How Gene Silencing May Provide Cures

http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?id=17652&ch=biotech

By Katherine Bourzac

RNA interference was first discovered by Andrew Fire and Craig Mello through their work on C. elegans worms, shown above. (Credit: James King-Holmes / Science Photo Library)

Recent Nobel laureate Andrew Fire talks about the evolving understanding of RNA interference's natural roles in development and disease.

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Powerful Batteries That Assemble Themselves

http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?id=17553&ch=energy

By Kevin Bullis

MIT researchers are developing low-cost manufacturing methods based on the rapid reproduction of viruses. Angela Belcher explains.

Thursday, September 28, 2006

Virus-Assembled Batteries

http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?id=16673&ch=biztech&sc=&pg=1

By Kevin Bullis

A biological template ramps up electrode performance and scales down size.

Images courtesy of Angela Belcher, MIT.Copyright Technology Review 2006

Recipe for using viruses to make an electrode:

Dip a polymer electrolyte in a solution of genetically engineered viruses.

These form a uniform coating on the electrolyte.

Dip the coated polymer into a solution of battery materials.

The viruses coat themselves with the battery material, transforming into nanowires with a regular crystal structure good for high-energy batteries.

Friday, April 07, 2006

Better Fuel Cells Using Bacteria

http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?id=16921&ch=biztech

By Emily Singer

Bioengineer Tim Gardner says synthetic biology could create bacteria that produce electricity from waste more efficiently.

Wednesday, May 24 2006