Lifeless Prions Capable Of Evolutionary Change And Adaptation (SpaceDaily) by Staff Writers Jupiter FL (SPX) Jan 04, 2010 Scientists from The Scripps Research Institute have determined for the first time that prions, bits of infectious protein devoid of DNA or RNA that can cause fatal neurodegenerative disease, are capable of Darwinian evolution. [News Source]

Even without DNA, prions can evolve like organisms, study says. Although they are believed to be "lifeless," the infectious agents known as prions that cause a variety of fatal brain diseases in people and animals are capable of evolving like living organisms, according to a new study. [News Source]

Damage control over beef dispute is priority. The executive and legislative arms of the government should work together to overcome the fallout from the dispute with Washington over imports of U.S. beef, with damage control the top priority, Presidential Office spokesman Wang Yu-chi said Saturday. [News Source]

Taiwan to restore partial ban on US beef (Jefferson City News Tribune) TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) -- Taiwan's two main political parties agreed Tuesday to reinstate a ban on some kinds of U.S. beef imports amid growing public concern that the government lacks adequate safeguards against mad cow disease. [News Source]

Mid-Columbia’s decade in review (Tri-City Herald) The Tri-Cities and the Mid-Columbia have grown rapidly over the past decade, with the population boo [News Source]