Synthetic Biology News and Research

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Scientists capture DNA intermediates that reveal how cancer evolves

Scientists from Rice University, Baylor College of Medicine and other institutions are using synthetic biology to capture elusive, short-lived snippets of DNA that healthy cells produce on their way to becoming cancerous.

18 Nov 2016

Wyss Institute wins 'Best of What's New' award for paper-based rapid Zika test

A rapid Zika test, developed by an international, multi-institutional team of researchers led by synthetic biologist James Collins, Ph.D., at Harvard University's Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, has today been named a 2016 "Best of What's New" awards winner by Popular Science magazine in the Health category.

20 Oct 2016

Six million investment to boost research on new antibiotics

Edith Schippers, Minister of Health, will be investing six million euros over the coming four years to boost research on new antibiotics. The programme will be set up by several different parties, including the Leiden Centre for Antimicrobial Research.

13 Oct 2016

Kobe University researchers develop new technique for high-level genome editing operation

A team involving Kobe University researchers has succeeded in developing 'Target-AID', a genome editing technique that does not cleave the DNA.

26 Aug 2016

Researchers design DNA-based circuit that does math in a test tube

Often described as the blueprint of life, DNA contains the instructions for making every living thing from a human to a house fly.

24 Aug 2016

Four iGEM undergraduate competition teams supported by BMG Labtech

BMG LABTECH, a leading manufacturer of microplate readers, recently supported four iGEM teams with a microplate reader to fuel their participation at the annual iGEM competition.

From BMG LABTECH GmbH 23 Aug 2016

Ingenza celebrates success in securing EU H2020 SME Instrument support for SYNBIOMAN project

Ingenza is pleased to announce it has successfully applied for EU H2020 SME Instrument funding of €50,000 for Phase 1 of its innovative SYNBIOMAN project, allowing the company to forge ahead with the development of this novel synthetic biology-driven biomanufacturing platform. Successful completion of the Phase 1 study could open the door to additional funding for Phase 2, valued at €2.5 million.

17 Aug 2016

New article discusses how imbalances in gut microbiome may be linked to neurological disorders

A growing body of scientific and medical evidence continues to shed light on the complex interaction between metabolic pathways affected by microrganisms living in the human gut and gene expression, immune function, and inflammation that can contribute to a range of cognitive, psychiatric, and neurodegenerative disorders.

9 Aug 2016

MIT researchers develop portable device to manufacture biopharmaceuticals on demand

For medics on the battlefield and doctors in remote or developing parts of the world, getting rapid access to the drugs needed to treat patients can be challenging.

29 Jul 2016

Cambridge Consultants creates new Evonetix spin-out to focus on accurate DNA synthesis

A breakthrough in DNA synthesis has led to the creation of a new spin-out company from the stable of product design and development firm Cambridge Consultants.

19 Jul 2016

Scientists develop light-activated injectable device to stimulate nerve cells

In the campy 1966 science fiction movie "Fantastic Voyage," scientists miniaturize a submarine with themselves inside and travel through the body of a colleague to break up a potentially fatal blood clot. Right. Micro-humans aside, imagine the inflammation that metal sub would cause.

4 Jul 2016

Researchers discover true Diels-Alder enzyme on the Pacific seabed

Scientists at the Universities of Bristol and Newcastle have uncovered the secret of the 'Mona Lisa of chemical reactions' - in a bacterium that lives at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.

12 May 2016

Scientists develop low-cost, easy-to-use diagnostic platform to detect Zika virus

University of Toronto Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Keith Pardee and an international team of collaborators, including scientists from the Wyss Institute at Harvard University, have developed a low-cost, easy-to-use diagnostic platform for detecting the Zika virus.

9 May 2016

Liverpool researchers use JPK's NanoWizard AFM system to study biological membrane structures, protein dynamics

JPK Instruments, a world-leading manufacturer of nanoanalytic instrumentation for research in life sciences and soft matter, reports on the use of their NanoWizard ULTRA Speed AFM system at the University of Liverpool in the group of Dr Luning Liu of the Institute of Integrative Biology to study biological membrane structures and protein dynamics.

From Bruker BioAFM 23 Mar 2016

IDT continues to support International Genetically Engineered Machine competition

Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT), the global leader in nucleic acid synthesis, announces its 2016 Platinum Level sponsorship of the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition.

4 Mar 2016

Confirming nasogastric tube placement through an assay? An interview with Ian Fotheringham

Nasogastric tubes are placed directly into the stomach in order to feed or medicate patients. If an NG tube accidentally goes into the lung instead, which can happen, it can cause serious harm to the patient, with food, liquid or medication potentially entering the lung.

15 Feb 2016

Synpromics, Cell Therapy Catapult to create stable producer cell lines for large-scale manufacture of viral vectors

Synpromics Ltd, a leading synthetic biology company, and The Cell Therapy Catapult, the UK organisation accelerating the growth of the UK cell and gene therapy industry by bridging the gap between scientific research and commercialisation, today announce the launch of a collaboration to remove a major barrier to the development of the cell and gene therapy industry by reducing the cost and increasing the scale and efficiency of viral vector manufacturing.

12 Jan 2016

New CRISPR technology can be used to make designer babies

How should we handle the new CRISPR technology that can both advance science and medicine, but also be used to make designer babies? Scientist and author Paul Knoepfler tackles this and other difficult questions related to this revolutionary technology in his new book, GMO Sapiens: The Life-Changing Science of Designer Babies, targeted at a broad, lay audience.

7 Jan 2016

Oxitec prepares to increase supplies of OX513A to address recent outbreak of Zika virus in Brazil

Intrexon Corporation, a leader in synthetic biology, today announced that Oxitec, a UK-based subsidiary of the Company, is prepared to increase supplies of its proprietary mosquito control solution, OX513A, through its Brazil facilities to assist Brazil in addressing the recent devastating outbreak of the Zika virus and other diseases transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

8 Dec 2015

Scientists can accurately measure microbial growth rates inside gastrointestinal tracts

For the first time, scientists can accurately measure population growth rates of the microbes that live inside mammalian gastrointestinal tracts, according to a new method reported in Nature Communications by a team at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University and Harvard Medical School.

1 Dec 2015