Gentech Information

1st quarter 2008
Science’s top ten – Major advances in biosciences in 2007
Science magazine, one of the most respected scientific journals, regularly compiles a list of the ten key scientific advances, discoveries, inventions and innovations achieved during the past twelve months. Five biosciences innovations have made it into the 2007 top ten: New knowledge about human genetic variation takes top spot among the year's scientific breakthroughs. Advances in personal genome testing that make it possible to predict the likelihood of disease are of particular relevance to insurers. »more

3rd quarter 2007
Can fully developed, reprogrammed cells take over the role of embryonic stem cells?
Only rarely does a scientific report make it into Germany’s leading evening news programme, but 21 November proved to be one of those unusual days. What had happened? A Japanese working group had reported that, starting with human skin cells, it had succeeded in producing other cells with practically the same characteristics as embryonic stem cells. »more

1st quarter 2007
Genetically modified plants: worldwide cultivation and significance for the economy and environment
The ISAAA (International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications) has published its report on the scope of cultivation of genetically modified (GM) plants around the world in 2006. »more

1st quarter 2007
Genetic mutation discovered which increases the possibility of an influenza pandemic
In 1918 an H1N1 influenza virus caused the Spanish flu pandemic that led to the deaths of almost 50 million victims. »more

1st quarter 2007
Science’s top ten — Major scientific breakthroughs of the year
Science magazine, one of the most important and renowned scientific journals, regularly compiles a list of the ten key scientific advances, discoveries, inventions and innovations achieved during the past twelve months. »more

4th quarter 2006
LL601 — Genetically engineered rice in Germany
Traces of genetically modified rice not approved anywhere in the world were found in Germany in early September 2006. »more

4th quarter 2006
Development of vaccines against the influenza virus that will cause the next pandemic
Faced with the threat of a global influenza pandemic, governments, international organizations and vaccine producers are collaborating on the goal of novel vaccine development and production techniques. »more

4th quarter 2006
The genetic codes of influenza viruses — What they tell us now and how they may help us in the future
As the bird flu virus is endemic in poultry in some parts of the world, sporadic outbreaks of the disease in humans can be expected. »more

3rd quarter 2006
Reduced mycotoxin burden in Bt maize results in health benefits
This hypothesis is advocated in an article by L. Kershen in the American "Food and Drug Law Journal". »more

3rd quarter 2006
First functional sperm created from embryonic stem cells
Scientists in Göttingen, Germany, have bred mice by fertilising eggs with sperm made from embryonic stem cells. »more

2nd quarter 2006
First biotech generic approved
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first generic biotech medicine (biopharmaceutical). »more

1st quarter 2006
Important diabetes gene discovered
Millions of people around the world suffer from diabetes mellitus, or high blood sugar. In the USA alone, 21 million, i.e. 7% of the population, are affected by the disease. »more

1st quarter 2006
Drought and salt tolerance: Fundamentals and present status of genetic engineering
Water shortage and soil salination are already today restricting agricultural production in many regions of the earth. In future, water will be the most important factor that limits the increase in food production. »more

1st quarter 2006
Science's top ten in 2005
At the end of each year, Science magazine, one of the most important and renowned scientific journals, compiles a list of the ten key scientific advances, discoveries, inventions and innovations achieved during the past twelve months. The following breakthroughs in biosciences have made it among the 2005 top ten: »more

4th quarter 2005
Dog genome project helps scientists gain a better understanding of human diseases
Dogs have always been man's best friend. They help in hunting and herding animals, but also fulfil complex human needs when kept as pets. Dogs were domesticated earlier than any other animal (more than 15,000 years ago), probably in southeast Asia. All modern dogs are descendants of wolves. »more

3rd quarter 2005
WHO sees agricultural biotechnology as a chance to improve world nutrition
In its study "Modern food biotechnology, human health and development", the World Health Organisation (WHO) concludes that the overall effect of agricultural biotechnology is positive. »more

2nd quarter 2005
Myocardial infarction
Genetic testing helps to identify high-risk patients »more

1st quarter 2005
Worldwide area under cultivation with genetically modified crops rises to 81 million hectares
The area under cultivation with genetically modified (GM) crops in 2004 increased by a further 20% over the previous year to total 81 million hectares, according to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA). »more

1st quarter 2005
Potatoes against hepatitis
Edible vaccine works in humans »more

1st quarter 2005
New approaches to the treatment of myocardial infarction
The heart contains stem cells as well »more

4th quarter 2004
Transgenic fish
Every year, around 80 million tonnes of fish are caught worldwide; a further 40 million tonnes are produced in fish-breeding facilities. »more

4th quarter 2004
Obesity is on the rise
Human genes poorly adapted to cope with oversupply of food. »more

4th quarter 2004
Vaccination against smoking
The US biotech company Nabi Biopharmaceuticals recently reported that in a Phase II clinical trial, 33% of the smokers who had been administered the NicVax nicotine vaccine succeeded in stopping smoking for at least 30 days. »more

4th quarter 2004
The human genome becoming increasingly clear - Fewer errors, fewer gaps
In autumn 2004, the international consortium for decoding the human genome presented a revised and nearly complete version of the human genome sequence. »more

4th quarter 2004
Co-existence - Where does it begin, where does it end?
Co-existence is often seen mainly in connection with crops on the field - genetically engineered pollen carried by the wind to an adjoining conventional or organic field "contaminate" the plants which are grown there. »more

3rd quarter 2004
Transgenic soya - Why so successful?
More than 55% of the world's soybean acreage is used to grow transgenic, mostly herbicide-tolerant varieties; in the USA the proportion is 85% and in Argentina it is as high as 95%. By comparison, transgenic corn has a share of 11% of the global corn acreage and a share of 40% in the USA. Why are transgenic soybeans so successful? »more

2nd quarter 2004
Good times or bad for genetically engineered crops in the European Union?
Monsanto, Dupont and Bayer have already withdrawn their biotech research programmes from England, and early in July Syngenta announced that it would do the same. BASF has warned that it might shift its genetic research from Europe to the USA. »more

2nd quarter 2004
Biological databases facilitate research into frequently occurring disorders
Great was the enthusiasm among geneticists and greater still in the media when the human genetic code was identified in 2001. »more

2nd quarter 2004
FAO sees potential in developing countries for green gene technology
The annual report of the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) voices the opinion that, whilst not able to solve the problem of worldwide famine, green gene technology could go some way towards dealing with it, in particular since it complements conventional breeding methods. »more

2nd quarter 2004
German biotech sector continues its consolidation phase and still holds lead in Europe
According to Ernst & Young, investors are again showing more confidence in the biotechnology sector in Germany. This is reflected by an increasing willingness to invest once again: the volume of risk capital financing in 2003 was up on the previous year - and this despite a period of economic stagnation over the past two or three years. »more

2nd quarter 2004
Switzerland passes law on genetic testing
Insurers who intentionally demand predictive genetic tests or the disclosure of results of previous predictive genetic tests or who ask for such tests as part of a risk clarification or make use of such results could face imprisonment or a fine. »more

1st quarter 2004
The European Parliament calls for uniform liability rules for genetically modified organisms
On 18 December 2003, the European Parliament passed a resolution on the coexistence of genetically modified, conventional and organically farmed crops. »more

1st quarter 2004
Gene therapy on the way
Gene therapy will start to offer its first products in 2005 or 2006 and the market will be worth some US$5.6bn by 2009. »more

1st quarter 2004
Stem-cell secret of "eternal youth" discovered
A chemical could pave the way for the development of therapies based on human stem cells. This chemical derives from research on the humble sea snail, which has helped scientists to identify the signals that keep stem cells young. »more

1st quarter 2004
New EU regulations on genetically modified food and feed and their traceability and labelling entered into force on 7 November 2003
The following two regulations were published in the Official Journal of the European Union (L268) on 18 October 2003 and entered into immediate force in all member states on 7 November 2003. »more

1st quarter 2004
Science's top ten in 2003
Every December the magazine "Science", one of the foremost scientific journals in the world, nominates what it considers to be the ten most important scientific developments, discoveries, research programmes and inventions of the year. »more