Biotechnology News – Latest Headlines

Memory capacity of brain is 10 times more than previously thought

Scientists have achieved critical insight into the size of neural connections, putting the memory capacity of the brain far higher than common estimates. The new work also answers a longstanding question as to how the brain is so energy efficient and could help engineers build computers that are incredibly powerful but also conserve energy.

January 20, 2016 Read more

Breakthrough in human cell transformation could revolutionize regenerative medicine

Researchers have demonstrated the creation of a system that predicts how to create any human cell type from another cell type directly, without the need for experimental trial and error.

January 19, 2016 Read more

New tool puts accurate DNA analysis in fast lane

Bioengineers have developed a tool to speed the design of molecular diagnostics that depend on the specific recognition of pathogen DNA and RNA

January 19, 2016 Read more

Blood cells in action

Biophysicists measure for the first time what happens when red blood cells 'wriggle'.

January 18, 2016 Read more

Brain monitoring takes a leap out of the lab

Bioengineers and cognitive scientists have developed the first portable, 64-channel wearable brain activity monitoring system that's comparable to state-of-the-art equipment found in research laboratories.

January 13, 2016 Read more

Squeezing cells into stem cells

Scientists have developed a new method that turns cells into stem cells by 'squeezing' them. The method paves the way for large-scale production of stem cells for medical purposes.

January 11, 2016 Read more

Organ-on-a-chip

In a step toward personalized drug testing, researchers coax human stem cells to form complex tissues.

January 7, 2016 Read more

Tracing a cellular family tree (w/video)

New technique allows tracking of gene expression over generations of cells as they specialize.

January 6, 2016 Read more

A metabolic pathway in cyanobacteria could yield better biofuels and bioproducts from photosynthesis

Scientists have discovered that a metabolic pathway previously only suggested to be functional in photosynthetic organisms is actually a major pathway and can enable efficient conversion of carbon dioxide to organic compounds.

December 22, 2015 Read more

Antibiotic-infused implants designed to help faces heal

Researchers developing temporary implants for facial reconstruction are incorporating a unique way to deliver time-released antibiotics to ward off infection while a patient heals.

December 18, 2015 Read more

Biophysicists discover the key feature of an accurate tool for optogenetics

Biophysicists have developed a hypothesis to explain the function of a light-driven protein which pumps sodium ions across a cell membrane, and they have revealed the key structural feature of these pumps. The scientists see these sodium pumps as being highly promising tools in using light signals to control nerve cells - which is exactly what is involved in the new scientific field of optogenetics.

December 14, 2015 Read more

'Kill switches' shut down engineered bacteria

Synthetic biology technique could make it safer to put engineered microbes to work outside of the lab.

December 11, 2015 Read more

New way to make yeast hybrids may inspire new brews, biofuels

Thanks to a new method for making interspecies yeast hybrids in the lab, the makers of beer, wine, biofuels and other products that depend on yeasts may soon have many more strains of the microorganism to work with.

December 4, 2015 Read more

Bringing synthetic biology education to life

Nonprofit provides hands-on experiments to students and teachers worldwide.

December 4, 2015 Read more

Protein imaging reveals detailed brain architecture (w/video)

Chemical engineers and neuroscientists have developed a new way to classify neurons by labeling and imaging the proteins found in each cell. This type of imaging offers clues to each neuron's function and should help in mapping the human brain, the researchers say.

December 3, 2015 Read more

PROTEIN2FOOD - Pioneering crops for future generations

A team of 19 partner institutions from 13 countries will create innovative, high quality, protein-rich food crops, to sustain human health, the environment, and biodiversity.

December 1, 2015 Read more

Researchers grow retinal nerve cells in the lab

Researchers have developed a method to efficiently turn human stem cells into retinal ganglion cells, the type of nerve cells located within the retina that transmit visual signals from the eye to the brain. Death and dysfunction of these cells cause vision loss in conditions like glaucoma and multiple sclerosis.

December 1, 2015 Read more

Make your own cell survival kit

Synthetic glycopolymers in the membrane hold up programmed cell death.

November 26, 2015 Read more