Chemical Biology

Research shines a light on development of the visual cortex during the critical period after birth

January 19, 2022

Different layers of the cortex are visualized as depths in the ocean, with the sun playing the role of light/vision

Different layers of the cortex are visualized as depths in the ocean, with the sun playing the role of light/vision. (Illustration by...

Alumna Spotlight with Cheri Ackerman of Concerto Biosciences

October 12, 2021

Cheri Ackerman, alumna

Photo: courtesy of Concerto Biosciences.

Cheri Ackerman (Ph.D. '17, ChemBio) is a co-founder & CEO @ Concerto Biosciences, an MIT/Harvard spinout that develops microbial “ensembles” as revolutionary new disease treatments. To discover ensembles, Concerto...

Chris Chang discusses molecular iron electrocatalyst for the reduction of carbon dioxide

August 26, 2021

Invention Interview with Chris Chang: Molecular Iron Electrocatalyst for the Reduction of Carbon Dioxide (2021)

Berkeley startup aims to be a game changer in autoimmune disease therapy

July 22, 2021

chemistry alumni Geo Guillen, left, and Marco Lobba, middle, launched Catena Biosciences with Berkeley chemistry professor Matthew Francis.
UC Berkeley business and chemistry alumni Geo Guillen, left, and Marco Lobba, middle, launched Catena Biosciences with Berkeley...

A protein voyage into cells enabled by a short helical protein

April 16, 2021

Three common pathways of endocytosis in a cell to internalize outside substances.

Three common pathways of endocytosis in a cell to internalize outside substances. Figure credit: scientificanimations.com, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The...

Podcast: Nobel Laureates Frances Arnold and Jennifer Doudna on prizes, pandemics, and Jimmy Page

February 18, 2021

Frances Arnold and Jennifer Doudna

The recent Nobel chemistry-prize winners, alumna Frances Arnold and Professor Jennifer Doudna, tell Stereo Chemistry about what comes after that momentous call from Stockholm. Credit: Frances Arnold photo (Caltech); Jennifer Doudna photo (Lauran Morton Photography)

Where do you take your career after you’ve won...

Alanna Schepartz makes a cross-country voyage in search of new academic adventures

January 19, 2021

Alanna Scherpartz at Yale

Professor Alanna Schepartz moves to UC Berkeley for new scientific opportunities Photo: Yale University.

Professor Alanna Schepartz discusses the challenges and rewards of changing academic institutions.

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Professor Christopher J. Chang awarded the Humboldt Research Award

January 8, 2021

Christopher J. Chang

Christopher J. Chang, Class of 1942 Chair Professor of Chemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of Berkeley, has been awarded the Humboldt Research Award. The award, honoring internationally recognized researchers, includes a stay at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg where Professor Chang will be hosted...

UC Berkeley and Gladstone scientists develop new Covid-19 test

December 7, 2020

image for lighting up covid test

In the diagnostic test, a patient sample is mixed with CRISPR Cas13 proteins (purple) and molecular probes (green) which fluoresce, or light up, when cut. When coronavirus RNA is present in the sample, it prompts the CRISPR proteins to snip the molecular probes, causing the whole sample to emit light. This fluorescence can be detected with a...

Catalyst breaks only molecules’ toughest C–H bonds

May 19, 2020

smokestacks

In new research reported in Nature, an international team of chemical engineers have designed a material that can capture carbon dioxide from wet flue gasses better than current commercial materials. One way to ameliorate the polluting impact of flue gases is to take the CO2 out of them and store it in geological formations or recycle it; there is, in fact, an enormous amount of research trying to find novel materials that can capture CO2 from these flue gasses.