Transfer RNA is an ancient molecule, central to every task a cell performs and thus essential to all life. A new study from the University of Illinois indicates that it is also a great historian, preserving some of the earliest and most profound events of the evolutionary past in its structure.

Of the thousands of RNAs so far identified, transfer RNA (tRNA) is the most direct intermediary between genes and proteins. Like many other RNAs (ribonucleic acids), tRNA aids in translating genes into the chains of amino acids that make up proteins. With the help of a highly targeted enzyme, each tRNA molecule recognizes and latches onto a specific amino acid, which it carries into the protein-building machinery.

The discovery of the brain’s so-called melanocortin system and its central role in controlling appetite has paved the way for entirely new possibilities for treating obesity and anorexia. In the latest issue of the prestigious journal Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, Uppsala University researcher Jarl Wikberg and one of his associates present a review of pioneering research in this field that he and other scientists have conducted over nearly two decades.

The mapping of the melanocortin system was made possible by the cloning of genes for five different melanocortin receptors, which was performed by Jarl Wikberg in collaboration with other researchers in the early 1990s.

DES PLAINES, Illinois, March 7 /PRNewswire/ --

- Abbott's FISH Technology Provides Analytical Tool with Potential to Assess Clinical Response to Lung Cancer Treatment in Patients with Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced that its molecular diagnostics business has entered into an agreement with Genentech, Inc., F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. and OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to develop a gene test to potentially assess the clinical benefit of Tarceva(R) (erlotinib), an oral tablet indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after failure of at least one prior chemotherapy regimen.

PRAGUE, March 7 /PRNewswire/ -- ALWIL Software a.s. is pleased to announce the registration of the fifty millionth (50,000,000th) user of the multi-award winning avast! antivirus.

READING, England, March 7 /PRNewswire/ --

A prebiotic has been defined as "a non-digestible food ingredient that beneficially affects the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of beneficial bacteria in the colon."(3) Put more simply, prebiotics act as food for gut bacteria - choose the right food and you can increase the number of beneficial bacteria in the gut.

Prebiotics are non-digestible carbohydrates, predominantly inulin and oligosaccharides such as fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) or galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS)(8,9). They are found in small amounts in foods such as wheat, oats, bananas, asparagus, leeks, garlic and onions.

LOS ANGELES, March 7 /PRNewswire/ --

- New Detroit-based division to expand Bunkspeed's 3D rendering into local US, Europe, and Asia markets

Bunkspeed, Inc., the provider of groundbreaking 3D rendering solutions, announced today it has created an Automotive and Transportation Division to strengthen its customer support presence in US, European, and Asian markets. The new division will base its operations out of Detroit, Michigan.

Following Bunkspeed's tried and true principle to forge outstanding customer relationships, dedicated service will go hand-in-hand with every sale.

BEIJING and SAN JOSE, California, March 7 /PRNewswire/ --

Atmel(R) Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) announced today new AVR(R) microcontrollers combining USB controller and high performance analog features. The ATmega16U4 and ATmega32U4 reduce system cost in battery powered devices such as gaming accessories.

European Congress of Radiology, VIENNA, March 7 /PRNewswire/ --

- AxRecon Leverages the Processing Power of GPUs to Speed-Up CT Scanner Workflows

LONDON, March 7 /PRNewswire/ -- With one download players can access the BackgammonMasters Game Lobby in 14 different languages including French, German, Spanish, English, Portuguese, Danish, Hebrew, Arabic, Turkish, Greek, Chinese, Italian, Japanese, and now Bulgarian. To switch from one language to any of the 14 languages offered, players simply log in to the All-in-One Game Lobby and click on the country flag representing their desired language.

MANCHESTER, England, March 7 /PRNewswire/ --

- A Staggering GBP120,000 Spent on Smoking Cigarettes

Recent research from leading financial services provider, Co-operative Insurance (CIS) has found that the average British smoker spends just over GBP2,000 a year funding their smoking habit - that's a breathtaking GBP121,000 in a lifetime!

Taking into account that on average a single person smokes 436,800 cigarettes from 21,840 packets purchased, CIS is urging consumers to finally kick the habit and save some money this National No Smoking Day (12 March).