Antibiotics: The plastic approach
Our antibiotic armory is set to benefit from the development of short-chain synthetic polymers with potent efficacy against multidrug-resistant microbes.
Nov 21st, 2012
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Microbiology: Eavesdropping on bacterial conversations
A signaling receptor that aids bacterial communication may provide a target for reducing virulence without antibiotics.
Nov 21st, 2012
Read moreEngineered bacteria can make the ultimate sacrifice
Scientists have engineered bacteria that are capable of sacrificing themselves for the good of the bacterial population. These altruistically inclined bacteria can be used to demonstrate the conditions where programmed cell death becomes a distinct advantage for the survival of the bacterial population.
Nov 20th, 2012
Read moreRibosomes - More than a machine
Ribosome regulates viral protein synthesis, revealing potential therapeutic target.
Nov 20th, 2012
Read moreAlgae can draw energy from other plants
Scientists have confirmed for the first time that a plant, the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, not only engages in photosynthesis, but also has an alternative source of energy: it can draw it from other plants. This finding could also have a major impact on the future of bioenergy.
Nov 20th, 2012
Read moreUnlocking ancient rice secrets to overcome rainfall extremes
Researchers from the UK, USA and India, led by scientists at the University of York, are embarking on a major four-year project which aims to develop new strains of rice to help to feed millions of people.
Nov 20th, 2012
Read moreSome cells don't know when to stop (w/video)
Certain mutated cells keep trying to replicate their DNA - with disastrous results - even after medications rob them of the raw materials to do so.
Nov 19th, 2012
Read moreBiotech developments signal new breakthrough
The PEPCHIPOMICS project, which is supported by the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) of the European Union, is aimed at synthesising and reading very high-density peptide microarrays.
Nov 19th, 2012
Read morePear genome provides new insight into breeding improvement and evolutionary trace analysis
An international research team led by Nanjing Agricultural University and BGI, has completed the first genomic sequence of pear by an approach using the combination of BAC-by-BAC strategy and next-gen sequencing. The pear genome not only provides an invaluable new resource for breeding improvement of this important crop, but also sheds new light on the genome evolution and other genome-wide comparative studies.
Nov 19th, 2012
Read moreDiscovery could hold the key to super-sensory hearing
The discovery of a previously unidentified hearing organ in the South American bushcrickets' ear could pave the way for technological advancements in bio-inspired acoustic sensors research, including medical imaging and hearing aid development.
Nov 16th, 2012
Read moreScientists gets grant to develop 'designer bacteria'
The money will help researchers in the Institute of Molecular, System and Cell Biology at the University of Glasgow to simplify the process of designing, building, testing and modifying biological systems like bacteria for a variety of useful purposes.
Nov 15th, 2012
Read moreThese bots were made for walking: Cells power biological machines
They're soft, biocompatible, about 7 millimeters long ? and, incredibly, able to walk by themselves. Miniature "bio-bots" developed at the University of Illinois are making tracks in synthetic biology.
Nov 15th, 2012
Read moreNew ink formulated to print living human tissue
Scientists are one step closer to being able to print tissue replacements for diseased or damaged body parts using inkjet printers, thanks to the development of a specialised ink formulation.
Nov 15th, 2012
Read moreNew way to model human disease
Researchers at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University have mimicked pulmonary edema in a microchip lined by living human cells. They used this "lung-on-a-chip" to study drug toxicity and identify potential new therapies to prevent this life-threatening condition.
Nov 15th, 2012
Read morePig gene discovery could help combat animal and human disease
Insights into the genetic code of pigs that reveal how the species evolved could improve the health of animals in future.
Nov 14th, 2012
Read moreBiofactory introduces kits for assessment of protein-DNA interactions, targeting researchers and industry
Based on a unique technology developed by A*STAR Singapore, these inventive and easy-to-use kits are versatile, effective and quick in the screening for modulators of protein-DNA interactions, as well as quality control (QC) analysis of transcription factor production.
Nov 14th, 2012
Read moreInjectable sponge delivers drugs, cells, and structure
Bioengineers at Harvard have developed a gel-based sponge that can be molded to any shape, loaded with drugs or stem cells, compressed to a fraction of its size, and delivered via injection. Once inside the body, it pops back to its original shape and gradually releases its cargo, before safely degrading.
Nov 13th, 2012
Read moreStudy sheds light on genetic 'clock' in embryonic cells
International collaboration reveals timing mechanism in formation of vertebrae.
Nov 13th, 2012
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