Biology – Page 4
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Research
Violent volcanic lightning created the nitrogen compounds essential for the chemistry that led to life
First direct evidence of nitrates linked to eruptions discovered
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Feature
More than a mirror-image: left-handed nucleic acids
Now a biological reality, researchers are starting to figure out the many roles of left-handed nucleic acids such as Z-DNA – from immunity to controlling our genetics. Rachel Brazil reports
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Research
Heavy metals are potential ovarian toxicants
Exposure to metals like arsenic, cadmium and mercury linked to reduced egg production, earlier menopause for middle-aged women
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Research
Unravelling enzyme pathway of Taxol precursor brings synthetic production of cancer medicine closer
Expression of nine genes in tobacco plants led to formation of complex precursor of drug
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Research
E. coli rewired to shift carbon flow towards C4 chemicals
Bioengineering strategy creates evolutionary advantage linking cell growth with product formation
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Research
PFAS linked to foetal metabolism disorders
‘Forever chemicals’ in the livers of unborn children can alter lipid metabolism and may increase the risk of metabolic disease in adulthood
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Research
D-trypsin synthesis enables sequencing of mirror-image proteins
Reversing the chirality of a protein-digesting enzyme could aid the development of mirror-image therapeutics
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Research
Autonomous platform engineers enhanced proteins
AI-powered robotic system designs and optimises proteins following its own ‘scientific method’
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Feature
Testing times for tuberculosis
Nina Notman takes a look at the recent and upcoming diagnostic and screening innovations aiming to drive down the incidence of tuberculosis globally
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Research
Explainer: What are water microdroplets and why are chemists talking about them?
Researchers are struggling to agree on the underlying reasons for accelerated rates and altered reaction mechanisms in water microdroplets. Here’s what we do know and where open questions lie…
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Business
Illumina to give up Grail as competition appeals fail
Sequencing giant will sell off its former spin-out in accordance with regulator orders
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Business
Pharmaceuticals roundup 2023
Regulatory and pricing reforms have topped industry agendas in 2023, while weight loss drugs surged and Covid-19 therapies waned
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Research
Invasive zebra mussels’ unique sticky threads unraveled
New understanding of byssal threads finds similarities with spider silk making them unlike any other mussels’
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Business
Danaher completes $5.7 billion Abcam acquisition
Deal proceeded despite significant opposition from founder and ex-chief Jonathan Milner
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Research
High mercury levels in tropical birds in Americas blamed on gold mining
Exotic birds are the canary in the gold mine when it comes to mercury pollution and provide warning that other animals, including humans, affected
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Research
Biocatalysis breakthrough enables synthesis of lactam building blocks for drugs
Enzymatic cyclisation of oxazolone reagents offers a cheap and simple route to important antibiotic precursor
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Research
Molecular movie captures DNA repair from start to finish
Study spans pico- to microsecond timescales to uncover enzymatic process
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Research
DNA-damaging device could make mutant discovery safer and simpler
Cool microplasma jets create a stream of radicals that induce mutations
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Business
UK becomes first country in the world to authorise a Crispr-based gene therapy
Treatment aims to cure patients with β-thalassaemia and sickle-cell disease