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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NewsChinese researchers charged with smuggling plant pathogen into the US
Fungus described by government as ‘agroterrorism weapon’ was allegedly brought into the US for study at a University of Michigan lab
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BusinessCrispr Nobel laureates get another chance to claim ownership in long-running patent dispute
Jennifer Doudna and Emmanualle Charpentier could recoup patent rights to the gene-editing technology, thanks to ruling from US appeal court
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ResearchAFM maps the way collagen unfolds and refolds in the body
New insights could aid understanding of connective tissue disorders
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ResearchDesigner protein switches conformations like a natural one
Researchers design, produce and test a synthetic protein with a dynamic structure
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OpinionHanding handedness to amino acids
A new theory proposes how chiral amplification could happen
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OpinionIgnoring women’s health shouldn’t be an option
Developing therapies for conditions that predominantly affect women is a neglected, but enormous, opportunity
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Research3D printing deep in the body using ultrasound could deliver drugs, heal wounds
Biocompatible inks allowed polymers to be printed in animals without harming them
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ResearchEngineered microbe could clean up persistent oil pollution hotspots
Bacterium can break down five hydrocarbon pollutants into harmless compounds
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ResearchAmino acid sequences used to predict enzyme stereoselectivity
Team behind tool hope to dramatically reduce the experimental workload of scientists using directed evolution to develop biocatalysts
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NewsFears grow over the future of mRNA vaccine research in the US
Researchers working on mRNA vaccines fear federal funding might be halted, with many looking to move projects abroad
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BusinessAcceptable levels of (epi)genetic engineering
Amplifying or silencing genes may be preferable to permanently changing genetic code
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ResearchRare disease drug can make human blood toxic to mosquitoes
Insect enzyme inhibitor could help control malaria
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BusinessEpigenetic editors enter clinical trials
New wave of precision medicines amplify or silence genes, without altering genetic code
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ResearchPacemaker the size of a grain of rice could save children’s lives after surgery
Medical device powers itself using bodily fluids and then is simply absorbed by the body
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FeatureMaking genetically engineered food palatable
The next generation of genetically altered food is forging ahead, aiming to be attractive to consumers rather than producers. Katrina Megget finds out whether Crispr means crisper salads
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ResearchAI takes step towards cracking biology’s toughest problem – protein sequencing
The team hopes the system will eventually be as influential as AlphaFold was for protein structure prediction
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Research‘Ageing’ cellular blobs could be linked to neurodegenerative diseases
Over time biomolecular condensates’ redox activity drops and tangled aggregates linked to conditions like Alzheimer’s build-up
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FeatureThe circles of DNA that cause cancer
Ring-shaped extrachromosomal DNA is implicated in many cancers. Rachel Brazil talks to the scientists trying to uncover their secrets
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ResearchStretching spider silk increases hydrogen bonding, improving mechanical strength
Computational analysis provides new insights into silk’s mechanical properties that was unavailable experimentally
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OpinionTunnelling to the heart of cell communication
Nanotubes are being found in an increasing number of biological contexts, including the developing heart