As soon as there was life, there was danger: the deep history of survival behaviours and the shallower history of consciousness
It is often said that fear is a universal innate emotion that we humans have inherited from our
mammalian ancestors by virtue of having inherited conserved features of their nervous …
mammalian ancestors by virtue of having inherited conserved features of their nervous …
Synthetic biology and engineered live biotherapeutics: toward increasing system complexity
Recent advances in synthetic biology and biological system engineering have allowed the
design and construction of engineered live biotherapeutics targeting a range of human …
design and construction of engineered live biotherapeutics targeting a range of human …
Materials inspired by living functions
Engineering or mimicking living materials found in nature has the potential to transform the
use of materials. Unlike classic synthetic materials which are typically optimized for static …
use of materials. Unlike classic synthetic materials which are typically optimized for static …
A heritable iron memory enables decision-making in Escherichia coli
The importance of memory in bacterial decision-making is relatively unexplored. We show
here that a prior experience of swarming is remembered when Escherichia coli encounters a …
here that a prior experience of swarming is remembered when Escherichia coli encounters a …
Learning in single cell organisms
The survival of all species requires appropriate behavioral responses to environmental
challenges. Learning is one of the key processes to acquire information about the …
challenges. Learning is one of the key processes to acquire information about the …
Mechanically triggered hybridization chain reaction
Cells transmit piconewton forces to receptors to mediate processes such as migration and
immune recognition. A major challenge in quantifying such forces is the sparsity of cell …
immune recognition. A major challenge in quantifying such forces is the sparsity of cell …
[HTML][HTML] Associative learning by classical conditioning in liquid crystal network actuators
Responsive and shape-memory materials allow stimuli-driven switching between fixed
states. However, their behavior remains unchanged under repeated stimuli exposure, ie …
states. However, their behavior remains unchanged under repeated stimuli exposure, ie …
Programmable responsive hydrogels inspired by classical conditioning algorithm
Living systems have inspired research on non-biological dynamic materials and systems
chemistry to mimic specific complex biological functions. Upon pursuing ever more complex …
chemistry to mimic specific complex biological functions. Upon pursuing ever more complex …
Computing with biological switches and clocks
The complex dynamics of biological systems is primarily driven by molecular interactions
that underpin the regulatory networks of cells. These networks typically contain positive and …
that underpin the regulatory networks of cells. These networks typically contain positive and …
Optogenetic characterization methods overcome key challenges in synthetic and systems biology
Abstract Systems biologists aim to understand how organism-level processes, such as
differentiation and multicellular development, are encoded in DNA. Conversely, synthetic …
differentiation and multicellular development, are encoded in DNA. Conversely, synthetic …