Green light for blue rose
After 12 years of research, a rose genetically modified to be blue has finally received authorisation to be sold in Australia, where it was developed by Florigene of Victoria. The rose makes a blue pigment called delphinidin 鈥� found naturally in blueberries and blackcurrants 鈥� thanks to enzyme genes inserted from viola and torenia flowers, which are also blue.
Gene-test registry
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Commercial gene tests that claim to predict the risk of certain diseases or conditions should be registered, says the Genetics and Public Policy Center in Washington DC. A registry should state how reliable a test is, the limits on its predictive power, and whether customers can do anything to stay well if they test positive (Public Health Genomics, ).
Keep your hair on
An amino acid that has previously shown promise in treating repetitive and compulsive disorders has reduced hair-pulling in 25 people with trichotillomania, a condition in which people repeatedly pull out their hair (Archives of General Psychiatry, vol 66, p 756).
Damned dam
Turkey has announced plans to continue work on a dam project despite protests that it will displace 10,000 people, destroy habitats and submerge much of the ancient town of Hasankeyf in south-east Turkey. Germany, Austria and Switzerland cancelled their share of financing for the Ilisu hydroelectric dam on Tuesday, citing environmental issues.
Hubble hiccup
The Advanced Camera for Surveys aboard the newly revamped Hubble Space Telescope was revived last week after technical problems downed it on 23 June. Engineers suspect the camera was hit by a cosmic-ray particle.