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When genetic engineering is the environmentally friendly choice – GreenBiz

Posted: Published on August 11th, 2017

This article originally ran on Ensia. Which is more disruptive to a plant: genetic engineering or conventional breeding? It often surprises people to learn that GE commonly causes less disruption to plants than conventional techniques of breeding. But equally profound is the realization that the latest GE techniques, coupled with a rapidly expanding ability to analyze massive amounts of genetic material, allow us to make super-modest changes in crop plant genes that will enable farmers to produce more food with fewer adverse environmental impacts. Such super-modest changes are possible with CRISPR-based genome editing, a powerful set of new genetic tools that is leading a revolution in biology. My interest in GE crops stems from my desire to provide more effective and sustainable plant disease control for farmers worldwide. Diseases often destroy 10 to 15 percent of potential crop production, resulting in global losses of billions of dollars annually. The risk of disease-related losses provides an incentive to farmers to use disease-control products such as pesticides. One of my strongest areas of expertise is in the use of pesticides for disease control. Pesticides certainly can be useful in farming systems worldwide, but they have significant downsides from a sustainability perspective. Used … Continue reading →

Posted in Genetic Engineering | Comments Off on When genetic engineering is the environmentally friendly choice – GreenBiz

Gene Editing Might Mean My Brother Would’ve Never Existed – TIME

Posted: Published on August 11th, 2017

On August 2nd, scientists achieved a milestone on the path to human genetic engineering. For the first time in the United States, scientists successfully edited the genes of a human embryo. A transpacific team of researchers used CRISPR-Cas9 to correct a mutation that leads to an often devastating heart condition. Responses to this feat followed well-trodden trails. Hype over designer babies. Hope over new tools to cure and curb disease. Some spin, some substance and a good dose of science-speak. But for me, this breakthrough is not just about science or medicine or the future of humankind. Its about faith and family, love and loss. Most of all, its about the life and memory of my brother. Jason was born with muscle-eye-brain disease. In his case, this included muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, severe nearsightedness, hydrocephalus and intellectual disability. He lived past his first year thanks to marvels of modern medicine. A shunt surgery to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid building up around his brain took six attempts, but the seventh succeeded. Aside from those surgeries complications and intermittent illnesses due to a less-than-robust immune system, Jason was healthy. Healthy and happy very happy. His smile could light up a room. Yet, … Continue reading →

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It’s Time to Stop Asking Whether Human Genetic Engineering Should Happen and Start Planning to Manage it Safely – HuffPost

Posted: Published on August 11th, 2017

The DNA of early human embryos carrying a sequence leading to hypertrophic cardiomyopathya potentially deadly heart defecthas been edited to ensure they would carry a healthy DNA sequence if brought to term. The Nature paper announcing this has reenergized a terrific national and international debate over whether permanent changes in DNA that can be passed from one generation to another should be made. Bioethicists are asking, Should we genetically engineer children? while some potential parents are almost certainly asking, When will this technique be available? The Should questions bioethicists are asking are probably not relevant. The only question whose answer ultimately matters is: Can techniques like CRISP-R be used to genetically engineer children safely? Because a variety of forces guarantee that if they can be, they will be. The key questions reliable practitioners must answer are: Can we prove it works? Then: Can it be used safely?. If yes on these questions, then we will see: Who is marketing this technique to potential parents? Finally, we will learn: Where was it done, who did it, and who paid for its use? We are closer than ever before to using CRISP-R to replace dangerous DNA sequences with those that wont keep … Continue reading →

Posted in Genetic Engineering | Comments Off on It’s Time to Stop Asking Whether Human Genetic Engineering Should Happen and Start Planning to Manage it Safely – HuffPost

We’ve got to talk: The militarization of biotechnology – Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Posted: Published on August 11th, 2017

Debate about the security implications of cutting-edge biotechnology is afflicted with a fundamental blind spota lack of attention to growing military interest in the field. This blind spot is evident in discussions about, for example, gene-editing technology (in relation both to gene drives and to human modification). Such debate has tended to focus on the idea that research and technology might be directly misused by the bad guysand has tended to ignore broader questions about how the ongoing militarization of cutting-edge fields in biology might contribute to insecurity. Last year James Clapper, when he was US director of national intelligence, labelled emerging population-level genetic-modification techniques as potential weapons of mass destruction. A number of states, in the context of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, have in recent years voiced concerns about state investment into biotechnology. Yet ethical reviews of gene editing to date in the United States have barely touched upon concerns about growing military interest in cutting-edge biotechas reflected in their absence from recent reports on both environmental and human modificationbiotechnology. Such omissions are in keeping with broad trends where US discussions about the potential for misusing biotechnology are concerned. To be sure, the risk that benignly intended … Continue reading →

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Book Profits On Puma Biotechnology – Cramer’s Lightning Round (8/7/17) – Seeking Alpha

Posted: Published on August 11th, 2017

Stocks discussed on the Lightning Round segment of Jim Cramer's Mad Money Program, Monday, August 7. Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM): "No, don't sell it. I think they have a lot more optionality. I would not sell that here. And remember, I think the dollar's getting very weak still." Blue Apron (NYSE:APRN): Cramer doesn't see upside. International Game Technology (NYSE:IGT): It's an inexpensive stock but does not have a growth catalyst. Eaton Corp (NYSE:ETN): Their quarter was not good. Cramer prefers Honeywell (NYSE:HON) or 3M (NYSE:MMM). DaVita (NYSE:DVA): No. Cramer prefers Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) in that group. Puma Biotechnology (NYSE:PBYI): It has had a big run. Book profits. Masimo Corp (NASDAQ:MASI): Cramer just prefers Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ:ISRG) in that group. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS: Check out Cramer's multi-million dollar charitable trust portfolio and uncover the stocks he thinks could be HUGE winners. Start your FREE 14-day trial now! Get Cramer's Picks by email - it's free and takes only a few seconds to sign up Read more from the original source: Book Profits On Puma Biotechnology - Cramer's Lightning Round (8/7/17) - Seeking Alpha … Continue reading →

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Puma Biotechnology Inc (PBYI) Plunges 9.43% on August 10 – Equities.com

Posted: Published on August 11th, 2017

Market SummaryFollow Puma Biotechnology Inc is a A biopharmaceutical company PBYI - Market Data & News PBYI - Stock Valuation Report Puma Biotechnology Inc (PBYI) had a rough trading day for Thursday August 10 as shares tumbled 9.43%, or a loss of $-7.5 per share, to close at $72.00. After opening the day at $77.00, shares of Puma Biotechnology Inc traded as high as $79.45 and as low as $71.30. Volume was 1.48 million shares over 11,431 trades, against an average daily volume of 1.45 million shares and a total float of 36.97 million. As a result of the decline, Puma Biotechnology Inc now has a market cap of $2.66 billion. In the last year, shares of Puma Biotechnology Inc have traded between a range of $98.85 and $28.35, and its 50-day SMA is currently $86.09 and 200-day SMA is $50.29. For a complete fundamental analysis of Puma Biotechnology Inc, check out Equities.coms Stock Valuation Analysis report for PBYI. Want to invest with the experts? Subscribe to Equities Premium newsletters today! Visit http://www.equitiespremium.com/ to learn more about Guild Investments Market Commentary and Adam Sarhans Find Leading Stocks today. Puma Biotechnology Inc is a biopharmaceutical company. It is engaged in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Biotechnology | Comments Off on Puma Biotechnology Inc (PBYI) Plunges 9.43% on August 10 – Equities.com

Valuation Dashboard: Healthcare – Update – iShares Nasdaq … – Seeking Alpha

Posted: Published on August 11th, 2017

This article series provides a monthly dashboard of industries in each sector of the GICS classification. It compares valuation and quality factors relative to their historical averages. Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals are cheaper in Price/Earnings and Price/Free Cash Flow than their historical averages, but they are worse in Price/Sales and profitability measured in ROE (much worse for the pharma industry). Other industries look overvalued by more than 20%. Life Science Tools/Services are significantly above their baseline in profitability, which may partly justify overpricing. Healthcare Equipment is the only group worse than its historical averages in all metrics. Since last month: P/E has improved in Healthcare Technology, Pharmaceuticals and deteriorated in Healthcare Equipment. P/S has improved in Healthcare Equipment, Managed Healthcare and deteriorated in Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals. P/FCF has improved in Managed Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and deteriorated in Healthcare Equipment. ROE doesn't show a significant change in any group. In 1 trailing month the SPDR Select Sector Healthcare ETF (XLV), the S&P 500 Pharmaceuticals ETF (XPH) and the Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (IBB) have underperformed the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by about 2%, 6% and 1% respectively. The five best performers among S&P 500 Healthcare stocks on this period are Align Technology Inc (ALGN), … Continue reading →

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Spoiler Room: Scoop on Blindspot, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Grey's Anatomy, and more – EW.com (blog)

Posted: Published on August 11th, 2017

Welcome to the Spoiler Room, a safe place for spoiler addicts to come on a weekly basis to learn whats coming next on their favorite shows and, hopefully, get a few of their own questions answered. If you want scoop on a specific show, send your questions to spoilerroom@ew.com. Anything new to tease for season 3 of Blindspot? TonyIf youre wondering what has happened to the team over the last 18 months thats the exact amount of time that has passed when we pick back up with Jane and Weller answers will come very quickly this season. Youll see flashbacks, EP Martin Gero promises. We hope to fill in a lot of it right away in the first two or three minutes of the show. No fan of the show will want to miss the opening of the season that will endeavor to fill in a lot of what the hell is going on. Why did she run away? Are Jane and Weller married? All those questions will be answered in the first few minutes. How long will Jake and Rosa be in jail on Brooklyn Nine-Nine? JessicaIf Boyle has his way, not long! Hes determined to make sure that … Continue reading →

Posted in Anatomy | Comments Off on Spoiler Room: Scoop on Blindspot, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Grey's Anatomy, and more – EW.com (blog)

Anatomy of a suddenly sick Obamacare insurer – CBS News

Posted: Published on August 11th, 2017

Headlines have been screaming for months about big insurers such as Aetna (AET), United Healthcare (UNH) and Humana (HUM) pulling out of the Obamacare marketplaces because they couldn't make the exchange business profitable. As a result, dozens of counties throughout the country have been left with only one or no insurance choice on their exchange. Against that backdrop, two smaller insurers that focus primarily on the Medicaid market -- Molina Healthcare (MOH) and Centene (CNC) -- were frequently noted as companies that can successfully navigate the uncertain and complicated exchange business. Many states looked to them and small regional or local insurers to help fill the increasing gaps the big names were leaving behind. So it came as a bit of shock when Molina announced on Aug. 2 it would exit the exchanges in Wisconsin and Utah, scale back its exchange business in Washington state and leave the door open to pull out of other exchanges in the near future. What's more, in marketplaces where it will continue to operate, Molina has submitted an average 55 percent premium increase to state regulators, partly due to the uncertainty over the future of federal cost sharing payments. The news came amid Molina's … Continue reading →

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Grey's Anatomy introduces a 'controversial' new doc – EW.com

Posted: Published on August 11th, 2017

To celebrate Fall TV and our huge Fall TV Preview issue hitting stands on Sept. 15 EW is bringing you 50 scoops in 50 days, a daily dish on some of your favorite shows. Follow the hashtag #50Scoops50Days on Twitter and Instagram to keep up with the latest, and check EW.com/50-Scoops for all the news and surprises. Grey Sloan will be rocked by even more family drama when Greys Anatomy returns this fall. EW has learned exclusively that Italian actress Stefania Spampinato has booked a multi-episode arc as the sister of Giacomo Gianniottis Andrew DeLuca. Carina DeLuca will actually take up residence as a new doc at Grey Sloan, which becomes a bit of a nightmare situation of Andrew. This year, were going to definitely have DeLucas character a little more fleshed out with the arrival of his sister from Italy, Gianniotti tells EW. Were going to see a new dynamic in the hospital as his sister arrives, and its not exactly good news; hes frustrated by it. She has a very interesting and controversial some would say profession within the medical field, which makes him uncomfortable, Gianniotti continues. Its a thorn in his side, her being there, but everybody … Continue reading →

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