Research
Sep. 8, 2010
Healthier Snacks through Improved Soybeans
A research team, led by plant scientists at the University of Missouri, has created a soybean variant that produces oil that does not have to be hydrogenated before going into food – adding no trans-fat.
July 27, 2010
A Promising Plant Looks Even Better
A herbal remedy used by South African traditional healers to enhance immunity and slow the wasting of HIV/AIDS has passed the first part of a multi-part clinical study in that country. The next piece of the study, now beginning, will determine if anecdotal evidence of the plant’s benefits can be scientifically demonstrated.
May 5, 2010
Infection, Not Inflammation
Aided by a new experimental model, scientists are a step closer to understanding how cystic fibrosis (CF) causes lung disease in people with the condition. The findings, published online April 28 in the journal Science Translational Medicine, could help improve treatments for lung disease, which causes most of the deaths and disability among people with CF.
Nov. 16, 2009
Looking into Autism
Autism, a brain development disorder characterized by impaired social interaction, poor communication and repetitive behavior, is little understood. Physicians and psychologists must use behavioral tests to diagnose the problem as there are no objective medical tests to verify if a child has the problem. Xiaofei Fan earned his Ph.D. at MU in biological engineering with an emphasis on visual neuroscience. He is sitting by the computerized binocular infrared pulillography device, a machine that measures the time that the eye takes to react to a flash of light. A recently-completed research study at the University of Missouri…
Nov. 3, 2009
Healthy Ice Cream?
Ice cream researchers at the University of Missouri , who have been making ice cream tastier for more than a century, are working to make ice cream into a functional food, adding nutrients such as fiber, antioxidants and pro-biotics to premium ice cream.
July 1, 2009
From Pig Cells to Stem Cells
Investigators at the University of Missouri have developed the ability to take regular cells from pigs’ connective tissues, known as fibroblasts, and transform them into stem cells, eliminating several of these hurdles. The discovery was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
March 16, 2009
Tastier meat and profits?
With help from a new genetic device recently unveiled by a team of animal science researchers, animal breeders may soon be building betters cows that produce more and better beef and tastier profits.
Jan. 14, 2009
Chasing Thundersnow
Everyone is familiar with storm chasers who follow tornadoes during the summer months. One University of Missouri researcher and a team of students will be doing much the same thing this winter in search of a rare weather phenomenon called thundersnow. The research could make the prediction of such severe snowfall events more accurate.
Nov. 20, 2008
Taking a bite out of cattle feed costs
Escalating feed and fertilizer prices have eroded profitability in the beef industry nationwide. With over 54,000 beef operations and the second largest beef herd in the U.S., Missouri stands to lose a lot. Researchers at University of Missouri's Southwest Center near Mt. Vernon, Mo., have found how many pounds a cow gains per pound of feed consumed varies between animals.
Nov. 20, 2008
Friendly bacteria help with healthy soy diet
Soy is considered a healthy addition to a diet, but sometimes it is not easy on the stomach. Now, a University of Missouri researcher believes she has the answer: freeze-dried probiotic microcapsules.