Menu

Blog

Archive for the ‘biotech/medical’ category: Page 1184

Sep 24, 2021

Machine learning uncovers ‘genes of importance’ in agriculture and medicine

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, food, health, robotics/AI

“We show that focusing on genes whose expression patterns are evolutionarily conserved across species enhances our ability to learn and predict ‘genes of importance’ to growth performance for staple crops, as well as disease outcomes in animals,” explained Gloria Coruzzi, Carroll & Milton Petrie Professor in NYU’s Department of Biology and Center for Genomics and Systems Biology and the paper’s senior author.


Machine learning can pinpoint “genes of importance” that help crops to grow with less fertilizer, according to a new study published in Nature Communications. It can also predict additional traits in plants and disease outcomes in animals, illustrating its applications beyond agriculture.

Using to predict outcomes in agriculture and medicine is both a promise and challenge for . Researchers have been working to determine how to best use the vast amount of genomic data available to predict how organisms respond to changes in nutrition, toxins, and pathogen exposure—which in turn would inform crop improvement, disease prognosis, epidemiology, and public health. However, accurately predicting such complex outcomes in agriculture and medicine from genome-scale information remains a significant challenge.

Continue reading “Machine learning uncovers ‘genes of importance’ in agriculture and medicine” »

Sep 24, 2021

Spicy Tomatoes, Hangover-proof Wine: Is There Anything CRISPR Can’t Do?

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, innovation

CRISPR is the genius behind innovations that seemed impossible a decade ago. Could you grow tomatoes with the kick of hot sauce or ferment wine that doesn’t cause a hangover? That’s just two of the things scientists are looking into.

Sep 23, 2021

The Smallest Computer in the World Fits On a Grain of Rice

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, computing, solar power

Circa 2018


Researchers at the University of Michigan just created the world’s smallest computer (again). Their previous micro-computer, the Michigan Micro Mote, measured 2x2x4mm. It was a complete, functioning system powered by solar cell batteries. But in March this year, IBM announced a new, smaller computer, which measured 1×1 mm, and was smaller than a grain of salt. It “raised a few eyebrows at the University of Michigan.”

After all, it’s unclear if the IBM computer even count as an actual microcomputer. The IBM device lost all its programming and data as soon as it turns off, unlike the Michigan Micro Mote, which retained its programming even when it wasn’t externally powered. “It’s more of a matter of opinion whether they have the minimum functionality required,” said David Blaauw, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at University of Michigan who helped develop the University of Michigan’s newest tiny device. If the IBM machine constituted a computer, then University of Michigan would work to gain back their title: their latest microdevice measures 0.3mm per side (1/10th the size of IBM’s computer), and is smaller than a grain of rice.

Continue reading “The Smallest Computer in the World Fits On a Grain of Rice” »

Sep 23, 2021

Reading and writing digital data in DNA

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

DNA has the capacity to store large amounts of information for very long durations. This protocol describes encoding of digital files as DNA and the error-free retrieval of the stored data from the sequenced data.

Sep 23, 2021

Know Labs unveils pocket-sized glucose monitor that swaps fingersticks for radiofrequency sensors

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, wearables

Know Labs’ glucose monitors are both powered by its Body-Radio Frequency Identification, or Bio-RFID, technology. The Bio-RFID sensors emit radio waves to measure specific molecular signatures in the blood through the skin, calculated using spectroscopy.

“We know that not all people with diabetes are looking for a wearable continuous glucose monitoring device to manage their diabetes. Some simply want to replace the painful, inconvenient and expensive fingersticks they currently rely on,” said CEO Phil Bosua, who invented the Bio-RFID technology. “The Bio-RFID sensor we currently use for our internal product testing fits in your pocket and is ready for final use, so we decided to create the KnowU as a portable, affordable and convenient alternative requiring no disposable items, such as test strips and lancets.”

In vitro tests have found that the radiofrequency sensor technology was able to measure glucose levels with accuracy comparable to that of Abbott’s Freestyle Libre continuous glucose monitor, which uses a sensor attached to the back of the arm for up to two weeks at a time. According to a 2018 study (PDF) comparing the two, 97% of the UBand’s readings were within 15% of the values calculated by Abbott’s device.

Sep 23, 2021

FDA authorizes Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine booster for older Americans and those at high risk of illness

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and its advisers still must recommend how the extra shots will be used.

Sep 23, 2021

An algorithm to triage breast cancer surgery

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, information science

Dowsett’s algorithm was recently published in npj Breast Cancer, a Nature Partner Journal supported by the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. It is intended to help physicians triage postmenopausal women with ER+ HER2–breast cancers, which represent around 70% of breast cancer cases.1 During the pandemic, many within this patient group were prescribed neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NeoET), rather than surgery, as a disease management strategy.


Analysis of biomarkers in biopsies helps identify breast cancer patients in need of urgent surgery or chemotherapy during COVID-19 pandemic.

Sep 23, 2021

Second-Hand Psychological Stress Can Lead to Depression

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, neuroscience

Summary: Mouse study reveals chronic stress affects neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus.

Source: Tokyo University of Science.

Depression is a serious medical condition that plagues modern society. Several theories have been proposed to explain the physiological basis of depression, of which the “neurogenic hypothesis of depression” has garnered much attention.

Sep 23, 2021

Why a small Pacific country could solve a worldwide issue

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

Back in 2,014 the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that within a decade, antibiotic-resistant bacteria could make routine surgery, organ transplantation, and cancer treatment life-threateningly risky — and spell the end of modern medicine as we know it.

Antibiotics are a cornerstone of modern medicine, used to treat infections and to protect vulnerable patients undergoing surgery or chemotherapy. The world desperately needs new antibiotics, and Covid-19 has only exacerbated the problem.

Continue reading “Why a small Pacific country could solve a worldwide issue” »

Sep 23, 2021

Rapid test to distinguish bacterial and viral infections wins US approval

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, business

Israeli start-up MeMed aims to cut unnecessary prescribing of antibiotics with 15-minute procedure.


Gain a global perspective on the US and go beyond with curated news and analysis from 600 journalists in 50+ countries covering politics, business, innovation, trends and more.