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SCIENCE IN THE NEWS WEEKLY

Stem-Cell Ruling Pours 'Sand Into the Engine of Discovery'

Federal officials said last week that they will appeal a judge's ruling that seriously curtailed federally funded embryonic stem-cell research. Meanwhile, the National Institutes of Health told anxious researchers that if they have already received federal money this year, they can keep doing their stem-cell experiments.

In other biomedical news, an N.C. State University researcher is aiming to stop the spread of malaria by shortening the lifespans of mosquitoes with an insecticide made of diatomaceous earth--ground-up fossilized algae that is nontoxic to humans.

An experimental drug to treat advanced melanoma is being hailed as a potential breakthrough. In a small study, the drug shrank tumors in 81 percent of patients whose tumors had a mutation in a key gene called BRAF.

Another small study has given hope that an experimental synthetic cornea could soon provide an alternative to cadaver corneas for transplants to treat some forms of blindness.

An experimental drug that prevents cancerous tumors from making proteins they need to survive has shown promise in an early clinial trial. Experts say the therapeutic approach could have applications for many forms of cancer.

And a research team has confirmed a study last fall linking chronic fatigue syndrome to a class of viruses. "This class of retroviruses is probably going to be an important piece of the puzzle," said DePaul University psychologist Leonard A. Jason, a leading CFS researcher.