Biotechnology News – Latest Headlines

Biotechnology researchers are trying to develop CO2 as a source of carbon

A synthetic metabolic pathway converts CO2 from the atmosphere into organic matter more efficiently than plants are able to through photosynthesis.

November 25, 2016 Read more

Molecular chameleons reveal bacterial biofilms

Molecules that change colour can be used to follow in real-time how bacteria form a protective biofilm around themselves. This new method may in the future become significant both in medical care and the food industry, where bacterial biofilms are a problem.

November 23, 2016 Read more

New transgenic grasses neutralize toxic pollution from bombs, explosives, and munitions

Researchers describe new transgenic grass species that can neutralize and eradicate RDX - a toxic compound that has been widely used in explosives since World War II.

November 22, 2016 Read more

Scientists tissue-engineer human intestines and functioning nerves

Scientists report using human pluripotent stem cells to grow human intestinal tissues that have functioning nerves in a laboratory, and then using these to recreate and study a severe intestinal nerve disorder called Hirschsprung's disease.

November 21, 2016 Read more

Only half of a chromosome is DNA, 3-D imaging study shows

DNA makes up only half of the material inside chromosomes - far less than was previously thought - a study has revealed. Up to 47 per cent of their structure is a mysterious sheath that surrounds the genetic material, researchers say.

November 21, 2016 Read more

The end of biotechnology as we know it

Big challenges are waiting for science und industry according to the European Summit of Industrial Biotechnology 2016.

November 21, 2016 Read more

Using light to map the circuitry of the brain

Bio-engineers are first to explore the use of highly-sensitive, non-invasive optical coherence tomography (OCT) to examine neuron-to-neuron communication in live tissue.

November 21, 2016 Read more

Scientists successfully create blood from skin cells

Researchers have artificially generated new mouse blood and immune cells from skin cells. This is a significant first step towards the eventual goal: the engineering of new human blood cells from skin cells or other artificial sources.

November 21, 2016 Read more

Crop yield gets boost with modified genes in photosynthesis

Plant biologists have bumped up crop productivity by increasing the expression of genes that result in more efficient use of light in photosynthesis, a finding that could be used to help address the world's future food needs.

November 18, 2016 Read more

Last-line antibiotics are failing

On the occasion of the 9th European Antibiotic Awareness Day, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is releasing its latest EU-wide data on antibiotic resistance and antibiotic consumption. In 2015, antibiotic resistance continued to increase for most bacteria and antibiotics under surveillance.

November 18, 2016 Read more

Biotechnology: A growing field in the developing world

A detailed new report surveys a broad cross-section of biotechnology work across developing countries, revealing steady growth in fields tied to human well-being worldwide.

November 15, 2016 Read more

Human Brain Project specifies its research goals

The European Human Brain Project (HBP) presented its new strategic objectives at its annual meeting.

November 14, 2016 Read more

Researchers create synthetic cells to isolate genetic circuits

Encapsulating molecular components in artificial membranes offers more flexibility in designing circuits.

November 14, 2016 Read more

Imaging the birth of new brain cells

PET imaging of new neurons in the brain promises to advance our understanding and treatment of depression.

November 11, 2016 Read more

The self-driving microscope

Researchers develop a combination of software and hardware for adaptive live imaging of large living organisms.

November 10, 2016 Read more

Biomass-based chemicals

Scientists will study potential uses of the carbon contained in biomass and of the carbon dioxide arising as a by-product in industrial production. The project is aimed at developing a novel process chain for the synthesis of the basic chemical substance methanol.

November 10, 2016 Read more

The process of DNA packaging in cell nucleus revealed

Scientists have conducted a research on DNA packaging in the cell nucleus and its alteration in the process of DNA replication. DNA packaging is supposed to have strong influence on genes' activity. It's also one of the mechanisms of epigenetic control of gene expression.

November 8, 2016 Read more

Beyond the DNA double helix: From twofold to fourfold DNA

Researchers have studied and visualised the formation of quadruplexes in looped DNA that may be a better representation of DNA in the living cell than in the short and linear pieces of DNA that are more commonly used for such investigations.

November 7, 2016 Read more