Tech & Engineering

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 25-Jan-2026 14:11 ET (25-Jan-2026 19:11 GMT/UTC)

6-Jan-2026

Synthetic biology advances drive greener production of tryptophan-based pharmaceuticals

Nanjing Agricultural University The Academy of Science
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A research team presents an overview of recent advances in the microbial biosynthesis of L-tryptophan (L-Trp) and its structurally diverse derivatives, highlighting how synthetic biology and metabolic engineering are reshaping the sustainable production of high-value amino acids, pharmaceuticals, and bio-based chemicals.

Journal

BioDesign Research

6-Jan-2026

AI is rewriting the rules of enzyme engineering—from faster prediction to smarter design

Nanjing Agricultural University The Academy of Science

A research team maps the key tasks that define modern enzyme engineering—function annotation, structure modeling, and property prediction—and explain how AI methods now accelerate each step, from mining candidate enzymes in massive sequence databases to generating new variants with improved activity, stability, or selectivity.

Journal

BioDesign Research

6-Jan-2026

From rare pigment to industrial bioproduct: How engineered microbes are boosting violacein production

Nanjing Agricultural University The Academy of Science

A research team has delivered a comprehensive overview showing how microbial fermentation—guided by synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, and smart bioprocess design—can transform violacein from a rare natural pigment into a scalable bio-based product.

Journal

BioDesign Research

6-Jan-2026

DeepCodon: A rare-codon–aware AI tool boosts protein expression in E. coli

Nanjing Agricultural University The Academy of Science

A research team has developed DeepCodon, a deep learning–based codon optimization tool that significantly improves heterologous protein expression in Escherichia coli while preserving functionally important rare codon clusters.

Journal

BioDesign Research

6-Jan-2026

Computational blueprints expand the reach of synthetic metabolism

Nanjing Agricultural University The Academy of Science

A research team has delivered an overview of how computational tools are reshaping the design of nonnatural metabolic pathways—engineered biochemical routes that do not exist in nature but enable microorganisms to produce valuable chemicals, fuels, and materials.

Journal

BioDesign Research

6-Jan-2026

Researchers develop electricity-free chlorine production from brines

Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters
Peer-Reviewed Publication

In a study recently published in Nature Communications, the researchers detail a modular system that integrates hydrochloric acid recovery with chlorine and hydrogen generation—eliminating the need for external electrical input during the electrochemical stage.

Journal

Nature Communications

6-Jan-2026

Engineered RNA sensor detects and fights coronavirus inside living cells

Nanjing Agricultural University The Academy of Science

A research team has developed a new RNA-based system that can detect coronavirus infection in real time inside living cells—and even trigger antiviral responses only when infection occurs.

Journal

BioDesign Research