Articles tagged with Synthetic Biology
Researchers have introduced an implantable 'living material' that contains bacteria sensing infections and releasing therapeutic molecules on demand. Engineered living cells can autonomously sense disease and deliver treatment directly at affected sites, offering a new class of medicine that sustains itself in vivo.
Researchers develop irreversible CRISPR base editing system to permanently block microbial survival, reducing environmental risk and genetic instability. The technology has broad applications in industrial biotechnology and biopharmaceutical fields.
A protein from tardigrades has been found to protect synthetic cell membranes during dehydration, allowing them to survive rehydration. This discovery could lead to a way to store and transport biological microfactories, revolutionizing the production of medicines and other valuable molecules.
Researchers can now build and combine large DNA pieces, redesigning microbes as efficient cell factories for producing complex products like medicines and chemicals. This technology enables sustainable manufacturing, agriculture, and industrial biotechnology, and accelerates microbial cell factory development.
J. Craig Venter's pioneering work in expressed sequence tags revolutionized brain-expressed genes identification, while his synthetic cells paved the way for synthetic biology as a working discipline. His legacy has reshaped our understanding of genomes and their functions.
Researchers have developed a new method to build programmable artificial organelles inside living cells using RNA, enabling customization of cellular compartments and tunable properties. This approach may lead to specialized biological functions for nanomedicine and gene engineering.
Researchers from NUS engineered bacteria to restore metabolic balance across the gut, liver and brain, reducing brain toxins and preventing neurological symptoms. The approach preserves the natural diversity of the gut microbiome and has shown promising results in long-term safety studies.
Researchers at the University of Cape Town have identified a critical molecular switch that drives the formation of cancer-associated antigens. By understanding how enzymes relocate within a cell, they have uncovered key mechanisms for tumorigenesis.
An international team of researchers used AI to create tiny 'smart' proteins that detect chosen targets, opening the way to low-cost biosensors. The protein switches can work inside living cells and generate electrical signals, making them suitable for various sensing technologies.
CiQUS researchers develop a flexible system to replicate cellular functions by leveraging reversible chemical bonds and dynamic covalent chemistry. The approach enables the creation of microscopic chemical factories capable of hosting multiple reactions and accelerating reaction kinetics.
Researchers have repurposed a bacterial DNA synthesis system to enable DNA to act as an active 'field agent' inside living cells. This allows for the creation of programmable DNA fragments that can regulate gene expression and control protein behavior.
Professor Timo Betz's project aims to develop synthetic materials that mimic key behaviors of living cells, including self-organization and physical adaptation. By studying the mechanical properties of living cells, he will recreate part of the cell's interior in a synthetic way.
Researchers have identified and overcome metabolic instability as the key barrier to developing ovalicin, a potent relative of fumagillin. Using chem-bio hybrid synthesis, they created metabolically stable drug candidates that worked in animal models of amebiasis.
Researchers at Tufts University and Wyss Institute created neurobots by adding nerve cells to tiny living forms called xenobots, which exhibit complex movements with simple neural networks. The resulting neurobots display unique behaviors and demonstrate the formation of primitive nervous systems.
In a breakthrough study, researchers successfully integrated neuronal precursor cells into biobots, resulting in the formation of functional nervous systems. This development has significant implications for neuroscience, bioengineering, and regenerative medicine, enabling the investigation of fundamental questions about the origin of ...
Researchers developed a method called optovolution that uses light to guide the evolution of proteins with dynamic, multi-state, and computational functions. This approach favors variants with better dynamics, allowing for the creation of new variants with improved light sensitivity and responsiveness.
Researchers developed a method to produce durable lactate-based polyester with improved mechanical properties, comparable to traditional polymers. The new process resulted in a high molecular weight and balance of strength and elongation.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have created protein fibers that can exhibit high tensile strength, toughness, and mechanical stability, making them suitable for active wear and biomedical implants. The materials are grown using synthetic biology approaches and can be processed into a meat-like structure.
Researchers at Penn State have developed a bio-hybrid system that combines synthetic DNA with perovskite semiconductors to create a memory resistor that stores and processes data with minimal power consumption. This technology has the potential to enable more efficient data centers, speedier data processing and more complex data analysis.
A research team has developed a 'SUPER' platform that utilizes synthetic small RNAs as add-on controllers for genetic switches. This technology enhances the performance and stability of gene regulatory devices by addressing the issue of 'leakage', where genes continue to express at low levels even in the 'OFF' state.
A two-step approach to gene expression creates more resilient producers of nanostructures for advanced sensing and therapeutics. This new genetic regulatory system ensures host cells remain healthy while producing functional nanostructures.
A team from the University of Illinois developed a photobiocatalytic platform that enables Escherichia coli to produce complex molecules through light-driven enzymatic reactions. This breakthrough broadens the capabilities of biomanufacturing, offering a promising avenue for sustainable production of chemicals and materials.
A living biosensor made of bacteria detects acetic acid levels in wine, alerting wineries to potential spoilage. The sensor works in real-time and can detect volatile acetic acid in the air above wine bottles, enabling early intervention before damage is done.
A new study suggests that physical properties guided life before genes did. Phospholipids with more unsaturated bonds were more likely to merge and grow under freeze-thaw cycles.
Researchers from New England Biolabs and Yale University have developed a first fully synthetic bacteriophage engineering system using the High-Complexity Golden Gate Assembly platform. This method simplifies strain engineering techniques, allowing for rapid creation of tailored therapeutic strains to overcome antibiotic resistance.
Researchers developed a new technique called CLASSIC that enables large-scale testing of complex DNA circuits in human cells. The approach uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze vast numbers of complete circuits at once, providing scientists with a clearer picture of the rules governing genetic part behavior.
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.
Researchers create a novel mathematical framework to control biological noise, enabling precise single-cell control. The 'Noise Robust Perfect Adaptation' technology suppresses stochastic fluctuations while maintaining stable average behavior, with promising applications in cancer therapy and synthetic biology.
Researchers at Northwestern University and Stanford University develop a new artificial metabolism that converts waste carbon dioxide into acetyl-CoA, a universal metabolite used by all living cells. The system, called Reductive Formate Pathway (ReForm), uses engineered enzymes to perform metabolic reactions never seen in nature.
A Danish research group has designed proteins that can detect specific DNA sequences and produce light, which can be captured by a phone's camera. This breakthrough enables quick and affordable analysis of samples in various fields such as healthcare, agriculture, and the pharmaceutical industry.
Researchers have created a novel synthetic enzyme that efficiently converts CO2 into formic acid, opening up new possibilities for biotechnological production of valuable chemicals and fuels. The enzyme, FAR, tolerates high concentrations of formate and is stable in both living cells and cell-free systems.
Researchers at Aarhus University equip artificial cells with tiny motors mimicking the bacterium's actin polymerization mechanism, creating a functional internal skeleton and network of protein filaments. The study demonstrates how motion and structural organization can emerge in synthetic systems.
Leading synthetic biologists share hard-won lessons from their decade-long quest to build the world's first synthetic eukaryotic genome. The insights could accelerate development of climate-resilient crops and custom-built cell factories.
Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh have created phages with synthetic genetic material, allowing them to add and subtract genes. This breakthrough enables researchers to engineer phages to target specific bacteria, offering new hope for combating antibacterial resistance.
Genetic engineers design gene circuits to program cells with new functions, but dilution causes loss of function. Researchers use liquid-liquid phase separation to form transcriptional condensates around genes, protecting genetic programs and maintaining stability across cell generations.
The RODIN project aims to discover the subtle key structural features that cells engrave into materials when they are driven to produce specific tissues. The team will learn from this 'architectural wisdom' of cells to design new generations of higher performance biomaterials.
Scientists have created a micro-algal platform that allows for automated and fast testing of chloroplast genetic modifications, opening up plant chloroplasts to high-throughput applications. This platform enables researchers to fine-tune genetic circuits and identify which modifications have real potential.
Australian researchers have developed tiny compartments to help supercharge photosynthesis, enabling plants to fix carbon more efficiently. The team engineered encapsulins that can house the enzyme Rubisco in a confined space, allowing for fine-tuning of compatibility for future use in crops.
Researchers have developed new calcium channels that can be precisely controlled to study cellular signaling. The channels, built using artificial intelligence, were designed to mimic natural calcium channels and demonstrate their potential as tools for biomedical research.
Researchers at UC San Diego have discovered a new way to make yeast cells more efficient 'cell factories' for producing valuable plant compounds. The advance enables the sustainable manufacturing of plant-derived chemicals used to help plants defend against disease, repel pests, attract pollinators, and withstand environmental stresses.
Engineers at the University of Pittsburgh have created a soft material with a nerve net that mimics how simple living systems coordinate motion. The material responds to chemical reactions, producing mechanical movement without electronics or motors.
Researchers will investigate the role of invasive intestinal bacteria in disrupting the intestinal barrier and develop a novel mucin-on-a-chip to study inflammatory bowel disease. The study aims to provide insights into limiting bacterial drivers of IBD, proposing targeted therapies for chronic gastrointestinal disorders.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new system that allows for precise control over the expression of synthetic genes in cells. The DIAL system uses a promoter editing mechanism to establish desired protein levels, which can be edited after delivery. This technology has the potential to improve gene therapy and cell reprogramming appli...
Researchers designed proteins with autonomous decision-making capabilities, controlling their localization based on environmental cues. This breakthrough enables more finely targeted drug delivery, reducing off-target effects and improving therapy efficacy.
Researchers designed and lab-validated synthetic proteins using generative AI tools, outperforming natural proteins in editing the human genome. The study's findings have significant implications for improving gene editing tools and developing new therapies for cancer and rare diseases.
A recent study highlights the need for improved biosecurity screening in AI-assisted protein engineering, where vulnerabilities in current software allow proteins of concern to evade detection. The authors developed software patches that resulted in improved detection rates without increasing false positives.
A team led by Carnegie Mellon researchers has developed an innovative at-home urine test to detect over 30 types of early-stage solid tumors. The technology, combining synthetic biology and nucleic acid nanotechnology, aims to provide a precise and convenient way to screen for cancer.
The study reveals that balance is key in engineering cells to produce more chemicals without antibiotics or complex methods. The team designed genetic circuits using negative feedback systems to optimize cell factories, increasing function by threefold and cumulative chemical production over time.
Scientists have created a novel method to synthesize all 21 types of transfer RNA (tRNA) simultaneously in a test tube using the tRNA array method. This breakthrough allows for precise control over protein synthesis and has significant implications for the development of artificial molecular systems with self-reproducing capabilities.
A new review in Microbial Biotechnology highlights microbes as allies in various industries, from food fermentation to biofuels. Films such as French Kiss and The Martian showcase microbes as positive forces, challenging the traditional villain stereotype.
Researchers developed photo-inducible binary interaction tools (PhoBITs) to precisely control gene expression, cell signaling, and immune responses. PhoBITs enable targeted treatment with minimal side effects, opening new avenues for cancer therapy, immunotherapy, and regenerative medicine.
University of Iowa researchers have created an underwater hydrofoil with a coiled spire design that reduces drag and creates more lift, enabling it to move with ease in any underwater environment. The technology mimics the skin, muscles, and tissue of an octopus, allowing for increased portability and maneuverability.
Researchers have created a new technique to control synthetic cells using magnetic fields, enabling precise targeting of medicines for cancers or bacterial infections. This approach reduces side effects and increases effectiveness, with potential applications in treating tumors or detecting bacteria.
A team of researchers developed a scalable biological signal-processing framework that uses synthetic operational amplifiers to convert mixed cellular inputs into clean, orthogonal outputs. This enables precise, predictable control of complex biological systems, with applications in biomanufacturing and signal decomposition.
A University of Missouri-led study has uncovered how poplar trees can naturally adjust a key part of their wood chemistry based on changes in their environment, supporting improved bioenergy production. The discovery sheds light on the role of lignin and its potential to create better biofuels and sustainable products.
Researchers created a detailed list of molecular parts necessary for Mycoplasma pneumoniae survival, accelerating the development of 'living medicines'. The study's highest-resolution essentiality map can predict how tweaks to the microbe's genome slow growth or stress the cell.
Researchers found that biological neural systems are more efficient in learning with limited samples, outperforming deep reinforcement learning algorithms in a Pong simulation. This breakthrough suggests actual intelligence may be biological.
A new artificial biosensor developed by University of California, Santa Cruz's Andy Yeh can accurately measure cortisol levels across all relevant ranges for human health. The sensor uses a smartphone camera to detect light emissions, providing high sensitivity and dynamic range for detecting small molecule analytes.
Researchers successfully colonized the gut microbiome with engineered bacteria, reducing oxalate levels in animal models and human patients. However, persistent colonization and horizontal gene transfer events compromised the strain's therapeutic function, highlighting challenges in strain stability and biosafety.