Maxx Chatsko

The invention of polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, in 1983 may not be directly relevant to everyday investors, but it has gone a long way in spurring innovation in biopharmaceuticals, biotech crops, and industrial biotech. If you own a company in one of those industries, then it's likely that you should pay your respects to PCR.

The infamous and controversial Seralini study that appeard to show how consuming Monsanto products would lead to an increased risk of developing cancerous tumors, as shown in rats, has been retracted. Will that change the way you view potential health risks associated with GMO foods?

Direct-to-consumer genetic tests took a hit when the Food and Drug Administration told 23andMe to stop marketing its product. However, accepting the arrival of accessible genetic information could ignite growth opportunities for Myriad Genetics, Genomic Health, and Quest Diagnostics.

The country watched as voters in Washington weighed in on whether or not to enact GMO labeling laws affecting several food products in the state. However, Connecticut and Maine passed similar legislation back in June. Can a built-in compromise succeed in establishing the nation's first GMO labeling law?

The Food and Drug Administration recently removed a personal genome kit offered by 23andMe from the market. Here's why it was the right move.

Before you get caught up in the wild swings of Organovo Holdings, you may want to ask yourself one very important question.

You'll want to check this list if, for any reason, you want to avoid foods that contain GMO ingredients made from seed companies such as Monsanto and Syngenta this Thanksgiving. That's especially true if aren't in charge of that last-minute trip to the grocery store.

You may want to eat organic foods for their dedication to using natural ingredients or because of the controversy surrounding GMO foods. Whatever the reason, here are some of the top brands to look for during your next shopping trip -- and the companies promoting them.

The agency must acknowledge concerns regarding the Blend Wall with gasoline, but a viable alternative to ethanol isn't readily available. Can isobutanol offer the perfect solution, and a massive opportunity for BP and DuPont?

Voters in Washington state struck down the proposal that would have made GMO labeling law. Here's why they got it right.

Major automakers such as Toyota and General Motors have invested heavily in fuel cell technology, but that doesn't mean your next car will run on hydrogen fuel.

Some may have been shocked that the Environmental Protection Agency proposed reducing renewable fuel volumes for 2014, but the decision was pretty rational. The agency's softer position may also signal that the United States has reached peak ethanol.

Numerous polls show that the majority of consumers fear that GMO foods and ingredients pose a risk to their health. Unfortunately, people tend to dismiss the scientific data that shows otherwise. Can a review of the regulatory process for GMO foods quell public fears?

The Environmental Protection Agency may have proposed to reduce the overall amount of biodiesel blendstocks required to be blended into the nation's fuel supply for next year, but I don't think that justifies a drop of more than 20% for shares of Renewable Energy Group.

Several long-term trends and realities of the biotech industry will support Repligen's growth for the foreseeable future.

Shares of Organovo Holdings sank 25% on Tuesday after a long and detailed post was published on Seeking Alpha. Is this a buying opportunity or are shares bound to drop further?

The Environmental Protection Agency announced reductions to renewable fuel targets for 2014 -- the first cuts since the current Renewable Fuel Standard was released in 2007. What does it mean for the industries involved?

Why play the clinical guessing game when attempting to tap into the growth of the biotech industry? Companies such as Amgen, Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Protalix, and Repligen are tapping into long term trends without much of the risk.

Wall Street panicked at the end of 2000 when Abbott Labs announced it was acquiring the pharmaceutical business of BASF. Shares sank 7.1% the next trading day on fears of dilution and a lack of execution. Turns out that was a great buying opportunity.

Bioprocessing company Repligen relies heavily on General Electric's GE Healthcare division, Merck Millipore, and Sigma-Aldrich for getting its products to end users. What does each customer bring to the table?