Category Archives: Biotechnology

Beyond needless loss of life, the war in Ukraine has caused a trade war that could slash global food production, taking the greatest toll on the poorest of us. The silver lining: this tragic situation may inspire some long-overdue policy reforms.

The world is in a precarious place. Besides the fact that several thousand people have already been killed and millions more displaced, the war in Ukraine has triggered a trade war that could do severe damage to farmers and consumers around the world. A handful of wealthy celebrities have celebrated this development, urging the rest of us to endure skyrocketing gas and food prices if it means putting the screws to Putin, as Stark Trek actorGeorge Takeiso unhelpfully put it.

Comments like that play well on Twitter, but they ignore two important points everybody should recognize. Vladimir Putin wont miss any meals because of the economic measures aimed at Russia, but lots of poor people worldwide will go hungry. If there is an upside to this war, its that the subsequent food price hikes and shortages have exposed the folly of Europesprotectionistanti-GMO policies.

Russia and Ukraineproduce just over30 percent of the worlds wheat. Dozens of developing countries count on those exports to feed themselves, and they could suffer devastating consequences if the war and resulting economic sanctions continue to disrupt global trade.

Retired US Army Colonel Douglas MacGregorrecently pointed outthat the Russian army has so far avoided the center of Ukraine, where most of the countrys crops are grown. Thats important over the long term, though farmers may not be able to plant anything this year. Even if they get crops in the ground, their production will be limited because the seed, fertilizer, fuel, and other inputs they need wont be delivered with Russian troopssurroundinga major port city like Mariupol, where a lot of imported goods enter Ukraine.

This is concerning since the United Nations World Food Program (WFP),which helps combat food insecurity primarily in northern African countries, buys about half its wheat from Ukraine. The WFP will either have to pay higher prices to other wheat exporters or buy less grain, and that could mean millions or potentially tens of millions more people transitioning into food insecurity, University of Saskatchewan agricultural economistStuart Smythtold ACSH during a recent interview.

The situation in Russia could have a similarly troubling impact. A few weeks ago, the country got skittish about the quick pace of its grain exports to neighboring ex-Soviet countries,Reuters reported, and moved to slow it down to protect the domestic food market in the face of external constraints, primarily Western sanctions.

That means higher grain prices globally, but the ensuing trade war will have further effects. Russiahas slashedexports of fertilizers that growers around the world depend on. Brazila major exporter of soybeans, coffee, and sugarwas already having trouble acquiring all the crop nutrients it needed before the war broke out. Exacerbated shortages will likely further inflate the prices of these commodities.

And because Russia is home tolarge mineral depositsfound in few other parts of the world, replacing the countrys fertilizer output could take several years, if its even possible. Argentina, another agricultural powerhouse, hascapped soy and corn exportsto shield its population from higher food prices in response to the fertilizer shortage, economist David Stockman noted last week. Overall, were talking about double-digit increases. As Olivier de Matos, director-general of CropLife Europe,wrote on March 17:

Escalating food prices that are already plaguing consumers around the world look set to get much worse. The United Nations has warned that already record global food costs could increase by a further 22% as the war stifles international trade and decimates future harvests.

Before Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine, The European Union was poised to implement its Farm-To-Fork program, whichaimed tocut pesticide use by 50 percent and commit 25 percent of Europes farmland to organic food production by 2030. This was alwaysa misguided plan; now its a pipe dream, and the EU knows it. Policymakers areworking to relaximport restrictions on transgenic (GMO) crops that farmers need for animal feed, an increase beyond the30 million metric tonsof genetically engineered soy Europe already imports.

This is a positive step in the grand scheme of things, and it may finally push Europe into letting farmers grow the biotech crops its regulators knowpose no riskto human health or the environment. It gives governments an opportunity to take a hard look at the underlying rationale for prohibiting GM crop cultivation in the first place, Smyth added. I think some governments are going to say, That time has passed, and we need to change our policies.

Heres to hoping the EU takes Smyths adviceand that this war comes to an end sooner rather than later.

Cameron English is a writer, editor and co-host of the Science Facts and Fallacies Podcast. Before joining ACSH, he was managing editor at the Genetic Literacy Project, a nonprofit committed to aiding the public, media, and policymakers by promoting science literacy. You can visit Camerons website here

A version of this article was posted at American Council on Science and Health and is used here with permission. You can check out the American Council on Science and Health on Twitter @ACSHorg

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Ukraine war exposes EU's organic obsession and biotechnology rejectionism - Genetic Literacy Project

NEW YORK, April 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Insight Partners published latest research study on "Synthetic Biology Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Products (Enzymes, Chassis Organisms, Oligonucleotides, and Xeno-Nucleic Acids), Technology (Measurement & Modeling, Cloning & Sequencing, Genome Engineering, Gene Synthesis, Nanotechnology, and Others), and Application (Medical Applications, Industrial Applications, Food and Agriculture, Environmental Applications, and Others)", the global synthetic biology market is expected to grow from $10.54 Billion in 2021 to $37.85 Billion by 2028; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 20.0%from 2021 to 2028.

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The synthetic biology market growth is driven by the increasing investments in synthetic biology, advancements in biotechnology, and the rising number of start-ups. However, renewed regulations for biotechnology are restricting market growth.

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Report Coverage

Details

Market Size Value in

US$ 10.54 Billion in 2021

Market Size Value by

US$ 37.85 Billion by 2028

Growth rate

CAGR of 20.0% from 2021 to 2028

Forecast Period

2021-2028

Base Year

2021

No. of Pages

217

No. Tables

111

No. of Charts & Figures

84

Historical data available

Yes

Segments covered

Products, Technology, and Application

Regional scope

North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; MEA

Country scope

US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Australia, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Argentina

Report coverage

Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends

Synthetic Biology Market: Competitive Landscape and Key Developments

In August 2021, New England Biolabs announced the release of its newest loop-mediated is sthermal amplification (LAMP) products: the WarmStart Multi-Purpose LAMP/RT-LAMP 2X Master Mix (with UDG) and the WarmStart Fluorescent LAMP/RT-LAMP Kit (with UDG), which combines the master mix and LAMP fluorescent dye in one convenient kit. The new master mix and kit enable researchers to perform rapid, high-throughput detection of targeted segments of DNA or RNA using various amplification detection methods.

In April 2022, Agilent Technologies Inc. announced the expansion of CE-IVD marking in the European Union for its PD-L1 IHC 28-8 pharmDx as an aid in identifying esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients for treatment with Bristol Myers Squibb's PD-1-targeted immunotherapeutic OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with fluoropyrimidine and platinum-based chemotherapy or OPDIVO in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab). These combined treatments provide new hope for patients diagnosed with these cancers.

Story continues

In April 2022, Merck KGaA launched the first-ever antibody to achieve ACT label designation. ZooMAb antibodies received the lowest Environmental Impact Factor (EIF) scores in the chemicals and reagents category.

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Global synthetic biology market is segmented by region into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, and South & Central America. In North America, the U.S. is the largest market for synthetic biology. Asia Pacific is expected to account for the fastest global synthetic biology market growth.. Asia-pacific region will have lucrative growth opportunities during the forecast period due to government initiatives taken in the region. For instance, in November 2017, China launched the first synthetic biology association to support the market's growth. This association promotes academic research and communication in synthetic biology; it further enhances the comprehensive competitiveness of the Shenzhen synthetic biology industry and domestic and foreign influence. While, North America has huge market potential, followed by Europe in the overall synthetic biology market, which is attributed to government funds, investments made by the major companies, conferences held for the awareness regarding synthetic biology, technological advancements in the field of genomics, and higher acceptance by the consumers. However, the MEA and SCAM will also show a relatively lower opportunity in the next few years.

Synthetic biology is an emerging concept that has numerous applications in the chemicals, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and energy industries. Various start-ups offer gene synthesis products/services for biological processes. For example, Benchling provides CAD tools, GenScript offers gene synthesis, Ginkgo Bioworks assists in organism engineering, Transcripts (a bioinformatics company) offers solutions facilitating cloud labs/automation, and Glowee offers consumer products. Further, 56 synthetic biology businesses raised more than US$ 3 billion in equity financing in the first half of 2020, compared to 65 companies raising US$ 1.9 billion during the same period in 2020. The new generation of biopharma businesses uses synthetic biology to improve cell treatment and gene therapy and support early cancer detection. Some synthetic biology firms with the most funding in the first half of 2020 are listed below.

Table 1. Synthetic Biology Firms with Most Funding in First Half of 2020

Company

Description

Funding

Sana Biotechnology

Biotechnology, Health Care, Life Sciences, and Product Research

US$ 700 million

Impossible Foods

Food & Beverage and Nutrition

US$ 500 million

Moderna Therapeutics

Biotechnology, Genetics, Health Care, Medical, and Pharmaceutical

US$ 483 million

Apeel Sciences

Agriculture, AgTech, Biotechnology, and Food Processing

US$ 250 million

Memphis Meats

Food & Beverage and Nutrition

US$ 161 million

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Synthetic Biology Market: Segmental Overview

The synthetic biology market, based on product, is segmented into oligonucleotides, chassis organisms, enzymes, and xeno-nucleic acid. The oligonucleotides segment is likely to hold the largest share of the market in 2021. Moreover, the same segment is anticipated to register the highest CAGR in the market from 2021-2028. This is mainly because of the rising application of oligonucleotides in genetic testing/ assays and forensic sciences. Based on technology, the market is segmented into, gene synthesis, genome engineering, measurement & modeling, cloning & sequencing, nanotechnology, and others. In 2021, the gene synthesis segment is likely to hold the largest share of the market. However, the genome engineering segment is expected to grow in demand at the fastest CAGR of 20.8% from 2021 to 2028. Based on application, the market is segmented into medical applications, industrial applications, environmental applications, food and agriculture, and others. The medical applications segment is further segmented into drug discovery & therapeutics and pharmaceuticals. In 2021, the medical applications segment is likely to hold the largest share of the market. Moreover, the similar segment is expected to witness growth in its demand at the fastest CAGR of 20.8% from 2021 to 2028.

North America synthetic biology market includes consolidated markets for countries such as the US, Canada, and Mexico. In recent years, all the three countries in the region are witnessing a sequential change in the synthetic biology market. By geography, North America held the largest global synthetic biology market share. This largest share can be attributed to government funds, investments made by the major companies, conferences held for awareness regarding synthetic biology, technological advancements in genomics, and higher consumer acceptance. Synthetic biology is a major tool for biological advances, which helps in providing potential for the development of biological weapons. Security issues can be avoided by regulating the biotechnology industry through policy legislation.

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The various government initiatives and funding offered are becoming great support for the synthetic biology market to grow in the US. For instance, according to a report by National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), the US government offers approximately US$ 220 million every year toward synthetic biology research and development.

Browse Adjoining Reports:

Synthetic Biology Technology Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis ByType (Gene Synthesis, Genome Engineering, Sequencing, Bioinformatics, Cloning, Site-Directed Mutagenesis, Microfluidics, Nanotechnology); Application (Medical, Industrial, Food and Agriculture, Others) and Geography.

Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market Forecast to 2027 Global Analysis by Product (Synthesized Oligonucleotides, Reagents, and Equipment), Application (Research, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics), and End User (Academic Research Institutes, Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies, Diagnostic Laboratories, and Other End Users).

Gene Synthesis Market to 2025 - Global Analysis and Forecasts By Products & Services (Services, Consumable, Software), Application (Research & Development Activities, Diagnostics, Therapeutics, Others) End Users (Academic & Research Institutes, Biotech & Pharmaceutical Companies, Diagnostic Laboratories, Others) and Geography.

Genomics Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Technology (Sequencing, Microarray, PCR, Nucleic Acid Extraction and Purification, and Others), Product & Service (Instruments/Systems, Consumables, and Services), Application (Diagnostics, Drug Discovery and Development, Precision/Personalized Medicine, Agriculture & Animal Research, and Others) and End User (Research Centers, Hospitals and Clinics, Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies, and Others).

Molecular Biology Enzymes, Kits, and Reagents Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Product (Enzymes and Kits & Reagents), Application (Epigenetics, Sequencing, Synthetic Biology, Polymerase Chain Reaction, and Other), End User (Biotechnological & Pharmaceutical Companies, Hospitals & Diagnostic Centres, and Academic & Research Institutes), and Geography.

Genome Editing Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Technology (CRISPR, TALEN, Antisense, and Others), Application (Cell Line Engineering, Genetic Engineering, Diagnostic Applications, Drug Discovery, and Others), and End User (Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies, Academic and Research Institutes, and Clinical Research Organizations).

Biohacking Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Product (Sensors, Smart Drugs, Strains, Wearables, Others); Application (Synthetic biology, Genetic engineering, Forensic science, Diagnosis and treatment, Drug testing, Others); End User (Pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies, Forensic laboratories, Others) and Geography.

Enzymatic DNA Synthesis Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Product Type (Custom DNA Synthesis, DNA Library Synthesis); Application (Synthetic Biology, Genetic Engineering, Therapeutic Antibodies, Vaccine Design, Others); End User (Academic and Research Institutes, Biotech and Pharmaceutical Companies, Diagnostic Laboratories, Other) and Geography.

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Synthetic Biology Market Size Worth $37.85 Billion, Globally, by 2028 at 20% CAGR - Exclusive Report by The Insight Partners - Yahoo Finance

The study Global Cell Sorting Market from 2022 to 2028 looks into worldwide market trends. The goal of MarketandResearch.biz is to give customers a comprehensive perspective of the market and to help them establish development strategies. Based on a thorough and expert analysis, the Cell Sorting makes a prognosis for the years 2022-2028.

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Global Cell Sorting Market 2022 Regional Analysis and Major Manufacturers as Becton, Dickinson and Company, Beckman Coulter, Bio-Rad Laboratories,...

Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Services Outsourcing Market research report is the new statistical data source added by Research Cognizance.

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Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Services Outsourcing Market Report Covers Future Trends With Research 2022 to 2029 IQVIA, The Quantic Group, Lachman...

On August 16, 2018, the NIH Director issued a statement describing a proposal to streamline the federal framework for oversight of gene therapy. This proposal, which was developed in conjunction with the Food and Drug Administration, included amending the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules (NIH Guidelines) to eliminate duplicative review and reporting requirements for human gene transfer protocols. The statement also describes NIHs effort to refocus the role of the NIH Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RAC) to be closer to its original mandate a transparent forum for science, safety, and ethics of emerging biotechnologies. After a 60-day public comment period, the NIH Guidelines have been updated to reflect these changes and the RAC has been renamed the Novel and Exceptional Technology and Research Advisory Committee (NExTRAC).

The charter of the NExTRAC reflects the shift in focus of the committee while embracing the continuity of this important advisory committee.

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SUMMARY: Simon Anderson (22) combines advanced physical science and competencies necessary to help people of different backgrounds, capacities, and beliefs.

Simon Anderson is building an Independent Scholars major around disparities in health and healthcare that stem from broader issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. His major emphasizes coursework in biology and the medical humanities. Simon is also pursuing a degree in Biotechnology, with minors in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies and Pre-Medicine. Simon is a prime example of a Biotech student at JMU--passionate, determined, engaged, and innovative, says Dr. Stephanie Stockwell, past director of the Biotechnology program. By combining a wide array of interests and talents, Simon is paving the way for a lifetime of success and positive impact.

Simon is a graduate of South County High School in Fairfax County, Virginia, where he completed a demanding set of AP courses that nurtured his passions for math, biology, and chemistry. He also participated in the Governors School for Medicine and Health Sciences at Virginia Commonwealth University in the summer of 2017. During this program he worked with other students to examine case studies from three perspectives: Person (in-person interviews with the patient), Scientist (lab tests and results), and Community (implications of the ailment for the surrounding people)before splitting into smaller groups and analyzing a case study from all three perspectives simultaneously. In the area I grew up in, sickness and injury were the main reasons people went to the hospital, not for treatments related to opioid abuse, Simon remembers. But I learned that opioid abuse was also becoming a huge problem. Later, at JMU, he learned about the importance of local and county remote access clinics. Its not just in cities where people lack healthcare services, says Simon. If youre in a rural area you may also not have access.

Simon took a Viral Discovery (ISAT 203) course with ISAT professor Dr. Louise Temple in his freshman semester. In that class, Simon had his first real encounter with laboratory research. Viral Discovery is an exploratory experiential science class designed for incoming freshmen. Students learn about the life cycle and ecology of viruses infecting bacteria, collect soil samples, and practice techniques for isolation and purification of viruses from the soil. Dr. Temple is an expert in bacterial pathogenesis and bacterial virus discovery and genomic analysis. Isolated viruses are visualized in her lab using electron microscopy, and the genomic material is isolated and prepared for nucleic acid sequencing. Dr. Temples class built confidence in my ability to assess a problem and come up with solutions in a setting where theres flexible structure and no right answer, Simon recalls. He wanted to keep on with the work he had invested in phages, and so joined Dr. Temples lab. Simon has learned a number of valuable techniques related to DNA isolation and annotation, and is writing a paper about phages.

More recently, Simon enrolled in Cancer Genetics (BIO 477) with Dr. Tim Bloss, associate professor of biology. The course is cross-listed as a graduate-level course (BIO 577). I really enjoyed learning about how cancer develops and progresses, he says. Learning about molecular malfunctions in cancer helps me think about how I might create and test treatments in the future. Simon notes that Dr. Bloss is gifted at explaining genetics to students at both a basic and advanced level.

Simon is also a teaching assistant for JMUs General Chemistry laboratory courses (CHEM 131L and CHEM 132L). The course is designed to acquaint students with basic procedures and techniques encountered in the chemical laboratory. The experiments illustrate these techniques and supplement lectures. Simon gives instruction to students and assists with in-class procedures. He also digitally comments on students lab plans, data, and reports. It was a difficult, hybrid year of lab instruction due to the COVID pandemic. At first professors filmed experiments in the lab themselves, and then trialed virtual lab simulation software. This spring, Simon and other assistants returned to the labs to teach students. Proper use of pipette filler bulbs is one lesson we teach, notes Simon, People seem to have a lot of trouble with them.

Simon joined Independent Scholars to extend and broaden his undergraduate education. He understood that medical schools want to see students prepare themselves with an education in both science and the humanities. Simon found the Medical Humanities minor in the JMU catalog, and realized that he might build a major around it. Simons major is entitled Social Responsibility in Healthcare. It combines physical science and competencies necessary to help people of different backgrounds, capacities, and beliefs.

I wanted to take more classes across a wider range of subjects, says Simon. The Independent Scholars major made it possible to take a bunch of science courses that built a broader base around medical humanities. Simon hopes that the Independent Scholars major will give him exposure to a little bit of everything:biology, chemistry, bioinformatics, sociology, anthropology, psychology, and philosophy. I am just beginning to realize the connections between everything, he says. I want to understand how my research into biology and chemistry intersects with disparities in healthcare and beyond.

Simon says he likes the Independent Scholars approach to learning: I develop my questions, and then look for courses and experiences that can help me answer those questions. I wanted something different, to choose an area of study where the questions arent well established, or the answers known. Simon has written about the complexities of healthcare for the Independent Scholars e-zine on multiple occasions. In his essays, Simon seeks answers to enduring questions: What does it mean to be a doctor in our globalized world? How do institutions treat people of different backgrounds differently? What is healthy, and who gets to decide what healthy is? What are the impacts of structural and institutional prejudices? he asks. Simon is currently studying and writing about how person-oriented perspectives characterized by a holistic approach to patient management that embraces the physical, psychological, and social aspects of health and disease are becoming essential to undergraduate pre-medical education. His essays may be accessed here.

Independent Scholars students complete a culminating capstone project. Simons project has implications for the mitigation of racial disparities in health. He notes that, despite having roughly equal rates of breast cancer as non-Hispanic white women, African-American women are 40% more likely to die from the disease than white women, experience the highest breast cancer mortality of any racial group, and have an increasing rate of incidence of breast cancer. African American women are also more likely to have hormone-dependent breast cancers, which are deadlier than hormone-independent tumors.

Researchers have shown that delivering the protein HES-1 to hormone-dependent breast cancers has the effect of decreasing a nuclear protein called PCNA (found in dividing cells), which inhibits proliferation of the tumor, explains Simon. Were attempting to show that oxidative stress will prompt production of the GFP encoded behind an hlh-29 promoter to increase green fluorescent protein expression in all cells. If Simons project can provide evidence that oxidative stress is capable of increasing cells levels of proteins like HES-1, then they will have also laid the groundwork for potential clinical applications. One such application could be the induction of localized oxidative stress in tumors in an attempt to stall their proliferation, which would provide other therapies with an opportunity to shrink and kill the cancer.

Simon was a member of JMUs Huber Residential Learning Community (RLC) for freshmen in 2018-2019. The Huber RLC (which no longer operates) required two classes, one in each of the students first semesters. These classes focused on how different fields of medicine coexist, and gave a place for analysis and discussion of the social determinants of health. In the second semester, each student was required to volunteer with health- and education-related services in Rockingham County and Harrisonburg. Simon volunteered with the Virginia Personal Responsibility Education Program Innovative Strategies (VPREIS) project through JMUs Institute for Innovation in Health and Human Services (IIHHS). His volunteer work included working through the units of VPREISs Vision of Youa program for teen sexual and social health education, currently being administered to at-risk youth as part of a randomized controlled study in decreasing teen pregnancy in Virginia. Simon also volunteered at the ECHO (Ecumenical Community Helping Others) food pantry in Springfield, Virginia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the summer of 2021, Simon participated in a virtual summer research internship with the Pediatric Oncology Branch of the National Cancer Institute. During the experience, he worked on three projects that identified novel potential molecular targets in neuroblastoma, devised assembly schemes for designing new chimeric antigen receptors, and reviewed transcripts, patient data, and trial design documents for new psychological health programs. He also attended daily interactive seminars on many topics, including pediatric bone and neural cancers, cancer predisposition syndromes, lab mouse genetics, translation of basic science into therapies, and patient advocacy. Outside of the POB, he participated in an immunotherapy journal club, and two workshops on health disparities and social injustice in health research.

Simon also nurtures interests in how things are made. He enjoys watching videos about how the Disney and Universal theme parks create their engineered attractions, and builds models of landmarks and machinery from around the world. In the summer of 2019, Simon taught LEGO Robotics classes to young people in the Fairfax Collegiate Summer Program, based in Herndon.

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Health Disparities Research and Biotechnology - JMU - James Madison University