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By Category: Biotechnology

Fast-Acting Bioagent Detector Developed in Wales

(Global Security Newswire) The Welsh branch of a Germany security company has led development of a portable device that within minutes could reveal a bioterror agent that had been introduced into drinking water, the Cardiff Western Mail reported on Saturday. “Growing concern about drinking water safety and the highly distributive nature of water supplies highlights Read More »

April 10, 2012
| Filed under Europe, Biotechnology, Bioterrorism, Countermeasures, Public Health, and Research
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Dual use education in neuroscience

(The Royal Society – Blog) Dealing with the challenge of the hostile exploitation of neurobiology, as with a number of developments in the life sciences and chemistry, is going to require a range of activities at different levels; one aspect of which involves building awareness of the concerns of the security community amongst those at Read More »

March 30, 2012
| Filed under Europe, North America, Biotechnology, Countermeasures, International, Policy & Initiatives, and Research
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Recent Fear and Loathing in Synthetic Biology Reminiscent of Other Biotechnologies

(Genetic Engineering News) As novel scientific achievements such as recombinant DNA technology, stem cells, and most recently, synthetic biology, exit the lab and merge with the outside world, fear has followed them. This fear factor has influenced public perception of most novel scientific endeavors. Biotechnophobia seems to stem from the fact that the risk is Read More »

March 27, 2012
| Filed under Europe, North America, Biotechnology, Policy & Initiatives, and Research
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Pathogen Detection System Takes a Cue from Fireflies

(Food Safety News) Biology researchers in the United Kingdom have developed a device that can detect foodborne pathogens using a variant of a simple, seemingly unlikely chemical: Firefly luciferase, the enzyme that makes fireflies’ abdomens light up. The device, called “Bioluminescent Assay in Real-Time” (BART), pinpoints harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and Listeria on food Read More »

March 22, 2012
| Filed under Europe, North America, Biotechnology, Countermeasures, Public Health, and Research
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Synthetic Biology Brouhaha

(Genetic Engineering News) Earlier this week the environmental group Friends of the Earth released a report entitled “Principles for the Oversight of Synthetic Biology.” Twenty pages long, the report established seven principles “to safeguard public health and the environment …