US company comes under fire over patent on umbilical cord cells

Article Abstract:

The members of Eurocord, the European Cord Blood Bank, have challenged a European patent granted to the US company Biocyte Corporation on the use of stored stem cells from umbilical cord blood. Eurocord claims that the patent fails to meet the legal criteria of novelty since the technique development involves the use of existing theories via the combined efforts of various research groups. The technique is more efficient and useful than the conventional bone marrow transplants. However, patenting by Biocyte will limit its usage to a few licensees.

Ethical aspects, Intellectual property, Patent licenses, Patent licensing, Fetal blood, Biocyte Corp.

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UK seeks to appease food safety critics

Article Abstract:

An independent food safety council will be formed by the British government to address issues concerning food safety in relation to outbreaks in bovine spongiform encephalopathy which affected the beef industry. The food safety council is expected to provide public information on the government's food policy and submit annual reports to the Parliament. The council will be composed of 20 experts and lay members that are appointed to deal with public concerns on food safety.

United Kingdom, Food industry, Political aspects

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The petaflop challenge

Article Abstract:

IBM is all set to launch its new high-powered computer called Blue Gene/P priced at around $100 a gigaflop and $100-million range for petaflop peak speed.

Electronic computers, Electronic Computer Manufacturing, Product introduction, New Products/Services, Digital Computers, Super, United States, Computer industry, Microcomputer industry, International Business Machines Corp., IBM, Supercomputers, Supercomputer

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