The claims of the patent are directed to the production of antibodies in association with oilbodies.

"Antibodies are becoming an increasingly important form of therapeutics. The technology protected by this patent opens up new product opportunities for SemBioSys in the production of antibodies and other complex proteins. We believe our oilbody-oleosin technology is an efficient method for antibody production and recovery with substantial savings in both capital and cost-of-goods," said Andrew Baum, President and CEO of SemBioSys. "This patent demonstrates our commitment to protect our proprietary oilbody-oleosin technology and further strengthens our industry leading position for the production of proteins in plants."

In addition to the current patent, SemBioSys was also issued another U.S. patent 7,091,401 entitled "Expression of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) in plant seeds" on August 15, 2006, which covers chimeric nucleic acid sequences and methods of expression of EGF in plants and plant seeds. EGF is a human cytokine that has been shown to be important in many cellular regeneration processes including the proliferation of nerve and brain cells.

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Results from the study additionally suggest that the presence of half and step-brothers was also linked to earlier menarche. Girls living in an urban environment also had earlier menarche compared to girls in a rural environment, even when fathers were present for both groups, and had similar levels of education.

Matchock speculates that urban environments provide greater opportunities to get away from parents' inhibitory pheromones, and encounter attracting pheromones from unrelated members of the opposite sex.

"It is possible that a stimulating urban environment can negate suppressive cues from parents," he added.

Taken together, the Penn State researcher says the study is not a human anomaly but an explanation of how pheromonal cues modulate sexual maturity, to enhance mating and prevent inbreeding.

"Prevention of inbreeding is so crucial to successfully spread healthy genes that anti-inbreeding strategies such as the use of pheromones seem to be conserved across species," he added.

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