Synthetic biology for high performance materials
In partnership with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), The University of Manchester (UoM) and SYNBIOCHEM, have launched a series of SynBio initiatives around the development of high performance materials with potential civilian and military applications. The research unites...
New Uk – Brazilian collaboration
Harnessing SynBio, metagenomics and bioprocessing to provide alternative routes to high value chemicals. Lignin can be obtained as a by-product of cellulosic ethanol production, and is a potential source of renewable chemicals. Efficient valorisation of lignin is a major unsolved problem in the...
Equipment recycling in Africa
Reynard Spiess who provides Mass Spectrometry support to the SYNBIOCHEM Centre visited the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology near Nairobi in Kenya earlier this summer. He helped with the installation of Mass Spectrometry equipment donated from the University of Manchester and...
ESOF 2016
The SYNBIOCHEM Centre was involved in a number of activities throughout the EuroScience Open Forum which was held in Manchester in July. We joined forces with SYNENERGENE for a science and reflection session on "Synthetic Biology and the new Bio-Industrial revolution", welcomed speakers from GSK,...
Ion Mobility MS workshop China
Cunyu Yan was invited to attend the ion mobility mass spectrometry workshop in Shanghai/Beijing, China from 26th to 29th of April. His talk “When ion mobility mass spectrometry meets synthetic biology” simply outlined two major new cutting-edge technologies that have arisen in the past ten years;...
Manchester iGEM 2016
iGEM, or the international Genetically Engineered Machine, is a student synthetic biology competition which aims to bring together young scientists from around the world, addressing global challenges through the engineering of biological parts. This year’s interdisciplinary team comprises...
Artist in the Lab!
The author and illustrator of children’s books, Lynne Chapman, visited the MIB and SYNBIOCHEM earlier this year as part of her residency with the University of Manchester’s Morgan Centre into everyday lives. Her work provides an interesting perspective of life in a lab!
Synthetic biology in China: An update from the field
In May 2015, Yanchao Li and Philip Shapira (RRI) undertook a series of interviews in China with scientists and entrepreneurs working in the fast growing domain of synthetic biology. They visited several key institutions undertaking synthetic biology and commercialization in China interviewing...
EU Opinions on Synthetic biology
Prof. Rainer Breitling and Prof. Eriko Takano have been involved in three EU Opinions on Synthetic biology - the European Commission (EC) Scientific Committees issued a draft opinion on whether existing risk assessment methods are adequate for synthetic biology. This opinion, which was written by...
Scientists a step closer to renewable propane
Scientists a step closer to developing renewable propane. Researchers at The University of Manchester have made a significant breakthrough in the development of synthetic pathways that will enable renewable biosynthesis of the gas propane. This study provides new insight and understanding of the...