ineffective. Effective calcium supplementation will then be achieved through careful planning – a study over several years using appropriate supplements (i.e. naturally occurring ones used by breeding birds), applied at the appropriate time of year (i.e. prelaying and/or chick-rearing phases) and using a response variable that is highly sensitive to calcium availability. If properly planned and performed, calcium supplementation is a cost-effective and potent tool for the study of bird breeding biology.