Biotechnology

Scientists working with microfluids as part of biotechnology research often rely on large, clunky machines to manage the samples, but this tinkering could one day be handled by tiny robots that make the process far more efficient.

To peer back in time at certain key steps of evolution, scientists at the Scripps Research Institute have engineered synthetic microorganisms designed to be similar to some that might have lived billions of years ago.

Missouri has become the first US state to pass a bill defining what products can and can't be classified as "meat." The legislation prohibits plant-based products from using the term and also removes the possibility of lab-grown meat hitting the market shelves in the future with the "meat" moniker.

​A statement issued by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue last week has clarified that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) currently does not, and has no plans to, regulate gene edited plants or crops.

The US Cattlemen’s Association is petitioning the United States Department of Agriculture to restrict the definition of “beef” and “meat” exclusively to products born, raised and slaughtered in a traditional manner raising the question: Can lab-grown meat still be called meat?

New research could mean that a pill to provide some of the same health benefits as exercise could eventually move from fantasy to reality. Scientists have found suppressing a particular protein ​can enhance muscle mass and help obese people reduce their risk of a number of health concerns.

While there's no shortage of glucose-monitoring devices on the market, a team of Chinese scientists is going one step further to make life easier for diabetics. They've created a system that uses a smartphone to direct engineered cells to produce insulin when needed.

Duke University is developing a cartilage-like material based on hydrogel that allows bioengineers to create bespoke artificial 3D-printed replacement parts for injured knees that are tailored to match the old part both in shape and mechanical properties.

Thanks to a new gene-silencing technique, farmers might be able to strengthen their crops’ defense systems, and protect them from disease and pests without any potential gene-altering fallout in future.

Scientists say they've devised a way to create "programmable" silk-based forms that have a variety of optical, chemical or biological functions. Imagine pins or other mechanical components that change color when they near a breaking point, or solids that can deliver drugs, among other possible uses.

Recent studies have shown that it is possible to reverse diabetes by targeting the fat in the pancreas or embarking on a low-calorie diet. Now, scientists at Kumamoto University have added another potential solution to the list: a wearable device that helps boost fat loss in obese patients.

HIV is no longer the death knell it once was thanks to modern medicine. Now, scientists in the UK have developed a new type of HIV test with the potential to improve millions more lives.