Genetically modified rice fights allergies instead of causing them

October 5th, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - Indian scientists claim to have developed a rice variety that requires no cooking, only soaking in water. The rice variety developed at the government-run Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) at Cuttack in Orissa is characterized by low amylase content and becomes soft on soaking in water, institute director Tapan Kumar Adhya told IANS in an interview.

October 1st, 2009 Sugar beets spur county to reconsider biotech foodBOULDER, Colo. — Famuer Rasmussen Jr.

September 27th, 2009 LONDON - A new study in Vietnam has found that parasitic gut worms like the hookworm might help in the treatment of asthma and other allergies. Infection with hookworm and other parasitic worms is endemic in Vietnam, but rates of asthma and other allergies are low.

August 19th, 2009 BANGALORE - Basmati literally means 'mother of all aroma' and Basmati rice has been synonymous with India. But now the results of a study by a team of scientists from Cornell University in the US and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines may dent this national pride.

July 19th, 2009 LONDON - Kids suffering from potentially lethal nut allergies have been offered a new hope following the success of an experimental new treatment. A groundbreaking therapy which effectively "retrains" the immune systems of patients who have food allergies so that they become desensitised to the food has been developed by doctors at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.

July 5th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists in Japan have achieved a breakthrough in advancing towards the next generation of genetically modified rice, which will fight allergies instead of causing them. According to report in Live Science, the new transgenic rice has been designed to fight a common pollen allergy appears safe in animal studies.

July 2nd, 2009 CUTTACK - Though the union government is still to give a go ahead to the introduction of genetically modified (GM) food crops, the scientists of Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) here are batting for them. "Genetically modified crops can help contribute to food security of our country through increased yields at a lower production cost," said G.J.N.

May 14th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Beta-carotene in so-called 'Golden Rice' converts to vitamin A in humans, according to researchers. Golden Rice was developed in the early 1990s with the goal of creating rice that had beta-carotene, a vitamin A precursor, in the rice grain.

May 2nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - Folic acid, or vitamin B9, essential for the health of red blood cells and known to reduce the risk of spinal birth defects, may also suppress allergic reactions and lessen the severity of allergy and asthma symptoms. Johns Hopkins scientists, who conducted the first ever study examining the link between blood levels of folate, the naturally occurring form of folic acid and allergies, said results add to mounting evidence that folate can help regulate inflammation.

May 1st, 2009 WASHINGTON - Spring season is often accompanied by allergies and increased problems for asthmatic people. Now, American scientists have identified a previously unknown cellular switch that turns allergies and asthma both on and off.

April 30th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Folic acid, or vitamin B9, may suppress allergic reactions and lessen the severity of allergy and asthma symptoms, according to new research from the Johns Hopkins Children's Center. Folic acid is essential for red blood cell health and long known to reduce the risk of spinal birth defects.

April 20th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Just eight kinds of food account for 90 percent of allergies that affect schoolchildren, according to a study by scientists in the US. Researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM), St.

January 18th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A capsuled liquid gel for relieving worst allergy symptoms without causing drowsiness is now available over the counter. 'New CLARITIN(R) Liqui-Gels(R) is the latest advancement for the 50 million Americans who suffer from allergies,' said John O'Mullane, group vice-president, research and development, Schering-Plough Consumer Health Care.

January 1st, 2009 WASHINGTON - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Friday charged that Hamas is holding the people of Gaza hostage and warned that a ceasefire, to be acceptable, must be 'durable'. She said a 'durable and sustainable' ceasefire would be one that would not allow Hamas to 'continue to launch rockets out of Gaza'.

December 22nd, 2008 WASHINGTON - Genetically modified plants will open up ways to make cheaper, greener biofuels, besides helping turn agricultural waste into food for livestock. Lignin, a major component of plants, is woven in with cellulose and provides plants with the strength to withstand strong gusts of wind and microbial attack.