Fighting Food Waste: Researchers Identify Broccoli Genes That Affect Freshness

As soon as a head of broccoli is harvested, an internal freshness clock starts counting down. Eventually, that crisp, green broccoli crown wilts and yellows. A study published in the journal Postharvest Biology and Technology from a team of scientists at the University of Florida, Kansas State University and Virginia Tech offers new insights into not only what makes this freshness clock tick, but also how to slow it down.

Even at the Cellular Level, Ancestry Matters

In a new article published by Nature, UF professors Erika Moore, Josephine Allen, and Connie Mulligan argue it is imperative to consider ancestry in cell samples for medical research because ancestral differences are present in many diseases. Ancestry typically refers to biological or genetic characteristics, but sociocultural factors, such as language and family history, also impact ancestry. The authors argue that accounting for a person’s ancestry will improve the effectiveness of treatment for patients of all backgrounds.

Pharmacosmos Group Acquires AbFero Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Pharmacosmos Group, a leader in the development of innovative treatments for patients suffering from iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia, today announced the acquisition of UF startup AbFero Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Boston-based, privately-held clinical stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to treating diseases of iron overload.

UF Develops Artificial Intelligence in ICU

A group of University of Florida Health researchers are developing an intelligent ICU, an autonomous and highly detailed patient-monitoring system driven by artificial intelligence.

Pheronym Begins Scaling Pest Bio-Control Solution at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Pheronym, an ag-biotech pest management company that got its start at UF Innovate | Accelerate’s incubator The Hub, has begun scaling up production of its patented NemastimTM pest bio-control solution at Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, through a development agreement that provides access to key fermentation and quality control systems.