Announced: The Creation of First Authentic Rat Embryonic Stem Cells

Biotechnology is technology based on biology, especially when used in agriculture, food science, and medicine

Biotechnology is often used to refer to genetic engineering technology of the 21st century, however the term encompasses a wider range and history of procedures for modifying biological organisms according to the needs of humanity, going back to the initial modifications of native plants into improved food crops through artificial selection and hybridization. Bioengineering is the science upon which all biotechnological applications are based. With the development of new approaches and modern techniques, traditional biotechnology industries are also acquiring new horizons enabling them to improve the quality of their products and increase the productivity of their systems.

04 Sep 2008 - Stem Cell Sciences plc announced that two independent laboratories in the UK and USA have achieved germ-line transmission from embryonic stem (ES) cells in rats using technologies exclusively licensed to the company by Edinburgh University. This is believed to be the first time that germ-line transmission from rat ES cells has been demonstrated, and full scientific reports on this breakthrough, which has been independently verified, have been submitted to a major scientific journal for publication.
' Under the terms of its agreement with Edinburgh University, SCS has global exclusive rights to commercialise the rat ES cells, the specific culture medium used to generate and grow the cells, and rats derived therefrom. The Company has exclusively licensed two patents covering this new technology from the University and now plans to engage in confidential discussions with interested parties seeking a sublicence to use rat ES cells in their commercial drug discovery programmes. According to the company, the main advantage of this important new technology is that it allows the generation of both knock-out rat models, in which the effect of gene deletion is studied, as well as the generation of knock-in models, which involves the insertion of genes. For example, in the case of knock-out models, their response to drugs can provide information on safety and efficacy. Alternatively, the insertion of genes such as those involved in drug metabolism in the human liver means that knock-in models can provide information on human safety and pharmacokinetics

Google the most powerful facts for the current World

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Google Inc. has changed the world. ¶ The way we learn, buy things, are entertained, view ourselves and everyone else -- all have been transformed by Google, which was incorporated in California 10 years ago Sunday.

Google was co-founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin while they were students at Stanford University and the company was first incorporated as a privately held company on 7 September 1998. The initial public offering took place on 19 August 2004, raising US$1.67 billion, making it worth US$23 billion. Google has continued its growth through a series of new product developments, acquisitions, and partnerships. Environmentalism, philanthropy, and positive employee relations have been important tenets during the growth of Google, the latter resulting in being identified multiple times as the #1 Best Place to Work for by Fortune Magazine .[4] The unofficial company slogan is "Don't be evil", although criticism of Google includes concerns regarding the privacy of personal information, copyright, censorship, and discontinuation of services.
In the process, it has become one of the most powerful companies on the planet. ¶ It all began with Larry Page and Sergey Brin, two Stanford University graduate students who turned their research project into an Internet technology company. They bet that their search engine could run better than the rest and help, as they say, organize the world's information. ¶ They called it Google, a play on the mathematical term "googol" -- a 1 followed by 100 zeros. With its multicolored logo and stunningly quick results, the search engine not only became a pop culture hit but created one of the most active young verbs in our vocabulary.

Along the way, the now-thirtysomething founders recruited Eric Schmidt as chief executive, made gobs of money and built a 21st century advertising empire on the simple notion of selling plain text ads based on search terms.


The Mountain View, Calif., company's unusual perks and practices -- free food and a dog-friendly campus, one day a week for employees to spend on experimental projects of their choice, refusal to give financial guidance to Wall Street, funding of space travel and alternative energy -- have become a case study in corporate quirk.

Yet as Google enters its second decade, there is concern about its dominant influence on the Internet and the personal information it collects. Google handles nearly two-thirds of online search queries, attracting the scrutiny of regulators and privacy watchdogs.

Google says it's guided by a moral motto: "Don't be evil." It will have to achieve its ever-expanding ambitions without alienating its 650 million users or tarnishing its golden brand, while keeping its employees happy.


Its goals far exceed Internet search and advertising. This digital powerhouse has already given us Google Earth, Google News and Gmail. Now it is digitizing health records and books, selling business software on the Internet and trying to extend its online supremacy to mobile phones.

Google also has high hopes for the money-making potential of its online video sharing site, YouTube, which it bought for $1.65 billion in 2006, and this year's $3.2-billion acquisition of DoubleClick Inc., which displays ads across the Web.

Microsoft Corp. and other rivals are trying to check its ambitions. And media giant Viacom Inc. sued Google for $1 billion, accusing YouTube of copyright infringement.

Most worrisome for investors, who have watched Google's stock tumble nearly 40% since its record high in November, the fastest-growing company in history is finally showing signs of slowing as the U.S. economy is doing the same.

For all its success, Google depends on one cash cow, search advertising, and the promise of other initiatives remains just that. The company that started life as a scrappy start-up will succeed in the next decade if, as a much larger and complex organization, it can continue to deliver the innovation that marked its first decade, observers say.

That's precisely what Google intends to do, says Marissa Mayer, Google's vice president for search products and user experience.

"ZUNE" :Radio Broadcasters to Zune

A group of nine radio broadcasters have committed to bring song tagging to Microsoft's new Zune music and entertainment service. Beginning next Tuesday, Sept. 16, Zune portable media players will have the capability to let consumers wirelessly download or stream songs from wireless hot spots and electronically tag and purchase songs heard on the radio.According to a study commissioned by Microsoft, 61 percent of respondents cited radio as their primary source for discovering new music. Yet music is increasingly purchased through digital and online channels. Hoping to close that gap and provide instant gratification for the music lover, Zune takes advantage of the wireless connection and the built-in FM tuner to deliver Buy From FM, a new feature that allows customers to tag and purchase songs they hear on radio directly from the Zune device. Customers can pay per track or purchase a Zune Pass subscription for $14.99 per month.More than 450 FM radio stations operated by Beasley Broadcast Group, Bonneville International, CBS Radio, Citadel, Clear Channel Radio, Cox Radio, Emmis Communications, Entercom Communications, and Greater Media, will be broadcasting tagged songs using RDS technology."We are moving toward a future where music discovery, purchase and fulfillment is a convenient and seamless experience," said David Field, CEO for Entercom. Apple's iPod currently offers wi-fi downloads with its iTunes service and offers iTunes tagging with HD Radio. Microsoft has sold about 2 million Zunes, 3 to 4 percent of the MP3 market share.A group of nine radio broadcasters have committed to bring song tagging to Microsoft's new Zune music and entertainment service

More About ZUNE

ZUNE DEVICE
The Zune device is a digital media player for your music, videos, podcasts, and pictures. Available in 4, 8, or 80GB versions, Zune has a built-in FM radio and syncs wirelessly with your computer. You can get one almost anywhere electronics are sold, or personalize a device at zuneoriginals.net.
ZUNE SOFTWARE
The Zune software is a digital media jukebox for your computer. Use it to play and organize your collection, rip and burn CDs, create playlists, sync them to your device, and even stream content over your home wireless network.
ZUNE MARKETPLACE
Zune Marketplace has millions of songs, videos, podcasts, and TV shows. Search by artist, browse by genre, or choose from over a thousand hand-picked playlists. Found what you like? Just click and buy individual songs, albums, and videos. Or try Zune Pass: for just $14.99 a month, you’ll get instant access to millions of music downloads. The songs are yours to keep as long as you maintain your subscription.
ZUNE SOCIAL
The Zune Social is an online community where you can discover new music and remember old favorites by tuning into what your friends are listening to. Connect to fellow Zune owners in the software, on the Web, over Xbox Live, MySpace, and Facebook… post your Zune Card and share your tastes with the world.