‘Genes cannot be patented’

Posted on October 31, 2010 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

Human and other genes should not be eligible for patents because ‘they are part of nature’, says (PDF) the US Department of Justice on behalf of the government, revoking longstanding policy – and practice of government agencies like the Patent … Continue reading →

Nagoya results: nature gets 17 percent

Posted on October 30, 2010 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

After two weeks of negotiations, yesterday, on the final day of the big UN biodiversity conference in Nagoya, Japan, countries agreed on a new treaty for the protection of species and ecosystems. The percentage of Earth’s land surface under official … Continue reading →

Royal Philosophy: biodiversity loss is bad

Posted on October 28, 2010 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

We may not know the exact sum figures of biodiversity, nor the precise percentages of species decline. It may also be irrelevant. Although ecology is in fact all about counting – we have to become aware that we are loosing … Continue reading →

Conservation efforts are effective but lacking

Posted on October 27, 2010 by Jorn van Dooren

It paints a sad picture, the latest assessment of the world’s vertebrates by the IUCN. Of the almost 26,000 vertebrates on the IUCN Red List as much as a fifth face a serious risk of extinction. With an average of … Continue reading →

IPBES to become IPCC on biodiversity?

Posted on October 21, 2010 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

This week the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity gathers in Japan. Under discussion is the formation of a scientific body to assess the threats to biodiversity, much like the IPCC assesses the science behind climate change.

What is biodiversity?

Posted on October 16, 2010 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

The United Nations have declared the year 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity. This Monday a big biodiversity conference starts in Nagoya, Japan, in order for countries to define and agree upon a combined strategy to slow the decline. … Continue reading →

Today’s paradox: non-GM crops help promote GMO

Posted on October 12, 2010 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

This week the EU considers decentralising the rules on the production of Genetically Modified Organisms. If they do so, it won’t be Brussels stating GMO risks are unacceptable, but individual member states deciding for themselves – no doubt weighing in … Continue reading →

Unravelling CCD: virus and fungus combinedly killing bees?

Posted on October 8, 2010 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

The mystery of Colony Collapse Disorder, a sudden die-off of bee populations that spread across the world since 2006, is slowly being solved. CCD may not have one single cause, but rather multiple factors adding up, including pollution and diseases … Continue reading →

Today’s paradox: tropical ectotherms don’t like warming

Posted on October 7, 2010 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

Ecological damage of climate change is expected to be highest where the changes are most profound. That is, due to albedo feedbacks, at very high latitudes and at very high altitudes. So species loss is expected to be highest in … Continue reading →

Marine biodiversity baseline established

Posted on October 4, 2010 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

Ahead of the big UN biodiversity conference that starts on 18 October in Nagoya, Japan, the results of major biodiversity studies are seeping in. Today the findings of the biggest ever survey and inventory of marine life were presented – … Continue reading →

Bits of Science

Tag Archives: biodiversity