Synthetic biology is an exciting and rapidly evolving field of research that can broadly be defined as the design (or redesign) and construction of novel artificial biological pathways, organisms, or devices. Applying engineering principles to biological components allows us to probe, manipulate, and modify cell function. The core synthetic biology toolkit is comprised of both biological and engineering functions: molecular manipulation, deep data analysis, and computer algorithms. Below are just a few innovations highlighted at the SynBioBeta conference, which took place in London in April. Synthetic Biology is here to stay, says John Sgouros, consultant, Biomax Informatics. Customization of molecules and whole microorganisms creates tremendous opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, environmental biotechnology, and industrial materials. However, optimizing the discovery, genetic engineering, and manufacturing processes driving these innovations is highly dependent on systematic analysis of vast amounts of data. Data accumulate rapidly and exponentially, often in an unstructured manner, siloed between internal and external databases, according to Sgouros. Biomaxs BioXM knowledge management platform deals with data in a systematic manner: from digitalization to the semantic integration of diverse content and workflows, and further, to systematic feedback of results to find the optimal way forward. Database integration is done by configuration (i.e., … Continue reading →

June 12, 2017 Bruce S. Serlin, associate professor of biology at DePauw University and a member of the faculty for more than 30 years, died suddenly of cardiac arrest last night in Greencastle. He was 64 years old. (2007 photo at right by Alex Turco '10/The DePauw) Born on August 4, 1952 in New York, Serlin earned his B.S. in biology-environmental geology from Alfred University, an M.Sc. in botany from Cornell University, and the Ph.D. in botany from University of Texas at Austin, where he also served as a post-doctoral researcher. Dr. Serlin, whose specialty was cellular biology, joined the DePauw faculty in 1985 as as assistant professor of biological sciences. He was promoted to associate professor in 1992 and served as director of DePauw's Honor Scholar Program from 1997-2000 and 2001-04. He also chaired DePauw's Committee on Academic Policy and Planning. Professor Serlin also conducted research at Ohio State and Cornell universities, and spent the 200708 academic year as a visiting scholar at Wabash College's Center of Inquiry as a visiting scholar. In 1987 he received a research grant of $21,500 from the Research Corporation, a foundation for the advancement of science and technology, to fund his research on … Continue reading →

Send this article by email What is your name? Please indicate below the emails to which you want to send this article: UNCG biology research abuzz Enter one email per line. No more than 5 emails. Send Close The UNCG Bee Station is located a few blocks to the east of campus and, at this moment, is buzzing with research. UNCG Professor of Biology Olav Rueppell and his research team have just received a nearly $1 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to investigate honey bees natural defenses against their main pest, the Varroa mite, and how to activate them. Dr. Olav Rueppell indicates nurse bees who perform hygienic behavior. Varroa mites are tiny, amber-colored circular creatures that live on the bodies of the honey bees. They feed on the bees blood and amplify a colonys level of infection from illnesses such as Deformed Wing Virus or Israeli Acute Paralysis. Bee health started to decline significantly about a decade ago in the U.S. for unknown reasons, Rueppell said. So that caused a lot of awareness and research. Now we understand that theres not one single factor, but its a perfect storm where multiple factors interact to … Continue reading →

June 12, 2017 Accumulation of extracellular material in mice uterus. Credit: EPFL Hyaline Fibromatosis Syndrome (HFS) is a rare but severegenetic disease that affectsbabies, children, and adults. A glassy substance called hyalineaccumulates in the skin and various organs of patients, causing painful deformities and may lead to early death.The disease is caused by genemutations that destroythe function of a protein whosephysiological function is little understood.EPFL scientists have now studied and characterized its function for the first time, showing that it binds and controls the body levels of an important type of collagen. The work is published in Nature Communications. HFS is caused by a mutation of a gene called CMG2,also abbreviated asANTXR2 because it renders cells sensitive to anthrax infections. Thegene produces a protein that is embedded in the membrane of cells, and is known to bind anthrax toxins internalizing them into the cell where they exert their action. This is however not the physiological function of this protein. The HFS mutation of the gene causes the proteinto lose its function. A hallmark of the disease is theaccumulation of collagen in large nodules under the skin. Collagen isthe most abundant protein in mammals, found in skin, cartilage, blood vessels, and … Continue reading →