Biotechnology/Systems biology

No plant and no motor can run without lubricants. The metalworking industry is especially dependent on grease and oil. However, most lubricants consist of mineral oil of fossil origin. Recently, though, bio-lubricants made of sunflowers or rapeseed have been entering the market. They can certainly compete with mineral oil based products. But to date they are no more than niche products. The problem: Bio-lubricants are generally more expensive. Also, using these plants directly to make lubricants denies the foodstuffs industry of valuable raw materials.

The best advice against pathogens is to wash your hands regularly. But experts also warn not to go overboard; because aggressive cleaning does not only remove nasty germs, but also destroys good bacteria that are necessary for a healthy skin flora. The head of research and development at the Berlin-based Organobalance GmbH Detlef Goelling explains “If you destroy those, you create more room for pathogenic strains to attack the skin and cause infections.”

Insects, worms, and crabs are already a delicacy in many countries, and due to their high protein content they are also more and more appreciated as a healthy alternative food source in Germany. Although they’re still rarely seen on the menu of our restaurants, they’re gaining a lot of momentum with scientists for one simple reason: their shells contain chitin, the second most common polysaccharide on this planet – surpassed only by cellulose.

The development of agricultural crops that can meet the requirements of the future is demanding innovative approaches to research. Climate change and the growing world population are motivating researchers to look for new ways of safeguarding human nutrition. Here, knowledge about the genomic sequence of important agricultural crops represents a crucial basis for breeding new varieties that provide stable harvest yields even in varying weather conditions, and which are equipped to combat diseases and pests.

For the pharmaceutical industry, cells are little living substance factories. These provide the foundations for the production, among others, of biopharmaceuticals such as antibodies for the treatment of cancer or rheumatism. The starting point in such manufacturing processes is the development of a reliable and stable production cell line. Here, the cells of a production organism are genetically modified, and a selection is carried out of the cells that exhibit the desired properties. These are then isolated and multiplied.

The tomato is one of the most important vegetables on our dinner plates. From cherry tomatoes to beef tomatoes, there’s an enormous assortment to choose from, if you know where to find them. Many of the tomatoes commonly available in supermarkets derive from an accelerated breeding process known as smart breeding. The technique is based on genetic analyses and the presence of molecular markers in the genome of a plant.

Whether it is dyes or clothing, construction materials, cosmetic products, medicines or beyond, nanoparticles are found in all manner of products. As well as naturally occurring nanoparticles, there are many others that can be synthetically and selectively produced for use in industry. Thanks to their miniature size, the particles have different physical or chemical properties than larger particles of the same substance. They react more quickly and more strongly, and have enlarged surfaces that offer more space for active or functional substances.

Be it in the food industry, in furniture or construction materials, more customers than ever before are taking an interest in the sustainability of new products. In fact, in many instances biobased materials are now in a position to compete with the characteristics of petroleum-based plastics. Among others, Patrick Hirsch and his colleagues at the Halle-based Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems (IMWS) are working to make this an everyday reality.

Drinking water is a natural product and is comprised of around 80% groundwater and spring water. Not surprisingly, the quality requirements for drinking water are extremely high. To this end, intricate analyses provide information on water quality and reveal whether the infrastructure of the water system is in proper working order. For water utility companies, it is also becoming increasingly important to maintain precise knowledge of their water catchment areas so that the respective protected areas can be exactly defined and demarcated.

Protein purification is a complex but necessary part of biotechnological production processes. In recent years, a separation method known as membrane adsorber technology, which promises both a high degree of purity and maximal protein yield, has emerged as a potential alternative to previous approaches. The principle is based on a membrane made of an organic polymer such as cellulose or polyethylene, which contains chemical substances that interact with the produced proteins, causing them to be filtered out of the culture medium.