John Innes Centre

Perfect peas to push profits and cut carbon

Mon, 8 Mar 2010 12:04:53 +0000

Scientists, pea breeders and the food industry are collaborating to discover how taste and tenderness can be determined by biochemistry and genetics. They will work together to hone the make-up of a perfect pea.

John Innes Centre researchers selected for bioscience innovation prize final

Thu, 4 Mar 2010 10:32:23 +0000

Two research groups from the John Innes Centre have been shortlisted for the finals of a £20,000 national bioscience innovation prize, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council’s (BBSRC) Innovator of the Year Award

New Director for John Innes Centre

Tue, 2 Mar 2010 10:30:00 +0000

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the John Innes Foundation and the John Innes Centre Governing Council have announced the appointment of Professor Dale Sanders FRS as Director and Chief Executive of the John Innes Centre (JIC). Prof Sanders will take up the post on 1 September 2010.

Discovery of the nutrient 'mining machine' in plants

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:49:00 +0000

Scientists from the John Innes Centre and the University of Oxford have discovered which genes control the specialized nutrient mining machine that develops on the surface of plant roots.

First member of the wheat and barley group of grasses is sequenced

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:00:06 +0000

A few grass species provide the bulk of our food supply and new grass crops are being domesticated for sustainable energy and feedstock production. However there are significant barriers limiting crop improvement, such as a lack of knowledge of gene function and their large and complex genomes. Now, an international consortium involving JIC present an analysis of the complete genome sequence of the wild grass Brachypodium distachyon.

The Annual Lamb Lecture

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:38:04 +0000

In December 2009 Steve Jones, Professor of Genetics and Head of the Dept of Genetics at University College London, presented the first Annual Lamb Lecture, entitled What Sex Really Means. This wonderfully entertaining and informative presentation is now available online.

The plant that doesn't feel the cold

Thu, 7 Jan 2010 18:12:45 +0000

Scientists at the John Innes Centre in Norwich have discovered that plants have a built-in thermometer that they use to control their development.

Food Security - What Next?

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:01:56 +0000

The John Innes Centre and Sainsbury Laboratory are making crucial contributions to the Grand Challenge of food security. This brochure describes some of the work underway to help deliver the BBSRC's food security mission.

John Innes scientist at the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:10:15 +0000

Forty years after she sat in the audience at the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, Professor Cathie Martin of the John Innes Centre was on the famous stage as a guest of this yearâs lecturer. The RI Christmas Lectures, supported by Microsoft Research, are demonstration-packed, fun-filled science events for young people, broadcast on television every Christmas and have formed part of the Christmas tradition for generations.

Flowering powers genetic understanding

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 10:18:00 +0000

New research from the John Innes Centre on how plants adapt their flowering to climate is also helping to unravel some of the mysteries of how genes are controlled.

Two heads better than one in new antibiotic method

Fri, 4 Dec 2009 07:24:17 +0000

An antibiotic that binds to a well-established target in a novel and unexpected way could be the inspiration for designing new, more potent antibacterial drugs.

Protecting the future: how plant stem cells guard against genetic damage

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:30:14 +0000

Scientists at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, UK, have shown how plants can protect themselves against genetic damage caused by environmental stresses. The growing tips of plant roots and shoots have an in-built mechanism that, if it detects damage to the DNA, causes the cell to âcommit suicideâ rather than pass on its defective DNA.

Royal Society announces Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships for 2009

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:44:59 +0000

The Royal Society, the UKâs national academy of science, has announced the appointment of 10 new Dorothy Hodgkin Fellows (DHFs) for 2009. The scientists took up their new posts at institutions across the UK in October. Dr VerÃ´nica Grieneisen is the recipient of one of these fellowships, and she will be working at the John Innes Centre (JIC) and the University Of East Anglia (UEA).

Key seed size gene identified

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:10:28 +0000

Scientists from the John Innes Centre and the University of Freiburg in Germany have uncovered a gene in plants that is responsible for controlling the size of seeds, which could lead to ways of improving crops to help ensure food security in the future.

Cheers to 100 years

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:28:00 +0000

To mark its centenary this year, the John Innes Centre in Norwich has produced a beer to celebrate its ongoing contributions to science and agriculture. âJohn Innes 100â is a strong English-style India Pale Ale brewed by the award winning Thornbridge brewery using a traditional method, to reflect the historical nature of the beer. It uses Maris Otter barley; a variety with close links to the John Innes Centreâs historical work.

Discover John Innes in Sheringham

Tue, 6 Oct 2009 11:16:33 +0000

Horticulture and science are coming together at the coast when the John Innes Centre will be visiting Sheringham, in association with the Sheringham Horticultural Society.

John Innes Discovery Day

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:03:25 +0000

On Sunday 13th September the John Innes Centre is opening its doors to the public for the first time since the 1980s by holding a Discovery Day.Â Live displays, quizzes and exhibitions will help visitors discover more about the cutting edge research carried out at JIC

PBL / John Innes Centre technology instrumental in Medicagoâs flu vaccine production

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:58:53 +0000

Medicago, JIC and PBL (Plant Bioscience Limited) announced today that Medicagoâs outstanding achievement in producing the H1 VLP antigen in only 14 days, as revealed in the Canadian companyâs press release on 30th June 2009, was achieved using among other technologies, a technology invented by JIC researchers and which is licensed by PBL to Medicago

Plant-derived natural products: synthesis, function and application

Wed, 5 Aug 2009 11:04:04 +0000

A new textbook has been released, co-edited by Professor Anne Osbourn of the John Innes Centre, which serves as a guide to the latest advances in the field of plant-derived natural products. Published by Springer, Plant-derived natural products: synthesis, function and application includes contributions from scientists working at the JIC and the Institute of Food Research.

Institutes provide valuable experience for students

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:51:04 +0000

Schoolchildren from across Norfolk have been gaining valuable work experience at the Norwich BioScience Institutes, giving them an idea of what it is like to work in at a leading science campus. The 14 and 15 year-olds have been working in a variety of different laboratory environments, looking at things such as analysing genome sequences, extracting DNA from bacteria, and crystallising proteins.

Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2009

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:11:40 +0000

A common garden flower can reveal how shapes are formed by genes. The snapdragon helps scientists understand how patterns form during growth and how characteristics are inherited. John Innes Centre scientists and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) will present their research on snapdragons at the Royal Societyâs annual Summer Science Exhibition in London from Tuesday 30th June to Saturday 4th July.

BBSRC institutes highlight food security to worldâs science journalists

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:30:17 +0000

BBSRC institutes will be highlighting the growing crisis in global food security â and how science can serve up solutions to prevent it â in a session at the World Conference of Science Journalists in Westminster on Wednesday 1st July.

Honour for John Innes Centre Director

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:37:00 +0000

Professor Chris Lamb FRS, Director of the John Innes Centre, has been awarded a CBE for services to plant sciences in the Queenâs Birthday Honours List.

JIC scientists write new Plant Biology textbook

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 09:51:23 +0000

The John Innes Centreâs excellence in plant science has helped in the production of a new textbook for students. âPlant Biologyâ, published by Garland Science, is an account of modern plant science, reflecting recent advances in genetics and genomics and the excitement they have created.

New efforts to combat barley disease

Tue, 2 Jun 2009 13:49:41 +0000

A project to combat a newly emerging disease of barley is being launched. It will pull together the efforts of plant scientists, breeders and industry to prevent this disease establishing and help UK farmers produce barley cost-effectively without additional impact on the environment.

Shatter resistant brassicas

Wed, 27 May 2009 17:43:45 +0000

A team of scientists headed by John Innes Centre researchers has cracked the problem of pod shatter in brassica crops such as oilseed rape. The scientists discovered that the absence of the hormone auxin in a layer of cells in the fruit is necessary for the fruit to open.

New national Genome Centre to underpin food security and animal health

Thu, 2 Apr 2009 13:24:06 +0000

A new national centre to analyse plant, animal and microbial genomes has been announced by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The Genome Analysis Centre (TGAC) will be based on the site of the John Innes Centre, and will provide genome sequencing to underpin advances to improve food security, to protect UK agriculture from exotic animal disease and exploit weaknesses in microbes to develop new ways to kill superbugs.

National Science and Engineering Week

Wed, 4 Mar 2009 11:02:58 +0000

March 6th sees the start of The British Science AssociationÂs National Science and Engineering Week, and as part of this the John Innes Centre and the Institute of Food Research are hosting an interactive exhibition at The Forum in Norwich celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin. They will also be showcasing the work of their young scientists, giving the chance to hear about the latest work on topics such as antibiotics and how our gut protects us from invasion.

New publication highlights role of plant science in delivering food security

Mon, 2 Mar 2009 15:49:54 +0000

With rapid global population growth, a changing climate and disruption to global trading patterns threatening our food supplies, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is funding research to help provide us with enough food for the future. Food security depends on a number of factors but one priority is the need to grow enough high quality, nutritional crops. JIC researchers are investigating a gene that controls flowering time in UK wheat and barley varieties with the aim to help plant breeders to optimise flowering time and yield for a changing UK climate.

Science, Art and Writing

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 09:30:57 +0000

A new book is being published by the SAW Trust, presenting art and writing inspired by science from the John Innes Centre and the Institute of Food Research. Science, Art and Writing (SAW) is a UK-based science education initiative that breaks down traditional barriers between science and the arts. The stunning science images and the artworks inspired by them have been collected together in SAW Showcase, published by the SAW Trust on February 28th.

Gene to reduce wheat yield losses

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:32:54 +0000

A new gene that provides resistance to a fungal disease responsible for millions of hectares of lost wheat yield has been discovered by scientists from the US and Israel.

Wheat genome project to underpin food security

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:51:10 +0000

UK scientists have been awarded Â£1.7 million by the BBSRC to analyse the genomes of five varieties of wheat, in order to help farmers increase the yield and disease resistance of British wheat varieties.

Support for budding scientists

Wed, 4 Feb 2009 11:21:49 +0000

Over 200 pupils from fifteen Norfolk schools came to the John Innes Centre to find out what it is really like to work in science. Students heard talks from working scientists about the highs and lows of their chosen careers, as well as getting hands-on experience.

Skin colour studies on tadpoles leads to cancer advance

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:49:47 +0000

The humble tadpole could provide the key to developing effective anti-skin cancer drugs, thanks to a groundbreaking discovery. The work was led by the University of East Anglia, in partnership with the John Innes Centre and Pfizer.

International biopharmaceutical cooperation to produce novel animal vaccines from plants

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:53:22 +0000

A new project is being launched that will develop a rapid plant-based system to produce and assess the capacity of different proteins to act as vaccines against important diseases of livestock such as avian influenza and blue tongue. The project, co-ordinated from the JIC, is a collaboration between the EU and Russia with participation from South Africa and funded under the EU Framework 7 programme.

Latest edition of 'Advances' published

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:19:00 +0000

The latest edition of Advances, the newsletter of the John Innes Centre and the Sainsbury Laboratory has been published, highlighting our latest research breakthroughs.

JIC launches ambitious plan to reach every Norfolk School

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 10:47:19 +0000

Scientists at the John Innes Centre have started counting down the days to March 2010 as they launch an ambitious project to get a scientist into every school in Norfolk on the same day.

John Innes Centenary Rose planted

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:17:05 +0000

A rose developed to mark the centenary of the John Innes was planted in a ceremony on Monday 17th November attended by present and former members of staff.

Sicilian word enters British genetic language

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:46:27 +0000

A scientific team from the John Innes Centre and University of St Andrews has identified a key gene that was transferred from a Sicilian plant into a close relative in Britain, showing how genetic cross-talk between species can be important for evolution.

Purple tomatoes may keep cancer at bay

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:35:33 +0000

Scientists have expressed genes from snapdragon in tomatoes to grow purple tomatoes high in health-protecting anthocyanins, naturally occurring pigments found at particularly high levels in berries such as blackberry, cranberry and chokeberry. Scientists are investigating ways to increase the levels of health-promoting compounds in more commonly eaten fruits and vegetables.

John Innes and Apple Breeding

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:03:45 +0000

Fruit breeding was important in shaping the early history of the John Innes, and a new exhibition and film on the six decades of research on apples is being launched to coincide with Apple Day at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse.

Extreme nature helps scientists design nano materials

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:14:46 +0000

Scientists are using designs in nature from extreme environments to overcome the challenges of producing materials on the nanometre scale. A team from the John Innes Centre, the Scripps Research Institute in California and the Institut Pasteur in Paris have identified a stable, modifiable virus that could be used as a nanobuilding block.

2008 Lasker Awards for Medical Research

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:10:03 +0000

David Baulcombe, until recently head of the Sainsbury Laboratory, has received the Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research for the discovery of tiny RNAs that regulate gene function. These RNAs, some of which are known as microRNAs, govern a multitude of activities in animals and plants, and they have been implicated in a wide range of diseases.

Sowing a future for peas

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:09:33 +0000

New research from the John Innes Centre and the Central Science Laboratory could help breeders to develop pea varieties able to withstand drought stress and climate change. The research also shows that the composition of crops is likely to change with the climate.

Microbes in Norwich

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:24:54 +0000

A new version of the Microbes in Norwich website has been published at www.micron.ac.uk. The main aim of the site is to promote the very wide range of microbial science that is pursued across the Norwich Research Park in an easy to understand and comprehensive way. Microbial research in Norwich encompasses studies on bacteria, yeast and other fungi and viruses.

DNA Detangler

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:35:22 +0000

The John Innes Centre is hosting a meeting of international scientists working on new drug discovery targets for cancer and bacterial diseases. The scientists attending Topo2008 all work in the field of topoisomerases, enzymes that act on the double strands of DNA to stop them becoming tangled.

JIC Entomologists scoop award at BBC Gardeners World Live

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:15:35 +0000

The John Innes CentreÂs Entomology display was awarded ÂBest Space StandÂ at the BBC GardenerÂs World Live! Exhibition, which was held last week at the NEC in Birmingham. The display, entitled ÂThe JIC Pest and Disease ClinicÂ gave visitors the opportunity to learn about the role of the Entomology facility within JIC and discuss any plant pest problems they were experiencing.

Phil Smith awarded MBE in Queen's Birthday Honours

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:24:31 +0000

Dr Phil Smith has been awarded an MBE for services to science education in the 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours List. Phil is the co-ordinator of the Norwich-based Teacher Scientist Network (TSN), an innovative science education charity hosted by the John Innes Centre which brings scientists and teachers together to enhance and enliven science education in the classroom and beyond.

Advances: Spring 2008

Fri, 6 Jun 2008 16:25:49 +0000

The latest issue of Advances has been published, highlighting the ground-breaking science from the John Innes Centre and Sainsbury Laboratory. This issue features the latest research published in high impact journals, news of funding for future projects, prestigious honours recognising scientific excellence and a spotlight on plant disease.

Funding for superbug spin-out

Fri, 6 Jun 2008 10:10:23 +0000

Procarta Biosystems, the company spun-out of the John Innes Centre in 2007 to develop a technology designed to defeat antibiotic-resistant superbugs, has received significant seed funding. The Rainbow Seed Fund and the Iceni Seedcorn Fund have provided Â£320,000 to allow Procarta to further develop its DNA decoy technique, which aims to restore antibiotic efficacy against resistant superbugs, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE).

Sugar-coated antibiotics

Wed, 28 May 2008 13:08:03 +0000

Researchers from the John Innes Centre and the University of East Anglia have recently elucidated the structure and function of an enzyme which is involved in decorating antibiotics with sugar molecules. Many antibiotics have a variety of different carbohydrate molecules attached to them which can help the antibiotic to be taken up by the target organism or overcome resistance.Â By manipulating the sugar, it may be possible to restore usefulness in antibiotics to which resistance has developed.

Bioscience:Biomillions - delivering impact from research

Thu, 22 May 2008 17:30:03 +0000

JIC scientists have contributed to Bioscience:Biomillions, an event organised by the BBSRC to demonstrate how the UKÂs excellent bioscience research base is delivering substantial economic and social impact. Mervyn Bibb and Tony Maxwell, along with Jan Chojecki of PBL, were among 50 entrepreneurial academic researchers who met with representatives of industry, business and policy makers at HM Treasury in London in May.

JIC Director recognised by the Royal Society

Fri, 16 May 2008 13:31:24 +0000

Professor Chris Lamb, Director of the John Innes Centre, has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, the UKÂs national academy of science. Fellows are elected in recognition of their scientific achievements in fundamental research, in leading and directing scientific and technological progress research establishments and industry.

RevGenUK, a 'single-stop' shop for use in functional genomics

Thu, 15 May 2008 09:57:44 +0000

A new project (RevGenUK) has been launched at the John Innes Centre in to help geneticists understand how plants grow. This knowledge can be used to improve the ability of crops to grow in adverse conditions or to grow more sustainably with reduced nitrogen fertilisers.ÃÂ Supported by a grant from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the project builds on the JICÃ¢ÂÂs expertise in TILLING, a technique to detect mutant genes.

Cross-Channel link up for systems biology

Thu, 8 May 2008 16:04:38 +0000

With support from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR), the John Innes CentreÂs Robert Sablowski will coordinate teams from France and the UK to advance understanding of how networks of genes control organ growth, as part of a unique cross-channel partnership to enhance international collaboration in Systems Biology

John Innes Centre scientist receives top international honour

Thu, 1 May 2008 13:23:58 +0000

John Innes scientist Caroline Dean OBE FRS has been elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) for her excellence in original scientific research. Membership in the NAS is one of the highest honours given to a scientist or engineer in the USA.

Economic impact of the JIC

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 13:18:12 +0000

In January 2008, JIC commissioned DTZ to undertake a statement of its economic impact. Given the scale and breadth of the research, it does not represent a comprehensive assessment, rather a snapshot. It also describes selected key achievements of the institute since its inception and identifies a range of non-quantifiable benefits attributable to it.

Plant gene clusters for natural products

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:14:29 +0000

John Innes Centre scientists have found that plants may cluster the genes needed to make defence chemicals. Their findings may provide a way to discover new natural plant products of use as drugs, herbicides or crop protectants. Understanding the evolutionary driving forces that brought these clusters together independently in different species will have implications for our understanding of plant metabolism.

How roots find a route

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:21:54 +0000

Scientists at the John Innes Centre have discovered how roots find their way past obstacles to grow soil. The discovery, described in the journal Science, also explains how germinating seedlings penetrate the soil without pushing themselves out as they burrow. "The key is in the fuzzy coat of hairs on the roots of plants" says Professor Liam Dolan. "We have identified a growth control mechanism that enables these hairs to find their way and to elongate when their path is clear".

Advances: Winter 2007/08

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:13:18 +0000

The latest issue of Advances has been published, highlighting the ground-breaking science from the John Innes Centre and Sainsbury Laboratory. This issue features research published in high impact journals, how the science is put into practice to develop tools and breeding resources, and how breakthroughs are being translated into applications

Major scientific push to tackle agricultural productivity and food security in developing world

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:17:38 +0000

Â£7M of new research is being launched to tackle some of the most damaging and widespread pests, diseases and harsh environmental conditions which can devastate crop yields across the developing world. The new funding includes Â£340k to Dr Lesley Boyd at the John Innes Centre to identify genetic resistance to stem rust, a disease threatening African crops. The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Department for International Development (DFID) are unveiling 12 new projects as part of their flagship initiative Â Sustainable Agriculture Research for International Development (SARID).

DNA with a twist: new company Inspiralis to search for cancer drugs and antibiotics

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 11:52:07 +0000

A new company has joined the fight against MRSA and cancer. Researchers at the John Innes Centre have launched a new company, Inspiralis Ltd, based around their expertise in DNA topoisomerases Â a group of enzymes that help DNA molecules to unravel and wind up properly and not to become tangled during replication.

Beacons for Public Engagement

Mon, 4 Feb 2008 11:13:48 +0000

JIC and IFR are proud partners of CUE East, part of a new Â£9.2M initiative - Beacons for Public Engagement. This involves sharing the best practice built up and established across both sites in rewarding and encouraging researchers to engage with the public in a vast range of different activities and events.

Cells with something to say

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 11:26:47 +0000

For any multicellular organism to work, it is essential that one cell can talk to another. JIC scientists have made the first step in defining the structure of communication channels between plant cells. A team led by Prof. Andy Maule has identified a class of proteins new to plant biology that affect cell-to-cell communication and their discovery could make it possible to regulate the flow of molecules between cells.

Summer Schools in Applied Molecular Microbiology

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 13:45:15 +0000

The 2008 John Innes/Rudjer BoÂkovic Summer Schools will be held at the Inter-University Centre in Dubrovnik, August 24 - September 1 2008, with the title ÂMicrobial Secondary Metabolites: Genomes, Signals and CommunitiesÂ. Applications are invited from scientists at post-graduate and early post-doctoral level.

Genomics collaboration agreement

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 13:09:16 +0000

The John Innes Centre has completed an agreement with CogenicsÂ, a division of Clinical Data, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, Cogenics will provide the John Innes Centre (JIC) with gene expression and other genomics services in a solutions-oriented approach.

JIC and Cogenics announced the first result of their collaboration Â a custom Brassica gene expression microarray, at the Plant and Animal Genome Conference in San Diego, California, on January 12, 2008. The microarray was developed in conjunction with the J. Craig Venter Institute, and allows researchers to interrogate 91,854 transcribed sequences across multiple Brassica species.

Ian Bancroft, Crop Genetics Project Leader and Head of the JIC Genome Laboratory comments that having access to high quality, cost-effective technologies is a high priority for JIC; the partnership provides exciting opportunities to bring more advanced genomics technologies for plant and microbial research into the reach of the wider science community.

How size matters

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 10:59:29 +0000

The beauty of nature is partly due to the uniformity of leaf and flower size in individual plants, and scientists have discovered how plants arrive at these aesthetic proportions. Researchers at the John Innes centre in Norwich have discovered that cells at the margins of leaves and petals play a particularly important role in setting their size.

Decoy makes sitting duck of superbugs

Mon, 3 Dec 2007 09:47:30 +0000

A DNA-based therapy could slash the development time of new drugs to combat antibiotic resistant superbugs. Scientists from the John Innes Centre have proven that by taking a short stretch of DNA from a bacterium and delivering it with an existing antibiotic they can switch off antibiotic resistance.

Bacteria shed light on an important group of human proteins

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 13:28:12 +0000

A collaboration between researchers in Switzerland, the UK and France has led to the solution of the first crystal structure of a member of the Rhesus protein family and thereby shed new light on a group of proteins of great importance in human transfusion medicine.Â The UK group was led by Professor Mike Merrick in the Department of Molecular Microbiology at the John Innes Centre .

Advances: Autumn 2007, Issue 9

Thu, 1 Nov 2007 17:34:51 +0000

The latest edition of the JIC and Sainsbury Laboratory newsletter has been published. This edition reports on the breakthroughs coming from some of our outstanding PhD students and young Post-Doctoral researchers.

2007 Biosciences Federation Science Communication Awards

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 10:51:00 +0000

Nicole Steinmetz has been named winner of the New Researcher category for the 2007 Biosciences Federation Science Communication Awards recognising the effectiveness of her work communicating nanobiotechnology. Nicole recently completed her PhD into the use of Cowpea Mosaic Virus to produce new nanomaterials. Nicole was commended by the awards panel for communicating a complex and topical subject to a range of audiences using a variety of media.

New centre to tackle Â£20 billion cost of diet-related diseases

Wed, 3 Oct 2007 17:25:59 +0000

A new Centre for Preventive Medicine is launched in Norwich next week to tackle diet related diseases. The Centre brings together basic research from two internationally renowned research institutes, medical research by university scientists and clinical research conducted in a hospital environment

New research into plant colours sheds light on antioxidants

Wed, 3 Oct 2007 17:24:03 +0000

Scientists have made an important advance in understanding the genetic processes that give flowers, leaves and plants their bright colours. The research is highlighted in the new issue of Business from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)

Excellent start to summer schools in Applied Molecular Microbiology

Thu, 9 Aug 2007 13:49:35 +0000

The first of an annual series of summer schools was held at the Mediterranean Institute for Life Sciences in Split, Croatia, 23-30 June 2007, covering ÂMicrobial Genomics and Secondary MetabolitesÂ. The schools are jointly sponsored by the John Innes Centre and the Rudjer BoÂkovic Institute in Zagreb.

Scientists find stem cell switch

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 09:57:38 +0000

JIC scientists have discovered how plant stem cells in roots detect soil structure and whether it is favourable for growth. Poor soil structure is a problem in tropical agriculture, where soil becomes compact as it dries out. The research team determined that the hormone ethylene regulates cell division in root stem cells.

How plants learned to respond to changing environments

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 09:31:58 +0000

A team of John Innes Centre scientists led by Professor Nick Harberd have discovered how plants evolved the ability to adapt to changes in climate and environment. Plants adapt their growth, including key steps in their life cycle such as germination and flowering, to take advantage of environmental conditions. They can also repress growth when their environment is not favourable. This involves many complex signalling pathways which are integrated by the plant growth hormone gibberellin.

Advances: Issue 8

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 17:18:48 +0000

The latest edition of the JIC and Sainsbury Laboratory newsletter has just been published. This edition includes reports from bionanotechnology & plant breeding workshops held at JIC as well as descriptions of several of our latest high-impact publications.

Boost for research to reduce pesticide use

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 12:33:46 +0000

The John Innes Centre in Norwich is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Saskia Hogenhout, an expert in insect-borne microorganisms that cause disease in plants. These tiny parasitic bacteria, called phytoplasmas, live in the sap of plants and are spread by insects such as leafhoppers. Phytoplasmas cause a wide variety of diseases in economically important crops, the full range of which is still not fully known

Moss genes provided fuse for plant life explosion

Fri, 8 Jun 2007 14:38:24 +0000

Scientists from the John Innes Centre have identified the genes that control the development of root hairs on plants. Published in the journal Science, Professor Liam Dolan reports that these genes are also found in moss, a finding that changes our understanding of how the plants we see today evolved over 400 million years ago.

Flowering switch could help feed the world

Thu, 31 May 2007 17:02:51 +0000

The operation of a vital switch for controlling crop productivity has been identified following a 70 year search.The ability to produce more food in the same acreage is crucial to feeding an increasing world population at the same time as curbing deforestation and dedicating more land to biofuels. Scientists at the John Innes Centre have identified how the signal that controls flowering is delivered to the shoot apex.

Why are there no Unicorns?

Fri, 25 May 2007 10:16:21 +0000

Why are there no Unicorns?ÃÂ Perhaps horses develop in a way that cannot be easily modified to produce a Unicorn, or maybe Unicorn-like animals were weeded out by natural selection. The problem highlights a general issue in evolutionary biology of what constrains biodiversity and is addressed in a recently published Science article on the evolution of flower branching displays, or inflorescences.

Study of RNA silencing to treat life-threatening diseases

Fri, 20 Apr 2007 15:01:48 +0000

Scientists from the Sainsbury Laboratory are leading a new research consortium to study how RNA silencing could be used to treat life-threatening diseases. The European Commission has committed 11.8 million euros to this four-year Integrated Project funded under the Sixth Framework Programme.

How parasites keep the gene pool healthy

Thu, 22 Mar 2007 15:01:41 +0000

All life forms have depended on having a diverse range of genes in order to adapt and survive through the ages. Research published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B reveals how parasites co-evolve with their hosts so that genetic diversity is maintained.

Advances: Issue 7

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 15:00:42 +0000

The latest edition of the JIC and Sainsbury Laboratory newsletter has just been published. This edition includes a report from a 'Plants for Bioenergy' workshop as well as descriptions of several of our latest high-impact publications.

Another piece of membrane protein puzzle solved

Wed, 24 Jan 2007 14:59:49 +0000

In collaboration with researchers at the University of Sheffield and the Paul Sherrer Institute in Switzerland, Dr Mike Merrick and colleagues reveal the crystal structure of a protein complex, enabling greater understanding of how cells regulate ammonium uptake.

Plants point the way to coping with climate change

Thu, 11 Jan 2007 14:56:55 +0000

Plants use the cold of winter to time their flowering for the relative warmth of spring. JIC researchers led by Professor Caroline Dean have revealed that a species has developed different responses to different climates in a short period of time.

Old enzyme learns new tricks

Tue, 21 Nov 2006 14:56:13 +0000

Norwich scientists led by Professor Anne Osbourn at the John Innes Centre have identified an enzyme within oats that could be used to protect against fungal diseases such as "take-all".

Nature's nanomachines harnessed to make drugs

Tue, 7 Nov 2006 14:55:56 +0000

JIC researchers have used state-of-the-art technology to study a nanomachine in soil bacteria called the Tat system, which they use to secrete proteins that help them digest food and compete with other microorganisms. The biotechnology industry already uses bacteria to make proteins, but some are difficult to produce using current methods. By harnessing the Tat system, it is hoped that it will be easier to make these proteins for biotechnological and biomedical purposes.

International awards boost crop science research

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 16:05:25 +0000

JIC researchers are amongst those to benefit from new crop science awards worth over Â£2M made by a unique Anglo-French partnership between the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), set up to encourage international collaboration.

New technique will help search for new cancer drugs & antibiotics

Wed, 30 Aug 2006 16:06:05 +0000

JIC scientists led by Prof Tony Maxwell have developed a new technique that will help search for new anti-cancer and anti-bacterial drugs more quickly and accurately.

Taking the phobia out of learning science

Tue, 29 Aug 2006 16:07:15 +0000

During the week of the BA Festival of Science JIC scientist Anne Osbourn will be launching a Science, Art and Writing (SAW) initiative that uses scientific images as inspiration for poetry, artwork and other forms of creative exploration.