Bioengineering and biotechnology

Chemistry graduate student Weerawat Runguphan, left, Sarah E. O'Connor, Latham Family Career Development Associate Professor of Chemistry, rear, and chemistry graduate student Peter Bernhardt, right, in lab where they genetically engineered periwinkle plant cells.

Chemists engineer plants to produce new compounds

Periwinkle plant cells could synthesize potential drugs

January 18, 2009

Do-it-yourself biology: Learning to build a better microbe

January 13, 2009

MIT researchers found that mice with normal DNA repair systems had more retinal degeneration upon exposure to environmental toxic agents than mice lacking a certain DNA repair system. At right, the cross section of the retina from a mouse lacking the repair system is normal. At left, mice with too much DNA repair have greatly reduced numbers of cells in the OPL (outer plexiform layer) and ONL (ou...

Too much of a good thing

Excessive DNA repair can lead to retinal degeneration

January 9, 2009

Neuroscientists ID source of cognitive decline in aging brains

Memory suffers when brain-communication network decays

January 7, 2009

Model predicts how to build a better stent

Work could help reduce blood clot risk in stent recipients

January 5, 2009

MIT researchers use this microchip to trap and fuse pairs of cells.

Getting cells to pair off

New device couples, fuses cells for stem cell research

January 4, 2009

The top image shows a mixture of gold nanoparticles. The longer particles are called nanobones, and the smaller are nanocapsules. Bottom left: After the nanoparticles are hit with 800 nanometer wavelength infrared light, the nanocapsules melt and release their payload. Nanobones remain intact. Right: After the nanoparticles are hit with 1100 nanometer wavelength infrared light, the nanobones melt...

Gold particles deliver more than just glitter

Nanoparticles could carry drugs to treat cancer, other diseases

December 30, 2008

Surprising find could lead to better manufacturing options for cancer-fighting antibodies

December 22, 2008

Ancient bacteria offer new line of attack on cystic fibrosis

December 16, 2008

Post-doc in biological engineering Seok Chung points to view of cell-growth as Roger Kamm, professor of biological and mechanical engineering, right, and chemical engineering graduate student Vernella Vickerman look on.

Close encounters with 3-D cell growth

Engineers' new microfluidic device could help with drug development

December 16, 2008

Team sheds light on Alzheimer's mystery

Work could lead to new treatments for debilitating disease

December 10, 2008

Reversing the conventional DNA wisdom

Researchers find DNA is transcribed by divergent polymerases

December 4, 2008

Top image depicts the chemical structure of chondroitin sulfate, the contaminant found in batches of heparin. Bottom image shows the chemical structure of normal heparin.

Conclusive evidence that tainted heparin caused allergic reactions

Epidemiological study provides the final link

December 3, 2008

Adult brain neurons can remodel connections

Could lead to creating growth in cells and regions normally unable to repair themselves

November 24, 2008

Kinesin, a small motor protein found in cells, walks stepwise onÂ microtubules to perform cellular processes. In each step, a powerÂ stroke is generated when two mechanical elements (neck linker, in red, and cover strand, in blue) form a beta-sheet that folds to drive the protein forward.

Baby steps

Engineers show how tiny cell proteins generate force to 'walk'