Focus Area: Synthetic Biology
135 Results for 'Synthetic Biology'
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Technologies 11
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Engineering organoids to recapitulate brain tissue
The ability to derive and manipulate pluripotent stem cells has opened up new avenues for modeling biological systems in both healthy and diseased conditions. In order to more fully recapitulate the tissue microenvironment with its cell-cell, cell-extracellular matrix, and cell-niche interactions, it is essential to transition stem-cell culturing from monolayers to 3D structures. Self-organization of... -
Gene Drives
Since the 1940s, researchers have thought of using gene drives to eradicate populations of pests and disease vectors, and to reduce or eliminate invasive species that wreak havoc on natural ecosystems. The idea of a gene drive stems from nature itself, where in sexually reproducing organisms a certain version of a gene is preferentially passed... -
AAV-Engineering For Advanced Gene Therapy
Gene therapy with AAV (adeno-associated virus) as a delivery vehicle is a leading therapeutic modality for genetic disorders that is approved in Europe for the metabolic disease Familial Lipoprotein Lipase Deficiency. It is currently being tested in clinical trials in the U.S. to treat other rare conditions like the retinal Leber Congenital Amaurosis and the... -
Sports Genomics
Elite athletes possess extraordinary physical abilities enabling them to reach peak performances and recover quickly. The question is, can we extract information from their biology and use it to boost the performance level and speed up recovery of every-day-athletes? Research in different laboratories over the past years has discovered potential connections between the composition of... -
A broad strategy to reduce the toxicity of protein drugs
Therapeutic variants of the natural hormone erythropoietin (EPO) which is produced in the kidney to boost the production of red blood cells are commonly used to treat anemias stemming from kidney disease, chemotherapy and other complications. However, many drugs that are based on therapeutic proteins, including EPO, often cause unwanted side effects because they not... -
DNA Nanostructures for Drug Delivery
Researchers at the Wyss Institute have developed two methods for building arbitrarily shaped nanostructures using DNA, with a focus on translating the technology towards nanofabrication and drug delivery applications. One proprietary nanofabrication technique, called “DNA-brick self-assembly,” uses short, synthetic strands of DNA that work like interlocking Lego® bricks. It capitalizes on the ability to program...
News 99
Multimedia 25
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Video/AnimationBioBitsResearchers at the Wyss Institute, MIT, and Northwestern University have collaborated to create “BioBits,” a low-cost, shelf-stable educational kit to teach synthetic and molecular biology in K-12 classrooms. The kit utilizes freeze-dried cell-free reactions that eliminate the need for growing living cells in order to perform biological experiments. Different modules in the kit teach students... -
Video/AnimationTEDx Beacon Street Salon: Reversing Human AgingWyss Institute Core Faculty member George Church, Ph.D., was the opening speaker at the TEDx Beacon Street saloon event hosted at the Franklin Park Zoo. He presented from inside the tapir cage! Talk summary: Animals can be an extremely useful resource in prolonging human lives and promoting general health. For example, there are organs in... -
Audio/PodcastFormer DI Hoopster Searches For Athletic Boost In The MicrobiomeFormer DI Hoopster Searches For Athletic Boost In The Microbiome was originally broadcast on WBUR’s Only a Game on August 4, 2017. The story features Wyss Core Faculty member George Church and Postdoctoral Fellow Jonathan Scheiman. The original broadcast story can be found here. -
Video/AnimationCRISPR-Cas: Molecular RecordingIn this video, Wyss Institute and Harvard Medical School researchers George Church and Seth Shipman explain how they engineered a new CRISPR system-based technology that enables the chronological recording of digital information, like that representing still and moving images, in living bacteria. Credit: Wyss Institute at Harvard University -
Audio/PodcastBiofilms: Reprogramming Bacteria to Improve LivesWyss Core Faculty member Neel Joshi and Postdoctoral Fellow Anna Duraj-Thatte discuss the intersection between synthetic biology and materials science as an underexplored area with great potential to positively affect our daily lives—applications ranging from manufacturing to medicine. Dr. Joshi outlines ways that his lab at the Wyss Institute is looking at reprogramming bacteria in... -
Audio/PodcastDisruptive: Sports GenomicsWith 100 trillion cells in the human body, bacteria outnumber our own human cells 2 to 1. These bacteria make up one’s microbiome, and particularly bacteria in our guts affect all our key organ functions. They play a role in our health, development and wellness, including endurance, recovery and mental aptitude. In this episode of...