Better understanding of the natural function of CRISPR

In 2020, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded for the discovery of the CRISPR/Cas gene scissors. The awarding of the prize took place only shortly after the actual date of discovery - a sign of high relevance. The gene scissors make it possible to edit genetic material with extreme precision. Applications range from the treatment of hereditary diseases to the rapid adaptation of important food crops to climate change. However, CRISPR in its original form is not a process devised by humans, but a natural mechanism.

Protein feed from on-farm biorefinery

Agricultural and forestry raw materials and residues have enormous potential for a sustainable bioeconomy. These include waste such as bark, wood residues, straw or grass, but also plants that grow on meadows and pastures. The utilization of grassland cuttings for the bioeconomy in the sense of a circular economy is the focus of the ProGrün project. Researchers at the University of Hohenheim want to establish the proteins contained in grassland cuttings as a new resource - for example, for animal feed, food or platform chemicals.

DFG funds microbial and plant research

The DFG has been supporting cutting-edge research at German universities for years. In the coming year, more than a dozen new collaborations will again be funded: The research organization is making a total of 166 million euros available for 13 Collaborative Research Centers (CRCs), initially for the next four years. Bioeconomy research will also benefit from the millions in funding.

Towards microbial prebiotic production

Countless microorganisms live in the human intestine and have a lasting influence on our well-being: Intestinal bacteria. They help to utilize important nutrients in our food, suppress pathogens and ensure an intact immune system. A balanced intestinal flora is therefore extremely important for health - and the right diet can help to maintain this balance. Among the best-known health aids are lactic acid bacteria, which are contained in probiotic foods such as yogurt. But lesser-known prebiotic foods have also been shown to have a positive impact on human health.

Recycling rare earths with peptides

Whether in smartphones, LED screens or wind turbines: rare earths are indispensable for the high-tech industry. Hardly any electronic device can do without the precious metals. But the raw material is limited and the German economy is dependent on imports, especially from China. Better and more sustainable recycling of rare earths could remedy this situation and would be a first step toward making Germany economically less dependent on imports.

Thermoformable paper as a plastic substitute

There's plastic and paper packaging - and where paper is too fragile, coated paper often serves its purpose. But only pure paper achieves high collection and recycling rates, while plastics often suffer from sorting problems or a lack of processes. Coated paper would have to be separated from the coating before it could be recycled. So what about using paper-based packaging where plastics or coated papers are still common today?

Vertical greening for climate-friendly cities

More than half the world's population lives in cities, and the numbers are rising. Climate change and its consequences, including heat waves and heavy rainfall, make life in major cities increasingly stressful. There has long been research into how metropolises can protect themselves from such weather extremes in the future. Experts see one way of improving the quality of life for city residents in the greening of facades.

Premiere for stage design from mushroom mycelium

"The Entrepreneur" by Kevin Rittberger at the Residenztheater in Munich is a premiere in two respects. When the curtain rises on December 9, 2022, at the Bayerisches Staatsschauspiel, not only the actors but also, for the first time, a stage set will be in the spotlight. An eight-meter-high tree trunk made of a sustainable material will be presented. A composite material made of wood chips and mushroom mycelium was used to build this backdrop.

Cultivate bacteria in their habitat

It is a dilemma of microbiology: The most interesting bacteria often live in very specific habitats with conditions that cannot be replicated in the laboratory. Therefore, these microorganisms cannot be cultivated and researched. Countless proteins that could have great potential for medicine or biotechnological applications escape discovery by humans in this way. A team of researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) wants to change this.