With Genetic Tweak Maize Cells Produce Enzyme-Replacement Drug

Some complex protein drugs need to be made by culturing mammalian cells. Plant biologists have developed a way to manufacture the necessary enzymes for drugs in maize.

Read more @ SciTechDaily

Heavy Teenage Cannabis Use Leads to Drop in IQ

It seems like something straightforward in essence, but apparently being a heavy cannabis smoker as a teenager results in a significant cognitive decline in adulthood, something that is not seen comparably in adult users of the drug.

Read more @ SciTechDaily

Amino Acid Organocatalyst Halves Synthesis of Prostaglandin-Class Drugs

Prostaglandin class drugs are a class of hormone-like chemicals that influence processes including blood circulation and inflammation. Their use offers a way to churn out different versions of the molecules thanks to organocatalysis, an organic chemistry discipline that speeds up chemical reactions with the help of carbon-based molecules to avoid the drawbacks of metal catalysts.

Read more @ SciTechDaily

Hydrogen-Bubble-Powered Microrockets Could Deliver Drugs Directly Into Patient’s Bodies

Researchers have been designing a wide variety of self-propelled micromotors, many which operate using an oxygen-bubble propulsion mechanism that requires a high concentration of hydrogen peroxide as fuel, which in turn is hazardous at high concentrations, hindering its usefulness in biomedical applications. In a new study, scientists have created a new type of micromotor that can propel itself through acidic environments using only hydrogen bubbles. At low pH levels, the micromotors can travel at speeds of up to 100 body lengths per second, prompting the colloquial use of microrockets to designate these devices.

Read more @ SciTechDaily

In the Future, Drug Dealers Will Be Robots

In Nurse Jackie, one of the main characters, who was a pharmacist, got replaced by some drug dealing machine. It didn’t take long before he got his job back because the machine was stupid. This robot is anything but stupid – and pharmacists, hospital orderlies, and drug dealers, beware! You could soon be replaced.

Read more @ Technabob

Weeds Felling and Swamping S06E02 (Showtime)

Weeds is an American satirical comedy television series. Marie-Louise Parker plays a widowed housewife named Nancy Botwin from an affluent California suburb who becomes an upper-middle-class marijuana dealer to make ends meet.

Things started slowly, with Nancy just dealing a bit of weed on the side. It rapidly became more serious. She went from being a simple dealer, to a grower, to a distributor. Two season ago, she hooked up with Guillermo, a serious Narco trafficker in charge of a part of LA for a Mexican drug cartel. In the last season, she became involved with a drug dealer named Reyes, who’s the boss of a family.

Warning: Spoilers ahead.

Weeds Twack S06E01 (Showtime)

Weeds is an American satirical comedy television series. Marie-Louise Parker plays a widowed housewife named Nancy Botwin from an affluent California suburb who becomes an upper-middle-class marijuana dealer to make ends meet.

Things started slowly, with Nancy just dealing a bit of weed on the side. It rapidly became more serious. She went from being a simple dealer, to a grower, to a distributor. Two season ago, she hooked up with Guillermo, a serious Narco trafficker in charge of a part of LA for a Mexican drug cartel. In the last season, she became involved with a drug dealer named Reyes, who’s the boss of a family.

Warning: Spoilers ahead.

The Advent of Digital Drugs

Reminds me of the herbal ecstasy craze from a few years ago. I’m not really concerned, but I bet that if enough money is poured into this, there will be digital drugs in some fashion or the other within 10 years. Once a machine can be safely linked to neural pathways, digital drugs will be able to affect the brain. Otherwise, it sounds like something from the X-Files.

Weed Card

Weed Card sung by Riki “Garfunkel” Lindhome and Kate “Oates” Micucci. (via animal ny)

Weeds Su-Su-Sucio S05E03 (Showtime)

Weeds is an American satirical comedy television series. Marie-Louise Parker plays a widowed housewife named Nancy Botwin from an affluent California suburb who becomes an upper-middle-class marijuana dealer to make ends meet.

Things started slowly, with Nancy just dealing a bit of weed on the side. It rapidly became more serious. She went from being a simple dealer, to a grower, to a distributor. Two season ago, she hooked up with Guillermo, a serious Narco trafficker in charge of a part of LA for a Mexican drug cartel. In the last season, she became involved with a drug dealer named Reyes, who’s the boss of a family.

Warning: Spoilers ahead.