Biotechnology News – Latest Headlines

Subscribe to our Biotechnology News feed

Designer cells: artificial enzyme can activate a gene switch

Scientists have constructed an enzyme than can penetrate a mammalian cell and accelerate the release of a hormone. This then activates a gene switch that triggers the creation of a fluorescent protein.

May 22nd, 2018

Tumor-like spheres help scientists discover smarter cancer drugs

Scientists are reporting an innovative new method to screen for potential cancer drugs. The technique makes use of tiny, three-dimensional ball-like aggregates of cells called spheroids. These structures can be used to interrogate hundreds or even thousands of compounds rapidly using a technique called high throughput screening.

May 14th, 2018

New single-cell RNA sequencing methods could lead to better regenerative therapies

An improved method for analyzing the expression of genes by single cells promises to enhance regenerative medicine therapy as well as disease research.

May 11th, 2018

New biotechnology technique accelerates protein therapy research

Dubbed GlycoSCORES, the technique rapidly screens sequences for making glycoproteins.

May 7th, 2018

Highly elastic biodegradable hydrogel for bioprinting of new tissues

Can generate multiple types of human soft tissues, including skin, skeletal muscles, blood vessels and heart muscles.

May 3rd, 2018

Untangling DNA knots

Chemical engineers discover how to control knots that form in DNA molecules.

May 3rd, 2018

Ultrafast compression offers new way to get macromolecules into cells

By treating living cells like tiny absorbent sponges, researchers have developed a potentially new way to introduce molecules and therapeutic genes into human cells.

Apr 30th, 2018

Researchers use gene editing to improve red blood cell transfusion compatibility

Using CRISPR-Cas9 mediated gene editing, the team of scientists created individual cell lines in which specific blood group genes were altered to prevent the expression of blood group proteins that can cause immune reactions.

Apr 27th, 2018

Noninvasive brain tumor biopsy on the horizon

Researchers are developing a way that allows them to detect tumor biomarkers through a simple blood test.

Apr 26th, 2018

Wood formation model to fuel progress in bioenergy, paper, new applications

Lignin research may represent the most comprehensive model of a biological pathway in a single plant species.

Apr 20th, 2018

Researchers build DNA replication in a model synthetic cell

Creating such a complex biological module is an important step towards an even more ambitious goal: building a complete and functioning synthetic cell from the bottom up.

Apr 20th, 2018

Researchers use CRISPR to edit DNA outside of the cell for the first time

Scientists have developed a potentially breakthrough CRISPR gene-editing tool. It could allow researchers to take fragments of DNA extracted from human cells, put them into a test tube, and quickly and precisely engineer multiple changes to the genetic code.

Apr 19th, 2018

Molecular motor: Four states of rotation

With the help of ultrafast spectroscopy and quantum mechanical calculations, researchers have characterized the complete rotational cycle of the light-driven, chemical motor molecule hemithioindigo.

Apr 19th, 2018

Cancer drug observed at work

Using a Raman microscope, researchers have studied at which targets the cancer drug Neratinib binds in cells and how its chemical structure changes. Compared with other techniques, this method offers a considerable advantage, as it is not necessary to apply a label to the drug that would indicate its distribution indirectly; rather, the drug itself can be monitored.