Synthetic Biology
Simple genetic modification could restore American chestnut to dominance
Scientists have found a simple genetic modification to revitalize the American chestnut, but now the question remains: should they be ...
Synthetic biology research could be impacted by Nagoya Protocol
A new report shows the uncertainty surrounding the Nagoya Protocol, passed by the UN in 2010, could impact American research ...
Promise and peril of synthetic biology
Work in the field of synthetic biology creates a dual use ethical dilemma--the techniques that help us learn to cure ...
GE regulation: More may be necessary, but need not inhibit innovation
Products such as corporate GM crops, which use a new branch of genetic engineering known as synthetic biology, have been ...
First lab-grown burger: Groundbreaking, a bit bland, and definitely not GM
The worlds first lab-grown burger, made from muscle stem cells, was cooked and eaten in London. Despite technically delivering on ...
Mammoth cloning: Big animal, big ethical concerns
Theoretically, mammoths could be cloned by recovering, reconstructing or synthesizing viable mammoth DNA but some object to “deep” human intervention ...
DNA superstorage: Apocalypse-proofing the world’s data
In terms of information density, DNA outclasses anything we’ve been able to invent. Two scientists think all the world's information ...
Scientist create stem cells without genetic manipulation
Scientists demonstrate a new way to reprogram adult tissue to become cells like embryonic stem cells, without using genes ...
‘Natural food’ fallacy: “Waiter, there’s a gene in my soup!”
Plant biotechnologist Jimmy Botella busts the naturalistic fallacy and reveals the reality of our "unnatural" natural food supply ...
Call to action: Grist reevaluates crop biotechnology; It’s time the rest of journalism does too
Grist is taking a bold step in reevaluating its anti-GE stance. It's the latest in many milestones for reason and ...
UK joins project to make first synthetic eukaryote
UK researchers join a project to create the first synthetic eukaryote: designer yeast ...
Monsanto wants to help honeybees fight mites with biotech
A new weapon in that fight to save honeybees could be RNA molecules that kill a troublesome parasite by disrupting ...
Glow-in-the-dark nightmares: Anti-synthetic biology campaigners play hysteria card
In the minds of those who fear synthetic biology, a project to create plants which naturally glow—what should be seen ...
Far-fetched ethical questions that are about to get real
Science fiction's favorite moral quandaries are suddenly pressing concerns ...
Synthetic blood may introduce a host of complications
The pending arrival of synthetic blood is likely to come with some serious socioeconomic and ethical issues ...
Synthetic blood trial liscenced in Scotland
The following is an excerpt. Researchers based at the Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine (SCRM) in Edinburgh hope to use ...
Synthetic blood: First human trials to take place in Scotland
Researchers in Scotland have received the go-ahead to set up a facility to manufacture synthetic blood from stem cells, bringing ...
Biologists engineer custom flu vaccine in a week
The following is an excerpt. A copy of the genetic code of an H7N9 avian flu—similar to, but not exactly ...
Anti-biotech ETC group launches fight over Kickstarter synthetic biology project
The following is an excerpt of a longer story. If the biohackers can have a Kickstarter campaign to release their ...
Genetics continues to garner attention as conservation tool
Genetics continues to make headlines in conservation efforts, even if it's not the species-saving panacea some hope for ...
Synthetic biology could speed flu vaccine production
The following is an excerpt of a longer story. Synthetic biology is breathing new life into the old-fashioned world of ...
DIY biotechnology: Glowing trees
Hoping to give new meaning to the term “natural light,” a small group of biotech enthusiasts is trying to create ...
Chinese H7N9 virus making its way to labs around the world
The following is an excerpt. The new H7N9 avian influenza strain that surfaced in China recently is now making its ...
Lab-grown kidneys work in rats, offer hope for human transplants
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital report a medical first: lab-grown kidneys successfully transplanted into rats, where they functioned properly -- ...
How will synthetic biology shape the future of agriculture?
Synthetic biology may have huge benefits for agriculture, but it will challenge human value systems ...
The future of gene patenting
Are human genes patentable? The question is becoming less relevant as biotech patents move more toward completely synthetic genes and ...
Genetic engineering joins the fight to save wildlife
Conservation workers will this week seek help from an unlikely set of allies. They will ask researchers working on synthetic ...