10 SOPs to detect living modified organisms
Reading Time: 2 minutesThe Biosafety Department under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is expected to introduce ten standard operating procedures (SOPs) to detect living modified organisms (LMOs) in the country under its enforcement activities in the next four months. Its minister, Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (pix)announced this during the National Biosafety Seminar which aims […]
What makes leaves change colour in autumn?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteEvery autumn we revel in the beauty of the fall colours. The mixture of red, purple, orange and yellow is the result of chemical processes that take place in the tree as the seasons change from summer to winter. During the spring and summer the leaves have served as factories where most of the food […]
Why do we get bored?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteSome people never tire of doing the same thing, while others get bored very easily. According to Dr Irving Biederman, a neuroscientist at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, this problem involves opioids, a chemical in the brain that gives us pleasure. A new experience will stimulate the release of opioids—a wow. The […]
Something’s fishy about new canola project
Reading Time: < 1 minuteA joint research between Nuseed, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) have developed canola containing omega-3 oil through plant-to-plant gene transfer. Genes from microalgae were transferred to canola for it to produce canola oil which is rich with long chain DHA, at level equal or better […]
New research shows Zika can damage the eyes
Reading Time: < 1 minuteA novel finding from research conducted by Wayne State University School of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology at the Kresge Eye Institute has shown that Zika Virus (ZIKV) caused impaired vision or even blindness. This happens when the virus replicates itself in the retinal cells of the eyes – layer of cells at the back of […]
Bangladesh champions GM crops
Reading Time: 4 minutesSouth Asian nation is world innovator of pest-resistant, nutritionally-fortified biotech crops BY STEVEN CERIER “Agricultural technology has been central in “making the country self-sufficient in food production,” says Bangladesh’s Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhurry. The country began adopting hybrid seeds in the mid-1990s, and in 2013 became the first nation to commercialise insect-resistant Bt brinjal (eggplant). Currently, […]
Regional platform to share SDG strategies for Southeast Asian nations
Reading Time: 2 minutesSustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that are based on the successes of the Millennium Development Goals came into effect in January 2016 and are targeted to be achieved by 2030. However, the United Nations and its member countries are aware of the reality that a lot of turbulence and headwinds must be navigated to achieve these […]
What causes cats’ eyes to glow?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteYour pet cat may appear tame during the day, but its eyes tend to cast an eerie or ghoulish glow by dusk. Ever wondered what causes it? Cats’ eyes are proportionately larger than humans’ eyes and they possess a reflective layer of tissues known as tapetum lucidum. These features enable cats to detect movement and […]
‘Womb-like’ device could revolutionise care for premature Infants
Reading Time: 3 minutesBY LAUREN SCRUDATO An innovative “bio-bag” system developed by a team of doctors from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) mimics the environment of a mother’s womb and could provide the physiologic support premature babies need to properly develop. One in ten babies born in the US are considered premature (younger than 37 weeks gestational […]
Why do crocodiles often lie with their mouths open?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteCrocodiles are cold blooded reptiles prevalent in tropical regions of Africa, the Americas, Asia and Australia. They are members of the order Crocodilia that includes alligators, gharials and caimans. Ever seen crocodiles resting or sitting with their mouth open? This is a common practice among crocodiles that is known as gaping. Crocodiles are unable to […]