Hundreds of viruses contain an unusual DNA ‘letter’, known as Z, expanding the genetic alphabet
All in Genetic engineering
Mirror, mirror…
Researchers have created mirror-image DNA that could be used as a way of safely storing information
The future of DNA - Meet XNA
We take a look at the future of DNA, exploring what’s next for the genetic code
From insulin to Humulin – the story of the first genetically engineered drug
We discover how researchers used genetic knowledge to created life-saving insulin for people with diabetes, and ask why it is so expensive in the US.
“Blood is an unusual fluid”: The therapeutic antibody revolution
The story of how researchers figured out how to recreate the most complex yet powerful proteins in the human immune system - antibodies - and use them for treating disease.
A growth industry: The story of human growth hormone
We explore the story behind the development of synthetic human growth hormone.
Designer DNA and Bugs as Drugs
The advent of synthetic DNA technology has added a new dimension to drug discovery, with new and exciting ways to fix genetic diseases and turn bacteria into drugs.
Steve Rees: Homing in on the right targets
Steve Rees and his team at AstraZeneca are focusing on the first step of the drug discovery journey: coming up with the new ideas and targets that could lead to the new medicines of tomorrow.
Hello CRISPR
We look at the history and controversies around the discovery of CRISPR.
CRISPR in the clinic
We explore how CRISPR is being used to develop transformative gene therapies, and the ethical implications of genetically engineering humans.
Learning to edit: the early days of genome engineering
As soon as the structure of DNA and the genetic code were discovered, scientists started looking for ways to change it.
Helen Pilcher: Genetically modified wolves, fainting goats and golden gnus, how humans are shaping species
Helen Pilcher explains how humans have shaped the evolutionary trajectories of the species living alongside us on the planet.
Bill Ritchie: The man who made Dolly the Sheep
Bill Ritchie is the embryologist who carried out the cloning procedure that led to the creation of Dolly the Sheep.
Making a comeback - the science of de-extinction
Every day, species are being snuffed out. One obvious solution to extinction is to invest in conservation. But what about bringing back the species that have already gone?
I Will Always Love Ewe - the story of Dolly the Sheep
Cloning took a step from the realms of sci-fi towards reality in 1996, with the birth of Dolly the Sheep, the first live-born adult mammal clone.
GMO? OMG! The history of genetic modification
“Genetically Modified Organism” or GMO is a loaded term. But while misleading headlines about ‘Frankenfoods’ may grab attention, there’s a much richer and more nuanced story about the history and uses of genetic engineering that deserves to be told.
Driven to extinction
New genetic engineering tools known as gene drives could send mosquitoes extinct. Good idea or not?
What's your Flavr?
Exploring the story of the world’s first commercial GM food crop
Spidergoats!
What’s stronger than steel, tougher than bulletproof Kevlar, can withstand temperatures ranging from 200 Celsius down to minus forty, can stretch up to five times its length without breaking, and is made by squeezing goop out of an arachnid’s backside? The answer is of course spider silk – one of the most remarkable substances produced by a living organism that we know of.