A Practical Guide to Containment: Greenhouse Research with Transgenic Plants and Microbes [.pdf]
http://www.isb.vt.edu/cfdocs/greenhouse_manual.cfm
This publication that can be viewed either online or in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format is new from Information Systems for Biotechnology (ISB), part of the US Department of Agriculture's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. ISB's goal is to provide "a balanced view of the potential benefits and concerns" of agricultural biotechnology. This 60-page guide is intended as a resource for greenhouses that conduct research involving genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Helping them understand the practical and regulatory implications of handling GMOs, the Web siteoffers guidance on levels of biosafety containment, strategies for containment, proper handling of GMOs, and more. Written plainly and easy to navigate, the guide is a useful resource. [AL]
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Rat Genome Map
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/Entrez/maps.cgi?ORG=rat
The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) has added a new organism to its chromosome Map Viewer. The Rat Map Viewer shows the locations of simple sequence length polymorphism markers for genetic and radiation hybrid maps. Data can be searched by marker name, marker alias, or chromosome position. There is a useful help file to orient users to the Web page, but this is certainly a Web sitefor those users with a strong background in genetics. Genome maps for seven other organisms can also be viewed through the NCBI site. [AL]
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Births: Final Data for 2000 [.pdf]
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr50/nvsr50_05.pdf
The National Center for Health Statistics recently released this 102-page report containing data on the 4 million US births in 2000. The report states that the birth rate increased by 3 percent in 2000, marking the first time in almost 30 years that "the total fertility rate was above 'replacement.'" Information about demographic characteristics, maternal lifestyle and health, medical services utilization, and infant health are discussed. The report is provided in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format and includes data collection methods, references, and many data tables. [AL]
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The National Children's Study
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/despr/cohort/
The National Children's Study is an ongoing study by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the US Environmental Protection Agency. This new Web siteprovides comprehensive information about the study, including background, an overview of the study, information from previous meetings, and a list of people involved in coordinating and conducting the study. [AL]
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Stem Cells and the Future of Regenerative Medicine
http://search.nap.edu/books/0309076307/html/
Partially an outgrowth of a June 2001 workshop of leading stem cell researchers, The Committee on the Biological and Biomedical Applications of Stem Cell Research has authored this report available from National Academy Press (NAP) to address the potential of stem cell research. Various scientific, ethical, legal, and public policy issues surrounding stem cell research were considered in the authors' attempts to make recommendations on the use of stem cells in research and to clarify "what is known about the scientific potential of stem cells and how that potential can best be realized." This site is also reviewed in the March 8, 2002 Scout Report. [AL]
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Biocompare
http://www.biocompare.com
Biocompare bills itself as a "neutral source for life-science product information." The Web siteprovides searchable and browseable product information for various types of biological research. In addition to listing products and features, users may view side-by-side comparisons of selected items, request information from vendors, or read product reviews. Many other features are provided by this site, including subject-specific newsletters that help users stay updated on the latest technologies in their field and money-saving tools like links to pages about used lab equipment or potential discounts for new labs. [AL]
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Research Abstracts from the DOE Genome Contractor-Grantee Workshop IX
http://www.ornl.gov/hgmis/publicat/02santa/index.html
Research abstracts from a recent Department of Energy (DOE) genomics workshop are now available online. Researchers presented updates on DOE-funded genome research at this January 2002 workshop. Abstracts can be viewed within topical categories or by author name. Abstracts include title of the talk, author name, and contact information. [AL]
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Ex Situ Gene Conservation for Conifers in the Pacific Northwest [.pdf]
http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/gtr528.pdf
This current report from the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station evaluates the genetic resource status of several Pacific Northwest timber species. The 60-page report can be viewed using Adobe Acrobat Reader. The report finds that species like ponderosa pine, noble fir, and western hemlock have "extensive genetic resources in ex situ forms," while the resources for red cedar are more limited. [AL]
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