
synthetic biology
Breathing New Life Into Old Antibiotics
Scientists in Japan have identified safer alternatives to an 80-year old antibiotic by rapidly generating and screening thousands of the drug’s structural variants.

A Kill Switch For Genetically Modified Algae
By preventing bioengineered microalgae from growing outside the lab, researchers have reduced the risk of the genetically modified organisms escaping into the wild.
Compacting The Yeast Genome Into A Single Chromosome
Using the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system, scientists in China have created single-chromosome yeast to study the evolutionary benefits or drawbacks of having multiple chromosomes.
NUS And Wilmar Team Up For Healthier Food
The WIL@NUS corporate laboratory will develop healthier foods such as a cooking oil that could reduce cholesterol levels in the elderly.
Synthetic Biology Yields New Steroid Antibiotics
A research group in Japan has taken a synthetic biology approach to the development of steroid antibiotics.
Screening The Genome For Riboswitches
A genome-wide method has identified RNA aptamers that can bind to key metabolites, including vitamin B2.
7 Must-Read Stories In November 2017
Outstanding scientists, ambitious biotech startups, modernized acupuncture and a video of CRISPR in action were the hottest topics of November 2017.
Asia’s Rising Scientists: Matthew Chang
Associate Professor Matthew Chang is leading a team of interdisciplinary scientists to reprogram living organisms to perform useful functions for humans.
Expanding The Mouse Genome
Scientists have genetically modified mice so that they are able to incorporate unnatural amino acids into proteins in a controllable way.
Students Help Build Synthetic Yeast Chromosome
These synthetic yeast chromosomes bring scientists one step closer to creating artificial life.