Microalgae are "simple" organisms of single cells, yet they pack a mighty potential punch when it comes to helping humanity achieve carbon neutrality, according to researchers from the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Their metabolic activities play fundamental roles in global carbon cycling and convert carbon dioxide in...

​A new, extremely precise technique has been developed that allows the identification of the metabolic function and genome of soil bacteria one bacterial cell at a time instead of having to analyze millions all at once. The process should permit 'mining' of soil for bacteria of particular biological or industrial interest.Researchers from the Single-Cell Center at the Qingdao Institute of Bioe...

Cancer cells are smart when it comes to anti-cancer drugs, evolving and becoming resistant to even the strongest chemotherapies over time. To combat this evasive behavior, researchers have developed a methodnamed D2O-probed CANcer Susceptibility Test Ramanometry (D2O-CANST-R; Fig. 1) to see, at single-cell/organelle level, how pharmaceuticals induce cancer cell death and how cancer cells adapt....

Enzymes are molecules that catalyze metabolisms. Discovery and mining of enzymes, such as those producing oils or fixing carbon dioxide, have been a key mission of the biotechnology industry. However,...

A new function-based sequencing technique using optical tweezers and taking advantage of the properties of gravity is letting researchers analyze bacteria cells one by one. The study, conducted by res...

Cells are a little easier to understand, thanks to improved technology developed by a team of researchers based in China. Using a method called Raman-Activated Cell Ejection and Sequencing (RACE-Seq),...

Widespread antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the associated rise of "superbugs" is a major public health threat. A leading cause is the misuse or overuse of antibiotics due to the paucity of rapid as...

The world’s first instrument system for Raman-activated Cell Sorting and Sequencing (RACS-SEQ) was recently developed in East China’s Qingdao City, allowing functional identification, sorting and se...

Single-cells are the basic unit of cellular life function and evolution on earth. Accurate and high-throughput sorting of single-cells are key tools for mechanistic dissection of functional heterogene...

Microalgae are able to convert solar energy and carbon dioxide to energy storage compounds such as starch and lipids to produce food and biofuels. Therefore screening and engineering strains for highe...