Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to CRISPR cows with TB resistance
Scientists publishing in Genome Biology report that they have produced cloned cattle with increased resistance to bovine TB. The researchers used the genome editing tool CRISPR/Cas9 to alter the genetic code of the cattle. read more
expert reaction to study attempting to create human/pig chimera embryos using stem cells
Scientists publishing in Cell attempted to make interspecies chimeras – both rat/mouse chimera embryos, and human/pig chimera embryos, and reported both the successes and difficulties they faced. These techniques are of interest because they may advance understanding of the developing embryo, and may in future offer the possibility of growing human tissues in animals for transplants, although this is not yet possible.
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expert reaction to anti-Tau drug in animal models of Alzheimer’s
Publishing in Science Translational Medicine researchers claimed a drug targeting Tau – a protein that builds up in the brains of people with some neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s – prevented loss of brain cells in experimental animals.
expert reaction to study reporting functional mouse pancreatic islets grown in rats and transplanted into mice
Scientists publishing in Nature have shown that is it possible to generate rat/mouse chimeric pancreatic tissue by injecting mouse stem cells into rat early embryos. read more
Could overcooking some foods cause cancer?
Acrylamide is a chemical that is created naturally when many foods, particularly starchy foods like potatoes and bread, are cooked for long periods at high temperatures, such as when baking, frying, grilling, toasting and roasting. read more
expert reaction to sea levels and sea surface temperatures
Researchers publishing in Science have reported that sea surface temperatures during the last interglacial may have been no warmer than today. read more
Antibiotics in farming
Future dangers of antimicrobial resistance are widely acknowledged, with farming practices often blamed for the rise in resistance to common antibiotics in human diseases. read more
expert reaction to first reported case of variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease in a patient with MV genotype
In a Correspondence article published in the NEJM researchers report the first case of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) in a patient with a methionine valine (MV) heterozygous genotype for a prion protein. Prior to this all definite diagnoses were in humans with a homozygous genotype (MM). read more
expert reaction to confirmation that 2016 was the warmest on record
2016 was the warmest year on record according to a consolidated analysis by the World Meteorological Organization. read more
expert reaction to news of the birth of a baby in Ukraine through pronuclear transfer as a treatment for infertility
A baby has been born to a previously infertile couple in Ukraine using pronuclear transfer, a new type of “three-person IVF”. read more
expert reaction to eating disorders in middle-aged women
A population-based study published in BMC Medicine has examined lifetime and 12-month prevalence of eating disorders (ED) among women in mid-life. It claimed that a significant proportion of women will experience an ED by mid-life. read more
expert reaction to acupuncture to treat colic
Scientists publishing in Acupuncture in Medicine claim acupuncture appears to safely reduce crying in infants with colic. read more
acupuncture and colic
New research published in Acupuncture in Medicine reported that acupuncture appears to safely reduce crying in infants with colic. Roundup comments accompanied this analysis. read more
Climate change and the Trump presidency
Donald Trump has said that no-one really knows whether climate change is real. Scientists tend to disagree. But what will the new presidency have in store for the US approach to climate change? read more
expert reaction to study investigating screen time and well-being in teenagers
A study published in Psychological Science reported that the relationships between digital-screen time and mental well-being are nonlinear and that moderate engagement in digital activities is not harmful. read more
expert reaction to reports that a US woman died of infection resistant to all antibiotics available in the US
A woman from the US has died from multi-drug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. The bacterium was resistant to all antibiotics available in the US. read more
Global overfishing: what is the world’s true catch?
Two leading marine biologists, Prof Daniel Pauly and Dr Dirk Zeller from the University of British Columbia’s Sea Around Us project, published findings last year that challenged fundamental assumptions about global fisheries. read more
expert reaction to expected approval of the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon later today
Plans for a £1.3bn tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay are to be backed in a government-commissioned review. read more
the facts about antidepressants
Antidepressants are a constant source of controversy. Concerns are raised that these drugs are not safe, that the side-effects are being overlooked, that they are being over-prescribed and are part of a trend of over-medicalisation. read more
expert reaction to stem cell therapy in blind mice with end-stage retinal degeneration
Publishing in Stem Cell Reports, a group of researchers have reported that retinal tissue derived from mouse induced pluriopotent stem cells (iPSCs) established connections with neighbouring cells and responded to light stimulation, restoring visual fuction in half of mice with end-stage retinal degeneration. read more