I recently did an interview with New Scientist for what, I am happy to say, was one of the most reasonable popular reviews of "junk DNA" that has appeared in recent times (Pearson 2007). My small section appeared in a box entitled "Survival of the fattest", in which most of the discussion related to diversity in genome size and its causes and consequences. It even included mention of "the onion test", which I proposed as a tonic for anyone who thinks they have discovered "the" functional explanation for the existence of vast amounts of non-coding DNA within eukaryotic genomes.

LONDON, January 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Responding to today's publication of the second report into Prescribing Costs in Primary Care, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) supports the continued effort by healthcare professionals to reduce inappropriate prescribing.

RPSGB Director of Practice and Quality Improvement, David Pruce, says:

"What this report addresses is the unnecessary waste of medication and the associated cost to the NHS."

"Pharmacists already play an important role in helping to manage prescribing costs. Pharmaceutical advisers employed by Primary Care Trusts advise GPs about good prescribing practice and give GPs vital feedback about their prescribing compared with the national and local average."

ALDERSHOT, England, January 17 /PRNewswire/ --

Computer Sciences Corporation (NYSE: CSC) today announced it has named Norman Pitman vice president of European Outsourcing Business Development. Pitman, who will report to Nick Wilson, president of CSC's European Northern Region operations, joins CSC from EDS where he was executive deal leader for its operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and, previously, sales director for its UK, Ireland, Middle East and Africa operations.

ARNHEM, The Netherlands and KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, January 17 /PRNewswire/ --

- Partnership to Offer Leading Data Quality Solutions to Asian Customers

Human Inference, leading supplier of data quality software and DKSH Datacare Technologies Sdn Bhd agreed to a mutual exclusive partnership agreement for the Emerging APAC region.

DKSH (Think Asia, Think DKSH) is the leading Market Expansion Services Group in and for Asia. It enables and supports companies in expanding their businesses in existing markets and launching into new ones. Founded in 1865, DKSH employs over 21,500 people with annual revenue of 6.73 billion US Dollars in 2006.

LONDON, January 17 /PRNewswire/ --

- Global Communications Provider Takes Leadership Role in Driving Open, Secure and Privacy Respecting Digital Identity Management Solutions

Liberty Alliance, the global identity consortium working to build a more trusted internet for consumers, governments and businesses worldwide, today announced that BT has become a member of the Liberty Alliance Management Board. BT joins Liberty Alliance 2008 board members from AOL, France Telecom, HP, Intel, Novell, NTT, Oracle and Sun Microsystems to drive the strategic direction of Liberty Alliance on a global basis.

HONG KONG, January 17 /PRNewswire/ --

With over 10,000 gift and houseware trade professionals expected to attend, the 8th Asia Expo-London is the definitive Asian sourcing event, right at the beginning of the year.

To meet for the increasing sourcing requirements of local and international buyers, the show days of the London Expo have been extended to add a further day to a 4-day show, opening from Tuesday 29 January -- Friday 1 February, 2008. The 8th Asia Expo London, a "UFI -- Approved Event" since 2003, will present the broadest selection of distinctive, diverse and directional Asian products from the gift, housewares, premiums and toy industries, direct from Asia.

SALT LAKE CITY, January 17 /PRNewswire/ --

PC Project, a public charity, announced that a Phase 1b clinical trial began today for treatment of pachyonychia congenita (PC) with a short interfering RNA (siRNA)-based therapeutic. PC is a dominant genetic disorder resulting from mutations in genes that encode keratins, which give structural integrity to skin cells.

BASINGSTOKE, England, January 17 /PRNewswire/ --

- Non-Calcium Phosphate Binder for the Management of Hyperphosphataemia Now Available in 24 Countries

- NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES

Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY, TSX: SHQ) announces that with the launch today in Spain of FOSRENOL (lanthanum carbonate), a non-calcium phosphate binder, Shire is celebrating the completion of the launch roll-out in the major European markets. FOSRENOL is the first of the company's medicines developed in-house from research molecule to market.

WEVELGEM, Belgium, January 17 /PRNewswire/ --

- With Photo

The Slim Form Patch, a diet patch containing algae extracts, has beaten the more traditional slimming methods in the slimming test on TV channel CBS. The patch technology has now reached the slimming industry. During the test one man lost 11.4 kg in four weeks. If you go to http://www.slimformpatch.eu you can see how the Slim Form Patch won the competition.

A gigantic palm that flowers itself to death and exists as part of an entirely unique genus has been discovered in Madagascar. The mystery palm has a huge trunk which towers over 18m high and fan leaves which are 5m in diameter - among the largest known in flowering plants. This is the most massive palm ever to be found in Madagascar. It's so large it can be seen on Google Earth.