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Scientists develop free, online genetic research tool
The online, free service, RNAMiner, has been developed to handle large datasets which could lead to faster results in the study of plant and animal genomics.
July 8, 2015 Read more
Learning from biology to accelerate discovery
Surveying everything from sea cucumbers and Venus flytraps to human muscles and trees, a new review paper broadly explores the strategies that biology employs to create different functions and the mechanics at play within those functions. Discovering how and why biological systems attain desirable static and dynamic mechanical functionalities often reveals principles that inform new synthetic designs based on biological systems.
July 6, 2015 Read more
'Invisible' protein structure explains the power of enzymes
Scientists have managed to capture and describe a protein structure that, until now, has been impossible to study. The discovery lays the base for developing designed enzymes as catalysts to new chemical reactions for instance in biotechnological applications.
July 3, 2015 Read more
Researchers program solitary yeast cells to say 'hello' to one another
Researchers have engineered yeast cells that can 'talk' to one another, using a versatile plant hormone called auxin.
June 30, 2015 Read more
Earth's daily rotation period encoded in an atomic-level protein structure
Scientists have demonstrated that the Earth's daily rotation period (24 hours) is encoded in the KaiC protein at the atomic level, a small, 10 nm-diameter biomolecule expressed in cyanobacterial cells.
June 25, 2015 Read more
Delivering drugs to the right place
Researchers have developed a targeted drug delivery method that could potentially slow the progression of polycystic kidney disease.
June 25, 2015 Read more
Synthetic biology used to engineer new route to biochemicals
Researchers describe building a new pathway that lets the bacterium, E. coli, feed on both sugar (glucose) and acetate, a common waste material from biomass, to make isobutyl acetate. This product can be used as the basis for flavoring agents, solvents and fuels.
June 25, 2015 Read more
A novel DNA damage alarm
How does our body keep its DNA intact? Researchers have just found a new piece of this puzzle. They discovered a novel alarm that cells use to signal DNA damage.
June 25, 2015 Read more
Thousands of droplets for diagnostics
Researchers develop new method enabling DNA molecules to be counted in just 30 minutes.
June 25, 2015 Read more
Unlocking fermentation secrets open the door to new biofuels
Researchers have, for the first time, uncovered the complex interdependence and orchestration of metabolic reactions, gene regulation, and environmental cues of clostridial metabolism, providing new insights for advanced biofuel development.
June 24, 2015 Read more
Scientists create synthetic membranes that grow like living cells (w/video)
Chemists and biologists have succeeded in designing and synthesizing an artificial cell membrane capable of sustaining continual growth, just like a living cell.
June 24, 2015 Read more
Bionic eye clinical trial results show long-term safety, efficacy vision-restoring implant
The three-year clinical trial results of the retinal implant popularly known as the 'bionic eye', have proven the long-term efficacy, safety and reliability of the device that restores vision in those blinded by a rare, degenerative eye disease. The findings show that the Argus II significantly improves visual function and quality of life for people blinded by retinitis pigmentosa.
June 24, 2015 Read more
Cocktail of everyday chemicals may trigger cancer
Fifty chemicals the public is exposed to on a daily basis may trigger cancer when combined, according to new research.
June 23, 2015 Read more
The secrets of secretion
New system for fluid release could improve anti-fouling, drug delivery and self-healing materials.
June 22, 2015 Read more
Molecular sunscreen: How DNA protects itself from UV light
X-rays were used to measure the ultrafast response of DNA nucleobases to ultraviolet light. Researchers found that the UV excited state in the nucleobase thymine decays rapidly, harmlessly dissipating the potentially destructive UV energy.
June 22, 2015 Read more
Scientists solve decades-old cell biology puzzle
Researchers have solved a question that has puzzled cell biologists for decades: how does the protein machine that allows cells to swallow up molecules during endocytosis function?
June 19, 2015 Read more
Mantis shrimp inspires new body armor and football helmet design (w/video)
Researchers find mantis shrimp is naturally designed to survive the repeated high-velocity blows by filtering out certain frequencies of waves.
June 17, 2015 Read more
Complex, large-scale genome analysis made easier
Researchers have developed a new approach to studying the effect of multiple genetic variations on different traits. The new algorithm makes it possible to perform genetic analysis of up to 500,000 individuals - and many traits - at the same time.
June 16, 2015 Read more