|
Volume 9 Number 1, March/April 1999, pp. 48-60
ABA NEWS Code Number:AU99004
President's Report Dr Anne Campbell In reviewing progress against the five areas the present ABA Directors had chosen to focus on initially, it is pleasing to be able to report good activity in all areas since the last issue of the Journal. ABA NEWS ABA Meets Senator Minchin's Advisers On Thursday 25th February, five Melbourne based corporate members of the ABA took up the opportunity at short notice to meet with Kieran Schneemann, Chief of Staff and Genevieve Bessell, Science Adviser for Senator Minchin, the Minister for Industry Science and Resources. The corporate members were lead by: David Trive, Director of ABA from the University of Melbourne, and included Naomi Stevens for AgroEvo; Dean Moss and Marcia Ward for AMRAD, Ian Ray for Chiron, Lance Schlipaulius for Betatene and Peter Rodgers for Carlton United Breweries(also a Director of ABA). This assembly presented a good cross section of small and large players in the Australian Biotechnology industry. The group met in the foyer of the DISR building in Collins Street an hour before the meeting to introduce themselves and share issues of relevance to their businesses and worthy of discussion and support during the time with the Ministers Advisers. BOOK REVIEWS Protein Stability and Folding - A Collection of Thermodynamic Data. 1998 Engineering Genesis: The Ethics of Genetic Engineering in Non-Human Species Australian Venture Capital Guide 1999 Biotechnobase AgraBiotech Newsletter Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences LETTER TO THE EDITOR MEETINGS PRODUCT NEWS ABA OFFICE BEARERS ABA NEWS President's Report Dr Anne Campbell In reviewing progress against the five areas the present ABA Directors had chosen to focus on initially, it is pleasing to be able to report good activity in all areas since the last issue of the Journal viz:
The Directors continue to meet regularly by teleconference (Jan 13, March 4) in order to contain travel costs; however an opportunity to meet face to face on April 26 was taken just before the highly successful one day national meeting held by the ABA on 27 April in Melbourne. About 120 people attended this national meeting "A Roadmap for Commercialisation of Australian Biotechnology" held at the Crown Towers Hotel in Melbourne on 27 April prior to the Licensing Executive Society's International Conference. I warmly thank Dr Elane Zelcer and her committee for organizing this stimulating event, which drew on a distinguished range of speakers, both nationally and internationally. Particularly interesting case studies were provided by Dr John Raff of Starpharma, Mr Ralph Nixon of Technico and Dr Edwina Cornish of Florigene. In response to a request from Minister Minchin's office, the ABA was able to arrange at very short notice for a group of Melbourne-based Corporate members to meet the Chief of Staff from his office as well as the Science Adviser when they visited Melbourne. This is reported elsewhere in this issue. Two ABA Directors (Ms Lyndal Thorburn and myself) attended the first Australian Consensus Conference "Gene Technology in the Food Chain" which was held in Old Parliament House in mid-March. As Dr Joe Hlubucek, General Manager of the Biotechnology Task Force said, "the outcome was open to many interpretations; but it was important for what it did not do viz no ban proposed on genetically modified crops and food but a focus on the precautionary approach requiring labelling of all genetically modified foods and an emphasis on safety and independence of regulation. It indicated that when the public have access to good information they will make a balanced decision". The ABA issued a media release after the Consensus Conference supporting in particular the recommendation of the Conference for more information and the need to promote greater public awareness about gene technology and its use in a range of products and services. Subsequently, Dr Neil Willetts and Dr Peter Rogers represented the ABA at the Academy of Science Conference held at the end of March on a related topic "Gene Technology & Food". The ABA has been active in keeping abreast of Government initiatives in several areas which are highlighted below.
Recently, the ABA has been invited to participate in the development of the Australian Agrifood Alliance (AAA) and I have attended the inaugural and follow up meetings. The aim of the AAA is to help achieve public acceptance of gene technology as a fundamental tool for sustainable agriculture and world trade competitiveness; participating organisations include AVCARE, National Farmers Federation, Seed Industry Association, Grains Research & Development Corporation, Fertiliser Companies. The contribution of the ABA will be in-kind through the provision of information from the expertise of its membership. We were pleased to meet Dr Val Giddings, Vice-President of BIO recently, when he visited Brisbane and Canberra at the instigation of the Queensland Government Biotechnology Task Group and supported by the Biotechnology Task Force of the Department of Industry, Science & Resources. Dr Peter Riddles has assisted Austrade in San Francisco in organising a number of Australian speakers to present at a seminar on Australian Biotechnology to be held at the forthcoming BIO Meeting in Seattle. As you can see the ABA has been busy on a number of fronts! Anne Campbell ABA NEWS ABA Meets Senator Minchin's Advisers On Thursday 25th February, five Melbourne based corporate members of the ABA took up the opportunity at short notice to meet with Kieran Schneemann, Chief of Staff and Genevieve Bessell, Science Adviser for Senator Minchin, the Minister for Industry Science and Resources. The corporate members were lead by: David Trive, Director of ABA from the University of Melbourne, and included Naomi Stevens for AgroEvo; Dean Moss and Marcia Ward for AMRAD, Ian Ray for Chiron, Lance Schlipaulius for Betatene and Peter Rodgers for Carlton United Breweries(also a Director of ABA). This assembly presented a good cross section of small and large players in the Australian Biotechnology industry. The group met in the foyer of the DISR building in Collins Street an hour before the meeting to introduce themselves and share issues of relevance to their businesses and worthy of discussion and support during the time with the Ministers Advisers. The Senators Advisers had indicated an interest to make face to face contact with members of the Melbourne based ABA with the aim of obtaining first hand feelings for the issues of importance to the biotechnology industry in Australia. These would contribute to the activities and priorities of the recently formed Biotechnology Task Force lead by Joe Hlubucek and complement the efforts of the Biotechnology Consultative Group of 14 members, who are due to meet in early March. In her introductory remarks, Genevieve Bessell indicated the recognition by government that biotechnology would indeed be the next great revolution and it was important to consult with stakeholders in the industry on where to go from here. Informal forums would be encouraged by Senator Minchin to obtain direct feedback for industry concerns. Kieran Schneemann explained the Minister's recognition of the synergies across Government portfolios and is keen to promote collaborative activities in order to avoid duplicaiton and counter productive outcomes in addressing biotechnology issues. The Ministers Advisers were impressed and encouraged by the ABAs enthusiasm and willingness to participate at short notice. The key issues identified by the participants and related to the Minister's Advisers included:
Corporate profiles AgrEvo is a multinational crop protection and crop production company which invests $1M per day in R&D. The Australian headquarters are located in Glen Iris. AgrEvo is developing herbicide tolerant and hybrid canola varieties for the Australian and global markets and has other biotechnology crop interests in cotton, maize, soybeans, rice, vegetables and cereals. AMRAD Corporation Limited is an Australian research based Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Company. AMRAD conducts research in the fields of virology, neurology, cytokine discovery and screening of natural products and genomics to discover and develop innovative medicine. AMRAD Biotech manufacture, distribute and sell a wide range of diagnostic and life science products and technology both domestically and internationally. Betatene is involved in natural carotinoid production and operates a processing plant in Cheltenham which is supplied from the largest salt water algal operations located in Whyalla, SA and North of Geraldton, WA. Ninety-five percent of the processed product is exported to customers in Japan, Europe and USA. The company grew from CSIRO research activities in the late 70s and is now owned by the German Henkel group. Chiron grew from a CSL initiative in 1988 and is now owned by an American parent based in SanFrancisco. The Melbourne office is located in the Monash Technology Park, Clayton. Chiron is the largest global supplier of solid phase synthesis of polypeptides. R&D efforts focus on small molecule synthesis and drug discovery for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in Asia and the USA. CUB - Brewtech group is based in Carlton and utilises collaborative industrial grants to support activities in the brewing industry especially malting barley variety development and enhanced brewing ingredients such as biological enzymes. Naomi Stevens AgrEvo Next National Conference The 15th Australasian Biotechnology Conference (or ABA 2000 as it will probably come to be called) will be organised on behalf of the ABA by the Queensland Branch. It will be held between July 2 and 6, 2000 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Dr Greg Harper will be chairing the organising committee and Dr Ken Finney will be acting as conference treasurer. The committee is working to have a broad range of issues important to Australian and international biotechnology covered within the program. It has decided to have daily themes focussed on the issues around application of biotechnology: i.e. the food industry; the biopharmaceutical industry; the environment and the social context of biotechnology; technological development and the industries for the 21st Century. The committee is also developing a series of workshops and public sessions that will allow broader community involvement in the deliberations of the delegates. The main contact for now will be Dr Greg Harper of CSIRO Tropical Agriculture, Gehrmann Laboratories, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072 Tel: 07 3214 2441; Fax: 07 3214 2480; Email: Gregory.Harper@tag.csiro.au Victorian Branch News On April 29, the Victorian Branch of the Biotechnology Association (VABA) held its most recent event "Eat My Genes, Dude!" at the CUB Brewhouse. The evening began with VABA members and a large contingent of students from University of Melbourne Department of Microbiology enjoying a few preliminary drinks. Once everyone was seated, Peter Rogers gave a brief welcome speech, explaining the function of the VABA and referred to the central place that alcohol played at meetings of the successful ABA Queensland Branch. The references to alcohol (an extremely important biotechnological product I must say) continued throughout the evening. Dr Marilyn Anderson a plant scientist at La Trobe University was the first speaker. Her speech highlighted current public concerns about the possible introduction of genetically modified (GM) foods into the Australian market. Public concerns about the safety of GM foods include use of antibiotic resistance markers and the Tumour Inducing (Ti) plasmid as well as the potential for pesticide resistant "superweeds". These concerns were then examined, common misconceptions emphasised, and an explanation of techniques used in the genetic modification of plants provided. Her talk revealed that media sensationalism and a lack of information and appreciation of science are largely responsible for the current community fears about GM foods. The second speaker for the evening was the Regulatory Affairs Officer at AgrEvo, Naomi Stevens. Ms Stevens acquainted the audience with many of the regulatory bodies and procedures that AgrEvo's currently available and proposed GM crops had to pass through before being approved for use in food production. She also emphasised the importance of information being made available to the general public in a clear and consistent manner. The relevance of The Simpsons and South Park to Biotechnology is not immediately clear. However, Ms Stevens concluded her talk with a pertinent and amusing reference to both of these shows as indicators of public beliefs about GM foods. The evening proved to be engaging and informative. There was much laughter and many references to drinking during the speeches, proving once and for all that humour and science does mix. The evening also served to remind us that, as people with a vested interest in biotechnology, we must be vigilant in educating the community about GM food and science in general. Zoe Wood, Melbourne Further Melbourne events planned for 1999 include : A Young Speaker's Night where you will hear what sort of things the biotechnologists of the future are doing today, in research and industry. This event is planned for mid-July. If you are interested in presenting your work or would like further information, please send an abstract by email to Paul Taylor (Student Rep on VABA Committee) taylorpm@ariel.unimelb.edu.au There will hopefully be some prizes awarded for the most outstanding presentation. A Biotechnology Industry Visit is being planned for August. Come along and have a look at a real life application of biotechnology, and make some contacts. A Careers Night, scheduled for early October where you can find out what you can do with your science degree apart from more research (there are actually other options!) and meet some of the industry representatives who employ graduates to work as biotechnologists. Stay tuned for a Christmas Function sometime in December. BOOK REVIEWS Protein Stability and Folding - A Collection of Thermodynamic Data.
1998 This book represents a useful collection of thermodynamic descriptors of protein unfolding as extracted from the refereed literature. The units of cited data have been standardised allowing immediate comparison between the wide range of wild type and mutated proteins listed. Proteins are listed in alphabetical order according to the nomenclature of the original publishing author and an index is also provided. The introduction covers aspects of thermodynamics particularly related to protein stability and evaluates standard approaches for monitoring protein conformational stability. The alternative representation of the data in phase diagrams is also described. The data is organised into three tables. Table 1 represents 330 out of the 600 pages of data and lists pH, temperature and molar values of Gibbs energy change. Tables 2 and 3 represent 234 and 36 out of 600 pages of data and give enthalpy and, molar and specific values of heat capacity changes, respectively. All tables include the general experimental approach, relevant remarks and reference details. In some cases, data for a wide range of site-specific mutants or chemically modified primary structures are given, with the range of available data indicative of the biological significance and consequent attention paid to particular proteins by scientists. This book is designed as a reference for library collections as its price (US$250) is prohibitive for individuals. The intention of the book is to make the data and information embodied within accessible for biotechnology research. I recommend the book for the intrinsic usefulness of a dedicated compilation of this type of data with the expectation that subsequent volumes or editions will keep pace with the literature. Access to the information via the internet would also be useful. L. Bennett, Melbourne Engineering Genesis: The Ethics of Genetic Engineering in Non-Human
Species 1st Edition 1998 337 pages ISBN 1-85383 570 6 (paperback) Available from: earthinfo@earthscan.co.uk fax: +44 171 278 1142 Price ,12.99 This fine book is the product reached by consensus of a genetic engineering working group of the Society, Religion and Technology Project of the Church of Scotland. The group included experts in animal welfare, in agriculture, in animal breeding, sociology, ethics, practical theology, genetist and senior scientists. This multidisciplinary group was set up by the Church of Scotland in 1993 to look at the ethical issues in the genetic engineering of non-human species. The group decided not to follow any one theory of moral philosophy, but rather to take an interactive process of a diverse group of people, each bringing their own insights. They state that they have tried to write for a general, non-expert readership, but have provided enough technical content to allow an appreciation of the science. The book commences with an explanation of genetic engineering and its uses (29 pages), it then moves into 11 case studies eg. proteins from plants, novel oils from rapeseed, genetically-modified tomatoes, pharmaceuticals in sheep milk, xeno-transplantation, Dolly cloning. Each such case study is brief - just a few pages - an introduction and then a consideration of each ethical issue involved. Each case study is written by an expert in the area. However, the bulk of the book then follows with a further 9 chapters on ethics, animal welfare, animal ethics and human benefit, transgenic food, environmental risk, patenting life, developing countries and the social content. The final chapter is entitled "Final Reflections". It does not seek to draw conclusions, but more to summarise the questions raised in the earlier chapters. The book also includes a useful set of appendices - glossary, explanations of technology, ethical assessment methods. Finally, it has a website to encourage continued dialogue. http://webzone1.co.uk/www/srtproject/srtpage3.htm This book is quite solid reading, heavy-going in fact, not lightened by pictures or diagrams to any extent, but it is a very thoroughly prepared, comprehensive and even-handed tomb. Its strength is this sincere desire to see both sides and not to become emotive. It recognises that this is only a beginning, and that there is a need for active on-going dialogue in this area. It was a good choice for it to be used as a handbook at the recently held GeneCom 98 conference in Adelaide. I thank the organisers of that conference for providing me with a review copy of this excellent and well-balanced text in this field. Martin Playne Australian Venture Capital Guide 1999 The Australian Venture Capital Guide 1999 is a complete guide to 114 sources of private equity and related financing for growth companies and new product development. Published by Pollitecon Publications, publisher of the Australian Venture Capital Journal, the Guide is the most comprehensive of its type in Australia. Now in its sixth year of publication, the 1999 edition is the largest yet with: 88 separate suppliers of professional venture and development capital; 3 Government seed capital schemes which support the development of new, commercial products; 12 business introduction services; 8 New Zealand and 1 Papua New Guinea based venture capital firms; 11 suppliers of equity capital for unlisted infrastructure projects The 114 organisations in the Guide are specialists in supplying equity capital and other financing for seed, start-up, expansion, management buyout and buyin, or turnaround opportunities. Collectively, they have over $2.3 billion available to invest in venture capital, and another several billion dollars for infrastructure equity. The 144 page Guide is available for $44.00, which includes postage. The overseas price is A$55.00 airmail. To order your copy, simply complete the coupon below and send to Pollitecon Publications, PO Box 324, Five Dock, NSW 2046. Further information on Tel: (02) 9713 7608. Biotechnobase A New Biotechnology Database from Elsevier Science New York and Amsterdam, February 8, 1999 _ Elsevier Science, Secondary Publishing Division announces the launch of Biotechnobase, a unique biotechnology database comprising more than 700,000 bibliographic citations and author abstracts from 1980 to the present. It provides comprehensive, international coverage of scientific, technological and professional biotechnology literature published in more than 280 journals (cover-to-cover) - from fundamental research to industrial applications. More than 90% of records will include abstracts. The service is designed primarily for investigators, students, business developers and information specialists in industry, academia and government. Biotechnobase will be available online via DIMDI beginning February 1999 (File:ET80). The file will be updated on a weekly basis. Mounting on other major online hosts will follow shortly thereafter. Further information: Email: embase-europe@elsevier.nl AgraBiotech Newsletter In March of this year, Agra Europe (London) Ltd. will be publishing the first issue of a twice-monthly newsletter covering developments in biotechnology affecting agriculture and the food industry. The newsletter will report on new products and patent applications, and on consumer attitudes with regard to releases and commercialisation. It will also monitor the performance of companies operating in this field. While the main focus of the newsletter will be European news, including legislation and regulatory issues, we will also be reporting on developments around the world and in North America in particular. The publishers anticipate that their subscribers will include biotechnology, pharmaceutical and agricultural companies, trade and consumer associations, universities and government departments. The publishers would be very grateful if you could ensure that they receive any press releases and other information which you might be publishing. They can then ensure that it will be reviewed in AgraBiotech. If you publish information by Email, the address is: biotech@agra-europe.com Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences A quarterly publication, published by the Capricorn Publications. This is the first Asian scientific journal, which is also available on the Internet (http://www.pjbs.org). It consists of Regional Editors from developed countries and a group of Technical Editors that are competent research scientists in their respective fields. This is the most regular journal published in Pakistan. More than three thousand visitors visit the journal's web site per month from all over the world. It shows the acceptability and recognition from the international viewer. LETTER TO THE EDITOR Hi, I have been trying to educate myself on the benefits of not only eating well, but eating the right foods. This search has led me to the debate of genetically engineered foods over organic non-hybrid foods etc. I was put onto your site by a friend in the field and upon reading all your `educational' leaflets, have discovered the complete lack of objectivity in your information regarding the negatives of this debate. No mention of horrific side effects of using bovine growth hormone in many dairy cows (most of my relatives are farmers), the crap that is still left in milk as it stands in the shop, the links between aspartame and cancer (real and significant) etc and the worst kind of all never even glanced upon in the patent section is the totally mind blowing patent of the horrific `terminator' gene and the planned wipeout of all plant to seed to plant to seed crops, and even the `lazarus' genes of the large corps holding the power over the small farmers by forcing them to use specific and toxic proprietary chemicals sold only by these large corps. Why do you not mention the horrors that have ensued because of genetic engineering and the money hungry bastards that are sprouting everywhere to take advantage of the utter mutilation of nature? I thought science was about being objective. Is there something you don't want people to know? I also saw no mention of the possibility of the spread of `hybrid' genes from non-seed producing crops into the wild, turning related crops into sterile, one-generation plants. The dominance of hybrid seeds has created the real possibility of eventually wiping ourselves out from the slow but steady loss of reproducing plants in nature. If this does eventuate (and I am not saying it will) I hope the biotechnologists who favour and promote this die the slowest and most painful death on a barren earth. Thank you for letting me have my say Sharon Kardol Editor's Note: Although our 12 educational leaflets on biotechnology have been praised world-wide over the years, they are not always seen as impartial by everyone. Such letters as the one above do indicate that we have a long way to go in the provision of factual information to a public, often uneducated in science let alone molecular biology. I challenge our readers to reply to Sharon in a constructive way in our next issue. She is listening and trying to learn. What about a response? MEETINGS AG BioTech World Forum 9-11 June 1999 Recombinant DNA Techniques 28 June - 2 July 1999 2nd European Congress of Pharmacology 3-7 July 1999 International Ginseng Conference & Exhibition '99 8-11 July 1999 9th European Congress on Biotechnology 11-15 July 1999 Enzymes in the Environment: Activity, Ecology and Applications 12-15 July 1999 12th International Symposium on Carotenoids 18-23 July 1999 International Botanical Congress 1-7 August 1999 6th International Congress on Amino Acids 3-7 August 1999 Global Soy Forum 99 4-7 August 1999 XI International Congress of Virology 9-13 August 1999 IXth International Congress of Mycology andIXth International Congress of Bacteriology and Applied Microbiology 16-20 August 1999 7th International Fungal Biology Conference 22-25 August 1999 International Program on Rice Biotechnology 3-17 September 1999 9th International Conference on Diseases of Fish and Shellfish 19-24 September 1999 Membrane Technology in Food and Bioprocessing 1-2 October 1999 10th World Congress of Food Science & Technology and World Food Expo 3-8 October 1999 3rd Pacific Rim Biotechnology of Bacillus thuringiensis 4-8 October 1999 Commercialising Health Innovations Forum (CHIF) 5-6 October, 1999 BioTechnica '99 5-7 October 1999 Enzyme Engineering XV 10-15 October 1999 BioPartnering Europe 18-19 October 1999 Membrane Technology in Environmental Management 1-4 November 1999 6th Hong Kong International Cancer Congress 14-17 November 1999 EuropaBio '99 Third Annual European Biotechnology Business Congress CIA99 - ChemAsia99, InstrumentAsia99 and AnaLabAsia Exhibition and Conference 30 November - 3 December 1999 Conference on Aquaculture in the Third Millennium 11-17 January 2000 Functional Foods 2000 29 Feb 2000 - 2 March 2000 Xth World Water Congress 11-17 March 1000 The Second International Conference on Remediation of Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds 22-25 May 2000 Achema 2000, 26th Exhibition Congress, International Meetong on Chemical Engineering 22-27 May 2000 Agbiotech: The Science of a New Century 5-8 June 2000 3rd Agricultural Biotechnology International Conference (ABIC 2000) 5-9 June 2000 15th Australasian Biotechnology Conference 2-6 July, 2000 6th International Symposium on The Biosafety of Genetically Modifoed Organisms 8-13 July 2000 Biotechnology 2000: 11th International Biotechnological Symposium 3-8 September 2000 IMBC 2000 International Marine Biotechnology Conference 29 September - 5 October 2000 COURSES Advanced Course on Downstream Processing 31 May - 4 June, 1999 Advanced Course on Environmental Biotechnology 16-25 June, 1999 Ethics and Genetics: Advanced European Bioethics Course 18-20 November 1999 Contact: B. Gordijn, Catholic University, Nijmegen, 232 Dept Ethics, Philosophy and History of Medicine, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, Netherlands Tel: 0031 24 3615320; Fax: 0031 24 3540254; Email: b.gordijn@efg.kun.nl PRODUCT NEWS METTLER TOLEDO Made-to-Measure LiquiSystem Solution With an increased number of applications that require the measurement of liquids, the air-cushion pipette has become the most employed instrument in the modern laboratory. Use involves repetitive handling, so when choosing a pipette, its ergonomics and ease of use are as important as extreme precision and accuracy. Unfortunately, most brands of pipette only fulfill some of these requirements. Mettler Toledo has developed a new generation of air-cushion pipettes. The result is LiquiSystems, a complete range of single and multi-channel pipettes, tips, boxes, accessories and calibrating aids. The VoluMate single channel pipette, with variable volume, has been specially designed for use in the research and quality assurance laboratory. Seven different sizes cover the entire volume range from 0.1mL to 5 ml. Compared with other models, the shape has been created with maximum attention to ergonomic efficiency. Thanks to its moulded grip and finger guards, the pipette sits easily in the hand and comfort is ensured even with repetitive pipetting. Operating the instrument could not be simpler: and a second button for ejecting the tip. The pipettes are designed for one handed operation, including he volume adjustments. The volume adjustment has also been designed so that surgical gloves cannot get trapped and torn. The MultiMate multi-channel pipette comes in three different sizes, and covers the volume range from 0.5mL to 250ml. All sizes are available in both 8- and 12- channel versions and are, of course, optimally designed for use with microplates. Retractable Housings will not Interrupt your Ongoing Process These days, pH measurement techniques in the chemical process industry call for sensors and housings which can afford maximum safety and reliability combined with simple operation, short downtimes and low maintenance effort. Mettler Toledo's newly developed InTrac7 776/777 retractable housings meet these important criteria, allowing the user both peace of mind and greatest ease of use. The great advantage of InTrac7 776/777 Retractable Housings is that they allow sensor maintenance or sensor replacement to be carried out safely without interrupting the ongoing process. The patented design of the immersion tube guarantees complete separation of the process media from the outside environment in any operating position. An additional safety device prevents unintentional removal of the sensor when the housing is in the measuring position; and the sensor check feature of the housing rules out the possibility of insertion of the immersion tube when no sensor is present. For sales and service on all laboratory and analytical products, customers should call Mettler Toledo Laboratory Group from anywhere in Australia for the cost of a local call on 1300 659 765. CROWN SCIENTIFIC Please note that the Iwaki Glass Company in Japan, owner of the Crown Scientific Pty Ltd organisation, has recently acquired the Toshiba Glass Company and effectie the 1st January, 1999, Iwaki has changed their name and they now will be known as Asahi Techno Glass Corp. The newly-formed company will have sales of just under A$800 million and this will provide further platforms for the growth for the Crown Scientific organisation in the Pacific region. Laboratory Freeze-Drying Range Crown Scientific is pleased to announce the release of the very comprehensive range of laboratory freeze-drying products manufactured by Labconco Corporation in USA. The comprehensive catalogue on the Labconco Freeze-Drying range, together with a very informative book produced by Labconco entitled `a Guide to Freeze-Drying for the Laboratory' is available from each of Crown's offices. The Labconco System consists of a variety of different systems from 4.5 litre to 18 litre capacity, together with a range of accessories that make the job on freeze-drying so much easier in all laboratory environments. Further information: Crown Scientific Pty Ltd, 144 Moorebank Avenue, Moorebank, NSW 2170 (Tel: (02) 9602 7677; Fax: (02) 9602 1143; Email: crownsci@crownsci.com.au ABA OFFICE BEARERS PRESIDENT: VICE PRESIDENTS: Mr Gary Cox (Wray & Associates) DIRECTORS: Mr Gary Cox (Wray & Associates) Dr Shirley Lanning Dr Peter Riddles (Institute for Molecular BioSciences) Peter Rogers (CUB - Brewtech) Ms Lyndal Thorburn (Advance Consulting & Evaluation) Dr David Tribe (University of Melbourne) Dr Neil Willetts Dr Elane Zelcer (Thrombogenix Pty Ltd) SECRETARY: TREASURER : ABA COMMITTEES : INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: GENETIC RELEASE: PUBLICATIONS: W.A. BRANCH: QLD BRANCH: NSW BRANCH: VIC BRANCH: ACT BRANCH: Copyright 1999 Australian Biotechnology Association Ltd. |
|