Technological challenges and milestones for writing genomes.

Engineering biology with recombinant DNA, broadly called synthetic biology, has progressed tremendously in the last decade, owing to continued industrialization of DNA synthesis, discovery and development of molecular tools and organisms, and increasingly sophisticated modeling and analytic tools. However, we have yet to understand the full potential of engineering biology because of our inability to write and test whole genomes, which we call synthetic genomics. Substantial improvements are needed to reduce the cost and increase the speed and reliability of genetic tools. Here, we identify emerging technologies and improvements to existing methods that will be needed in four major areas to advance synthetic genomics within the next 10 years: genome design, DNA synthesis, genome editing, and chromosome construction (see table). Similar to other large-scale projects for responsible advancement of innovative technologies, such as the Human Genome Project, an international, cross-disciplinary effort consisting of public and private entities will likely yield maximal return on investment and open new avenues of research and biotechnology

Surface Modification of Titanium Using BSA-Loaded Chitosan and Chitosan/Gelatin Polymers

The integration of titanium-based implants with the surrounding bone tissue needs to be improved to increase their service life. This work presents a surface modification technique to increase the osteointegration of titanium implants. The studies were conducted in three main steps: (i) surface modification of titanium using bovine serum albumin (BSA)-loaded chitosan and chitosan/gelatin polymers, (ii) studies of BSA release from these surfaces, (iii) effect of porosity and polymer composition on osteoblast cell proliferation. TiO2 and COOH groups were formed on titanium surfaces. Then, chitosan and chitosan (C)/gelatin (G) with various ratios (G:C = 0.5:1, 1:1, 1:0.5) were mixed with BSA and fixed to the surface via carbodiimide chemistry (EDC/NHS). After the immobilization process, samples were exposed to either air or freeze-drying. Characterization studies were conducted using Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Finally, BSA release studies in phosphate-buffered saline (0.1 M, 37 °C) and cell (osteoblast) proliferation studies using MTS assay were conducted. BSA-loaded porous structures were obtained on chitosan- and chitosan/gelatin-containing surfaces after freeze-drying, while smooth surfaces were obtained after air-drying. The BSA release rate was directly correlated with increasing gelatin amount in the chitosan/gelatin coatings. MTS analysis was not conclusive because of the absorption properties of polymer coatings. However, absorbed color density in chitosan/gelatin (G:C = 1:1) polymers under freeze-drying conditions was more dominant, indicating better cell proliferation. This method may be used to release growth factors for controlled cell proliferation and differentiation or for the local delivery of antimicrobial drugs to prevent contamination during implementation in hard tissue applications.Publisher's VersionQ4WOS:00038722760000

Human sperm steer with second harmonics of the flagellar beat

Sperm are propelled by bending waves travelling along the flagellum. During steering in gradients of sensory cues, sperm adjust the flagellar beat waveform. Symmetric and asymmetric beat waveforms produce straight and curved swimming paths, respectively. Two different mechanisms controlling the flagellar beat have been proposed: average intrinsic curvature and dynamic buckling instability. Both mechanisms create spatially asymmetric waveforms that could be modulated for steering. Using video microscopy, we image the flagellar waveform of human sperm tethered with the head to a glass surface. The waveform is characterized by a fundamental beat frequency and its second harmonic. We show that superposition of first and second harmonics breaks the beat symmetry temporally rather than spatially. As a result, sperm rotate around the tethering point. The rotation velocity is determined by the amplitude and phase of the second harmonic. Sperm stimulation with the female sex hormone progesterone enhances the second-harmonic contribution, modulates the flagellar beat, and ultimately sperm rotation. The temporal breaking of beat symmetry represents a new mechanism of sperm steering. Higher-frequency components were also reported for the flagellar beat of other cells; therefore, this steering mechanism might by quite general and could inspire the design of synthetic microswimmers

State of the art: micro-nanorobotic manipulation in single cell analysis

Single cell analysis is an essential research approach to reveal the secret of life. At such a small scale, it puts forward higher demand on the accuracy of the cell manipulation system. This paper reviews the state of the art of micro-nanorobotic manipulation in single cell analysis. First, the key applications of the micro-nanorobotic manipulation system in single cell analysis are introduced, including the single cell injection, positioning, characterization, assembly, and the development of biomedical device. Then, the current key techniques, challenges, and future trends in micro-nanorobot are discussed from the aspects of actuating, sensing, controlling, system integration, and commercialization. To meet the requirement of cell biology, the next generation micro-nanorobot should have small, automatic, high integration and applicable features in multiscale. © 2014, Shen and Fukuda; licensee Springer