Skip to main content

Tech + Society

Tech + Society

New technologies launched the genomic era. Now, progress in genomic research depends on further innovations in the tools that allow us to probe, manipulate, and analyze biological molecules. Whether focused on software or hardware, biomaterials or microfluidics, DNA editors or molecular motors, our technological research pushes the boundaries of the physically possible and paves the way for future discovery.

Featured Stories

Spatial transcriptomics data from osteosarcoma cells. Left) A spatial map of the transcriptome segmented into individual cells using machine learning, with each dot representing a RNA transcript and each color indicating a different gene. Right) Genes associated with cytoskeleton and robunucleoprotein complexes are frequently colocalized.
Illinois researchers developed a nanorobotic hand made of DNA that can grab viruses for detection or inhibition. In this artist’s rendering, three “NanoGripper” hands wrap around a COVID-19 virus.  Image courtesy of Xing Wang
 The Kellner Center for Neurogenomics, Behavior and Society
 Jacob Sherkow, Professor of Law
The lions’ teeth had been damaged during their lifetimes. Study co-author Thomas Gnoske found thousands of hairs embedded in the exposed cavities of the broken teeth.  Photo Z94320 courtesy Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago
NSF to invest $5M to the Reliable and Scalable Biofoundries for Biomanufacturing and Global Bioeconomy