Biotech

Synthetic biologists are close to putting living cells to work diagnosing human diseases and repairing environmental damage

Letters to the editor from the December 2015 issue of Scientific American editors@sciam.com

Vaccines that target cancer cells using their own DNA could help eliminate tumors and prevent recurrences

Early attempts to tailor disease treatment to individuals based on their DNA have met with equivocal success, raising concerns about a push to scale up such efforts

Enhancing the body's own immune system is leading to promising results in the battle against malignancy

The technology for simple and inexpensive diagnostic medical tools is available. Here’s how to get it from the labs to the front lines

"Minimal" cell raises the stakes in race to harness life’s building blocks

Ultraslim graphene sensor monitors blood sugar levels through skin

Methods will be used in combination with other traditional tools

Evidence suggests the techniques and expertise needed to create a deadly insect or virus are far beyond the capabilities of the typical citizen scientist or community lab

The bugs could be used to help contain Zika virus in Florida