Lifeboat Foundation

The incorporation of exotic DNA

DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is a molecule composed of two long strands of nucleotides that coil around each other to form a double helix. It is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms that carries genetic instructions for development, functioning, growth, and reproduction. Nearly every cell in a person’s body has the same DNA. Most DNA is located in the cell nucleus (where it is called nuclear DNA), but a small amount of DNA can also be found in the mitochondria (where it is called mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA).

Cyanobacteria are single-celled organisms that derive energy from light, using photosynthesis to convert atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) and liquid water (H₂O) into breathable oxygen and the carbon-based molecules like proteins that make up their cells. Cyanobacteria were the first organisms to perform photosynthesis in the history of Earth, and were responsible for flooding the early Earth with oxygen, thus significantly influencing how life evolved.

Geological measurements suggest that the atmosphere of the early Earth—over three billion years ago—was likely rich in CO₂, far higher than current levels caused by anthropogenic climate change, meaning that ancient cyanobacteria had plenty to “eat.”

But over Earth’s multi-billion-year history, atmospheric CO₂ concentrations have decreased, and so to survive, these bacteria needed to evolve new strategies to extract CO₂. Modern cyanobacteria thus look quite different from their ancient ancestors, and possess a complex, fragile set of structures called a CO₂-concentrating mechanism (CCM) to compensate for lower concentrations of CO₂.

My recently published perspective paper has been featured by GEN Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News!

#biotechnology #genetherapy #syntheticbiology

Synthetic biology has the potential to upend existing paradigms of adeno-associated virus (AAV) production, helping to reduce the high costs of gene therapy and thus make it more accessible, according to a recent paper.

Continue reading “AAV Manufacturing Sees Big Opportunities in Synthetic Biology” »

In some cases, it is now possible to genetically engineer the immune system to banish cancers like T-cell leukaemia that were previously unresponsive to treatments.

Aunt_Spray/iStock.

“Having focused on genetic advancements in ancient DNA for my entire career and as the first to fully sequence the Dodo’s genome, I am thrilled to collaborate with Colossal and the people of Mauritius on the de-extinction and eventual re-wilding of the Dodo. I particularly look forward to furthering genetic rescue tools focused on birds and avian conservation,” Shapiro added.

Aglae has developed a nutritive serum without genetic modification, which allow plants to glow thanks to the dark light. This serum is absorbed by capillary action by the plant and reveals natural veins of petals and leaves.

Order our range of turnkey product, designed to easily reproduce the effect of glowing plants from home.

Year 2019 😗

Genetically modified microbes release “nanobodies” that alert the immune system to cancer in mice, scientists report.

What led to the emergence of complex organisms on Earth? It’s a significant unanswered question in biology. Researchers from Christa Schleper’s team at the University of Vienna and Martin Pilhofer’s team at ETH Zurich have taken a step towards resolving it. The scientists succeeded in cultivating a special archaeon and characterizing it more precisely using microscopic methods.

This member of the Asgard archaea exhibits unique cellular characteristics and may represent an evolutionary “missing link” to more complex life forms such as animals and plants. The study was recently published in the journal Nature.

All life forms on earth are divided into three major domains: eukaryotes, bacteria and archaea. Eukaryotes include the groups of animals, plants and fungi. Their cells are usually much larger and, at first glance, more complex than the cells of bacteria and archaea. The genetic material of eukaryotes, for example, is packaged in a cell nucleus and the cells also have a large number of other compartments. Cell shape and transport within the eukaryotic cell are also based on an extensive cytoskeleton. But how did the evolutionary leap to such complex eukaryotic cells come about?

Continue reading “A ‘Missing Link’ — Researchers Shed Light on the Origin of Complex Life Forms” »

Chinese scientists in a 10-year study found that people who adhered to the special six rules, the risk of dementia decreased by 90%. Even with a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease. The study involved 29 thousand people over 60 years of age, who were divided into three groups.