Synthetic biology meets fashion in engineered silk
Scientists have long been intrigued by the remarkable properties of spider silk, which is stronger than steel yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. Now, Fuzhong Zhang, a professor of energy, environmental and chemical engineering at the McKelvey S.....»»
Using genetic code expansion to study membrane proteins
Over the years, chemical biology methods have made an important contribution to the study of integral membrane proteins. A key modern approach is genetic code expansion (GCE), which makes it possible to modify proteins directly in living cells to giv.....»»
Q&A: Holobiont biology, a new concept for exploring how microbiome shapes evolution of visible life
Microorganisms—bacteria, viruses and other tiny life forms—may drive biological variation in visible life as much, if not more, than genetic mutations, creating new lineages and even new species of animals and plants, according to Seth Bordenstei.....»»
Young coral use metabolic tricks to resist bleaching, research reveals
Coral larvae reduce their metabolism and increase nitrogen uptake to resist bleaching at high temperatures, according to a study published November 12 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by Ariana S. Huffmyer of the University of Washington, US,.....»»
Mitochondrial study offers new insights into how our cells process RNA for energy production
Researchers at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet have made a major discovery in how human cells produce energy. Their study, published in The EMBO Journal, reveals the detailed mechanisms of how mitochondria process.....»»
Computational chemistry promises to upset traditional methods of chemical synthesis
The process of discovering and designing new chemicals has always been arduous—Sijia Dong wants to change that. As an assistant professor in the department of chemistry and chemical biology, with affiliations in physics and chemical engineering, Do.....»»
Australian dragon study reveals surprising link between motor systems control and sleep rhythms
Sleep is one of the most mysterious, yet ubiquitous components of our biology. It has been described in all major groups of animals, including worms, jellyfish, insects or cephalopods, and in all vertebrates, from fish to humans. Common characteristi.....»»
Vampire bats" metabolism mirrors that of blood-sucking insects, biologists find
A pair of biologists at the University of Toronto has found that vampire bats are able to burn amino acids as a fuel source similarly to blood-sucking insects. In their study published in the journal Biology Letters, Giulia Rossi and Kenneth Welch co.....»»
Tracking biodiversity: Researchers outline strengths and challenges in new monitoring framework
As the UN COP16 on biodiversity meets in Calì, Colombia, experts from McGill University are on-site, providing important input into the global conversation. These experts have been instrumental in shaping the global biodiversity monitoring framework.....»»
Cells have more mini "organs" than once thought—these rogue organelles challenge biology"s fundamentals
Think back to that basic biology class you took in high school. You probably learned about organelles, those little "organs" inside cells that form compartments with individual functions. For example, mitochondria produce energy, lysosomes recycle wa.....»»
Not the usual suspects: Research reveals novel genetic basis of pest resistance to biotech crops
If left unchecked, insect pests can devastate crops. To minimize damage and reduce the need for insecticide sprays, crops have been genetically engineered to produce bacterial proteins that kill key pests but are not harmful to people or wildlife. Ho.....»»
Rainwater samples reveals it"s literally raining "forever chemicals" in Miami
PFAS are in Miami's rainwater. And it is the latest evidence the synthetic "forever chemicals"—that have raised health concerns for people and wildlife—hitch a ride on the water cycle, using the complex system to circulate over greater distances......»»
Something to sniff at: Lab-engineered receptors illuminate odor detection
A team of researchers led by Duke University, the University of California San Francisco, and the Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope have engineered odorant receptors to reveal the molecular basis of odor discrimination......»»
Berkshire Hathaway continues dumping AAPL to build up cash reserves
Financial firm Berkshire Hathway has spent a year reducing its shares of AAPL stock, which once took up half of chairman Warren Buffett's entire portfolio.Buffett meets with Apple CEO Tim Cook. Image credit: AppleFor the fiscal third quarter 2024, wh.....»»
Google Calendar Might Replace Google Tasks
Google Tasks has undergone quite the evolution from its initial launch many years ago. It’s a pretty great app these days, but in typical Google fashion, the company might be eyeing a way to replace it with an already existing service. Spotted.....»»
Safe, efficient method for synthesizing allenes opens up new possibilities for drug development
A research team jointly led by Professor Sung You Hong and Professor Jan-Uwe Rohde has unveiled a novel method for synthesizing allenes—a series of compounds integral to drug development and synthetic chemistry—without relying on hazardous, highl.....»»
Deep learning enhances accuracy and efficiency in protein structure prediction
In the rapidly advancing field of computational biology, a review explores the transformative role of deep learning techniques in revolutionizing protein structure prediction. The review, published in MedComm—Future Medicine, is led by Dr. Xi Yu an.....»»
Novel polypeptide-based molecules could pave the way for enhanced polymer design
A research study describes a systematic high-throughput design approach for virtual screening and creation of novel polypeptide-based molecules that form regular secondary structures that can be used in biology or materials science research. The stud.....»»
Nanofibrils study successfully measures strength of spider web "super fibers"
How small is "small?" Spider silk nanofibrils are just a few molecular layers thick, equivalent to approximately one ten-thousandth the diameter of a human hair. They're invisible to the naked eye and cannot be seen under an ordinary microscope......»»
Lidar mapping reveals mountainous medieval cities along the Silk Road
A city larger than many in Europe at the time was perched in the mountains. The history of the Silk Road, a vast network of ancient and medieval trade routes connecting Beijing an.....»»
Engineered bacterial protein offers efficient rare earth metal separation
A newly discovered protein naturally houses an unusual binding site that can differentiate between rare earth elements, and researchers at Penn State have made it even better. Rare earth elements are key components used in everything from modern tech.....»»