HoHoHo!, it's that time of the year again for assessments and reviews. In line with the good old "top 10" tradition, here are my picks on memorable Science headlines of 2013.
- Cultured beef -This had to be the top of the pick. Live broadcast of the first ever cultured beef being cooked and tasted. I'd hate to have been on the tasting panel.
- HIV returns - Hopes of a cure for HIV through bone marrow transplant were dashed after two trial subjects saw the virus return months after scientists thought they had been cured. Devastating news but the quest for a cure for HIV continues.
- A product of nature - In a land mark ruling by a USA supreme court in June this year, genes cannot be patented meaning no biotech / pharma can claim IP on genes discovered based on the fact that it is a product of nature. Fair ruling if you ask me.
- DNA at 60 - The famous double helical structure which defines our genetic makeup and has since led to tremendous milestones in molecular biology celebrated it's diamond jubilee in April. Kudos to Watson and Crick.
- MRC @100yrs - The medical research council had a year long of centenary celebrations marking its significant contributions to medical research 100 years on. Best initiative was opening up their doors to the community. Catch up with the storify.
- G8 dementia summit - The UK government hosted the first ever dementia summit in December where all countries represented left with a promise to work together towards a cure by 2025. The dementia challenge has been set and researchers are ready to fight back.
- All Trials Campaign - A cause worth mentioning. All trials registered, all results reported is an ongoing campaign initiated by a few individuals/ organisations in January this year to get all clinical trials registered and results reported. Although faced with resistance from some Pharma, many have signed on to the campaign and the future looks bright.
- Noble prize - Scientist are always speculating about who gets the next noble prize. This year's award for physiology and medicine went jointly to James E. Rothman, Randy W. Schekman and Thomas C. Südhof for their discoveries of machinery regulating vesicle traffic, a major transport system in our cells.
Special mention goes to Rover mars, artificial liver, sight returned in blind mice and the first UK hand transplant. What headlines do you have resonating on your mind. Do share!.Cheerio 2013, Hello 2014.
2 comments:
Great round-up. I see the list is (naturally) skewed to medicine and the biosciences. Cheers! :).
yep.totally biased.
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