A peer-reviewed study published in Cell in March 2026 introduces “optovolution,” an in vivo directed-evolution system that uses light to breed proteins capable of switching between active and inactive ...

Researchers have created a method called optovolution that uses light to guide the evolution of proteins with dynamic behaviors. By engineering yeast cells so their survival depended on proteins ...

From fundamental biological units as tiny as genes to complex societies, ecological systems rely on cooperation. All manner of organisms can benefit from working together to survive in a dog-eat-dog ...

Centromeres play virtually the same central role across the entire tree of life: They ensure the faithful segregation of chromosomes during cell division. Yet the striking diversity in centromere ...

Every second, hundreds to thousands of molecules move through thousands of nuclear pores in each of your cells. A new high-definition view reveals the machine in action.

Industrial yeasts are a powerhouse of protein production, used to manufacture vaccines, biopharmaceuticals, and other useful compounds. In a new study, MIT chemical engineers have harnessed artificial ...

Some fungi, particularly species in the order Mucorales, can change from one form to another by changing what genes they express. Mucor lusitanicus will take the form of yeast in anaerobic ...

Christopher Terrell Nield, a chemist at Nottingham Trent University, has warned that gardens could soon be overrun with slugs ...

Beyond symptoms like burning, swelling, itching, and general irritation, it can even interfere with your ability to conceive.

We often hear about bacteria, but what exactly are they? A bacterium is a living organism that consists of a single cell (unicellular). It has ...