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If you’re not yet totally buzzed about the future and how synthetic biology is going to change our worlds, then this video is totally worth watching. It’s time to forget the shiny, the easy, and work on things that really matter. Who cares about apps when you can create the next living platform!
Watch Jason Silva wax eloquent:
I first became interested in personal genomics and DNA profiling over a decade ago when conducting due diligence on a potential investee company. We did invest and I was Chairman of Genetraks during their early years. Sadly the company didn’t make it beyond its first few rounds of venture capital and it’s worth reading the fascinating account by their CEO, Roz Brandon on what transpired.
Fast forward twelve years – this morning I opened up my pack from Lumigenix, aptly labelled “discover yourself in a new light”, and took out their DNA Collection Kit. Thanks to Romain Bonjean, CEO at Lumigenix, genomics was about to get personal for me.
The entire process was simple, fast and intuitive and kudos to the team for focusing on getting this right. I activated my account, collected my DNA sample and wrapped it up in its packaging. Next stop – the Lumigenix labs…stay tuned for another post when I get my results back!
The brain’s hippocampus is analogous to an inbox, with new neurons clearing away old memories, according to a piece in ScienceNOW.
[Picture courtesy of hurleygurley - flickr]
Tags: brain, hippocampus, neurons
The Doctors Channel is providing medical news vignettes and video analyses of major medical issues to Ozmosis, an online medical discussion forum and knowledge exchange.
Described by CNBC as an “educational YouTube for doctors”, The Doctors Channel videos will be able to be discussed by medical practitioners on “physician only” forums on Ozmosis.
The resultant ability for doctors to share related experiences and learn from each other is a positive move.
Your choice – lose your loved one or your privacy.
South Korea is looking into equipping new mobile phones with a chip that will allow users to be located via satellite-based positioning technology.
The argument being put forward in a bill before their National Assembly is that this move will assist in reducing kidnapping and other increasingly violent crimes against women and children.
I know there is the slippery slope argument of benevolent versus big brother government and in no other region of the world is this better illustrated – South Korea doing this versus North Korea ….shudder.
However, where we have the technology to eradicate location-based crimes this, to me, far outweighs privacy issues.
DNA tracking would be optimal – this is not that far off.
[via China View]
A new method to deliver cells and genes to repair diseased or injured organs in humans in one step closer to reality.
Scientists from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have used magnetic fields and iron-bearing nanoparticles to drive healthy cells to targeted sites in animal blood vessels.
This post marks the first real widening of our focus here at Metarand in 2008 to cover biotechnology and the life sciences. Along with our previous focus on social media, the Internet and virtual worlds we’re bundling them into a new category – “life media”.
The team leader of this study, Dr Robert J. Levy commented that others researchers have pursued less successful approaches to this novel strategy for delivering cells to targets in the body.
One goal of this cell therapy will be to introduce new cells to recoat the metal stents of heart patients. Many such stents fail over time as smooth muscle cells accumulate excessively on their surfaces and create new blockages.
Dr Levy believes, “This method could become a powerful medical tool.”