Engineering synthetic microbial communities for biomethane production
Scientists are investigating how to use methane-producing microbes, known as methanogens, to generate renewable biofuels.
Jul 17th, 2014
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Squid skin protein could improve biomedical technologies
Conductivity could charge up futuristic disease treatments.
Jul 16th, 2014
Read morePutting protein production in proportion
A library of sequences that modify relative gene expression enables tighter control over protein production.
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.
Jul 14th, 2014
Read moreA sweet pathway into the cell
Researchers engineer bacterial proteins that can transport substances across the cell membrane.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Jul 7th, 2014
Read moreDiscovery provides insights on how plants respond to elevated CO2 levels
Biologists have solved a long-standing mystery concerning the way plants reduce the numbers of their breathing pores in response to rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere
Jul 6th, 2014
Read moreNew discovery in living cell signaling (w/animation)
A breakthrough discovery into how living cells process and respond to chemical information could help advance the development of treatments for a large number of cancers and other cellular disorders that have been resistant to therapy.
Jul 3rd, 2014
Read moreNew insights on conditions for new blood vessel formation
With lifesaving applications possible in both inhibiting and accelerating the creation of new blood vessels, a more fundamental understanding of what regulates angiogenesis is needed. Now, researchers have uncovered the existence of a threshold above which fluid flowing through blood vessel walls causes new capillaries to sprout.
Jul 3rd, 2014
Read moreBiological signal processing: Body cells - instrumentalists in a symphony orchestra
Every organism has one aim: to survive. Its body cells all work in concert to keep it alive. They do so through finely tuned means of communication. Researchers have now successfully revealed for the first time the laws by which cells translate signals from their surroundings into internal signals.
Jul 3rd, 2014
Read moreNew reprogramming method makes better stem cells
Scientists have shown for the first time that stem cells created using different methods produce differing cells. The findings provide new insights into the basic biology of stem cells and could ultimately lead to improved stem cell therapies.
Jul 2nd, 2014
Read moreSquid sucker ring teeth material could aid reconstructive surgery, serve as eco-packaging
Squid tentacles are loaded with hundreds of suction cups, or suckers, and each sucker has a ring of razor-sharp teeth that help these mighty predators latch onto and take down prey. Researchers report that the proteins in these teeth could form the basis for a new generation of strong, but malleable, materials that could someday be used for reconstructive surgery, eco-friendly packaging and many other applications.
Jul 2nd, 2014
Read moreFinetuning polycarbonates to tackle multidrug resistance
Polymers that can be fine-tuned for optimal effect could help fight multidrug-resistant infections.
Jul 2nd, 2014
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