Biotechnology News – Latest Headlines

Remembrance of things past - bacterial memory of gut inflammation

Researchers designed a powerful bacterial sensor with a stable gene circuit in a colonizing bacterial strain that can record gut inflammation for six months in mice. This study offers a solution to previous challenges associated with living diagnostics and may bring them closer to use in human patients.

May 29, 2017 Read more

CRISPR gene editing can cause hundreds of unintended mutations

As CRISPR-Cas9 starts to move into clinical trials, a new study has found that the gene-editing technology can introduce hundreds of unintended mutations into the genome.

May 29, 2017 Read more

Healing wounds with cell therapy

An experimental treatment in mice allows the reprogramming of blood cells in order to promote the healing process of cutaneous wounds. This approach could prove to be beneficial in healing challenging wounds in diabetics and major-burn victims.

May 29, 2017 Read more

Bacteria with multicolor vision

Red, green, and blue light can be used to control gene expression in engineered E. coli.

May 26, 2017 Read more

DNA ladders: Inexpensive molecular rulers for DNA research

New, license-free DNA ladders will allow researchers to estimate the size of fragments of DNA for a fraction of the cost of currently available methods.

May 26, 2017 Read more

Designer viruses stimulate the immune system to fight cancer

Scientists have created artificial viruses that can be used to target cancer. These designer viruses alert the immune system and cause it to send killer cells to help fight the tumor. The results provide a basis for innovative cancer treatments.

May 26, 2017 Read more

Scientists borrow from electronics to build circuits in living cells

A team of synthetic biology researchers have demonstrated a new method for digital information processing in living cells, analogous to the logic gates used in electric circuits.

May 25, 2017 Read more

Making biological drugs with spider silk protein

Researchers have managed to synthesise lung surfactant, a drug used in the care of preterm babies, by mimicking the production of spider silk. Animal studies reveal it to be just as effective as the biological drugs currently in clinical use.

May 23, 2017 Read more

Micro delivery service for fertilizers

Tailored microgel containers for plant health.

May 22, 2017 Read more

Insects resist genetic methods to control disease spread

Study challenges use of powerful gene-editing technology to prevent malaria, other diseases.

May 20, 2017 Read more

Triple play boosting value of renewable fuel could tip market in favor of biomass

Researchers have developed a new process for obtaining not one, but three high-value products from biomass in one fell swoop.

May 20, 2017 Read more

Scientists enlist engineered protein to battle the MERS virus

A custom-engineered protein destroyed the deadly virus in the lab; could become a sweeping anti-viral in medicine and farming.

May 19, 2017 Read more

Insight into enzyme's 3-D structure could cut biofuel costs

Neutron crystallography maps LPMOs that break down fibrous cellulose.

May 18, 2017 Read more

New study helps solve a great mystery in the organization of our DNA

After decades of research aiming to understand how DNA is organized in human cells, scientists have shed new light on this mysterious field by discovering how a key protein helps control gene organization.

May 18, 2017 Read more

Advancing cancer immunotherapy with computer simulations and data analysis

Supercomputers help researchers classify patients' immune response, design clinical trials and analyze immune repertoire data.

May 18, 2017 Read more

Decoding and controlling signalling circuits in living cells with light flashes

Researchers have invented new tools for decoding and controlling signalling circuits in living cells with flashes of light. In principle, any cellular circuit can now be targeted with the new method.

May 17, 2017 Read more

10-dollar test detects tuberculosis in minutes

Scientists develop a quick, cheap and portable test for diagnosing tuberculosis.

May 17, 2017 Read more

Bacteria harness the lotus effect to protect themselves

Scientists have now been able to show how such biofilms adapt their surface texture to repel water - similar to leaves.

May 16, 2017 Read more