TWiV 230: Gene goes to Washington, flu chickens out

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Rich Condit , Alan Dove , and Kathy Spindler Vincent, Rich, Alan and Kathy review H7N9 infections in China, the debate over patenting genes, and receptor-binding by ferret-transmissible avian H5 influenza virus. Links for this episode: Francois Jacob dies (The Loom) WHO updates on H7N9 H7N9 is unusually dangerous (ScienceInsider) H7N9 case imported into Taiwan No H7N9 in poultry farms (Xinhua) Supreme Court considers gene patents ( TheScientist , Nature ) Patent my jeans, not my genes (Michael Wosnick) Receptor binding by ferret transmissible H5 virus (Nature) Microscale thermophoresis and bio-layer interferometry (Wikipedia) Letters read on TWiV 230 Weekly Science Picks Alan - World Science Festival Rich - 3 years of the sun in 3 minutes Vincent - The Origin of AIDS by Jacques Pepin Kathy - Wringing out a wet washcloth in space (YouTube) Listener Pick of the Week Mark - Will it blend? ( iPhone app ) Marianne - Enjoy your Cells Send your virology questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to [email protected]