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    Category Biology/Biotechnology

    Engineers tap DNA to create ‘Lifelike’ Machines

    April 19, 2019, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    Cornell professor of biological and environmental engineering Dan Luo and research associate Shogo Hamada have created a DNA material capable of metabolism, in addition to self-assembly and organization.
    Credit: John Munson/Cornell University

    Tapping into the unique nature of DNA, Cornell engineers have created simple machines constructed of biomaterials with properties of living things. Using what they call DASH (DNA-based Assembly and Synthesis of Hierarchical) materials, engineers constructed a DNA material with capabilities of metabolism, in addition to self-assembly and organization – three key traits of life.

    “We are introducing a brand-new, lifelike material concept powered by its very own artificial metabolism...

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    Heart Patch could Limit Muscle Damage in Heart Attack Aftermath

    April 18, 2019, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    Hearts with with the computer optimized patch (second column from the left) remodeled less that those with no patch at all (far left column) and hearts patched with suboptimal properties (right columns).
    Credit: Brown/Fudan/Soochow Universities

    Guided by computer simulations, an international team of researchers has developed an adhesive patch that can provide support for damaged heart tissue, potentially reducing the stretching of heart muscle that’s common after a heart attack.

    The patch, made from a water-based hydrogel material, was developed using computer simulations of heart function in order to fine tune the material’s mechanical properties...

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    How Inflammation causes Gastric Cancer

    April 17, 2019, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    A schematic illustration of the role of Noxo1 and NOX1 in the inflammation-associated gastric tumorigenesis. Helicobacter pylori infection causes chronic gastritis, which further induces expression of Noxo1 through TNF-α/NF-κB inflammatory cytokine pathway. Induction of Noxo1 as well as other NOX1 complex, such as NOX1, Noxa1 and Cyba, leads to activation of NOX1 complex and ROS production. Increased ROS level in the inflamed gastric mucosa results in expansion of SOX2-positive stem cell population, which induces gastritis-associated gastric metaplasia and hyperplasia. This Noxo1-involved inflammatory pathway contributes to gastric tumorigenesis in the H. pylori-infected stomach.
    CREDIT
    Kanazawa University

    Researchers have solved the decades-old mystery of how stomach bacterium He...

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    A Biosynthetic Dual-Core Cell Computer

    April 17, 2019, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    Based on digital examples, ETH researchers introduced two cores made of biological materials into human cells. (Graphic: Colourbox/Steven Emmett, ETH Zurich)

    Researchers have integrated two CRISPR-Cas9-based core processors into human cells. This represents a huge step towards creating powerful biocomputers. Controlling gene expression through gene switches based on a model borrowed from the digital world has long been one of the primary objectives of synthetic biology. The digital technique uses what are known as logic gates to process input signals, creating circuits where, for example, output signal C is produced only when input signals A and B are simultaneously present.

    To date, biotechnologists had attempted to build such digital circuits with the help of protein gene switches i...

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