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Volume 421 Issue 6924, 13 February 2003

Volume 421 Issue 6924

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Opinion

  • Our understanding of the likely ecological impact of genetically modified crops is incomplete. But these holes in our knowledge are symptomatic of a wider failure adequately to address the science of sustainable agriculture.

    Opinion

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News

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News in Brief

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News Feature

  • In the wake of Columbia's loss, NASA's efforts to replace its ageing shuttle fleet are coming under fresh scrutiny. Geoff Brumfiel uncovers a tale of high hopes, false starts and immense technical hurdles.

    • Geoff Brumfiel
    News Feature

  • Changes to the genome that don't affect DNA sequence may help to explain differences between genetically identical twins. Might these 'epigenetic' phenomena also underlie common diseases? Carina Dennis investigates.

    • Carina Dennis
    News Feature
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Correspondence

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Commentary

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Book Review

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Lifeline

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Concepts

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News & Views

  • Electron-microscope studies of the motor protein dynein reveal fascinating details of the movements of its various structural regions. The protein displays a degree of gymnastic ability that is rarely seen.

    • Richard B. Vallee
    • Peter Höök
    News & Views

  • What is the smallest unit of area? To find out, theorists have been wrestling with the notion of quantum black holes. Two independent analyses now seem to lead to the same answer.

    • John Baez
    News & Views

  • When inflammatory cells leave blood vessels to repair injured tissues, they are helped on their way by the endothelial cells lining the vessels. The invagination and expulsion of endothelial membrane may be the key.

    • Ann Ager
    News & Views

  • Sediment is bad news for coral reefs. In Australia, large increases in sedimentation were a by-product of introducing intensive agricultural practices, and that may also apply to other parts of the world.

    • Julia Cole
    News & Views

  • The interleukin-12 protein has been implicated in autoimmunity, but one complication is that it shares a subunit with a related protein. New work looks at the contribution of these proteins to autoimmunity in mice.

    • Wendy T. Watford
    • John J. O'Shea
    News & Views

  • An extended system of highly ionized gas clouds that surrounds the Milky Way has been detected. This gas may be part of the original matter from which our Galaxy and its nearest neighbours formed.

    • Amiel Sternberg
    News & Views
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Brief Communication

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Article

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Letter

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Retraction

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Erratum

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Prospects

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Postdocs

  • When a postdoc has a choice about where to go for a fellowship, how much do non-scientific factors like cost of living weigh on the final decision? Karen Kreeger investigates.

    • Karen Kreeger
    Postdocs
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Movers

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Correction

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