Books & Arts |
Featured
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Research Highlights |
Remote-controlled swimming bacteria
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Research Highlights |
Designer cells treat diabetic mice
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News & Views |
Molecular memoirs of a cellular family
A system that introduces random modifications to barcode sequences embedded in cells' DNA allows lineage relationships between cells to be discerned, while preserving the cells' spatial relationships. See Letter p.107
- Lauren E. Beck
- & Arjun Raj
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News |
Living cells bind silicon and carbon for the first time
Modified bacterial enzyme taught to make bonds that evolution avoids.
- Davide Castelvecchi
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News |
Plant-genome hackers seek better ways to produce customized crops
As gene editing opens doors, plant researchers are hamstrung by the need for better ways to slip their molecular tools into cells.
- Heidi Ledford
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News |
Young scientists ditch postdocs for biotech start-ups
Many biologists are founding their own firms as venture capitalists show increased interest in science.
- Erika Check Hayden
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News & Views |
Precision timing in a cell
A 16-year-old synthetic genetic circuit that produces gene-expression oscillations in bacterial cells has been given an upgrade, making it an exceptionally precise biological clock. See Letter p.514
- Xiaojing J. Gao
- & Michael B. Elowitz
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Letter |
Synchronous long-term oscillations in a synthetic gene circuit
The first synthetic genetic oscillator or ‘repressilator’ is simplified using insights from stochastic theory, thus achieving remarkably precise and robust oscillations and informing current debates about the next generation of synthetic circuits and their potential applications in cell-based therapies.
- Laurent Potvin-Trottier
- , Nathan D. Lord
- & Johan Paulsson
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Research Highlights |
Synthetic DNA overreacts to light
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Letter |
Insights from biochemical reconstitution into the architecture of human kinetochores
Biochemical reconstitution of a synthetic human kinetochore with 21 protein subunits and centromeric nucleosomal DNA unveils fundamental principles of kinetochore organization and function.
- John R. Weir
- , Alex C. Faesen
- & Andrea Musacchio
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News |
‘Radically rewritten’ bacterial genome unveiled
The altered Escherichia coli represent the most extensive reengineering yet of an organism’s genetic code.
- Erika Check Hayden
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News & Views |
Bacteria synchronized for drug delivery
A synthetic genetic circuit that mimics the quorum-sensing systems used by bacterial populations to coordinate gene expression enables bacteria to deliver drugs to mouse tumours in repeated and synchronized cycles. See Letter p.81
- Shibin Zhou
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Letter |
Synchronized cycles of bacterial lysis for in vivo delivery
Clinically relevant bacteria have been engineered to lyse synchronously at a threshold population density and release genetically encoded therapeutics; treatment of mice with these bacteria slowed the growth of tumours.
- M. Omar Din
- , Tal Danino
- & Jeff Hasty
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News |
Plan to synthesize human genome triggers mixed response
Some admire project's ambition; others say that it hasn't justified its aims.
- Ewen Callaway
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News |
Synthetic biology tackles global antivenom shortage
Lab-made antibodies could produce high-volume, high-quality snakebite treatments.
- Carrie Arnold
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News |
Biology software promises easier way to program living cells
'Cello' automates the fast, reliable design of DNA-based logic circuits.
- Erika Check Hayden
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News |
‘Minimal’ cell raises stakes in race to harness synthetic life
Craig Venter’s creation comes as CRISPR gene-editing methods provide alternative ways to tinker with life’s building blocks.
- Ewen Callaway
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News Feature |
Welcome to the CRISPR zoo
Birds and bees are just the beginning for a burgeoning technology.
- Sara Reardon
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Research Highlights |
Designer cells block psoriasis
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Research Highlights |
Kill switches limit modified microbes
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Outlook |
Q&A: Cocktail maker
Tim Lu's synthetic-biology research at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge combines biological engineering with electronics and computer science to create bacteria that make structural proteins containing tiny semi-conductors called quantum dots. He explains how genome-editing techniques are furthering his research and their role in treating disease.
- Will Tauxe
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News |
Synthetic biology lures Silicon Valley investors
Tech funders warm to start-ups that use microbes in manufacturing.
- Erika Check Hayden
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News |
Gene-editing record smashed in pigs
Researchers modify more than 60 genes in effort to enable organ transplants into humans.
- Sara Reardon
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News |
Hacked molecular machine could pump out custom proteins
Engineered ribosomes pave way for designer enzymes and synthetic cells.
- Heidi Ledford
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Letter |
Protein synthesis by ribosomes with tethered subunits
A ribosome with tethered subunits, ‘Ribo-T’, is engineered by making a hybrid RNA composed of ribosomal RNA of large and small subunits; Ribo-T can support cell growth in vivo in the absence of wild-type ribosomes, and is used to establish a fully orthogonal ribosome–mRNA system.
- Cédric Orelle
- , Erik D. Carlson
- & Alexander S. Mankin
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News |
Antibiotic alternatives rev up bacterial arms race
From predatory microbes to toxic metals, nature is inspiring new ways to treat infections.
- Sara Reardon
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Comment |
Drugs: Regulate 'home-brew' opiates
The research community and the public require a fast, flexible response to the synthesis of morphine by engineered yeasts, urge Kenneth Oye, Tania Bubela and J. Chappell H. Lawson.
- Kenneth A. Oye
- , J. Chappell H. Lawson
- & Tania Bubela
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News |
Engineered yeast paves way for home-brew heroin
Advance holds potential for better opiate painkillers — but raises concerns about illicit use.
- Rachel Ehrenberg
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Letter |
Synthesis and applications of RNAs with position-selective labelling and mosaic composition
A hybrid solid–liquid phase transcription method and automated robotic platform synthesizes position-specific, fluorescence- or isotope-labelled RNA.
- Yu Liu
- , Erik Holmstrom
- & Yun-Xing Wang
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News |
Synthetic biologists seek standards for nascent field
Common language and methods are needed to fulfil biofactory dream.
- Erika Check Hayden
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Editorial |
Kept on a leash
A vital dependence of genetically modified organisms on an artificial nutrient could be a means of preventing their escape into the environment.
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News |
GM microbes created that can’t escape the lab
Engineered bacteria kept in check with a designer diet.
- Elie Dolgin
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News & Views |
2014 Editors' choice
Extracts from selected News & Views articles published this year.
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News & Views |
Toehold gene switches make big footprints
The development of RNA-based devices called toehold switches that regulate translation might usher in an era in which protein production can be linked to almost any RNA input and provide precise, low-cost diagnostics.
- Simon Ausländer
- & Martin Fussenegger
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News |
Cellular 'computers' gain a hard drive
DNA-based memory can record multiple inputs from engineered gene circuits.
- Brendan Borrell
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News |
Phage therapy gets revitalized
The rise of antibiotic resistance rekindles interest in a century-old virus treatment.
- Sara Reardon
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News Feature |
Synthetic biology: Beyond divisions
Since the birth of synthetic biology nearly 15 years ago, the field has splintered into diverse tribes of scientists, all attempting to bestow cells with new abilities.
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Editorial |
Tribal gathering
Before they can construct a cell, researchers in synthetic biology must first build bridges between disciplines.
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World View |
Time to settle the synthetic controversy
If synthetic biology is to thrive, the world needs to decide now how the field should be regulated and supported, says Volker ter Meulen.
- Volker ter Meulen
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Comment |
Synthetic biology: How best to build a cell
Experts weigh in on the biggest obstacles in synthetic biology — from names to knowledge gaps — and what it will take to overcome them.
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News & Views |
Construction of a yeast chromosome
One aim of synthetic biology is to generate complex synthetic organisms. Now, a stage in this process has been achieved in yeast cells — an entire yeast chromosome has been converted to a synthetic sequence in a stepwise manner.
- Daniel G. Gibson
- & J. Craig Venter
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News & Views |
New letters for life's alphabet
The five bases found in nucleic acids define the 'alphabet' used to encode life on Earth. The construction of an organism that stably propagates an unnatural DNA base pair redefines this fundamental feature of life. See Letter p.385
- Ross Thyer
- & Jared Ellefson
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News & Views |
Engineering explored
Synthetic biology involves the creation of biological systems for new applications by modifying and reassembling biological components. Two views are presented here on the best way to engineer these components so that they reliably generate organisms with desired traits.
- Pamela A. Silver
- , Jeffrey C. Way
- & Joseph T. Meyerowitz
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News |
First life with 'alien' DNA
An engineered bacterium is able to copy DNA that contains unnatural genetic letters.
- Ewen Callaway
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News Feature |
Synthetic biology: Cultural divide
Synthetic biology is facing a tug of war over whether to patent its discoveries or embrace open-source innovation.
- Bryn Nelson
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Letter |
A semi-synthetic organism with an expanded genetic alphabet
Triphosphates of hydrophobic nucleotides d5SICS and dNaM are imported into Escherichia coli by an exogenous algal nucleotide triphosphate transporter and then used by an endogenous polymerase to replicate, and faithfully maintain over many generations of growth, a plasmid containing the d5SICS–dNaM unnatural base pair.
- Denis A. Malyshev
- , Kirandeep Dhami
- & Floyd E. Romesberg
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Spotlight |
Spotlight on Immunology
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News & Views |
Biocircuits in synchrony
Cellular biocircuit design has taken a major step forward. The circuit reuses the cell's own protein-degradation system to synchronize the expression of two synthetic modules throughout an entire bacterial population. See Letter p.387
- Ricard Solé
- & Javier Macía