04

In gene therapy first, scientists restore vision to dogs born blind

Published: April 27 2001

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — During World War I, the French army dispatched ammunition-carrying Briard dogs to the front lines. The Red Cross turned to the shaggy-haired sheepdogs to haul first-aid supplies.

Genetically modified earth plants will glow from mars

Published: April 26 2001

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — In what reads like a story from a 1950s science fiction magazine, a team of University of Florida scientists has genetically modified a tiny plant to send reports back from Mars in a most unworldly way: by emitting an eerie, fluorescent glow.

UF survey: Personal finance concerns cause dip in consumer confidence

Published: April 24 2001

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Consumer confidence in Florida fell two points this month, reflecting widespread concerns about personal finances, University of Florida economists said today.

Golf ball-sized snail is critical link in Everglades restoration

Published: April 19 2001

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The success of the $7.8 billion Everglades restoration project may rest on the apple snail — a golf ball-sized creature that is a key component of the food chain, say researchers from the University of Florida and two Florida water management districts.

UF researchers suspect lawsuit fear may hinder use of lifesaving devices

Published: April 18 2001

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The layman’s version of the heart defibrillator, designed for placement in airports and other public places, could save thousands of lives each year, but University of Florida researchers suspect fear of litigation may be hindering their widespread use.

Sixth president of University of Florida, Stephen C. O’connell, dies

Published: April 13 2001

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Stephen Cornelius O’Connell, the sixth president of the University of Florida from 1967-73, died Friday at his home in Tallahassee. He was 85.

UF scientists explore adult stem cell potential

Published: April 13 2001

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The political battle over medical use of embryonic tissue continues to rage, but out of the glare of the spotlight, scientists have been learning that some adult cells also hold vast treatment potential.

UF launches plan to preserve historic archive on Spain’s role in the New World

Published: April 12 2001

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida is launching an effort to preserve and make accessible a veritable gold mine of rare historic documents in Cuba’s National Archives that chronicle three centuries of Spain’s colonization of the New World.

Easter eggs may get bigger and harder to hide thanks to UF research

Published: April 11 2001

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Parents trying to hide Easter eggs may have a tougher time of it thanks to a University of Florida researcher who has figured out how to make hens lay larger eggs.

With an eye on safety, UF experts explore cellular mechanisms of gene therapy

Published: April 6 2001

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — In an era of heightened concern about gene therapy safety, a new University of Florida study provides reassurance that corrective DNA can be administered without simultaneously causing harmful genetic changes.

Paper or plastic? Packaging science a hot ticket for college grads

Published: April 5 2001

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Environmentally-aware college students may want to think outside the box — literally — and consider packaging science, a fast-growing sector of the container industry where waste reduction is good business.

For head lice, fourth-grade girls are a favorite host

Published: April 3 2001

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Head lice, the parasites that afflict millions of school children each year, have a sweet spot for 9- and 10-year-old girls, a University of Florida study has found.

Beach renourishment predictions “reasonably” accurate, study finds

Published: April 20 2001

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Coastal communities considering spending millions on renourishing beaches often want assurance their investment won’t wash out with a few big storms.

UF scientist: enzyme replacement restores muscle strength in mice with Pompe’s disease

Published: April 4 2001

GAINESVILLE, Fla.—University of Florida researchers have successfully restored normal muscle function in animals with a rare and fatal form of muscular dystrophy using a new form of enzyme replacement therapy.

UF Study: In some “senior moments,” elderly beat the young

Published: April 27 2001

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Although frustrated by “senior moments” of memory lapses, the elderly have a lifetime of knowledge that enables them to best the younger set even if they do slow down with age, says a University of Florida researcher.