Biology
The latest chemistry news and research on biology, including biochemistry, biotechnology, synthetic biology and origins of life, from the Royal Society of Chemistry's magazine, Chemistry World
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Research‘Living biosensor’ lights up to detect wine spoilage in real time
Genetically modified bacteria glow in high levels of acetic acid, a common signal that wine has gone bad
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FeatureHow RNA reveals clues to life’s origins on Earth
The discovery of catalytic RNA transformed our understanding of life’s beginnings. Clare Sansom explores how the RNA world hypothesis bridges the gap between non-living chemistry and the first cells
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OpinionCrispr therapies will change medicine but there will be challenges along the way
The first treatments making use of Crispr gene editing may suffer some early hiccups
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ResearchGoogle’s AlphaGenome wants to do for DNA what AlphaFold did for proteins
Model predicts effect of mutations on sequences up to 1 million base pairs in length and is adept at tackling complex non-coding regions
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ResearchFluids used to preserve Charles Darwin’s Galápagos Island specimens probed by Raman spectroscopy
Non-invasive technique enables better care of historic samples
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FeatureHow soft electronics are transforming medical devices
Degradable pacemakers and artificial neurons showcase how flexible, tissue-compatible electronics are revolutionising medicine. But translating these materials from lab bench to clinic requires solving complex structure–function relationships
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BusinessFunding boost for Grangemouth whisky waste-to-chemicals firms
Governments hope £9 million in grants will help MiAlgae and Celtic Renewables replace oil-refining jobs
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ResearchAI tool dramatically reduces computing power needed to find protein-binding molecules
New protocol is up to 10 million times faster than current docking-based methods
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OpinionArchaeon’s lack of metabolism challenges definitions of life
A question that is not the same as asking whether something is alive
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ResearchThianthrenium reagent captures elusive protein interactions in living cells
Reagent creates short, stable protein crosslinks, enabling researchers to identify previously unknown protein–protein interactions
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ResearchProtein design takes big leap forward as model produces enzymes almost as effective as nature’s
New iteration of RoseTTAFold Diffusion optimises side chain placing to break bonds
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ResearchBacteria tweaked to produce high yields of colour-changing pigment behind octopus camouflage
Dangled carrot of formic acid fuel drives engineered bacteria to make cephalopod dye at yields a thousand times higher than conventional means
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ResearchChemistry and AI pushes biosignature detection for life back billions of years
Combining analytical chemistry with machine learning doubled the age of ancient rocks that can be examined for signs of primordial life
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OpinionThe wide-ranging influence of the Bohr effect
While not a Nobel prize-winning discovery in itself, this challenge to the reductionist view of physiology has links to several other winners
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NewsCould Crispr cure HIV?
The first gene-editing therapies for HIV/Aids are entering trials but the virus is proving once again that it is a master at evading eradication
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ResearchCryo-EM snapshots reveal insight into how opioids activate their receptor
Insights from structural images could help design new opioids and antidotes to them
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ResearchTraditional yoghurt recipe reveals ants’ fermentation power
Rebecca Trager meets a cross-disciplinary team investigating an ancient way to make yoghurt, which involved a trip to a tiny Bulgarian village
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ResearchAI-designed antibodies target antigens with atomic precision
Epitope-binding proteins designed from scratch by generative AI model
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NewsGeneticist James Watson who co-discovered the structure of DNA dies at 97
Famed for his work on DNA’s structure, but Watson courted controversy throughout his career
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WebinarFood and us: the incredible story of how food shapes humanity
Learn about the intricate interplay between our genetic and physical makeup and the food we eat