Tag

Synthetic Biology

All articles tagged with #synthetic biology

health-and-medicine1 day ago•6 min saved

Engineered Microbes Target Tumors by Colonizing Oxygen-Starved Cores

Researchers at the University of Waterloo are engineering Clostridium sporogenes bacteria to invade oxygen-poor tumor cores and consume nutrients from inside, potentially destroying tumors. They added an oxygen-tolerance gene and use quorum sensing to activate it only after enough bacteria accumulate, limiting safety risks. Next steps combine both features in a single strain and test in preclinical trials, showcasing interdisciplinary synthetic-biology cancer research.

via ScienceDaily|

#biotechnology #cancer-therapy #health-and-medicine

science1 month ago•41 min saved

AI-designed virus signals leap in synthetic biology, prompts safety debates

Researchers at Genyro used an AI system called Evo2 to design 285 new viruses from scratch, with Evo-Φ2147 created to kill antibiotic-resistant E. coli; the build relies on Sidewinder for genome assembly and could speed up creation of living genomes, vaccines, or personalised cancer therapies—while sparking concerns about AI-enabled biothreats and biosafety.

via Daily Mail|

#ai #evo-f2147 #evo2

space1 month ago•6 min saved

Terraforming Mars: A Realistic Roadmap to a Greener Red Planet

A new arXiv paper outlines a phased, testable plan to terraform Mars—starting with atmospheric warming and melting frozen reservoirs, then seeding engineered microbes to build Earth-like ecosystems—arguing advances in climate modeling, biotech, and cheap launches make it plausible, while underscoring ethical and scientific uncertainties about reversibility and potential microbial life.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#arxiv #ethics #mars

science1 month ago•27 min saved

AI writes life: scientists glimpse a post-Darwinian biotech era

Scientists are using AI to design entire genomes and to craft new viruses, signaling a post-Darwinian era where life can be authored. Stanford and Caltech demonstrations show AI-driven genome design (EvoΦ2147 and Evo2) and DNA-synthesis tools (Sidewinder) that could accelerate vaccines, cancer therapies, and other biotechnologies, while raising serious security, ethical, and governance concerns that require safeguards and policy frameworks.

via The Times|

#ai #genome-synthesis #governance

science2 months ago•10 min saved

Teens Use CRISPR to Improve Lyme Disease Detection and Treatment

Teenagers from Lambert High School in Georgia used CRISPR gene editing to develop a potential early detection and treatment method for Lyme disease, competing internationally at iGEM and achieving notable success, highlighting the importance of youth involvement in biotech innovation.

via CBS News|

#crispr #high-school-students #igem

science4 months ago•8 min saved

The Future of Biology: Writing Life’s Code

The article discusses the emerging field of writing genomes, highlighting projects like HGP-write and SynHG that aim to construct entire human genomes from scratch. This technological leap could revolutionize medicine, biology, and industry by enabling the creation of custom organisms and new therapies, but it also raises significant ethical and safety concerns that require responsible governance and global collaboration.

via Big Think|

#biotechnology #ethics #genome-writing

science4 months ago•12 min saved

Scientists Explore the Promise and Perils of Mirror Cells in Synthetic Biology

A researcher at the University of Minnesota and a group of scientists have raised concerns about the potential dangers of creating mirror cells, which are synthetic organisms with reversed biomolecular structures. While such cells could advance scientific understanding and medical research, experts warn they might pose significant ecological and health risks if released, leading to calls for strict regulations and ethical considerations to prevent potential existential threats.

via CNN|

#biosafety #mirror-cell #mirror-life

science4 months ago•4 min saved

Exploring the Future of Human Habitats on Mars

Recent technological advances have shifted the debate on Mars terraforming from impossible to challenging, with proposals including warming the planet, creating liquid water, and introducing microbes to eventually establish a breathable atmosphere. Researchers emphasize the importance of careful research, ethical considerations, and understanding potential risks before attempting large-scale planetary transformation.

via Universe Today|

#climate-modeling #mars #science

science4 months ago•7 min saved

The Mirror of Life: Exploring the Risks and Possibilities of Mirror Life

The article discusses the potential creation of mirror life, which involves synthetic biomolecules with opposite chirality to natural life, highlighting both the scientific possibilities and the significant risks, including ecological collapse and resistance to immune responses, while emphasizing the need for ongoing research and ethical debate.

via vox.com|

#biomolecules #biotechnology-risks #mirror-life

science-and-technology5 months ago•3 min saved

Experts Warn of AI-Generated Viruses and Bioweapon Risks

Researchers demonstrated that AI can design functional viruses, raising concerns about potential misuse for bioweapons, and emphasizing the need for improved regulation, data sharing, and rapid response infrastructure to mitigate risks.

via Futurism|

#ai #bioweapons #public-health

technology5 months ago•6 min saved

Bacteria Converts Plastic Waste into Painkillers

Scientists have genetically engineered E. coli bacteria to convert waste plastic into painkillers like paracetamol, building on its long history as a versatile tool in biotechnology for producing pharmaceuticals and chemicals. While E. coli remains the dominant organism due to its robustness and extensive research background, there is growing interest in exploring other microbes like Vibrio natriegens for more sustainable and efficient biotechnological applications.

via BBC|

#biotechnology #e-coli #microbial-engineering

science5 months ago•3 min saved

Scientists Debate Ceasing Potentially Catastrophic Research

Scientists are debating whether to halt research into 'mirror life' organisms, which are hypothetical life forms made of molecules that mirror those in natural life, due to potential risks such as ecological disruption and pandemics. While some experts warn of catastrophic consequences if such organisms are created and escape, others believe the risks are exaggerated and that the research could lead to significant medical advances. The debate highlights the need for cautious progress in this emerging field.

via Yahoo|

#ecosystem-safety #mirror-life #research-risks

science5 months ago•3 min saved

Debate Intensifies Over Restrictions on Mirror Life Research Due to Biohazard Risks

Scientists are debating whether to restrict research on 'mirror life,' synthetic cells made from mirror-image molecules, due to potential risks to health and environment, despite possible benefits in medicine and understanding life's origins.

via Nature|

#biotechnology #chirality #mirror-life

science5 months ago•4 min saved

Scientists Warn of Dangerous Risks from Synthetic 'Mirror Life'

Scientists warn that creating 'mirror life'—organisms with reversed molecular structures—could pose significant risks if they escape the lab, potentially causing irreversible harm to humans and ecosystems. While full mirror cells are not yet feasible, progress in related technologies raises concerns about future capabilities and the need for global regulation to prevent ecological and health disasters.

via The Debrief|

#biosecurity #environmental-risk #ethics

science5 months ago•5 min saved

Scientists Warn of 'Mirror Life' Microbes Threatening Humanity

Scientists warn that creating 'mirror life'—organisms with reversed molecular chirality—poses significant risks, including potential environmental invasion and unchecked replication, which could threaten humanity and ecosystems. Despite current safety measures, experts advocate for a global ban on such research to prevent irreversible harm.

via Yahoo News Canada|

#bioethics #biosafety #existential-risk