Focus Area: Synthetic Biology
139 Results for 'Synthetic Biology'
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Technologies 13
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Toehold Probes
The accurate detection of specific DNA or RNA sequences is important for many research and diagnostic applications, and unspecific detection of similar sequences that can differ by only a single nucleotide can give false positive results. In addition, researchers and clinicians would like to accurately test for presence or absence of multiple single base changes... -
Toehold switches as versatile tools for synthetic biology applications
The burgeoning field of synthetic biology is designing artificial gene circuits that recognize molecules in their environment and respond by regulating genes with desired activities. In the future, such capabilities could allow the engineering of cells as diagnostic or therapeutic devices, factories for the production of clinically or industrially coveted molecules, and as specialized devices... -
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...
News 101
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...