BBSRC news feed

Driving out blight with dual control

Tue, 19 Sep 2017 23:00:00 GMT

Crop scientists have confirmed another tool for the armoury to control plant diseases whose pathogens can mirror the evolution of antibiotic resistant bacteria in humans. Combining methods of disease control rather than relying on a single resistance strategy can extend the durability of crops by many years, confirms computer modelling that draws on classical population genetics theory.

Sheep gene insights could help farmers breed healthier animals

Sun, 17 Sep 2017 23:00:00 GMT

Fresh insights into the genetic code of sheep could aid breeding programmes to improve their health and productivity. Scientists have mapped which genes are turned on and off in the different tissues and organs in a sheep’s body.

Lab-grown bone cell breakthrough heralds new benefits for orthopaedics

Mon, 11 Sep 2017 23:00:00 GMT

Technology originally developed to detect gravitational waves is being used to generate tissue engineered bone graft for future use in orthopaedic medicine, scientists report in a new paper published today. The latest development in a technique known as ‘nanokicking’ has allowed scientists from the Universities of Glasgow, Strathclyde, the West of Scotland and Galway to grow three-dimensional samples of mineralised bone in the laboratory for the first time.

Visualising data connections promises faster discoveries

Wed, 06 Sep 2017 23:00:00 GMT

A new software collaboration makes a vast range of biological databases more accessible for exploitation. Data mining and visualisation software created to help plant scientists trawl diverse biological databases for clues to design better crops can now support less specialist users and across a range of disciplines, including human disease research.

UK collaboration could see stocks of farmed Scottish salmon increase

Tue, 05 Sep 2017 23:00:00 GMT

A project to address one of the key challenges faced by Scotland’s salmon farmers is underway, supported by grant funding from the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) and UK research council BBSRC. Saprolegnia - a type of water mould that can harm fish eggs and juvenile fish - is thought to significantly reduce stocks at Scotland’s salmon farms every year.

Older wombs cause complications in pregnant mice

Tue, 05 Sep 2017 15:00:00 GMT

Deciding to start a family later in life could be about more than just the age of your eggs. A study in mice suggests the age of a mother’s womb may also have a part to play. This work, led by Dr Myriam Hemberger at the Babraham Institute and the Centre for Trophoblast Research in Cambridge, UK, is one of the first to look at the effects of age on womb health and it is expected to lead to new research into human pregnancies.

'Seeing' robot learns tricky technique for studying brain cells in mammals

Wed, 30 Aug 2017 23:00:00 GMT

Imperial scientists have successfully taught robots to perform a challenging brain technique only previously mastered by a handful of humans. Whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology, or whole-cell recording (WCR), is the gold-standard technique for studying the behaviour of brain cells called neurons under different brain states such as stress or learning.

Leading scientists call for unified approach to plant and animal breeding

Wed, 30 Aug 2017 23:00:00 GMT

Unifying the approaches to plant and animal breeding through the use of genomic selection is crucial to achieving global food security, according to a team of world leading scientists. In a paper published this week in the international journal Nature Genetics, scientists from NIAB, The University of Edinburgh’s The Roslin Institute and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) assert that global collaboration and investment across the two disciplines is central to increasing agricultural productivity and resilience.

Invitation to comment - strategy for UK biotechnology and biological sciences

Wed, 30 Aug 2017 23:00:00 GMT

BBSRC is inviting comment on the future strategy for UK biotechnology and biological sciences. An online questionnaire seeks input to shape our emerging thinking.

FarmerZone in the making: DBT's Smart Agriculture Conclave in partnership with the UK

Wed, 30 Aug 2017 23:00:00 GMT

The Indian Department of Biotechnology (DBT), under the Ministry of Science and Technology, convened the Smart Agriculture Conclave in New Delhi from 29-31 August 2017, in partnership with the UK’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and Research Councils UK (RCUK) India. The objective of this conclave was to create “FarmerZone” - a collective open-source data platform for smart agriculture which will use biological research and data to improve the lives of small and marginal farmers.