From engineering bacteria that degrade plastics to microbes that produce antibiotics, fuel and vegan milk, synthetic biology is revolutionizing the world as we know it. Soon, this discipline will enable applications that would have sounded like sci-fi a decade ago, in sectors as diverse as energy sourcing, health or agriculture. However, behind these applications, there [...]
From their first uses in the fermentation of alcoholic drinks almost 10000 years ago, to their current role in yielding a wide range of compounds such as drugs, soaps and food, microbes are changing the industry for good These tiny organisms, along with the efforts of synbio scientists and years of research, are quickly becoming [...]
Large numbers of species on the brink of extinction, rising global temperatures, air, water and soil pollution - these and other events are causing an unprecedented environmental crisis that the world is facing nowadays. At first sight, the forecast is unfavourable, and scientific studies point to human activities as the main cause for this shady [...]
When it comes to using microorganisms in the biotech industry, we can say there are two main kinds of scientists: those who work with Escherichia coli in their labs, and those who prefer Bacillus subtilis. These two bacteria species can be considered as counterparts: they belong to opposed groups in the Gram classification, a test [...]
In the last decades, synthetic biology has provided scientists with a wide range of experimental tools to engineer organisms for many different purposes. That’s what we have been doing in fields like drug production, energy sourcing, waste treatment… It was a matter of time for this technology to be used in the food industry! The [...]
Microorganisms that can munch on plastic waste. Bacteria that detect land mines. Microbes that can produce spider silk. Only twenty years ago, any of these applications would have been science fiction. But now, these and more wonders are within our reach, and we have synthetic biology to thank. The ability to engineer microorganisms is already [...]
If you google “E. coli”, you’ll quickly see that this bacterium has a bad reputation. The first results are related to infections and food safety issues. However, if you ask scientists, you will find that they fall no short when praising its advantages. It is one of the model organisms most widely used in synthetic [...]
The climate crisis is a pressing and complex matter that requires varied, innovative solutions: manufacturers changing the way they produce consumer goods, regulations that foster those changes, and social movements that support the shifts, to mention a few. Today we want to talk about how synthetic biology is helping with it: transforming the raw CO2 [...]
Grooming and beauty are important issues in modern societies. You only need to turn on the TV to see a lot of commercials offering anti-aging treatments, make-ups in all colours and shapes and products designed to take care of the skin. The importance of cosmetics is currently overwhelming and, consequently, its market weight in economy [...]
Some weeks ago we introduce you to one of the two model organisms that we use at Rafts4Biotech, B. subtilis. Today is time for the other main character of our investigation Escherichia coli ! Discover all about this microbe at a glance!
