Biotechnology Commons^™

Defining A New Ethical Standard For Human In Vitro Embryos In The Context Of Stem Cell Research, Sina A. Muscati

Duke Law & Technology Review

This iBrief discusses some of the social, ethical and legal considerations surrounding the use of unimplanted, in vitro embryos in stem cell research. It proposes that a new ethical standard be elucidated for these embryos. The iBrief gives an overview of two proposals for such a standard at opposite ends of the spectrum: treating the in vitro embryo as a legal person versus treating it as mere property. It argues against both approaches. The former can have undesirable social implications including undue interference with female reproductive autonomy, while the latter would objectify potential human life and reproductive potential. The iBrief …

Review Of "The Human Embryonic Stem Cell Debate: Science, Ethics, And Public Policy (Basic Bioethics)," Edited By Suzanne Holland, Karen Lebacqz, And Laurie Zoloth, James Steele

The University of New Hampshire Law Review

[Excerpt] "Perhaps like others, I started "The Human Embryonic Stem Cell Debate" not knowing many of the finer points of embryonic stem cell research, but I certainly had an opinion. This issue is far more complex than I had initially imagined. The editors do a commendable effort of compiling a sample of the innumerable arguments surrounding the debate."

Shar-Pei Mediates Cell Proliferation Arrest During Imaginal Disc Growth In Drosophila, Madhuri Kango-Singh, Riitta Nolo, Chunyao Tao, Patrik Verstreken, P. Robin Hiesinger, Hugo J. Bellen, Georg Halder

Biology Faculty Publications

During animal development, organ size is determined primarily by the amount of cell proliferation, which must be tightly regulated to ensure the generation of properly proportioned organs. However, little is known about the molecular pathways that direct cells to stop proliferating when an organ has attained its proper size. We have identified mutations in a novel gene, shar-pei, that is required for proper termination of cell proliferation during Drosophila imaginal disc development. Clones of shar-pei mutant cells in imaginal discs produce enlarged tissues containing more cells of normal size. We show that this phenotype is the result of both …

Regulating Functional Foods: Pre- And Post-Market Strategy, Dana Ziker

Duke Law & Technology Review

As best we understand the government, its first argument runs along the following lines: that health claims lacking "significant scientific agreement" are inherently misleading because they have such an awesome impact on consumers as to make it virtually impossible for them to exercise any judgment at the point of sale. It would be as if the consumers were asked to buy something while hypnotized, and therefore they are bound to be misled. We think this contention is almost frivolous.

Electric Field Enhanced Plasmid Delivery To Liver Hepatocellular Carcinomas, Richard Gilbert, Mark J. Jaroszeski, Loree Heller, Richard Heller

Bioelectrics Publications

Electric field enhanced molecular delivery for cancer research and treatment is a new technology that has demonstrated its effectiveness in clinical trials using bleomycin or cisplatin (Heller, R., Gilbert, R., Jaroszeski, M. J. Clinical applications of electrochemotherapy, Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 35,119-129, 1999), as chemotherapeutic agents. The technology is being investigated in research applications for applicability as a method to enhance gene expression in a target tumor. Success is predicated on an appropriate effective electric field mediated delivery protocol that triggers significant appropriate gene expression duration and levels. An electric field mediated delivery protocol includes a set of conditions …

Electrically Mediated Delivery Of Vector Plasmid Dna Elicits An Antitumor Effect, L. Heller, D. Coppola

Bioelectrics Publications

In vivo electroporation is an efficient means of increasing plasmid DNA delivery to normal tissues, such as skin and muscle, as well as directly to tumors. In the experiments described here, plasmid DNA was delivered by in vivo electroporation to B16 mouse melanomas using two very different pulsing protocols. Reporter expression increased 21- or 42-fold, respectively with electroporation over injection alone. The growth of experimental melanomas with an approximate diameter of 4 mm on the day of treatment was monitored after electroporation delivery of reporter plasmid DNA. Remarkably, short-term complete regressions using one of these pulsing protocols occurred in up …

Genetic Testing In The Workplace: The Employer’S Coin Toss, Samantha French

Duke Law & Technology Review

A toss of the coin by the modern-day employer reveals two options regarding genetic testing in the workplace. The employer may choose to take advantage of increasingly precise, available, and affordable genetic testing in order to ascertain the genetic characteristics - and deficiencies - of its employees. This outcome exposes the employer to a vast array of potential litigation and liability relating to the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fourth Amendment, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and state legislation designed to protect genetic privacy. Alternatively, the employer may neglect to indulge in this trend of genetic testing and …

Eye Suppression, A Novel Function Of Teashirt, Requires Wingless Signaling, Amit Singh, Madhuri Kango-Singh, Y. Henry Sun

Biology Faculty Publications

Teashirt (tsh) encodes a Drosophila zinc-finger protein. Misexpression of tsh has been shown to induce ectopic eye formation in the antenna. We report that tsh can suppress eye development. This novel function of tsh is due to the induction of homothorax (hth), a known repressor of eye development, and requires Wingless (WG) signaling. Interestingly, tsh has different functions in the dorsal and ventral eye, suppressing eye development close to the ventral margin, while promoting eye development near the dorsal margin. It affects both growth of eye disc and retinal cell differentiation.

The Atp:Co(I)Rrinoid Adenosyltransferase (Coba) Enzyme Of Salmonella Enterica Requires The 2'-Oh Group Of Atp For Function And Yields Inorganic Triphosphate As Its Reaction Byproduct, Maris V. Fonseca, Nicole R. Buan, Alexander R. Horswill, Ivan Rayment, Jorge C. Escalante-Semerena

Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications

The specificity of the ATP:corrinoid adenosyltransferase (CobA) enzyme of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium LT2 for its nucleotide substrate was tested using ATP analogs and alternative nucleotide donors. The enzyme showed broad specificity for the nucleotide base and required the 2’-OH group of the ribosyl moiety of ATP for activity. ³¹P NMR spectroscopy was used to identify inorganic triphosphate (PPP_i) as the byproduct of the reaction catalyzed by the CobA enzyme. Cleavage of triphosphate into pyrophosphate and orthophosphate did not occur, indicating that triphosphate cleavage was not required for release of the adenosylcorrinoid product. Triphosphate was a strong …

Customizing Conception: A Survey Of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis And The Resulting Social, Ethical, And Legal Dilemmas, Jason Christopher Roberts

Duke Law & Technology Review

One in six American couples experience difficulties conceiving a child. With fertility rates at an all time low, the business of treating infertility is booming. However, due to the United States prohibition on government funding for embryonic research, the $4 billion industry of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) has been incompletely monitored and largely removed from oversight. Additionally, due to the fervent abortion debate, in vitro fertilization (IVF) was introduced in the United States without a research phase and procedures have been forced to evolve in the private sector. Thus, the checks and balances on medical innovation that are generally imposed …

Appropriate Aims: Setting Boundaries For Reprogenetic Technology, Dana Ziker

Duke Law & Technology Review

Not too long ago, ten fingers and ten toes defined a successful birth. Not too far from now, ten fingers and ten toes will be just the beginning. Parents always hope for a healthy baby, and medical advances continue to help secure the fulfillment of this hope. But reprogenetics, a new combination of technology and science that allows us to choose the genes, and thus the traits, of the children we create, is raising new questions about what it means to have a healthy baby.

Effect Of Electrically Mediated Intratumor And Intramuscular Delivery Of A Plasmid Encoding Ifn Α On Visible B16 Mouse Melanomas, Loree C. Heller, Stephanie F. Ingram, M. Lee Lucas, Richard A. Gilbert, Richard Heller

Bioelectrics Publications

Interferon α may be used as a single agent therapy for metastatic malignant melanoma or as an adjuvant to chemotherapy. Delivery of interferon α by gene therapy offers an alternative to recombinant protein therapy. Electrically mediated delivery enhances plasmid expression in a number of tissues, for instance skin, liver, muscle and tumors including melanomas. Here we compare the effect of delivery of a plasmid encoding mouse interferon α on growth of visible B16 mouse melanomas following electrically mediated delivery to muscle or directly to the tumor. Intratumoral delivery of interferon α plasmid not only slows melanoma growth, but induces complete, …

Vectorial Acylation In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Zhiying Zou, Fumin Tong, Nils J. Færgeman, Claus Børsting, Paul N. Black, Concetta Dirusso

Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae Fat1p and fatty acyl-CoA synthetase (FACS) are hypothesized to couple import and activation of exogenous fatty acids by a process called vectorial acylation. Molecular genetic and biochemical studies were used to define further the functional and physical interactions between these proteins. Multicopy extragenic suppressors were selected in strains carrying deletions in FAA1 and FAA4 or FAA1 and FAT1. Each strain is unable to grow under synthetic lethal conditions when exogenous long-chain fatty acids are required, and neither strain accumulates the fluorescent long-chain fatty acid C₁-BODIPY-C₁₂ indicating a fatty acid transport defect. By using these …

Il-12 Plasmid Delivery By In Vivo Electroporation For The Successful Treatment Of Established Subcutaneous B16.F10 Melanoma, M. Lee Lucus, Loree Heller, Domenico Coppola, Richard Heller

Bioelectrics Publications

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) has been used in numerous immunotherapy protocols against melanoma. However, delivery of IL-12 in the form of recombinant protein can result in severe toxicity, and gene therapy has had limited success against B16.F10 murine melanoma. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of in vivo electroporation for the delivery of plasmid DNA encoding IL-12 as an antitumor agent against B16.F10 melanoma. We treated mice bearing established B16.F10 melanoma tumors with intratumoral (i.t.) or intramuscular (i.m.) injections of a plasmid encoding IL-12, followed by in vivo electroporation. For i.t. treatments, we used an applicator containing six …

The Atp:Co(I)Rrinoid Adenosyltransferase (Coba) Enzyme Of Salmonella Enterica Requires The 2’-Oh Group Of Atp For Function And Yields Inorganic Triphosphate As Its Reaction Byproduct, Maris V. Fonseca, Nicole R. Baun, Alexander R. Horswill, Ivan Rayment, Jorge C. Escalante-Semerena

Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications

The specificity of the ATP:corrinoid adenosyltransferase

(CobA) enzyme of Salmonella enterica serovar

Typhimurium LT2 for its nucleotide substrate was

tested using ATP analogs and alternative nucleotide donors.

The enzyme showed broad specificity for the nucleotide

base and required the 2’-OH group of the ribosyl

moiety of ATP for activity. ³¹P NMR spectroscopy

was used to identify inorganic triphosphate (PPP_i) as

the byproduct of the reaction catalyzed by the CobA

enzyme. Cleavage of triphosphate into pyrophosphate

and orthophosphate did not occur, indicating that

triphosphate cleavage was not required for release of

the adenosylcorrinoid product. Triphosphate was …

Functional Requirement Of Aquaporin-5 In Plasma Membranes Of Sweat Glands, Lene N. Nejsum, Tae-Hwan Kwon, Uffe B. Jensen, Ornella Fumagalli, Jørgen Frøkiaer, Carissa M. Krane, Anil G. Menon, Landon S. King, Peter C. Agre, Søren Nielsen

Biology Faculty Publications

The distribution and function of aquaporins (AQPs) have not previously been defined in sweat glands. In this study, AQP1, AQP3, and AQP5 mRNA were demonstrated in rat paw by reverse transcription (RT)–PCR, but AQP2 and AQP4 were not. AQP1, AQP3, and AQP5 protein were confirmed in these tissues by immunoblotting. AQP1 was identified in capillary endothelial cells by immunohistochemical labeling, but not in sweat glands or epidermis. Abundant AQP3 expression was seen in basal levels of epidermis, but not in sweat glands. AQP2 and AQP4 were not observed in either skin or sweat glands. Immunohistochemical labeling revealed abundant AQP5 in …

Genetic Variability Studies In A Selected Population Of Azadirachta Excelsa (Sentang) With Aflp Marker Technology, Chiew Foan Chin

Student Works (2000-2009)

A maternal half-s/b population of Azadirachta excelsa was established from seeds in a randomised complete block design with three replicates. 100 to 200 seeds were collected from each of the 13 selected mother trees. The mother trees were categorised into three groups i.e. large, medium and small according to their girth sizes. 50 progeny seedlings from each scedlot per replicate were planted in the experimental field. Genetic studies on phenotypic measurements and molecular marker analysis were carried out on the established A. excelsa population. Measurements of quantitative traits including diameter breast height (Dbh) and total height were made. Mean Dbh …

A Note On Cascade Climbing Of Migrating Goby And Shrimp Postlarvae In Two Maui Streams, M. Eric Benbow, Leslie Luchar Orzetti, Mollie D. Mcintosh, Albert J. Burky

Biology Faculty Publications

In this study, we documented cascade climbing rates of 133 and 230 postlarvae of Lentipes concolor (O‘opu alamo‘o) and Atyoida bisulcata (Opae kahaole), respectively, from two streams on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Climbing measurements and observations were made of postlarvae at the water-substrate interface in cascade habitats of constricted water flow. Both species were observed to move in short bursts of forward progression within or above the pulsing water-substrate interface. Goby postlarval climbing rates ranged from 0.04 – 1.50 cm s–1 and were slower than shrimp rates which ranged from 0.30 – 3.06 cm s–1. The high variability is …

In Vitro Mutation Induction By Gamma Irradiation For The Improvement Of A Triploid Banana Pisang Berangan (Aaa), Shadia Aldelgadir Mohamed Rayis

Student Works (2000-2009)

Tissue culture and induced mutation techniques were used to generate variation for the improvement of Pisang Bcrangan cv. 'Intan' (AAA). Best field perform ing banana in vitroplants were multiplied and evaluated for better field performance, which included improved agronomic traits such as earliness in fruiting, short plant stature, high yielding capacity with desirable fruit quality and tolerance to Fusarium wilt. A suitable micropropagation medium for Pisang Berangan was established through modification of MS basic medium, which resulted in significant increase in shoot multiplication. Shoot-tip meristems of Pisang Berangan were then irradiated at 20, 30, 40 and 60 Gy to induce …