Science and Technology

What aspects of cancer are researchers focusing on to develop new cancer treatments? In the last couple decades, much has been learned about cancer cell biology. This research is providing a basis for new treatments that target the basic biology of cancer.

Gene therapy offers real promise for curing genetic disorders and treating a wider range diseases. How are new functional genes are put into a patients cells? This article describes the main viral DNA vectors used to make the genetic changes required for gene therapy.

Over a third of drugs target the same type of biological molecules--GPCRs. What are GPCRs and why are they important in drug discovery?

Can a parent's life experience affect the genetic traits they pass onto their children? While gene sequences don't change with life experience, epigenetic mark-ups that specific gene expression patterns do, and these changes are sometime heritable.

GMOs are making news nearly every day and issues surrounding their safety are a source of ongoing debate in the food and biotechnology industry. Read about what GMOs are and why they are a source of bioethical controversy.

Essential Tools for RFLP Analysis

Essential Tools for DNA Sequencing

Once used for simple encapsulation of cells or drugs, in homogeneous materials, todays hydrogels are more complex. What makes hydrogels such a great choice for development of therapeutics?

Advantages to DNA Vaccines

The primary role of proteasomes in eukaryotic cells (and some archaebacteria), is to destroy other proteins.

Some considerations for making the choice between bioproduction using whole cells, or a cell-free enzyme preparation.

What is miRNA, or microRNA and how is it used as a molecular genetics research tool in the process called RNA interference?

What is siRNA, or small interfering RNA and how is RNA interference used in protein engineering?

The nobel prize in chemistry went to the discoverers of GFP in 2008, for it's widespread use as a bioindicator in biomedical research and biotechnology. Who would you nominate for a Nobel Prize in chemistry or medicine?

Pharmacokinetics is defined as the study of the action of drugs or medicines in living organisms, but it's not a simple process. There are many factors that affect how a drug reacts in living cells.

A description of the possible and current uses for smart polymers in the biotechnology industry. Types of stimulus responsive polymers and nanoparticles are explained and their potential for use in biomedicine is discussed.

Five reasons the microorganism E. coli is so widely used in protein engineering and genetic research.

A review of the book "Statistics in Research and Development" by Roland Caulcutt.

Adjustments to any of the components of a PCR reaction can dramatically alter the quality of the outcome.

Reader-entered presentations of their laboratory research projects.See submissions

Retroviruses are a special type of RNA virus, that differ from the rest in how they replicate their genome.

Experiments with chromosomal material that were primarily responsible for the establishment of DNA as the component that encodes for the structures of proteins.

ACI, or Active Cellular Immunotherapy is a new development in biomedical research and is being applied for treatment of cancer. Also known as Active Specific Immunotherapy.

A simple explanation of how titer is determined, during bioproduct production in the biomedical industry, for antibodies, other proteins and other biological substances.

Links to websites listing current and upcoming drug trials and how to become a participating subject. In addition, some sites contain new drug approval news, information on drug interactions, and clinical research job listings.

An introduction to bioindicators and how they are used in the biotechnology industry to detect physiological responses to cellular stressors.

Fireflies are nocturnal flying beetles that generate light in their abdomen, via a chemical reaction. Find out how firefly luminescence has become a widely used tool in biotechnology.

Frequently asked questions about stem cells.

Is there a difference between small interfering RNA (siRNA) and micro RNA (miRNA)?

How does in vivo electroporation work?

Over a third of drugs target the same type of biological molecules--GPCRs. What are GPCRs and why are they important in drug discovery?

Nanotechnology applied to stem cell applications aids with tracking and labeling, systemic delivery, and controlling extracellular environments. Toxicity of nanoparticles to stem cells is also discussed.

How nanotechnology is being applied to nanomedicine and the treatment of diseases such as cancer.

A summary and classification of the nanoparticles most commonly used in nanomedical research and other biotechnological applications.

What are the risks to using nanoparticles in biotechnology, specifically biomedicine, and how can they be minimized?

Carbon nanotubes and buckyballs belong to a class of carbon-based nanoparticles known as the fullerenes.

Nanoshells are used in nanomedicine as a tool for radiation therapy because of their ability to target tumors.

Dendrimers are highly branched nanoparticles whose polymer branches consist of molecular hooks that can target specific biomolecules.

Liquid crystal pharmaceuticals (LCPs) are drug delivery systems that use organic liquid crystals for safe drug delivery.

Different DNA sequencing methods described.

Essential Tools for Amplifying Genes

A description of the types of enzymes used in the dairy industry and their role in the production of cheese, yogurt and other food products.