Metaphorically speaking
Andrew Reynolds, a Professor of philosophy, discusses numerous such examples of the use of metaphors in the areas of genetics, protein science, cell biology, evolution, and medicine. Lay-friendly - but competent - explanations of the scientific background take up a large fraction of this small-format book of under 200 pages.
Editing life
Author Matthew Cobb presents an exceptionally well-informed account of the phenomenal development of genetic engineering over the past seven decades. Modern genetics is now rightly celebrated for its many major triumphs, however, certain applications of genetics in the past have been far from principled.
Clean tech ambitions
The European Commission has finally unveiled the legislative proposal known as the Net Zero Industry Act, which aims to increase Europe’s competitiveness in the global clean technology race. It sets a goal for the EU to produce at least 40% of the technology needed to achieve its climate and energy targets by 2030.
Chikungunya vaccine
A vaccine against chikungunya disease could be just a few years away, researchers say; and it can’t come soon enough. Transmitted by mosquitoes, infection with chikungunya virus results in fever and severe joint pain. WHO has classified chikungunya as a major public health risk, currently affecting more than a billion people worldwide.
Protein origami
Artificial intelligence technology AlphaFold has reached the point of being able to predict the folded structure of any protein with reasonable accuracy. But is the folded structure really everything? Michael Gross reports.
Deep heat
At 6000°C, the Earth’s core is hotter than parts of the sun. Tapping into this residual heat could yield an unlimited and renewable resource for energy production, Anthony King reports.
Africa health MoU
Medical and health sciences accounted for US$402m or 22.1% of South African government expenditure on R&D in 2020/21, according to a January 2023 report from the Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators.
Kenya drugs ruling
The High Court in Kenya has restrained Lords Healthcare from distributing and marketing five drugs in Kenya for infringing on property rights of Indian drug company Cipla. The drugs include those for treatment of hypertension, diabetes and HIV/Aids. The Court ruled Lords has been marketing and distributing pharmaceutical products that are ‘confusingly similar to those of Cipla’.
Sepsis study data to aid antibiotic discovery
Australian researchers have teamed up in an experiment to mimic what happens to bacteria on exposure to human blood serum. The study looked at four strains of bacteria known to cause sepsis, which occurs when the body’s response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs.