Biology
The latest chemistry news and research on biology, including biochemistry, biotechnology, synthetic biology and origins of life, from the Royal Society of Chemistry's magazine, Chemistry World
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ResearchAI takes step towards cracking biology’s toughest problem – protein sequencing
The team hopes the system will eventually be as influential as AlphaFold was for protein structure prediction
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Research‘Ageing’ cellular blobs could be linked to neurodegenerative diseases
Over time biomolecular condensates’ redox activity drops and tangled aggregates linked to conditions like Alzheimer’s build-up
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FeatureThe circles of DNA that cause cancer
Ring-shaped extrachromosomal DNA is implicated in many cancers. Rachel Brazil talks to the scientists trying to uncover their secrets
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ResearchStretching spider silk increases hydrogen bonding, improving mechanical strength
Computational analysis provides new insights into silk’s mechanical properties that was unavailable experimentally
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OpinionTunnelling to the heart of cell communication
Nanotubes are being found in an increasing number of biological contexts, including the developing heart
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BusinessBiomanufacturing proliferates in chemicals
Fermentation can improve sustainability at competitive costs
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ResearchCould ‘woolly’ mice put mammoths on the path to de-extinction?
Scepticism that mice with mammoth gene edits could ever produce a viable animal in elephants
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ResearchClearest ever picture of worms’ surface chemistry deepens evolutionary understanding
Cutting-edge mass spectrometry of nematodes’ ‘skin’ may reveal new ways to control parasitic infections
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ResearchDesigner protein performs multi-step catalysis with life-like performance
Computer-designed enzyme competitive with nature for the first time
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ResearchMedieval bear’s teeth shed light on historic heavy metal pollution
1000 years ago, a bear died after falling down a cave shaft in Romania’s Carpathian mountains. Was lead poisoning to blame?
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ResearchGenerative AI pipeline creates promising antimicrobial peptides
AI model extrapolates beyond training data to predict diverse antimicrobial structures
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OpinionHow natural nanomotors could propel new drug delivery systems
Biological cells including bacteria, sperm cells and microalgae show promise for precision treatments
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ResearchThis nanotechnology expert works with both plant and brain cells
Could Markita Landry’s research group be any more interdisciplinary?
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ResearchZika virus discovered to alter skin chemistry to entice mosquitoes
Changing the volatiles human skin produces helps enhance viral transmission
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ResearchFirst direct chemical synthesis of a gene over 1700 nucleotides long
Innovative use of non-porous solid supports allows synthesis of very long oligonucleotides
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Research‘Hidden grammar’ explains proteins’ distribution into sub-cellular condensates
Proteins’ amino-acid sequences appear to guide their access to blob-like aggregates involved in many cell processes
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ResearchMystery of how polar bears keep their coats ice free unravelled
Analysis of fur sebum could inspire new icephobic coatings
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ResearchMapping metabolite disturbances by drugs
High-throughput metabolomic profiling gives insight into unpredictable drug effects
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ResearchLife’s ingredients discovered in samples Nasa probe returned from an asteroid
Asteroid Bennu found to contain nucleobases, amino acids and ammonia
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OpinionSharing the burden of contraception could also mean sharing the risk
What if risk assessments for contraception considered the sum of risk to both members of a couple?