Skin that can flex its muscles
A membrane curls fast and furiously when it comes into contact with a solvent vapour.
Posted: Jul 21st, 2014
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Biotechnology News – Latest Headlines
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Scientists map one of most important proteins in life - and cancer
Scientists reveal the structure of one of the most important and complicated proteins in cell division - a fundamental process in life and the development of cancer - in research published today.
Posted: Jul 20th, 2014
Read moreSpeedy computation enables scientists to reconstruct an animal's development cell by cell
Recent advances in imaging technology are transforming how scientists see the cellular universe, showing the form and movement of once grainy and blurred structures in stunning detail. But extracting the torrent of information contained in those images often surpasses the limits of existing computational resources. Now, researchers have created a new computational method to rapidly track the three-dimensional movements of cells in such data-rich images.
Posted: Jul 20th, 2014
Read moreMeasuring the number of protein molecules inside cells
Scientists were able to measure the amount of protein molecules in living human cells required to form an important structure of the chromosome, the centromere. This study presents new methodologies that may also be used to unveil other biological problems.
Posted: Jul 18th, 2014
Read moreX-ray studies of biomolecules without the damage
A non-damaging x-ray technique makes it possible to investigate the detailed structure of large biomolecules, leading to a better understanding of their biological functions.
Posted: Jul 18th, 2014
Read moreEngineering synthetic microbial communities for biomethane production
Scientists are investigating how to use methane-producing microbes, known as methanogens, to generate renewable biofuels.
Posted: Jul 17th, 2014
Read moreSquid skin protein could improve biomedical technologies
Conductivity could charge up futuristic disease treatments.
Posted: Jul 16th, 2014
Read morePutting protein production in proportion
A library of sequences that modify relative gene expression enables tighter control over protein production.
Posted: Jul 16th, 2014
Read moreInnovative technique may transform the hunt for new antibiotics and cancer therapies
Researchers developed a new technique to quickly uncover novel, medically relevant products produced by bacteria. Past techniques involved screening more than 10,000 samples to find a novel product, but the method yielded a novel product after screening just a few dozen soil bacteria.
Posted: Jul 14th, 2014
Read moreA sweet pathway into the cell
Researchers engineer bacterial proteins that can transport substances across the cell membrane.
Posted: Jul 14th, 2014
Read moreScientists find genetic recipe to turn stem cells to blood
The ability to reliably and safely make in the laboratory all of the different types of cells in human blood is one key step closer to reality. Stem cell researchers now report the discovery of two genetic programs responsible for taking blank-slate stem cells and turning them into both red and the array of white cells that make up human blood.
Posted: Jul 14th, 2014
Read moreOpening-up the stem cell niche - Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation without irradiation
A novel mouse model allows for the transplantation of human blood-forming stem cells without the need for irradiation therapy.
Posted: Jul 11th, 2014
Read moreScientists develop technology to redirect proteins towards specific areas of the genome
BuD protein domains could be used as 'drones' to direct DNA repair or activator proteins towards specific genome sequences.
Posted: Jul 10th, 2014
Read moreNo extra mutations in modified stem cells, study finds
New results ease previous concerns that gene-editing techniques used to develop therapies for genetic diseases could add unwanted mutations to stem cells.
Posted: Jul 9th, 2014
Read moreMicrobes - The new bioplastic factories (w/video)
European scientists are experimenting with bacteria and algae and turn them into bioplastic factories. Their vision: these microorganisms should produce a large portion of our plastic materials without any petroleum.
Posted: Jul 8th, 2014
Read moreDental pulp stem cells promote the survival and regeneration of retinal cells after injury
Injury to the retina and optic nerve leads to irreversible loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and irreparable damage to their axons which ultimately leads to blindness. Providing a sustained source of neurotrophic growth factors is required to promote their survival and regeneration. Transplanted dental pulp stem cells secrete multiple growth factors which protect RGCs from death after optic nerve injury and promote regeneration of their axons.
Posted: Jul 7th, 2014
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