Researchers have gained new insights into the genetic basis of rye reproduction. They have demonstrated how plants recombine ...

Chloroplasts—the "light power plants" of plant cells—are increasingly the focus of synthetic biology. These organelles house ...

Traditional breeding and genetic modification methods have struggled to keep pace with the rapid evolution of plant viruses. CRISPR/Cas systems, originally derived from bacterial immune responses, ...

From CRISPR to gene banking, synthetic biology has big implications for wildlife evolution and conservation, but ethical ...

In a giant feat of genetic engineering, scientists have created bacteria that make proteins in a radically different way than all natural species do. By Carl Zimmer At the heart of all life is a code.

Fifty years ago today, scientists met to set safety limits on the new field of genetic engineering. This week researchers meet again to discuss big questions as biotechnology grows more powerful.

Some conservation groups are calling for an effective ban on genetic modification, but others say these technologies are crucial for preserving biodiversity ...