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Science News for February 18, 1998


Research Finds Whites Reluctant To Provide Critical Feedback To Minorities In An Academic Environment

Research finds that White students tend to provide more praise and less criticism when evaluating essays written by Black students, compared to when evaluating those written by White students. This 'positive feedback bias' can deprive minority students of intellectual challenges and may compound existing biases.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateFeb 18, 1998

Biotech Approach To Feral Cat Problem Devised

A team of researchers has successfully created a genetically engineered Salmonella bacterium that can serve as an oral contraceptive for feral cats. The vaccine induces antibodies that block sperm fertilization, potentially helping to control the nation's stray cat population and mitigate their impact on songbird populations.

26 National Alzheimer's Disease Centers Collaborate On Study Of The Utility Of Genetic Testing For Alzheimer's

A recent study by 26 National Alzheimer's Disease Centers found that a test for the ApoE E4 form of genetic testing can reduce false positive diagnoses by approximately 30%. The study suggests this tool may be helpful in supplementing clinical diagnoses of dementia, but more research is needed to confirm its universality.

SourceNIH/National Institute on Aging·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateFeb 18, 1998

DNA Used To Create Self Assembling Conducting Wire: Breakthrough Will Lead To Next Leap In Emerging Nanoelectronics

Scientists at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have successfully created a working electronic component using DNA to assemble a conducting wire. The wire, 100 nanometers wide, has potential properties that could be used to make computer memories, and its narrow size allows for potentially much faster computer chips.