Scientists make a viable semi-synthetic organism

The lifeform holds on to its artificial genetic letters without a hitch.

Scientists Can Now Sequence DNA With a Smartphone

It was not so long ago that sequencing even tiny snippets of DNA was a costly, cumbersome process that required access to a state-the-art lab. Today, we are inching close to putting a DNA sequencer in every pocket.

Cultural differences may leave their mark on DNA

A San Francisco, US - led study has identified signatures of ethnicity in the genome that appear to reflect an ethnic group's shared culture and environment, rather than their common genetic ancestry.

CRISPR used for first time to correct clotting

This study is a preclinical proof of concept using a universal CRISPR/Cas9 gene targeting approach that could be applied to majority of the patients with a specific disease.

Multifaceted genetic impact of training

Endurance training changes the activity of thousands of genes and give rise to a multitude of altered DNA-copies, RNA, researchers report.

The Synthetic Biology Era Is Here - How We Can Make the Most of It

We are entering an era of directed design in which we will expand the limited notion that biology is only the ‘study of life and living things’ and see biology as the ultimate distributed, manufacturing platform.

Recording analog memories in human cells

Engineers program human cells to store complex histories in their DNA.

Scientists program cells to remember and respond to series of stimuli

Engineers have programmed cells to remember and respond to events. This approach to circuit design enables scientists to create complex cellular state machines and track cell histories.

A New Tool on the ISS Could Help Us Find Alien Life

The ISS is getting an incredible new tool: a handheld DNA sequencer. The questions scientists hope it will answer include whether life exists beyond our planet and just what is that weird fungus growing on the wall of the space station?

Quantum Living: Epigenetics And Exercise: How Genes Take Shape To Change Your DNA

Epigenetics, a cutting-edge new science that studies how our gene expression is influenced and changed by a whole host of factors—from diet, exercise, and mindfulness practices - to environmental factors and lifestyle modifications as well.

The DNA Journey

It’s easy to think there are more things dividing us than uniting us. But we actually have much more in common with other nationalities than you’d think.

DNA Could Be Used As Nanowire

DNA is the fundamental molecule for life on Earth, but it might soon become a key component in the construction of nanoelectronic devices as well.

Scientists have created mice with hyper-long telomeres without altering the genes

A research team has succeeded in creating mice in the laboratory with hyper-long telomeres and with reduced molecular ageing, avoiding the use of genetic manipulation.