Study finds origins of prion disease gene (redOrbit) A University of Toronto-led team of scientists says it has determined the evolutionary origin of the prion gene. The researchers said the diseased prion proteins are responsible for the fatal neurodegenerative Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known [News Source]

Woody Harrelson as Leathery Roughneck in Zombieland (The Village Voice) The zombie movie—that evergreen vessel for all manner of social and political allegory—gets stripped down to its "Holy shit! Zombies! Run!" chassis in this fitfully amusing romp directed with little ambition and even less distinction by first-timer Ruben Fleischer. Set in a not-too-di... [News Source]

Study finds origins of prion disease gene (UPI) TORONTO, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- A University of Toronto-led team of scientists says it has determined the evolutionary origin of the prion gene. [News Source]

Scientists unravel evolutionary origins of prion disease gene (New Kerala) Washington, Sept 29 : Scientists claim to have unravelled the evolutionary origin of the prion gene that is responsible for causing diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), also known as 'mad cow disease.' [News Source]

Japan to Buy Pork to Boost Prices After Demand Drops (Update1) (Bloomberg) Sept. 29 (Bloomberg) -- Japan, the world’s largest pork importer, will purchase about 70,000 swine carcasses from local herds to boost prices after an economic slump cut consumption and sent stockpiles to a 20-year high. [News Source]

Researchers expose evolutionary ancestry of prion gene (News-Medical-Net) A University of Toronto-led team has uncovered the evolutionary ancestry of the prion gene, which may reveal new understandings of how the prion protein causes diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), also known as "mad cow disease." [News Source]

Half Way Packing Co. is back in business (Bolivar Herald-Free Press) Half Way Packing Co. is back in business, and Ted Ballenger is back as manager. Other than that, things have changed. [News Source]