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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The Biosystems Design theme engineers microorganisms and plants to help overcome hurdles in health and sustainability.

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Featured Stories

Bioengineering professors Pablo Perez-Pinera, left, and Thomas Gaj led a team that developed a gene editing tool to treat Huntington’s disease and tested it in mice. Photo by Craig Pessman
Research
Genetic base editing treats Huntington’s disease in mice
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A team led by U. of I. chemical and biomolecular engineering professor Huimin Zhao was selected as a Genesis Mission Awardee by the Department of Energy. Photo by Michelle Hassel
Research
Illinois-Led Team Selected for DOE Genesis Mission Award
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Researchers genetically engineered the metabolic pathways in yeast to produce oxalic acid, which can be used to extract free rare earth elements from low-grade ore. Graphic courtesy Dan Herchek/LLNL
Research
Engineered yeast gives the U.S. a green edge in the critical minerals market
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Diwakar Shukla, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering
Research
Shukla receives Pivot Research Award to advance next-generation crop engineering
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Researchers used microbes to convert plastic waste into pyruvate, an essential energy source for microbes that use it to generate other useful products. As a proof-of-concept experiment, they converted polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, from plastic bottles into the blue dye indigoidine. Photo by Fred Zwicky
Research
Microbial assembly line makes plastic upcycling programmable
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Soybean cyst nematode. Image credit Esmaeil Miraeiz.
Research
Comprehensive genetic library for soybean cyst nematode could renew resistance, profitability for soybean growers
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