S&S: Technology
- The outsourcing and commercialization of scienceIs the lab CEO the future of academic research?
Is the lab CEO the future of academic research?
- David R Smith (dsmit242{at}uwo.ca) 1
Commercial research services – genome sequencing and analysis, culture collection – make research in the life sciences easier, but carry the risk of fundamentally altering the role of researchers in research and potentially stifling creativity.
- © 2014 The Author
- Turning nature's inspiration into a production lineExploits of natural designs have become a systematic research field to create new materials and designs for architecture, medicinal devices and other products
Exploits of natural designs have become a systematic research field to create new materials and designs for architecture, medicinal devices and other products
- Philip Hunter (ph{at}philiphunter.com) 1
Our fascination with the ingenuity of nature has led to its own field of research, and scientists are bringing new products and materials inspired by the natural world to market.
- © 2014 The Author
- Finding planets and life among the starsFor the first time in history, mankind has the tools to look for other planets and whether these might host life
For the first time in history, mankind has the tools to look for other planets and whether these might host life
- Margaret C Turnbull (turnbull.maggie{at}gmail.com) 1
Are we alone in the universe? For the first time in its history, humankind has the tools to look for potentially habitable planets and discern whether they too have evolved life.
- © 2014 The Author
- A piece of cake
Databases are a vital tool for all molecular biologists. But entries are often hard to parse. We need more high‐level editorial input to make information accessible and reliable.
- © 2014 The Author
- Pulling teeth from historyDNA from ancient teeth can help to yield information about our ancestors' health, diet and diseases
DNA from ancient teeth can help to yield information about our ancestors' health, diet and diseases
- Philip Hunter (ph{at}philiphunter.com) 1
Teeth have proven to be an excellence source of ancient DNA. New analytical tools are helping to exploit this treasure trove to address questions about the link between diet and health, and the impact of historical epidemics with clear relevance for human health today.
- © 2014 The Author
- Printing organs cell‐by‐cell3‐D printing is growing in popularity, but how should we regulate the application of this new technology to health care?
3‐D printing is growing in popularity, but how should we regulate the application of this new technology to health care?
- Howard Wolinsky (howard.wolinsky{at}gmail.com) 1
3‐D bioprinting of tissues and organs is becoming more feasible, but its widespread use raises legal and ethical challenges for which the regulators seem currently unprepared.
- © 2014 The Author
- A little hard to swallow?The use of nanotechnology in the food industry might be both boon and bane to human health
The use of nanotechnology in the food industry might be both boon and bane to human health
- Melissa Suran (mnsuran{at}u.northwestern.edu) 1
The food industry is exploring the use of nanotechnology to extend product freshness, detect bacterial spoilage and deliver additives. Yet critics and experts worry that there is a lack of knowledge about the potential risks to human health.
- © 2014 The Author
- It's time to exploit your favorite quirky organism with new technologies
- Haruhiko Siomi (awa403{at}z2.keio.jp) 1
Progress in biology demands new technology and new model organisms. Modern techniques to manipulate gene expression mean we can select new organisms based on the relevance of their biology, rather than their genetic tractability.
- © 2014 The Author
- One organ at a timeResearch has been making much progress to create in vitro human tissues for transplantation but laboratory‐grown complex organs still remain decades away
Research has been making much progress to create in vitro human tissues for transplantation but laboratory‐grown complex organs still remain decades away
- Philip Hunter, Freelance journalist1
Advances in stem cell science have enabled scientists to grow human tissue from a patient's own cells for transplantation. Although the first simple organs and tissues have already been successfully transplanted, it will be decades before it is possible to grow complex organs such as the kidney or heart.
- © 2014 The Author
- Leafy biofactories: producing industrial oils in non‐seed biomass
- Craig C Wood (craig.wood{at}csiro.au) 1
Plant biotechnologists are developing a new option for the sustainable production of oleochemicals. The notion of crops producing industrial oils is not new, but the possibility of using leaves—not oilseeds—might be a surprise to many.
- © 2014 Commonwealth of Australia
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