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Pulling carbon into seawater using engineered bacteria

A research team at the Wyss Institute has engineered bacteria to produce higher amounts of siderophores, molecules that extract iron from silicate minerals, speeding up rock weathering and removing CO2 from the atmosphere. This process has the potential to be implemented at industrial scales, offering a new climate-regulating strategy.

Powerhouses for fake meat: muscle protein can now be grown in chloroplasts of lettuce and tobacco plants

Researchers have successfully engineered plants to produce myoglobin, an important component of animal muscle, using a gene gun to insert the genes into chloroplasts. The yield was approximately three times higher than when inserted into the nuclear genome, paving the way for plant-grown meat production.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Plant Science·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 6, 2026

Genetic base editing treats Huntington’s disease in mice

Researchers at the University of Illinois developed a gene editing tool to treat Huntington's disease by altering a specific point in the huntingtin gene. The treatment reduced toxic protein fragments, symptoms, and brain degeneration in mice, providing a new approach for treating genetic diseases.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 29, 2026

Researchers uncover the inside story on plant organ growth

A study by John Innes Centre researchers reveals that inner tissues play a crucial role in shaping plant organs, contradicting the widespread assumption that external layers control growth. By analyzing cell division orientation and gene editing techniques, they discovered genes affecting stem thickness in Arabidopsis.

SourceJohn Innes Centre·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 8, 2026

European survey reveals broad support for fertility care, embryo research and genome editing, alongside opportunities for greater public engagement

A new Europe-wide survey found broad public support for fertility treatment and reproductive research in the UK, Netherlands, Spain, and Italy. The study suggests that public understanding and opinion on these topics continue to develop, with areas where public views are not yet settled identified.

POSTECH research team cuts cost of building reconstituted cell-free systems by 95%

A POSTECH research team has created an automated, modular system for assembling reconstituted cell-free systems, significantly reducing costs by 95% and preparation time to 2 days. This innovation enables the customization of individual components, paving the way for improved biologically engineered high-value therapeutics.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalTrends in Biotechnology·DateJun 24, 2026

New models enable better therapies against primary sclerosing cholangitis

Recent advancements in animal models, organoid models, and bioengineered organoids have provided new tools for studying primary sclerosing cholangitis. These models replicate the effects of bile retention and inflammation, enabling studies of disease mechanisms, drug screening, and preclinical evaluation.

SourceChinese Medical Journals Publishing House Co., Ltd.·JournalPortal Hypertension & Cirrhosis·TypeLiterature review·DateMay 19, 2026

New AI tool developed by Stowers Institute and Helmholtz Munich scientists predicts how cells choose their future — helping uncover hidden drivers of development

Researchers developed RegVelo, an AI framework that models cellular dynamics and gene regulation to predict cellular fate decisions. The model traces developmental trajectories and simulates regulatory interactions, providing insights into hidden drivers of development and potential therapeutic targets.

Functionalized microalgae emerge as versatile bioproducts for next-generation biomedical applications

Microalgae are transformed into functionalized composite bioproducts for precision diagnosis, targeted therapy, and integrated theranostics. They offer exceptional biological properties for biomedical engineering, including molecular loading, active movement, and intense autofluorescence for imaging applications.

SourceJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·JournalJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·TypeLiterature review·DateMar 31, 2026

Researchers develop a biomimetic platform to enhance CAR T cell therapy against leukemia

Researchers developed a biomimetic platform to enhance CAR T cell therapy against leukemia by creating a molecular bridge that reinforces the interface between CAR T cells and leukemia cells. This platform, called FACE, uses ferritin to bind to CD71 on leukemia cells, improving cell recognition and elimination.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalCell·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 9, 2026

JMIR Publications’ JMIR Bioinformatics and Biotechnology invites submissions on Bridging Data, AI, and Innovation to Transform Health

The journal explores the convergence of computational biology, artificial intelligence, and healthcare innovation, with a focus on precision medicine and enhanced patient care. Submissions are accepted from researchers, clinicians, and technologists on topics such as AI in medicine, computational genomics, and drug discovery.

Wyss Institute-led collaboration awarded by ARPA-H PRINT program to engineer off-the-shelf, universal, transplant-ready graft for liver failure

A multidisciplinary team of world-leading experts is developing an off-the-shelf engineered product that could address liver failure in millions of patients. The ImPLANT project aims to create synthetic biology-based gene circuits in human induced pluripotent stem cells to drive cell differentiation into all required liver cell types.

Nonsurgical treatment shows promise for targeted seizure control

A nonsurgical approach has been demonstrated to quiet a specific brain circuit in an animal model by delivering engineered gene therapy only to the targeted region. The method uses low-intensity focused ultrasound to open the blood-brain barrier, allowing precise control over brain activity without impacting off-target areas.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Chemical Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 11, 2025

Texas Tech scientists develop novel acceleration technique for crop creation

A team of plant biotechnologists at Texas Tech University has developed a groundbreaking method to accelerate crop creation, bypassing the time-consuming process of tissue culture. The new technique enables plants to grow new shoots directly from wounded tissue, eliminating the need for traditional lab-based regeneration steps.

SourceTexas Tech University·JournalMolecular Plant·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 6, 2025

New gene-editing tech holds promise for treating complex genetic diseases

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a novel gene-editing method that can correct multiple disease-causing mutations simultaneously. This approach uses bacterial retrons to protect the microbes from viral infection and has shown promising results in correcting scoliosis-causing mutations in zebrafish embryos.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalNature Biotechnology·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 23, 2025

In chromosome of key biotech bacterium, different setups bring different strengths

Researchers found that Agrobacterium's virulence is more effective in its natural two-chromosome state, but it grows faster and handles stress better when fused into a single chromosome. This study opens the door for optimizing its use as a crop improvement tool or devising new ways to protect crops vulnerable to crown galls.

SourceIowa State University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 15, 2025

Gene-tweaked albino toads go hungry

Albino cane toads created using CRISPR technology reveal that albinism affects survival and hunting abilities, with poor eyesight being the core problem. In controlled environments, albino tadpoles were less likely to survive and developed faster when competing with pigmented siblings for food and space.

SourceMacquarie University·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 27, 2025

Scaffold-free cartilage produced using embryonic-derived mesenchymal stem cell spheroids

A new study demonstrates the potential to produce cellular spheroids from clinically relevant embryonic stem cells to generate scaffold-free chondrogenic or osteochondrogenic graft tissues. The researchers successfully cultured ES-MSC cellular spheroids, which matured into neocartilage tissues expressing cartilage-associated genes.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalTissue Engineering Part A·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 13, 2025

‘Controlled evolution’ dramatically boosts pDNA production for biomedical manufacturing

Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a controlled evolution technique that dramatically increases plasmid DNA (pDNA) production in E. coli bacteria. This breakthrough could significantly reduce the cost of gene therapies and expedite research, making pDNA resources more accessible.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalMicrobial Cell Factories·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 13, 2025