“Can genetics map onto electronics–is it ready to go into the garage shop in a
hobbyist sense?” said Church. “That’s the question she’s asking, and I think
that’s a very big, profound question… There seems to be a very deep and
growing curiosity about genetics that might dwarf electronics. No matter how
much we love our gadgets, we’re totally fascinated by our ancestry and health.” …
While the Florence expansion project began in 2007 well before cases of H1N1
“swine flu” began emerging, the additional Tamiflu capacity it provides
fits well with Roche’s efforts to ramp-up manufacture. …
Aspen will distribute Glaxo’s meds in South Africa, and the two companies will
work together to sell their products across the remainder of the continent. …
Ironically, bio-opportunism reflects one of the biotech industry’s best
qualities: your competition does not have to fail for you to succeed. In fact,
your competitors’ successes can often validate your approach, in which case a
little coattail riding can be warranted. …
UM is one of a number of universities to get deeply involved in drug development
work. The state’s universities and colleges are among the nation’s most prolific
when it comes to patenting new biotech IP. …
When rumors recently began circulating that a union drive might be brewing in
San Francisco, the response from the company was immediate–including mandatory
“Morale Meetings” to dissuade employees. But company leaders failed to address
workers’ complaints that they have gone without any pay raises, sometimes for
more than two years, because Team Leaders have neglected to hold “Job Dialogue”
meetings (known as “annual performance reviews” in traditional
corporate-speak).
…
If Kurzweil is right, there will be supercomputers more powerful than every
human brain on the planet combined within a few decades. …
A serious financial crisis is inevitable when you live too far above your means
for too long. This applies whether you’re talking about a single-family
household or an entire country. As this article points out, countries in crisis
need to learn to live within their means – just like you and I. This may mean
increasing exports and cutting imports. …
Some trials have shown that having this info on genetic variation can help docs
pinpoint the proper warfarin dosage. And that’s important, because even small
changes in dosage can have big effects, either on the not-enough-thinning side
or the so-much-thinning-it’s dangerous side. …
Hamburg, not-so-coincidentally, is an expert on pandemics as well as
bioterrorism, the Wall Street Journal
reports. A spokeswoman for Sen. Ted Kennedy, who chairs the committee,
told the paper that it’s a “high priority” to get Dr. Hamburg confirmed,
stat–at least in part because her expertise “will be an invaluable resource” in
handling the H1N1 outbreak. …