We may be a long way off from using genetics to reliably gauge our risks for specific diseases, say researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. Yet, many companies currently offer personalized genetic testing for diseases like cancer, heart disease and diabetes, and tout the ability of DNA testing to predict future health risks.

Molecular and cellular biologists have made tremendous scientific advances by dissecting apart the functions of individual genes, proteins, and pathways. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering are looking to expand that understanding by putting the pieces back together, mathematically.

LONDON, February 5 /PRNewswire/ --

Scientists have found evidence that a direct interaction between vitamin D and a common genetic variant alters the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS).

The research, published on 6 February in the journal PLoS Genetics and funded by the MS Society, suggests that vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy and the early years may increase the risk of the offspring developing MS later in life.

The causes of MS are unclear, but it has become evident that both environmental and genetic factors play a role. Previous studies have shown that populations from Northern Europe have an increased MS risk if they live in areas receiving less sunshine.

PHILADELPHIA, and DUBLIN, February 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, announces that Mr Matthew Emmens, non-executive Chairman of Shire, has been appointed President of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated with immediate effect and that Mr Emmens will in addition become Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Vertex in May 2009 when the current Chief Executive Officer retires.

This announcement is made pursuant to Listing Rule 9.6.14R. Tony Guthrie Deputy Company Secretary

Notes to editors

Shire plc

It's hard to avoid the omnipresent rhetoric being tossed around regarding the economy these days. Nearly everybody has an opinion on the state of our economy and how to fix it - and lately, on President Obama's economic stimulus package in general. In speeches, the president keeps making the point that we'll be investing heavily in green energy and science and then correlates that investment directly with job creation. So the big question is: how exactly does the economic recovery package (should it pass the impending Senate vote) try to create jobs in the science industry?

DULLES, Virginia, February 5 /PRNewswire/ --

- With Photo

- World's Highest-Resolution, Color Satellite Imagery Now Available for Commercial Sale

GeoEye, Inc. (Nasdaq: GEOY), a premier provider of satellite and aerial-based geospatial information, announced today the start of commercial operations for its new GeoEye-1 Earth-imaging satellite. The Company is also submitting imagery from the satellite to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) for their certification under the terms of the NextView contract.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090205/LA67302-a)

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090205/LA67302-b)

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080625/LAW528LOGO)

In recent decades, viral epidemics have risen in ferocity and quantity in continents around the globe. More and more people in not only places like Africa and South America, but also in Asia and parts of Europe have been affected by the spread of emergent and prolific viral diseases.

In honor of the bicentennial of Charles Darwin's birthday on February 12, 2009, Mike White at Adaptive Complexity decided to engage in a massive undertaking; 30 days of science in Show Me The Science month.     Nothing new, you might think, because we do science 365 days a year and some people who are just bloggers post 5 things every day.

STOCKHOLM, February 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Pendulum Instruments, a company of the Orolia Group (NYSE Alternext Paris - FR0010501015 - ALORO), today announced the expansion of its product portfolio with the addition of a one-channel, single frequency (L1) GPS signal generator. This high-technology solution dedicated to complex navigation applications and environments has been acquired from Naviva, a Space Systems Finland (SSF) business unit, a leading provider of location technologies. This GPS signal generator named GSG-L1 will be integrated with Pendulum's product range and sold under Pendulum brand name. Pendulum instruments and Naviva will further collaborate to develop next-generation GPS signal generators.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090205/336924 )

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, February 5 /PRNewswire/ --