Biology and biotechnology – Page 6
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ResearchCancer progression and harmful bacteria tracked with next-generation sequencing
Proof-of-principle study keeps an eye on leukaemia mutations and bacterial strains in patients
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ResearchLife’s handedness could have arisen spontaneously on Earth
New insight into the origins of homochirality point to adaptation to energy sources as driver
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ResearchAI-engineered enzyme eats entire plastic containers
Enzyme with only five amino acid alterations depolymerises 51 different PET products faster and at lower temperature than other proteins
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ResearchYeast engineered to convert methanol into heparin
Production levels are currently low, but researchers hope the method could one day mean pharma doesn’t have to rely on animals for this essential medicine
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ResearchFreeze–thaw cycles could explain how ancient RNA replicated without enzymes
Discovery solves puzzle of RNA world hypothesis
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ResearchSea sponges own unique chemistry goes beyond that of their bacterial guests
Biologically potent compounds can be made by sea sponges themselves
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ResearchEpigenetic MRI offers a way to understand how the brain learns
First tests in humans could be as little as year away, researchers claim
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ResearchReprogrammed bacterium turns carbon dioxide into chemicals on industrial scale
Process achieved at industrial scale in 120 litre reactor
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ResearchElectric field of ATP synthase suggests enzyme has functions beyond catalysis
Study links energy-making enzyme with proton migration in ATP formation, and reinforces predictions that its catalytic efficiency is around 90%
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ResearchBiochemical secrets of tarantula’s painful bite could point to perfect painkillers
King baboon spider venom could help scientists develop potent analgesics
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ResearchNew microscope makes tracking chiral molecules in live cells possible
The instrument uses circularly polarised light to tell left- and right-handed species apart and monitor them in space and time
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ResearchLeft-handed nanoparticles are far better vaccine adjuvants than their mirror images
Chiral gold nanoparticles shown for the first time to elicit differing immune responses in cells and live mice
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ResearchEngineered enzyme speeds up sedate organic reaction
Biochemical optimisation applied to the Morita–Hillman–Baylis reaction
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ResearchEvolved enzymes carry out new-to-nature radical chemistry
Directed evolution produces enzymes that can ‘tame’ radical intermediates for asymmetric catalytic reactions
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ResearchListening to quantum beats could reveal rhythm of birds’ migratory compass
Laser technique to read out oscillating spin states could help uncover how animals’ magnetic sense works
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ResearchSingle-celled marine organism first to be found releasing oxygen in the dark
Discovery of new biological pathway in widespread archaea could transform understanding of oceans’ fertility
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ResearchHeavy oil-eating microbe grown in lab for the first time
Archaeon that breaks down long alkanes into methane and carbon dioxide could be used for energy recovery from depleted oil reservoirs
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ResearchProkaryotes programmed to produce paracetamol avoid pervasive petrochemicals
Genetically modified E. coli serve as green factories for painkillers
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ResearchGel-forming proteins could help tardigrades survive extreme conditions
Biophysical dissection of tardigrade’s disordered protein could uncover how microscopic animals survive conditions that kill most other forms of life
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ResearchFirst carbon-making microbes discovered
Mysterious black material produced by deep sea archaea and bacteria found to be carbon