Biotechnology News – Latest Headlines

New synthetic molecule can kill five types of deadly drug-resistant superbugs

An international research team has developed a synthetic molecule that can kill five deadly types of multidrug-resistant bacteria with limited, if any, side effects.

March 6, 2018 Read more

Drug-producing bacteria possible with synthetic biology breakthrough

Bacteria could be programmed to efficiently produce drugs, thanks to breakthrough research into synthetic biology using engineering principles.

March 5, 2018 Read more

Researchers design lens-free fluorescent microscope

FlatScope may be the world's tiniest, lightest microscope for biological applications and beyond.

March 5, 2018 Read more

Biochemists zero in on key molecules that enable cells to crawl

Biochemists have made a discovery that sheds light on the molecular machinery that allows some cells, such as immune cells or even malignant cancer cells in humans, to wiggle their way through tissues like organs, skin or bones.

March 5, 2018 Read more

Stem cell 'twins' to study disease

Researchers report a new gene editing method that can modify a single DNA base in the human genome with absolute precision.

March 5, 2018 Read more

Scientists create complex transmembrane proteins from scratch

Advance paves the way for the design of transmembrane proteins with useful, new functions.

March 1, 2018 Read more

Quantum machine shows promise for biological research

In first quantum machine learning study with biological data, researchers leverage D-Wave to understand gene regulation.

February 27, 2018 Read more

Metabolic modelling becomes three-dimensional

An international research consortium developed the first computer model to include 3D in the representation of human metabolic processes.

February 22, 2018 Read more

New tool tells bioengineers when to build microbial teams

Framework guides complex bioengineering tasks between multiple cell populations.

February 21, 2018 Read more

In living color: Brightly-colored bacteria could be used to 'grow' paints and coatings

Researchers have unlocked the genetic code behind some of the brightest and most vibrant colours in nature.

February 19, 2018 Read more

Organ-on-chip technology enters next stage as experts test hepatitis B virus

Scientists have tested how pathogens interact with artificial human organs.

February 14, 2018 Read more

Chemists develop motion capture-like technology for tracking protein shape

Researchers have demonstrated a motion capture-like technology that tracks how proteins fold and change shape using fluorescent probes. The research could lead to improvements in drugs used to treat neurodegenerative diseases, as well as new methods of imaging that may also allow for earlier detection.

February 13, 2018 Read more

Cell membrane as material for bone formation

The burst of cells forming cartilage is associated with mineralization during the early stages of bone formation, and nanofragments of the cell membranes can act as nucleation sites for amorphous calcium phosphate.

February 13, 2018 Read more

New sustainable production method could advance plastics and pharmaceuticals

Chemical engineers have developed a new, cost-effective method for synthetically producing a biorenewable platform chemical called triacetic acid lactone (TAL) that can be used to produce innovative new drugs and sustainable plastics at an industrial scale.

February 12, 2018 Read more

Scientists create functioning kidney tissue

Scientists have successfully produced human kidney tissue within a living organism which is able to produce urine, a first for medical science.

February 9, 2018 Read more

Sweet route to greater yields

A promising technique that makes maize more productive even in droughts has now been unpicked and looks set to do the same for a range of other crops, including wheat and rice.

February 8, 2018 Read more

Recreating liver tumors as organoids for faster, more accurate drug screening

Researchers have grown organoids from liver tumors on specially engineered 3-D scaffolds. These organoids replicate important features of the original tumor, including genetic changes and intra-tumor heterogeneity, and could serve as tumor avatars for high-throughput drug screening.

February 8, 2018 Read more

Biotechnologists look to bacteria in extremely cold environments for 'green' detergents

Despite subzero temperatures, increased UV radiation, little liquid water, and few available nutrients, bacteria living at Earth's poles thrive. They manage it thanks in part to molecules called biosurfactants, which help them separate the complex substrates they feed on into easy-to-metabolize droplets.

February 7, 2018 Read more