The enzyme with the iron heart

Results could lead to new biocatalysts for sustainable biotechnology

11-Dec-2023 - Nitrogenases are the only enzymes capable of reducing atmospheric nitrogen to bioavailable nitrogen (ammonia), a process essential for all life on Earth. Using cryogenic electron microscopy, researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology in Marburg, Germany, have now solved ...

Fishing for DNA to measure biodiversity

Identifying the fish species present in a river based on traces of their DNA: this method has been successfully tested at about 90 sites in Switzerland

07-Dec-2023 - As they swim around, fish leave DNA fragments behind them, e.g. via their skin or their excrements. Once collected and analysed, these indicators allow scientists to determine all the species present in the environment. What's more, the method is precise, simpler and less harmful to the fish than ...

Innovation in Nuclear Medicine: PET Signals in Brain Tumors Decoded at the Cellular Level for the First Time

01-Nov-2023 - Researchers in Munich have developed a new method that for the first time makes the signals of radioactive substances in cells in the brain visible using positron emission tomography (PET). In a study published in Science Advances, they applied the method to glioblastoma, the deadliest brain ...

Genomic Stability: A Double-Edged Sword for Sharks

Sharks have long been said to have an exceptionally low cancer rate

25-Oct-2023 - Sharks have existed for millions of years, rarely develop cancer, and react sensitively to ecological changes. An international study led by Würzburg scientists shows that one explanation lies in the fish's genes. Sharks have been populating the oceans for about 400 to 500 million years. While ...

New insights into the genetics of the common octopus: genome at the chromosome level decoded

Scientific milestone provides deeper insights into the evolution and biology of Octopus vulgaris

23-Oct-2023 - Octopuses are fascinating animals – and serve as important model organisms in neuroscience, cognition research and developmental biology. To gain a deeper understanding of their biology and evolutionary history, validated data on the composition of their genome is needed, which has been lacking ...

Revolutionary Pan-Genome Analysis of Lactic Acid Bacteria Unveils Promising Opportunities for Food Industry and Healthcare

12-Oct-2023 - A team of international researchers has published the first comprehensive comparative pan-genome analysis of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), a family of microorganisms essential to natural ecosystems and the food industry. The study was carried out by scientists from the Novo Nordisk Foundation ...

analytica 2024 presents the laboratory world of tomorrow

Focus topics are digitization and sustainability

11-Oct-2023 - The international laboratory industry will meet in person again in spring 2024 at analytica in Munich from April 9 to 12. The world’s leading trade fair for laboratory technology, analysis and biotechnology covers the entire spectrum of laboratories in industry and research, and places great ...

Bruker Completes Acquisition of PhenomeX

05-Oct-2023 - Bruker Corporation announced that it has completed the acquisition of PhenomeX, a leading provider of single-cell biology research tools, for $108 million in cash. Bruker announced the agreement to acquire PhenomeX on August 17, 2023. PhenomeX is a functional cell biology company that provides ...

Rare gene variants identified that play a role in hereditary male hair loss

Researchers find puzzle pieces for hair loss

27-Sep-2023 - Previous research into male pattern hair loss, also termed androgenetic alopecia, has implicated multiple common genetic variants. Human geneticists from the University Hospital of Bonn (UKB) and by the Transdisciplinary Research Unit "Life & Health" of the University of Bonn have now performed a ...

analytica: Significant upswing in international spin-offs

Country-specific challenges

26-Sep-2023 - The five international analytica trade fairs that make up the international cluster of the world’s leading trade fair for laboratory technology, analysis and biotechnology registered some significant increase in visitors and exhibitors this year. With the successful local spin-offs in China, ...