New Atlas

Biology

Synthetic organisms engineered to shed light on ancient evolution

Michael Irving October 30, 2018

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.

These synthetic microorganisms are made up of yeast cells (blue) with bacteria (pink) inside them, which ...

Medical

Wearable yeast colonies act as "canaries" for radiation exposure

Michael Irving August 10, 2018

Researchers at Purdue University have developed a living device for radiologists, using yeast colonies in wearable patches to monitor how much radiation a person is being exposed to.

Purdue researchers have developed a yeast-based badge that can help radiologists monitor their levels of radiation ...

Biology

Meet the microbe that breaks the "universal rule" of DNA

Michael Irving June 17, 2018

Living cells follow instructions encoded in DNA to construct organisms. It’s long been thought that one DNA sequence would always create the same protein, but now researchers have found the first exception to this “universal rule,” a microbe that chooses between two different translations each time.

Researchers have discovered a species of yeast that breaks a "universal rule" of DNA

Space

How yeast will let astronauts 3D print plastic parts from pee

Michael Irving August 22, 2017

Overpacking isn't exactly an option for trips into space, even for longer trips like an eventual manned mission to Mars. Now, researchers are recruiting microorganisms to solve the problem, by engineering them to make nutrients and 3D-printable plastics out of human waste.

Researchers have engineered yeast to convert human waste into useful materials for long-haul space missions

Science

Penicillin-producing yeast raises hopes in superbug fight

Michael Irving May 4, 2017

We need to develop new antibiotics, but the fungi species that produce them can be hard to work with. Now, scientists have used baker’s yeast to create penicillin, which is a big step towards creating easy-to-tweak “mini-factories” for new antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Plain old baker's yeast has been genetically engineered to produce penicillin, which could be the first ...

Environment

Meatless burger uses bloody special ingredient to replicate the real thing

John Anderson August 5, 2016

Impossible Foods is the latest alternative food company to introduce a version of lab-made "meat" with its plant-based Impossible Burger, which is said to look, smell and taste like real meat. The secret ingredient? Heme, a component of the red pigment in blood.

The Impossible Burger was recently added as a regular menu item at New York City eatery ...

Around The Home

Belgian scientists use hybrid yeasts to create boutique chocolates

David Szondy November 21, 2015

Belgian researchers working in collaboration with the world's largest chocolate producer, Barry Callebaut, have bred robust yeasts that ferment cocoa to produce bespoke aromas and flavors in the finished chocolate.

The Belgian researchers bred robust hybrid yeasts to produce new flavors in fermented cocoa

Biology

Engineered yeast could increase nutritional value of wine while reducing hangovers

Colin Jeffrey March 18, 2015

Researchers working at the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Services (ACES) claim to have produced a yeast that could vastly increase the quality of wine while also reducing its hangover-inducing properties.

Researchers have carried out precise metabolic engineering on yeast commonly used in winemaking, which could lead ...