New research published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications has shown that it is possible to synchronize the cell replication cycle in a genetically modified yeast colony through the use of feedback control techniques.
Cell growth was controlled by means of a microfluidic platform that allows to monitor the cell cycle by means of fluorescence microscopy and consequently modify the properties of the cell culture liquid.
The results will allow in the future to develop more efficient technologies for biotechnology and biomedical applications, such as for example the production of biofuels and pharmaceuticals.
The research was conducted at the TIGEM - Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine - in Pozzuoli by a group of researchers led by Prof. Diego di Bernardo of DICMAPI in collaboration with the group of Prof. Mario di Bernardo of DIETI, within the European project FET-OPEN H2020 “COZY-BIO”.
Gian Simone Perrino (TIGEM - now Imperial College London), Sara Napolitano (DICMAPI) and Davide Fiore (DMA) participated in the research.
Full text: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-22689-w
http://www.unina.it/-/25550969-la-cibergenetica-sincronizza-gli-orologi-delle-cellule