ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology

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New yeast engineering tool could accelerate the bioeconomy
24, Sep 2026

New yeast engineering tool could accelerate the bioeconomy

Australian scientists have developed a new genetic engineering tool that may make it much faster and cheaper to modify yeast, the workhorse behind many biomanufactured products.   Yeast is used...

How to really deliver on science for the public good
7, Sep 2026

How to really deliver on science for the public good

Scientists and research bodies routinely promise their work will benefit humanity. But new research from the ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology argues that it often fails to deliver...

Antibiotic resistance found in surprise source
16, Jul 2026

Antibiotic resistance found in surprise source

Centre scientists have found a new source of antibiotic resistance in an unexpected place: polluted freshwater sediment in NSW. Researchers at Macquarie University and The University of Sydney discovered a...

Scientists turn AI-generated proteins into smart molecular sensors
16, Apr 2026

Scientists turn AI-generated proteins into smart molecular sensors

Courtesy of QUT Media An international team led by researchers at QUT has used artificial intelligence to create tiny “smart” proteins that switch on only when they detect a chosen...

From Trash to Treasure
29, Jan 2026

From Trash to Treasure

Australian biotech startup turns flies into living waste-processing factories Most people recoil at maggots. But the team behind a Sydney start-up company see them as tiny environmental powerhouses capable of...

Supercharged Crops Could Help Cool the Planet
27, Nov 2025

Supercharged Crops Could Help Cool the Planet

Can we grow our way out of climate change? A new scientific framework suggests it’s certainly possible with an essential mix of biotech, plant agriculture and informed policy. Co-authored by...

There’s more to risk than numbers
11, Nov 2025

There’s more to risk than numbers

Synthetic biology has many potential benefits across sectors ranging from health to climate change. But we must have the tools to anticipate, assess and manage its potential risks. Traditional risk...

Supercharging photosynthesis in crops 
30, Oct 2025

Supercharging photosynthesis in crops 

Australian researchers have created tiny compartments to help supercharge photosynthesis, potentially boosting wheat and rice yields while slashing water and nitrogen use.   Researchers from Associate Professor Yu Heng Lau’s research group at the University of...

Synthetic Biology Could Cut More Carbon Than All Cars Have Ever Emitted  
18, Sep 2025

Synthetic Biology Could Cut More Carbon Than All Cars Have Ever Emitted  

Synthetic biology technologies could prevent up to 30 gigatonnes of carbon emissions—more than all passenger cars in history have ever produced. This striking finding comes from new research in Global...

Cannabis extract shows promise as treatment for fungal infections
19, Jun 2025

Cannabis extract shows promise as treatment for fungal infections

Reproduced courtesy the Lighthouse. Story by Bianca Nogrady Macquarie researchers have found compounds derived from the cannabis plant can effectively combat fungal infections including athlete's foot and the deadly Cryptococcosis,...

‘Happy Accident’ Could Change the Way We Take Medicine
16, May 2025

‘Happy Accident’ Could Change the Way We Take Medicine

An unexpected discovery in an Australian lab could revolutionise how medicines are delivered in the body — slashing side effects and boosting precision. Dr Taylor Szyszka, from the ARC Centre...

The Secret Life of Agrobacterium: Beyond Gene Transfer in Plants
7, Apr 2025

The Secret Life of Agrobacterium: Beyond Gene Transfer in Plants

Scientists at our Queensland University of Technology node have found a way to reprogram Agrobacterium—a naturally occurring bacteria—to take on new roles. This breakthrough could lead to exciting advances in...