Hacker News with Generative AI: Biotechnology

Infrared contact lens helps people see in the dark, even with their eyes closed (abc.net.au)
Many people have wished for night vision on a dark walk home. But have you ever wondered if it's possible to see with your eyes closed?
High strength bio-concrete for the production of building components (nature.com)
The production of bio-concrete is based on the process of microbially-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP), in which calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is formed as a binder.
Genetic-engineered bacteria break down industrial contaminants (arstechnica.com)
Over the last century or more, humanity has been developing an ever-growing number of new chemicals that have never been seen before by Earth's creatures.
Elizabeth Holmes's partner raises millions for blood-testing startup (theguardian.com)
Elizabeth Holmes’s romantic partner – the father of her children – reportedly has raised millions of dollars to start up a new blood-testing company that is strikingly similar to the one that landed the Theranos founder in federal prison.
Elizabeth Holmes' partner raises millions for new biotech testing startup (npr.org)
The partner of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has raised millions of dollars for an artificial intelligence startup hoping to introduce a product that can be used in medical testing and other settings, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the endeavor who could not speak publicly because the company has not yet officially launched.
The first code deployable biological computer now on the market (livescience.com)
Will protein design tools solve the snake antivenom shortage? (owlposting.com)
There has been a fair bit of discussion over this recent ‘creating binders against snake venom protein’ paper from the Baker Lab that came out earlier this year, including this article from Derek Lowe.
Trump Executive Order Restricts 'Gain of Function' Research on Pathogens (nytimes.com)
President Trump signed an executive order on Monday evening to further restrict experiments on pathogens and toxins that could make them more harmful.
Protein-slayer drugs could beat some of the cruellest cancers (nature.com)
Momentum is building for PROTAC treatments that eliminate disease-causing proteins, including those responsible for difficult-to-treat childhood cancers.
The CL1: the first code deployable biological computer (corticallabs.com)
Introducing the CL1 The world’s first code deployable biological computer.
A new hairlike electrode for long-term, high-quality EEG monitoring (psu.edu)
The future of electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring may soon look like a strand of hair.
The US has approved CRISPR pigs for food (technologyreview.com)
Pigs whose DNA makes them resistant to a virus could be the first big consumer product using gene editing.
The disease-fighting promise of mRNA (phys.org)
In recent years, mRNA technology enabled the rapid development of vaccines to fight COVID-19, saving millions of lives.
Bite-sized chunks of chicken with the texture of whole meat can be grown in lab (phys.org)
A bioreactor that mimics a circulatory system can deliver nutrients and oxygen to artificial tissue, enabling the production of over 10 grams of chicken muscle for cultured meat applications. These results are published in Trends in Biotechnology.
Acoustic levitation of diamond inspires biotech automation innovation (phys.org)
Engineers at a University of Bristol spin-out company have created a new technology that can move cells without touching them, enabling critical tasks that currently require large pieces of lab equipment to be carried out on a benchtop device.
Human teeth grown in a lab for first time (independent.co.uk)
Scientists have successfully grown human teeth in a lab for the first time, according to a new study.
Human teeth grown in a lab for first time by scientists (independent.co.uk)
Scientists have successfully grown human teeth in a lab for the first time, according to a new study.
'Low-sugar' vaccine can provide broad immunity against coronavirus variants (medicalxpress.com)
Sugar coatings aren't only for candies; they also help viruses, like the ones that cause COVID-19, hide from their hosts' immune system. Now, researchers have developed a universal vaccine that targets coronaviruses and the sugars that they use as cover.
Boltz-1 (github.com/jwohlwend)
Boltz-1 is the state-of-the-art open-source model to predict biomolecular structures containing combinations of proteins, RNA, DNA, and other molecules. It also supports modified residues, covalent ligands and glycans, as well as conditioning the prediction on specified interaction pockets or contacts.
One of the Most Egregious Ripoffs in the History of Science – The Race to DNA (nautil.us)
A new history of the race to decipher DNA reveals Shakespearean plots of scheming.
Engineered bacteria emit signals that can be spotted from a distance (news.mit.edu)
Bacteria can be engineered to sense a variety of molecules, such as pollutants or soil nutrients. In most cases, however, these signals can only be detected by looking at the cells under a microscope, making them impractical for large-scale use.
Ethically sourced "spare" human bodies could revolutionize medicine (technologyreview.com)
Human “bodyoids” could reduce animal testing, improve drug development, and alleviate organ shortages.
Mitochondria transplants could cure diseases and lengthen lives (economist.com)
Organ transplants are a familiar idea. Organelle transplants, less so. Yet organelles are to cells what organs are to bodies—specialised components that divvy up the labour needed to keep the whole thing ticking over. Swapping old organelles for new in cells where the machinery has switched from ticking to tocking thus makes sense in principle. And, for one type of organelle, that principle is now being tested in practice.
Scientists witness living plant cells generate cellulose and form cell walls (phys.org)
In a groundbreaking study on the synthesis of cellulose—a major constituent of all plant cell walls—a team of Rutgers University-New Brunswick researchers have captured images of the microscopic process of cell-wall building continuously over 24 hours with living plant cells, providing critical insights that may lead to the development of more robust plants for increased food and lower-cost biofuels production.
First Retinal Treatment to Restore Damaged Vision (businesskorea.co.kr)
A research team of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) has developed the world's first retinal disease treatment that can restore damaged vision.
Industry Voices Alarm as Peter Marks Departs FDA (genengnews.com)
The sudden but not altogether surprising departure of Peter Marks, MD, from the FDA has prompted a chorus of criticism and despair from industry leaders and trade organizations.
What happens to DNA data of millions as 23andMe files bankruptcy? (pbs.org)
The bankruptcy of 23andMe is raising concerns about the future of its DNA information.
Paralysed man stands again after receiving 'reprogrammed' stem cells (nature.com)
A paralysed man can stand on his own after receiving an injection of neural stem cells to treat his spinal cord injury.
Good drug news – More important things happening in biotechnology and medicine (worksinprogress.news)
We recently released Issue 18 of Works in Progress. Read about prehistoric psychopaths, fertility on demand and the king of fruits here. Today on Links in Progress Asimov Press’s Niko McCarty and our own Saloni Dattani return to review more important things happening in the world of biotechnology and medicine.
American Science Should Take a Lot More Risks (nytimes.com)
In the early 1990s, Katalin Karikó was obsessed with an idea most of her fellow scientists dismissed: Could messenger RNA, or mRNA, a genetic molecule that helps cells synthesize proteins, be harnessed to create new kinds of treatments?