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GAO Science and Tech Spotlight Describes Benefits of Synthetic Biology and Challenges Ahead

Brag

GAO defines synthetic biology as “a multidisciplinary field of biotechnology that involves engineering the genetic material of organisms -- such as viruses, bacteria, yeast, plants, or animals -- to have new characteristics.” Opportunities include: Widely adaptable.

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Temporary pacemaker regulates heart rhythm then completely disappears

Physics World

The research team – headed up at Northwestern University and The George Washington University – describe the innovative device in Nature Biotechnology. Lastly, the team surgically implanted biodegradable pacemakers in rats and performed daily pacing trials on awake or lightly sedated animals. Device design.

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Scientists discover microbes in the Alps and Arctic that can digest plastic at low temperatures

Frontiers

By Mischa Dijkstra, Frontiers science writer Image: Beat Stierli Scientists from Switzerland have identified 19 novel strains of cold-adapted specialist bacteria and fungi from the Alps and the Arctic region that can digest biodegradable plastics at 15°C. Their findings are published in Frontiers in Microbiology.

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Microbes in cow stomach can break down plastic

Frontiers

The discovery is published today in the open access journal Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology. The other two consisted of a biodegradable plastic often used in compostable plastic bags (polybutylene adipate terephthalate, PBAT), and a biobased material (Polyethylene furanoate, PEF) made from renewable resources.