Resistant starch promotes bifido bacteria growth in the gut, boosting protection against bowel diseases and cancer. The discovery may soon lead to 'edible plastics' that can carry beneficial substances safely through the digestive tract.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have developed a system to synthesize and screen novel beta-lactam antibiotics, including some effective against extremely low levels of bacteria. The process takes about two days and produces over 1,000 novel compounds with potential for use in antibiotic skin patches.
CSIRO scientists have discovered a gene in Arabidopsis that allows it to bypass normal pollination and form seed. The hunt is on to find equivalent genes in commercial plants like rice to develop seedless crops through apomixis.