Synthetic Biology & Genetic Networks

Amping up the immune system’s T cells to improve their cancer-killing prowess

FierceBiotech: Combining immuno-oncology treatments like checkpoint inhibitors with other cancer-killing drugs is considered to be a key strategy for improving the response rate to immunotherapy. Now, a team of…

Fruit Fly Brain Hacked For Language Processing

Discover Magazine: One of the best-studied networks in neuroscience is the brain of a fruit fly, in particular, a part called the mushroom body. This analyzes sensory inputs such as odors, temperature, humidity and visual data so that the fly can…

Tracking cancer metastasis with CRISPR opens new areas for drug development

FierceBiotech: Metastasis is responsible for most cancer-related deaths, but it’s hard to trace. Now, a group of researchers has developed a CRISPR-based method that helped track tumor spreading patterns….

Could Controlling Bacteria With Light Extend Your Lifespan?

Forbes: Scientists suggest that light could be used to manipulate the metabolism of gut bacteria to prolong our lifespans. The approach would involve a technique called ‘optogenetics’, where cells are engineered to have genes that respond to light, meaning you…