Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have identified the molecular mechanism that makes omega-3 fatty acids so effective in reducing chronic inflammation and insulin resistance.

The discovery could lead to development of a simple dietary remedy for many of the more than 23 million Americans suffering from diabetes and other conditions.

Writing in the advance online edition of the September 3 issue of the journal Cell, Jerrold Olefsky, MD, and colleagues identified a key receptor on macrophages abundantly found in obese body fat. Obesity and diabetes are closely correlated. The scientists say omega-3 fatty acids activate this macrophage receptor, resulting in broad anti-inflammatory effects and improved systemic insulin sensitivity.

More info

Biodegradable plastic bags are still a rarity and a long way from replacing the tough conventional plastic variety manufactured from non-renewable resources.

It is this toughness, or durability, that still makes conventional bags the norm and a worsening environmental headache. Plastic packaging accounts for up to 25 per cent of Australia’s municipal landfill.

Researchers at Swinburne University of Technology believe science might offer a solution. The university is supporting two research projects investigating bioplastics: one into the use of ingredients from renewable sources, and another into the properties of biopolymers that determine their ‘compostability’.

The two projects have brought together Swinburne PhD students Suchetana Chattopadhyay and Cameron Way, who are examining the properties of bioplastics as part of their respective PhD studies. The Director of Swinburne’s Environment and Biotechnology Centre, Associate Professor Palombo, is co-supervisor for both students and describes their work as among the most exciting applied projects he has encountered during his 20-year research career.

Chitin is the world’s second-most abundant natural polymer and is mostly derived from shellfish waste, but also includes the exoskeletons of crustaceans, insects and spiders.

In collaboration with an industry partner, Ms Chattopadhyay has provided the first direct evidence of true biodegradability in novel, chitin-based polymers.

More info

Through genetic engineering many companies and scientists are trying to develop transgenic micro algae for the commercial use. Thus the content of oil or the yield of carotenoids and dyes should be enhanced as well as the production of proteins through micro algae should be facilitated

Furthermore, the biotechnology of micro algae is developing a solution to use micro algae for the commercial production of biodiesel in an industrial scale. At this point, it exists an interface between genetic modifications of micro algae, because the directed production of suitable long-chain hydrocarbons in micro algae could lead to higher yields for the production of bio diesel.

Based on a recent internet search, Prof. Dr. Gerd Kloeck / Professor of Bioprocess Engineering / Hochschule Bremen – Bremen, Germany, presents a list of algae producers and companies currently developing production technology. This list doesn’t claim to be complete yet. It is, however, the most comprehensive web directory of this industry publicly available.

More info

The National Aquarium is set Thursday to unveil its new Conservation Center, established to focus the institution’s work in marine conservation and research, and to expand its scope to a national and global stage.

In cooperation with scientists at aquariums and universities here and across the country, the center’s researchers are already at work tracking contaminants from the BP oil well blowout, and studying threatened eagle rays. The center will also dedicate itself to the study and protection of dolphins and other small marine mammals, and advocate for an end to the collection of these species from the wild for display.

The Conservation Center has begun to provide funding for research in cooperation with scientists at institutions such as the New England Aquarium in Boston, the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California, the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Fla., and the University of Maryland Center of Marine Biotechnology.

More info

ALGENICS SAS has announced that it has signed a new cooperation contract with the ROQUETTE Group for the development of an innovative microalgae strain capable of producing high levels of a metabolite for high value industrial uses. The two-year programme is based on the use of ALGENICS’ genetic engineering platform, AlgebiosysTM, and is coupled with the signature of a licensing agreement for use of the technology. The financial terms of the contract have not been disclosed.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Biomass Program is hosting a Webinar on Wednesday, September 8, 2010, from 2:00–4:30 p.m. EDT entitled “The Promise and Challenge of Algae as a Renewable Source of Biofuels.” This Web conference marks the first in the Biomass Program’s Webinar series, which will cover many of the program’s activities and feature “Hot Topics” discussions relevant to the development of renewable fuels, power, and products from biomass resources.

This Webinar will focus on the program’s approach to algal biofuels research and development and will include presentations from four of its recently funded consortia, comprised of more than 65 partners across the United States. This session will also discuss highlights from the National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap, which was released by DOE in June 2010.

The Biomass Program welcomes interested stakeholders from industry, academia, research institutions, government, non-profits, other organizations, and the general public.  Presenters include Joanne Morello of DOE’s Biomass Program and representatives from the National Alliance For Advanced Biofuels and Bio-Products (NAABB), the Center for Algae Biotechnology Commercialization (CAB-Comm), the Sustainable Algal Biofuels Consortium (SABC), and Cellana, LLC.

More info

The state’s top science policymaker has announced that an ultramodern marine biotechnology research centre is being set up at Chennai. TN State Council For Science and Technology member secretary S. Vincent, said work will begin soon on the National Institute of Marine Biotechnology (NIMB), a Rs 200 crore, state-of-the-art research centre, which will be located on East Coast Road.

“A 100 acre plot has been identified at Nemili for the project,” he said. “The centre will be ready before 2012.” Mr Vincent said even chief minister M. Karunanidhi has taken an interest in the centre.

“This modern research centre will be the first of its kind in the country and has already piqued the interest of leading marine biotechnologists from Tamil Nadu who are now working in the US and European countries. Many of them have expressed interest in coming back to Tamil Nadu to pursue their research at the centre,” Mr Vincent said.

More info

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said its Veterinary Medicine Advisory Committee will meet on September 19 and 20 to discuss the possible commercialization of genetically engineered salmon.

AquaBounty of Waltham, Massachusetts says it has developed salmon that have been genetically modified to reach market size in half the time of traditional salmon – a trait that could help feed a growing global population and protect dwindling fish stocks, the company claims.

If the Veterinary Medicine Advisory Committee (VMAC) decides that the fish are fit for human consumption, it would be the first animal produced through genetic engineering to be approved. Some environmentalists and scientists have said they see this as a watershed case, with the result likely to either pave the way for further genetic engineering of food animals or discourage its use.

More info

A multimillion-pound project to build a marine science park near Oban will reinforce the Highlands and islands’ reputation for research in the life sciences sector, business bosses said yesterday.

The £7.5million first phase of the European Marine Science Park could start as soon as October, development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) said yesterday.

HIE is to invest £4.5million from its own budget to the development, on a site next to the existing Scottish Association for Marine Science (Sams) laboratories at Dunstaffnage.

The European Regional Development Fund will contribute £3million.

The development will create a new laboratory and office building with space for up to three businesses employing 119 people.

More Info

A multimillion-dollar ethanol plant is planned for a former landfill site, but members of the community can get a sneak peak of the technology in action next week. Garden State Ethanol will demonstrate extracting the fuel from algae at a prototype site located on Washington Avenue at the old Gentilini Ford building.

The USDA is scheduled to visit Woodbine next Thursday to present a check for $98,000 to begin to transform the landfill into a production facility that could employ as many as 50 people.

The facility is still more than a year away, which is why the prototype is being used to demonstrate the technology next week. “It’s going to take about a year to get permits for the site approved, and we’ll just move from there,” Mayor William Pikolycky said. When the final facility reaches full production, it’s expected that 25 million gallons of ethanol and 10 million gallons of biodiesel will be produced at the site annually.