Health and medicine

• Gene silencing predicted to improve drug manufacturing

  Biotech firm hopes to use RNA interference to boost drug yields.

  19 November 2009

• Biodiversity: On the origin of bar codes - Premium content

  Genetic sequences in a cell's mitochondria can be used to accurately determine species. Could this be because they are responsible for creating what they identify? Nick Lane investigates.

  18 November 2009

• Japanese science faces deep cuts - Premium content

  The government's election promises vowed more support for science, but so far budgets look set to shrink.

  17 November 2009

• Fresh hope for German stem-cell patent case - Premium content

  Referral to European Court may help to harmonize laws on intellectual property.

  16 November 2009

• How the sponge stays slim - Premium content

  One species' rapid cell shedding explains its huge carbon-catching capacity.

  16 November 2009

• Swine flu: One killer virus, three key questions - Premium content

  Nature reports from three laboratories scrutinizing the pandemic flu virus.

  11 November 2009

• Call to boost isotope supplies - Premium content

  Two dedicated plants are needed to meet demand, committee says.

  11 November 2009

• China moves to help high-tech firms - Premium content

  But initiatives meet with mixed response.

  10 November 2009

• Engineered penis raises reproduction hopes - Premium content

  Complete replacement of erectile tubes makes rabbits rampant again.

  10 November 2009

• African academies show how science can save lives - Premium content

  First joint report highlights importance of African scientists' advice to policy-makers.

  9 November 2009