Biology – Page 13
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FeatureThe incredible antibodies of sharks, llamas and camels
Sharks and llamas share a strange quirk of their immune systems. Hayley Bennett finds out how their ‘nanobodies’ could help us tackle Covid and a host of other diseases
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ResearchLife’s handedness could have arisen spontaneously on Earth
New insight into the origins of homochirality point to adaptation to energy sources as driver
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ResearchAI-engineered enzyme eats entire plastic containers
Enzyme with only five amino acid alterations depolymerises 51 different PET products faster and at lower temperature than other proteins
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ResearchYeast engineered to convert methanol into heparin
Production levels are currently low, but researchers hope the method could one day mean pharma doesn’t have to rely on animals for this essential medicine
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ResearchFreeze–thaw cycles could explain how ancient RNA replicated without enzymes
Discovery solves puzzle of RNA world hypothesis
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FeatureLife’s chemistry goes through the looking glass
Chemists were taught that natural systems only use L-amino acids. Andy Extance finds out just how wrong that is proving
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NewsChemistry Nobel laureate Sidney Altman dies at 82
Canadian–American molecular biologist won the 1989 prize for discovering RNA’s catalytic ability
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FeatureA decade of CAR-T cell therapy
Nina Notman looks at the revolutionary treatment already taking on cancer, now aiming for wider use
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ArticleNanotechnology for a healthier, cleaner world for all
Using novel polymer fluorophores to study, detect and treat life-threatening diseases
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ResearchSea sponges own unique chemistry goes beyond that of their bacterial guests
Biologically potent compounds can be made by sea sponges themselves
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ArticleCausal emergence might explain how living systems can operate
Life does not run like clockwork
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BusinessPatent office cements priority for Crispr gene editing in cells
Nobel laureates’ failed challenge means companies may need extra patent licenses
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FeatureThe curious case of the ancient brain
A 2000 year old decapitated Yorkshire man and the ancient proteins in his preserved brain might provide clues to modern diseases, as Hayley Bennett discovers
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BusinessModerna sued over Covid-19 vaccine-related patents
Arbutus and Genevant say lipid nanoparticles that protect mRNA infringe six key patents
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ResearchEpigenetic MRI offers a way to understand how the brain learns
First tests in humans could be as little as year away, researchers claim
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ResearchReprogrammed bacterium turns carbon dioxide into chemicals on industrial scale
Process achieved at industrial scale in 120 litre reactor
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ResearchElectric field of ATP synthase suggests enzyme has functions beyond catalysis
Study links energy-making enzyme with proton migration in ATP formation, and reinforces predictions that its catalytic efficiency is around 90%
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FeatureSequencing one cell at a time
New advances that allow scientists to uncover the molecular differences between individual cells could revolutionise medicine, Ian le Guillou finds
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ResearchBiochemical secrets of tarantula’s painful bite could point to perfect painkillers
King baboon spider venom could help scientists develop potent analgesics
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ResearchNew microscope makes tracking chiral molecules in live cells possible
The instrument uses circularly polarised light to tell left- and right-handed species apart and monitor them in space and time