Synthetic genes engineered to mimic how cells build tissues and structures

Synthetic genes engineered to mimic how cells build tissues and structures

Researchers from the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering and theUniversity of Rome Tor Vergata in Italy have developed synthetic genes that function like the genes in living cells. The artificial genes can build intracellular structures through a cascading sequence that builds self-assembling structures piece by piece. The approach is similar to building furniture with modular … Read more

Engineered bacterial protein offers efficient rare earth metal separation

Engineered bacterial protein offers efficient rare earth metal separation

Penn State professor of chemistry Joseph Cotruvo, Jr. and graduate student Wonseok Choi have been researching ways to separate rare earth elements using reengineered bacterial proteins that are found in nature. Credit: Michelle Bixby/Penn State A newly discovered protein naturally houses an unusual binding site that can differentiate between rare earth elements, and researchers at … Read more