S&S: Technology
- Self‐surveillanceShould you worry or simply embrace your personal data?
Should you worry or simply embrace your personal data?
- Laurie Frick, Artist (laurie{at}lauriefrick.com) 1
We can sequence genomes, track sleep patterns, record exercise levels and estimate health risks. But why? Perhaps art can help us take ownership of and learn from our personal data.
- © 2014 The Author
- “Genetically Modified Lite” placates public but not activistsNew technologies to manipulate plant genomes could help to overcome public concerns about GM crops
New technologies to manipulate plant genomes could help to overcome public concerns about GM crops
- Philip Hunter, Freelance journalist (ph{at}philiphunter.com)1
New technologies that create genetically modified plants without transferring foreign genes may help to overcome public concerns, but they are unlikely to convince anti‐GM activists to give up the fight.
- © 2014 The Author
- From promise to practiceThe role of synthetic biology in green chemistry
The role of synthetic biology in green chemistry
Synthetic biology has the potential to profoundly change the way we produce many chemicals, as well as to reduce the environmental impact of the chemical industry.
- Copyright © 2013 European Molecular Biology Organization
- Complex diseases require complex therapies
- Ravi Iyengar1
Understanding disease causes and drug action at the molecular and systems levels could help to identify combinations of drugs that are more effective than individual drugs alone.
- Copyright © 2013 European Molecular Biology Organization
- Toward a role model
- Roded Sharan1
With ever‐growing amounts of 'omics data, the challenge is to develop an automatic modelling pipeline that receives as input large‐scale data pertaining to the system of interest and outputs a complete, logical model that maximizes the fit to the given data.
- Copyright © 2013 European Molecular Biology Organization
- A Mobius strip of scientific imaginationHow deep does the relationship between science fiction and science go?
How deep does the relationship between science fiction and science go?
- Paige Brown1
From H.G. Wells to Star Trek, science fiction and science have had a long and fruitful relationship. But does science drive the imagination of authors, or do authors drive the imaginations of scientists?
- Copyright © 2013 European Molecular Biology Organization
- Had enough of that crummy stuff
- Howy Jacobs
The mobile internet, launched amid great fanfare, falls far short of scientists‘ needs and expectations. Howy argues that it's time for a rethink.
- Copyright © 2013 European Molecular Biology Organization
- Brothers in armsMilitary funding for basic and applied biomedical science is thriving, with civilian applications delivered along the way
Military funding for basic and applied biomedical science is thriving, with civilian applications delivered along the way
- Andrea Rinaldi1
The horrific injuries and difficult working conditions faced by military medical personnel have forced the military to fund biomedical research to treat soldiers; those new technologies and techniques contribute significantly to civilian medicine.
- Copyright © 2013 European Molecular Biology Organization
- The A to T of historical evidenceHistorians, archaeologists and geneticists are teaming up to answer historical questions
Historians, archaeologists and geneticists are teaming up to answer historical questions
- Howard Wolinsky1
Geneticists and historians collaborated recently to identify the remains of King Richard III of England, found buried under a car park. Genetics has many more contributions to make to history, but scientists and historians must learn to speak each other's languages.
- Copyright © 2013 European Molecular Biology Organization
- Elixirs of deathInternational organizations are working towards a global solution to address the problem of falsified and substandard medicines, but progress has stagnated
International organizations are working towards a global solution to address the problem of falsified and substandard medicines, but progress has stagnated
- Katrin Weigmann1
Substandard and fake drugs are increasingly threatening lives in both the developed and developing world, but governments and industry are struggling to improve the situation.
- Copyright © 2013 European Molecular Biology Organization