[Pil-pc-oceania] Greg sounds like one permie I know of ...???!!!

[Robyn Williamson]

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Are male eggs and female sperm on the horizon?
02 February 2008
Peter Aldhous
New Scientist Magazine issue 2641
"FEMALE sperm", "male eggs" and "same-sex reproduction" - whether  
these terms fill you with hope or disgust, a reproductive revolution  
is already in progress. In a handful of labs across the world,  
biologists are trying to make genetically male cells develop into  
eggs, and female cells into sperm. If successful, their efforts might  
one day allow lesbian and gay couples to have children that are  
genetically their own.

Now Greg Aharonian, a patent analyst from San Francisco, is trying to  
patent the technologies that could make this possible. In part,  
Aharonian's goal is to stimulate debate. He argues that lesbians and  
gay men have a right to know about developments in biology that could  
allow same-sex reproduction. Aharonian also wants to undermine the  
argument that marriage should remain an exclusively heterosexual  
institution because its main purpose is procreation. "I'm a  
troublemaker," he admits.

The complete article is 1567 words long.

If you are not an existing subscriber you can not read the rest of  
this article online but can easily buy a print copy at the newsagent  
next time you're at the shops.

Other interesting reading in this week's New Scientist magazine  
includes (where links are shown whole article is available online):

* Twisted logic ... why would a tree twist its trunk around itself?   
Can diseases (or debilitating syndromes like gold fever ... rw) be  
transmitted from person to person by handling money?
	http://www.newscientist.com/blog/lastword/

* Algae may hold the key to the agrofuel conundrum
02 February 2008
Rachel Nowak
Magazine issue 2641
IT IS no secret that biofuels made from food crops such as corn and  
palm oil have driven up food prices and depleted rainforests, often  
without reducing net greenhouse emissions. The message was driven  
home by two recent UK reports, first from the Royal Society and then  
last week from the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee.

The days of unbridled enthusiasm for first-generation biofuels have  
passed, even if production is still rising. Last week the European  
Commission controversially called for 10 per cent of transport fuels  
to be biofuels by 2020. Yet the drive to develop second-generation  
biofuels - ethanol brewed from plant cellulose in the form of wood,  
grass, or even waste - is edging towards commercialisation in the US.

Many experts say this next generation holds the greatest promise in  
the short term for cutting greenhouse gas emissions from transport,  
with potentially far fewer of ...

The complete article is 688 words long and you'll need a print copy  
to read more.

* Couch potato lifestyle may speed up ageing
	http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn13238-couch-potato-lifestyle- 
may-speed-up-ageing.html

* Enviroblog: One more worm in the hurricane can ... computer model  
global warming means more hurricanes
	http://www.newscientist.com/blog/environment/2008/01/one-more-worm- 
in-hurricane-can.html

* Why would you tape a magnet to your undies?
	http://www.newscientist.com/backpage.ns?id=mg19726412.600

* The world's hardest-working equation
	http://www.newscientist.com/lastword.ns

Also in Last Word:

* How to find a comet with your name on it

* Phobia phobia: if palindromes make you feel queasy, look away now.  
Our example of a phobia that dare not speak its name -  
hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia, the fear of long words (12  
January) - reminded Rosemary Roberts of another in the same mould:  
aibohphobia, the fear of palindromes.

You may well ask why I've got so much time free to relax and read New  
Scientist.  Truth is ... I'm not getting enough enquiries about  
APC9.  If you need help filling out the registration form don't feel  
confused or ashamed ... I am too ... so please do not hesitate to  
contact me should you have any queries or you will soon miss the  
earlybird deaadline of 15 February.

Luv & peas,
Robyn

CONTACT DETAILS:

Robyn Williamson
APC9 Secretariat
info at apc9.org.au
Ph/Fx:  (02) 9629 3560
Mobile:  0409 151 435
http://apc9.org.au