Synthetic biology and molecular machines
The latest chemistry news and research on synthetic biology, including genetic engineering, biomedicine and molecular machines, from the Royal Society of Chemistry's magazine, Chemistry World
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Research
Self-dyeing vegan leather made by genetically engineered bacteria
Material can be shaped into shoes and wallets, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional leather
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Research
Engineered enzymes break down silicon–carbon bonds in siloxane, an emerging pollutant
Directed evolution offers a way to tackle waste silicone
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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
Autonomous platform engineers enhanced proteins
AI-powered robotic system designs and optimises proteins following its own ‘scientific method’
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Research
Synthetic yeast genome project creates strain with over 50% synthetic DNA
Entirely artificial organism opens up door to designer yeast with biotechnology applications
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Research
Crispr editing reduces poplar lignin content
Gene-edited wood could reduce waste and save energy during pulping process
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Research
Carbene chemistry built into microbe’s metabolism in first for biosynthesis
Proof-of-concept work opens pathway to bacteria engineered to synthesise new-to-nature products
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Business
Pfizer to buy cancer biotech Seagen for $43 billion
Antibody-drug conjugate specialist will fill Pfizer’s cancer pipeline
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Research
Bioelectric bacteria-powered sensor detects water contaminants in real time
Synthetic biology harnessed to detect endocrine disruptor and thiosulfate
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Research
Artificially expanded genetic alphabet evolves enzymes for the first time
Libraries of short DNA sequences incorporating synthetic nucleotides perform better as enzymes than ordinary DNA
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Careers
Carving out a career as an amateur scientist
Lacking a degree has not stopped Sebastian Cocioba making waves in the world of biotechnology
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Research
Diverse pharmaceutical building blocks prepared with evolved enzymes
Computation guides enzyme evolution to produce high-value drug compounds
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Research
NMR spectroscopy used to guide evolution of better enzymes
Identifying mutagenic ‘hotspots’ could speed development of new proteins
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Opinion
Nobel vision
Looking beyond the here-and-now let click chemistry open up a whole new world of possibility
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News
Explainer: why have bioorthogonal and click chemistry won the 2022 Nobel prize?
Carolyn Bertozzi, Morten Meldal and Barry Sharpless have won the 2022 Nobel prize in chemistry – find out why
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Research
Yeast engineered to ferment sugars into chemotherapy drug precursors
Semisynthesis offers new route to anticancer drug vinblastine
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Research
Artificially evolved enzyme tackles tricky cross coupling
Directed evolution on the metalloenzyme cytochrome P450 creates a catalyst for making macrocyclic antibiotics
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Research
AI-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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Research
Yeast 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