Rightly or wrongly, concerns over GM crops contaminating their non-GM kin have led to a stalemate in progress towards acceptance of GM crops and foods. We look at a new approach using gene silencing and gene imprinting.

Deciphering vertebrate development, sorting out the roosters from the hens and taking on bird flu - dare we say, all in one fowl swoop - that is the job of CSIRO's Dr Mark Tizard, who has created a new microRNA catalogue for the humble chook.

Australia's durum wheat growers have extra reason to be worried as the worst drought in two centuries provides a grim foretaste of the Infernal Century. However, a chance discovery of a salt-tolerance gene from decades-old seed lines is looking promising.

The elusive molecule responsible for spreading gene silencing through plants is still unknown, but the pioneers of RNAi research at CSIRO Plant Industry are close to tracking it down.

CSIRO scientists win Australia's premier science award for discovery of double-stranded RNA interference in plants, while marine researcher wins life scientist of the year award.

Scientists at CSIRO's Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) in Geelong have launched a potentially revolutionary research project aimed at reducing the threat of the lethal H5N1 avian influenza virus.

CSIRO Plant Industry and NZ's AgResearch are putting their heads together.

Five biologists are amongst the 20 Federation Fellows named for 2007.

CSIRO has appointed seven new Fellows.

A lucky coincidence has led Australian plant researchers to two new genes responsible for salt tolerance in wheat.

Graeme O'Neill speaks with RNAi pioneer Peter Waterhouse and meets Drosha, Dicer, Argonaute and other characters.