This article explores the ethical issues that have been identified in emerging technologies, from early genetic engineering to synthetic biology. The scientific advances in the field form a continuum, and some ethical considerations can be raised time and again when new developments occur. An underlying concern is the cumulative effect of scientific advances and ensuing technological innovation that can change our understanding of life and humanity.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0963180116000803 | DOI Listing |
Bioprocess Biosyst Eng
January 2025
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Korea.
p-Coumaric acid (p-CA), an invaluable phytochemical, has novel bioactivities, including antiproliferative, anxiolytic, and neuroprotective effects, and is the main precursor of various flavonoids, such as caffeic acid, naringenin, and resveratrol. Herein, we report the engineering of Escherichia coli for de novo production of p-CA via the PAL-C4H pathway. As the base strain, we used the E.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Nat Prod
January 2025
Department of Chemical and Biological engineering, School of Engineering and Technology, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 14201, Mongolia.
A chemical examination of a root extract of led to the isolation and identification of 23 compounds, including oxazole-type alkaloids and isoflavonoid derivatives. Notably, three oxazole-type alkaloids (, , and ) and two isoflavonoid derivatives ( and ) were obtained from a natural source for the first time. In addition, derived 2,5-diphenyloxazoles and their derivatives were synthesized.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdv Biol (Weinh)
January 2025
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
Synthetic cells offer a versatile platform for addressing biomedical and environmental challenges, due to their modular design and capability to mimic cellular processes such as biosensing, intercellular communication, and metabolism. Constructing synthetic cells capable of stimuli-responsive secretion is vital for applications in targeted drug delivery and biosensor development. Previous attempts at engineering secretion for synthetic cells have been confined to non-specific cargo release via membrane pores, limiting the spatiotemporal precision and specificity necessary for selective secretion.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFEBS Open Bio
January 2025
Sunny BioDiscovery Inc., Santa Paula, CA, USA.
Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is an anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory medication used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) and psoriasis. Its skin sensitization property precludes its topical use, which is unfortunate for the treatment of psoriasis. Isosorbide di-(methyl fumarate) (IDMF), a novel derivative of DMF, was synthesized to circumvent this adverse reaction and unlock the potential of topical delivery, which could be useful for treating psoriasis in the subpopulation of psoriatic MS patients, as well as in the general population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiotechnol Biofuels Bioprod
January 2025
Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK.
Background: The climate crisis and depleting fossil fuel reserves have led to a drive for 'green' alternatives to the way we manufacture chemicals, and the formation of a bioeconomy that reduces our reliance on petrochemical-based feedstocks. Advances in Synthetic biology have provided the opportunity to engineer micro-organisms to produce compounds from renewable feedstocks, which could play a role in replacing traditional, petrochemical based, manufacturing routes. However, there are few examples of bio-manufactured products achieving commercialisation.
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