Biotechnology News – Latest Headlines

Deep learning dreams up new protein structures

Researchers show that a neural network trained exclusively to predict protein shapes can also generate new ones.

December 1, 2021 Read more

Synthetic tissue can repair hearts, muscles, and vocal cords

Combining knowledge of chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering, scientists develop a biomaterial tough enough to repair the heart, muscles, and vocal cords, representing a major advance in regenerative medicine.

November 30, 2021 Read more

Biosensor barcodes identify, detail 'chatting' among cancer cells

Tagging biochemical processes with colors enables in-depth examination of cellular communications network at molecular level.

November 30, 2021 Read more

We might not know half of what's in our cells, new AI technique reveals

Artificial intelligence-based technique reveals previously unknown cell components that may provide new clues to human development and disease.

November 24, 2021 Read more

Enhancing the workhorse: Artificial intelligence, hardware innovations boost confocal microscope's performance

To push confocal imaging to an unprecedented level of performance, researchers have invented a 'kitchen sink' confocal platform that borrows solutions from other high-powered imaging systems, adds a unifying thread of Deep Learning artificial intelligence algorithms, and successfully improves the confocal's volumetric resolution by more than 10-fold while simultaneously reducing phototoxicity.

November 24, 2021 Read more

Designing microbe factories for sustainable chemicals

Machine learning, Bayesian inference, and metabolic modeling help design biofuel-producing yeast.

November 20, 2021 Read more

Novel artificial genomic DNA can replicate and evolve outside the cell

Scientists have successfully induced gene expression from a DNA, characteristic of all life, and evolution through continuous replication extracellularly using cell-free materials alone, such as nucleic acids and proteins for the first time.

November 19, 2021 Read more

Researchers develop method for early detection of bacterial infection in crops

Novel Raman Spectroscopy-based method enables early detection and quantification of pathogens in plants, which can impact plant disease management and agricultural industry.

November 18, 2021 Read more

Artificial intelligence successfully predicts protein interactions

The study identified more than 100 probable protein complexes for the first time and provided structural models for more than 700 previously uncharacterized ones. Insights into the ways pairs or groups of proteins fit together to carry out cellular processes could lead to a wealth of new drug targets.

November 17, 2021 Read more

Synthetic biology yields easy-to-use underwater adhesives

Scientists have developed a method that uses engineered microbes to produce the necessary ingredients for a biocompatible adhesive hydrogel that is as strong as spider silk and as adhesive as mussel foot protein (Mfp), which means it can stick to a myriad.

November 16, 2021 Read more

The Sorting Hat: An AI-powered image classifier for cell biologists

Scientists designed and evaluated the performance of deep learning models with a user-friendly interface for biological image classification.

November 16, 2021 Read more

This light-powered catalyst mimics photosynthesis

The new molecule can improve the yield of reactions for generating pharmaceuticals and other useful compounds.

November 15, 2021 Read more

Mechanically coupled enzymes have higher catalytic efficiency

Enzymes can benefit from cooperation and avoid the activation energy required for individual enzymes. This way, two enzymes can work hand-in-hand to achieve an overall faster turnover of a chemical reaction.

November 15, 2021 Read more

Building bacteria to keep us well

Researchers have genetically engineered bacteria that can monitor chemical production from inside a person's gut and fix any imbalances.

November 12, 2021 Read more

Cheers! Scientists have developed gene-edited barley that could better your beer

Using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, scientists develop and study gene-edited barley that resists pre-harvest sprouting.

November 12, 2021 Read more

AI helps design the perfect chickpea

A massive international research effort has led to development of a genetic model for the 'ultimate' chickpea, with the potential to lift crop yields by up to 12 per cent.

November 12, 2021 Read more

Study encourages cautious approach to CRISPR therapeutics

A comprehensive study has shown that gene editing, specifically gene knockout (KO), with CRISPR-Cas9 can favor cells with mutated forms of genes linked to cancer. The findings highlight the need to monitor patients undergoing CRISPR-Cas9-based gene therapy for cancer-related mutations.

November 11, 2021 Read more

Teaching fungi how to write

Spalted wood is a highly sought-after material in the high-end furniture industry. In a newly developed process, scientists have succeeded at controlling the spread of fungi in native wood types to create elaborate marblewood pictures - and even taught the fungi to write some words.

November 11, 2021 Read more