Our Scans · (ZY.3.05) Biology · Weekly Summary

• The Nuffield Council on Bioethics is collaborating with the University of Edinburgh and others to co-create future governance frameworks for synthetic biology in plants - a rapidly advancing area of engineering biology with the potential to transform agriculture, sustainability, and food security. Nuffield Council on Bioethics
• Researchers show how a combination of molecular biology, nanotechnology, novel polymers, electronics and automation, coupled with systematic development, could make DNA data storage useful for everyday use possible in a few years. ScienceDaily
• Global supply chains faced disruptions, leading to delays in obtaining essential raw materials, reagents, and equipment needed for research and development in synthetic biology. Yahoo Finance
• As climate change accelerates, synthetic biology enhanced by machine learning and automation could provide disruptive capabilities that would allow bioengineering to make a difference in the worldwide struggle to halt or even reverse climate change. Agile BioFoundry
• Many programmes will show the transition from basic research to industrial or clinical applications and will work on the solutions offered by physics, biology, data science or materials science to global challenges such as paediatric cancer, clean energy and water or sustainable development. Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions
• The next decade will be transformative for biotechnology, with innovations in synthetic biology, AI-driven drug discovery, regenerative medicine, and sustainable food solutions. Blogger
• 23andMe's Immuno-oncology genetic signature Using its genetic data, 23andMe can identify immune-related genes that are expected to have an impact on cancer biology. 23andMe, Inc.
• Continued advancements in research and development, including bio-manufacturing and synthetic biology, could enable energy independence at the formation level beyond 2040. www.army.mil
• A rapidly advancing global bioeconomy propelled by advances in biotechnology, including synthetic biology, presents both opportunities and challenges. GOV.UK
• Biotechnologies, including synthetic biology, are going to be foundational to the 21st century economy. International Defense Security & Technology
• Scientists at the UK Centre for Mammalian Synthetic Biology in Edinburgh have built a 'tool box' for cell biologists facilitating a wide range of biomedical and industrial applications, and could help reduce the need for animal experimentation. PubMed Central (PMC)
• Engineering Biology for Climate & Sustainability is the fifth technical roadmap developed by the Engineering Biology Research Consortium and represents the first dedicated to innovations and opportunities towards overcoming a significant global challenge. Nature
• Over the next decade, the U.S. government and private sector will invest $3.5 trillion in emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, synthetic biology and biotechnology, as well as in innovations in telecommunications and clean energy. The Good Men Project
• Ginkgo Bioworks, known for its expertise in cell programming and biosecurity, will bring its synthetic biology platform to optimize Novo Nordisk's R&D pipeline for serious chronic diseases. Lexology
• Ginkgo Bioworks is building the world's leading platform for cell programming and biosecurity to make biology easier to engineer while enhancing infrastructure to prevent, detect and respond to biological threats. World Economic Forum
• The research is one of 22 new Mission Award projects funded by UKRI to unlock the potential of engineering biology across multiple sectors. Keele University
• Last year we released a Synthetic Biology Roadmap that estimated products made using engineering biology could generate more than $19.2 billion for Australia's food and agricultural industry by 2040. CSIRO
• Because of China's limited land and water resources, the document specified that increasing crop yields will depend on technological advances in seed quality and agricultural techniques-including biological breeding, gene editing, synthetic biology, and artificial intelligence. Jamestown
• The Saudi Royal Family has started a nonprofit group that plans to spend $1 billion a year to do research on the biology of ageing and find ways to extend the number of years people live in good health. Life Extension Magazine
• In 2024, biotechnology will advance genetic engineering, gene editing, and synthetic biology, offering breakthroughs in healthcare treatments and environmental conservation. Ro-bus
• Alphafold, developed by DeepMind, symbolizes a revolutionary leap in the field of biology, employing artificial intelligence to predict protein structures with remarkable accuracy, fundamentally changing the landscape of scientific research. SuchScience
• The Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology has reprogrammed the genetic code to incorporate novel amino acids, increasing the potential of engineering biology to include structures not found in nature. GOV.UK

Last updated: 30 June 2025