Inventors and Patents From Northville, Michigan
Inventors from Northville, Michigan, have developed a variety of new products over the years. Some of these products include a corn variety and a method to isolate miRNAs. Some have even invented a urinal. Read about some of these Inventors’ work below.
Inventors have developed a corn variety
Inventors at Michigan State University have developed a new corn variety that contains cellulase enzymes embedded in the leaves of the plant. This variety is part of a new generation of bioproducts made from biomass or energy crops. The goal of this project is to make more products from these types of crops than are currently available.
Modern farming techniques have made it difficult for traditional corn varieties to survive. Corn rows are planted very close together, and modern farmers must select varieties that can grow well in those conditions. Corn varieties must also be resistant to drought, which has been a major challenge for farmers. Researchers are currently studying ways to improve the drought-tolerant traits of corn varieties.
A corn hybrid is the result of natural cross-pollination between two corn varieties. Earlier, genetic interactions between different varieties of corn were thought to occur through co-mingling of roots. But in the twentieth century, scientists discovered that wind pollination was also essential for seed formation. They also found that combining two different corn varieties resulted in increased plant vigour. The hybrid variety is now considered a major breakthrough in modern agriculture.
Scientists have been looking for a new corn variety for decades. The process began in the 1980s when Howard-Yana Shapiro was looking for novel varieties of corn. While in southern Mexico, where the first varieties of maize evolved, she stumbled upon an unusual variety growing in poor soil. She later took it back to her lab and began studying the plant. This strange corn was cultivated in the Mixes District in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Inventors have developed a method for isolating miRNAs
The new method can isolate miRNAs from a variety of clinical samples. It utilizes the Trizol reagent to separate total RNA. Large RNAs are then precipitated with polyethylene glycol or potassium acetate. Then, small RNAs are purified using LiCl and ethanol. The resulting RNAs are then analyzed for quality by reverse transcription PCR or quantitative real-time PCR.
The new method is applicable to a wide variety of biological samples, including human blood cells and feces. In addition, it preserves the quality and quantity of miRNAs. It is expected to be commercially available within two years.
The miRNA array reveals extensive regulation of miRNAs in the brain during development. It also identifies tissue-specific miRNAs. The technique has numerous advantages and can be used to study the biology of disease. It also provides a tool for developing diagnostic and therapeutic targets.
The new method is based on the same technology used to isolate total RNA. However, the results can be variable, depending on the extraction method used. This method also involves the use of a reagent that focuses on a single molecule. Besides, it works well with lipid-rich tissues.
The method can be carried out quickly. The procedure requires less than an hour at room temperature. The resulting microRNA pellet contains approximately 200 bases and can be separated into two fractions. The first fraction contains mRNA and the second fraction contains microRNA.
The method is highly sensitive and specific. The microRNA cDNA product is stable for months at 4 degC and can be stored at -20 degC. The process can be repeated as many times as needed.
The RNA samples extracted using the two methods had similar miRNA expression patterns. Isolate II samples contained significantly less miR-7 in liver and miR-21 in lung tissue. However, the Isolate II method recovered more miR-200c.
The data presented herein could be useful reference material for researchers. MiRNAs may serve as diagnostic and prognostic tools. Their use as biomarkers could help in the treatment of certain types of cancer. They may even help in the detection of inflammatory diseases.