What is new in Biotech
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Bacteria-virus arms race provides rare window into rapid and complex evolution
10.11.2023 | Press monitoring
Rather than the evocative plants and animals of the Galapagos Islands that Darwin studied in forming his theory of evolution, Postdoctoral Scholar Joshua Borin and Associate Professor Justin Meyer of UC San Diego's School of Biological Sciences are documenting rapid evolutionary processes in simple laboratory flasks. Borin and Meyer set bacteria...
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Bacteria-filled living dressing could help heal chronic wounds
8.11.2023 | Press monitoring
Ordinarily, when treating chronic wounds, caregivers go to great lengths to keep them free of bacteria. An experimental new dressing, however, actually introduces bacteria to help such wounds heal. When a diabetic skin ulcer or other chronic wound becomes infected, colonies of the problematic bacteria within it form a layer of mucus known as a...
Mouse embryos grown in space for first time: Japan researchers
6.11.2023 | Press monitoring
Mouse embryos have been grown on the International Space Station and developed normally in the first study indicating it could be possible for humans to reproduce in space, a group of Japanese scientists said. The researchers, including Teruhiko Wakayama, professor of University of Yamanashi's Advanced Biotechnology Centre, and a team from the...
Thousands of Fanzor DNA cutters that may outperform CRISPR identified
3.11.2023 | Press monitoring
Following on from the discovery of programmable DNA-cutting enzymes known as Fanzors, scientists have found that a diverse range of species possess these genetic 'scissors', which presents a massive opportunity in the development of new medicines, genetic therapies and biotechnology. Scientists from the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at...
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Spanish researchers open first biobank for living human brain samples
1.11.2023 | Press monitoring
Research into brain cancers and testing drugs for the treatment of them usually involves the use of experimental models, including mice. It’s not until a major discovery is made that the search for patient samples begins, and then begins the process of confirming the discovery in humans. Finding the necessary number of human samples can be...
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Scientists engineer plants to speak in color as environmental sensors for dangerous chemicals
30.10.2023 | Press monitoring
UC Riverside researchers had to solve an engineering puzzle: how to enable a plant to sense and react to a chemical in the environment without damaging its ability to function normally in all other respects. Last year the research team demonstrated that ABA receptor proteins can be trained to bind to chemicals other than ABA. Now the team has...
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Finding the genes that help kingfishers dive without hurting their brains
27.10.2023 | Press monitoring
If you've ever belly-flopped into a pool, then you know: water can be surprisingly hard if you hit it at the wrong angle. But many species of kingfishers dive headfirst into water to catch their fishy prey. In a new study in the journal Communications Biology, researchers compared the DNA of 30 different kingfisher species to zero in on the genes...
International team develops novel DNA nano engine
25.10.2023 | Press monitoring
An international team of scientists has recently developed a novel type of nano engine made of DNA. It is driven by a clever mechanism and can perform pulsing movements. The researchers are now planning to fit it with a coupling and install it as a drive in complex nano machines. Petr Šulc, an assistant professor at Arizona State University's...
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Material made of live glowing algae could be used in stress sensors
23.10.2023 | Press monitoring
Whether they're in machines, buildings or aircraft, it's always helpful to know if components are undergoing mechanical stress. A new material could quickly and easily let inspection personnel know, utilizing integrated glowing algae. Developed by scientists at the University of California - San Diego, the experimental substance is made mainly...
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Gene-edited chickens in the fight against bird flu
20.10.2023 | Press monitoring
Scientists have used gene editing techniques to identify and change parts of chicken DNA that could limit the spread of the bird flu virus in the animals. Researchers were able to restrict – but not completely block – the virus from infecting chickens by altering a small section of their DNA. The birds showed no signs that the change in their DNA...
