TWiV 230: Gene goes to Washington, flu chickens out

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Rich Condit, Alan Dove, and Kathy Spindler

Vincent, Rich, Alan and Kathy review H7N9 infections in China, the debate over patenting genes, and receptor-binding by ferret-transmissible avian H5 influenza virus.

Links for this episode:

• Francois Jacob dies (The Loom)
• WHO updates on H7N9
• H7N9 is unusually dangerous (ScienceInsider)
• H7N9 case imported into Taiwan
• No H7N9 in poultry farms (Xinhua)
• Supreme Court considers gene patents (TheScientist, Nature)
• Patent my jeans, not my genes (Michael Wosnick)
• Receptor binding by ferret transmissible H5 virus (Nature)
• Microscale thermophoresis and bio-layer interferometry (Wikipedia)
• Letters read on TWiV 230

Weekly Science Picks

Alan - World Science FestivalRich - 3 years of the sun in 3 minutesVincent -  The Origin of AIDS by Jacques PepinKathy - Wringing out a wet washcloth in space (YouTube)

Listener Pick of the Week

Mark - Will it blend? (iPhone app)Marianne - Enjoy your Cells

Send your virology questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to [email protected]