The hottest Biotechnology Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics

The Mosquito Edition

Why is this interesting? • 844 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🔬 Science Biotechnology
  1. Mosquitos are the world's deadliest animal and are vectors for diseases like Malaria.
  2. Innovative strategies like gene-editing are being used to control mosquito populations.
  3. Technology like Oxitec's gene-editing approach shows promise in suppressing mosquito populations without harming other species.

Secret linguistic, nanostructure, & biomaterial strategies

The Strategy Toolkit • 8 implied HN points • 15 Jan 26
🔬 Science Biotechnology
  1. People have long used language as a tool for secrecy and coded communication, from wartime code talkers to private dialects.
  2. Specialized scripts like nushu were easy to learn and often sung rather than spoken, letting uneducated rural women share stories, support one another, and pass on traditions.
  3. Community-specific languages are fragile and can disappear over time, so they hold unique cultural value and are vulnerable if not preserved.

Stories We'd Like to Publish (Part II)

Asimov Press • 290 implied HN points • 08 Jan 25
🔬 Science Biotechnology
  1. Asimov Press is inviting writers to pitch stories about scientific progress. If you have an idea or interest in topics like biotechnology, they want to hear from you!
  2. They have released a long list of interesting story ideas, ranging from the history of common medicines to new discoveries in gene editing. Any writer can find a topic that resonates with them.
  3. Asimov Press aims to support writers through the entire publishing process. Accepted pitches will receive help with outlining, editing, and will be compensated for their work.

Asimov Press' Latest Book, Encoded in DNA

Asimov Press • 277 implied HN points • 02 Jan 25
🔬 Science Biotechnology
  1. Asimov Press has released a new book that is both in print and encoded in DNA. This is a unique way to merge traditional reading with cutting-edge technology.
  2. The book includes essays on technology and science fiction stories, exploring both current and future innovations. It is made with contributions from various companies to store the DNA safely.
  3. There are pre-order options available for the book, including a DNA capsule with a printed copy. They only made 1,000 capsules, so people are encouraged to order soon.

Barcoding Brains

Asimov Press • 225 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
🔬 Science Biotechnology
  1. Connectomics is a method that maps connections in the brain, helping scientists understand how these connections affect our behavior and brain function. However, it's really slow and expensive to do.
  2. A non-profit called E11 Bio is developing new tools to make brain mapping faster and cheaper. They aim to create a complete map of a mouse's brain in just five years for a fraction of the current cost.
  3. Understanding the brain's connections can improve treatments for various brain diseases and potentially lead to advanced technologies like brain-computer interfaces. This could really change how we approach brain health and artificial intelligence.
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Accelerating American Scientific Enterprise

A Biologist's Guide to Life • 18 implied HN points • 13 Dec 25
🔬 Science Biotechnology
  1. Make grants faster, smaller, and easier by using short, sanity-check proposals and quick, staged payments so good ideas get funded fast and funders can adapt based on real results.
  2. End the traditional journal bottleneck and create a public platform for immediate researcher-led publication, using that system's metrics for hiring and funding to remove delays, costs, and points of sabotage.
  3. Reform intellectual property so scientists keep the majority of their inventions and share royalties with institutions, align business-developer pay with commercialization success, and tighten biotech patent rules with verifiable proof separating natural from engineered innovations.

Global Biosecurity in the Age of Low-Probability, High-Consequence (LPHC) Biological Risks-

Who is Robert Malone • 5 implied HN points • 29 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Biotechnology
  1. Current international biosecurity rules strongly ban biological weapons but are institutionally weak and fragmented. They lack verification, enforcement, and do not cover accidental, dual‑use, or self‑propagating risks.
  2. Low‑probability, high‑consequence biological risks often fall outside existing treaties and can produce irreversible, cross‑border harms. Managing these risks requires proactive international coordination, shared norms, and continuous risk monitoring rather than only national or reactive responses.
  3. The global framework must shift from mere prohibition to collective risk management by adding verification, common biosafety standards, transparency, and worst‑case preparedness. Strengthening these elements would help align biotechnology innovation with safety and reduce the chance of catastrophic global events.

Humanity’s new frontier is complete genomic knowledge. The barriers are ideological.

Nucleus Genomics • 39 implied HN points • 18 Apr 24
🔬 Science Biotechnology
  1. Understanding our DNA can help us learn more about our health and traits. It's important for everyone to have access to this information.
  2. There are ideological debates that prevent people from getting the genetic insights they deserve. These discussions often limit how much we can learn about ourselves.
  3. The goal is to communicate scientific knowledge clearly and truthfully. This will help us all understand genetics better and use it to improve our lives.

Erika Update #5: DNA detective

Erika’s Newsletter • 137 implied HN points • 18 Apr 23
🔬 Science Biotechnology
  1. It's important to keep good track of custom DNA programs in biology for engineering purposes.
  2. Current DNA management lacks clear nomenclature and annotation, making it challenging to work with DNA sequences.
  3. Challenges in DNA management highlight the complexity of biological functions and the importance of handling sequences carefully and thoughtfully.

The Pursuit of Parenthood

Asimov Press • 219 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
🏥 Health Politics Biotechnology
  1. In-vitro fertilization (IVF) has become widely accepted in society, with many people knowing someone who has used this technology. Just 50 years ago, it faced a lot of criticism from scientists and the public.
  2. The journey to making IVF mainstream involved many scientific breakthroughs and changes in public perception, starting from early experiments in the 1930s to the birth of the first IVF baby in 1978. This shows how challenging and slow scientific progress can be.
  3. Despite the success of IVF, there is a lack of federal regulation, which can lead to some issues like inflated success rates and high costs. Still, this absence of strict rules has allowed for a lot of innovation and diverse options for people seeking reproductive assistance.

Solid State Nanopores - Shanghai BaiCe Technology Co., Ltd. (上海佰测科技有限公司)

ASeq Newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 09 Jan 26
🔬 Science Biotechnology
  1. A little-known Chinese solid-state nanopore sequencing startup has been identified, but there is almost no public information or a company website.
  2. Their patent describes a nanopore with an embedded conductive layer or single measurement electrode that senses signals inside the pore while a separate bias voltage only drives DNA or other strands through.
  3. They claim sensing through the solid electrode reduces solution interference and that upper/lower nanopores produce useful current changes, but no experimental data or public results are available yet.

RapidHIT ID

ASeq Newsletter • 14 implied HN points • 05 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Biotechnology
  1. RapidHIT ID is a point-of-use forensic DNA profiling system that generates STR profiles for quick, on-site analysis.
  2. Forensic STR profiling typically looks at about 20 loci, and RapidHIT ID works as a sample-to-answer PCR device with capillary readout to produce those profiles.
  3. STRs remain the practical standard largely because of huge existing STR databases, lower costs, and institutional conservatism, and the technology has been simplified from complex lab rigs into much simpler cartridges.

Genopore Update

ASeq Newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 07 Jan 26
🕹 Technology Biotechnology
  1. A recent website update aligns with earlier patent-based speculation about their nanopore protein-detection design.
  2. They published a new patent that adds technical detail and indicates continued development.
  3. Detailed discussion is locked behind a paid subscription, so full information is not publicly available.

Spill the TEA

The Century of Biology • 453 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Biotechnology
  1. Industrial biotechnology aims to transition our economy to more sustainable biomanufacturing.
  2. Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) helps forecast new technology's competitiveness in industrial markets.
  3. Synonym's tool Scaler simplifies TEA for synthetic biologists, potentially changing the financing structure of biomanufacturing.

Francis Collins retires from the NIH

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 128 implied HN points • 03 Mar 25
🏥 Health Politics Biotechnology
  1. Francis Collins helped find the cystic fibrosis gene, which saved many lives. However, his support for gain of function research and certain policies during the pandemic raised concerns.
  2. Many believe that the impact of Collins' leadership during the pandemic was negative, leading to loss of trust in science and vaccination. His actions may have contributed to millions of deaths and economic losses.
  3. Collins did not explore if the way the NIH gives out grant money was effective. Despite advancements in genetics, many common health issues remain largely unresolved.

Measuring Drug Target Success

Rough Diamonds • 9 implied HN points • 16 Dec 25
🔬 Science Biotechnology
  1. Most modern drugs are built around a specific molecular target, and researchers pick targets using genetic, animal, or in‑vitro evidence that suggests the target is causally involved in disease.
  2. Targets backed by human genetic evidence more than double a drug's chance of clinical success, while pursuing mechanisms similar to past failures increases the odds of failing.
  3. Preclinical signals can improve early selection but don't replace human trials, so improving the ROI of drug development means making trials cheaper and/or picking better candidates early, rather than relying only on rational design.

C57BL/6 (Beta)

Niko McCarty • 19 implied HN points • 25 May 24
🔬 Science Biotechnology
  1. In 2032, scientists created computer emulations of mice, including their entire anatomy and brain. This was only possible for a few organizations with strong computing power.
  2. The military used these emulators to test how drugs could enhance mouse performance, but some results were secretly tested on prisoners, raising ethical concerns.
  3. The NIH gave access to emulators mainly to select academic institutions, leading to a flood of biomedical papers. This made their findings influential in clinical trials, affecting millions of people.

‘Lab leak’ in the biological warfare century – clear and present danger

Heterodox STEM • 56 implied HN points • 13 Jul 25
🔬 Science Biotechnology
  1. The idea that COVID-19 came from a lab leak has been heavily debated, but there's strong evidence suggesting it originated naturally. Many scientists have already concluded that the virus did not come from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
  2. Misinformation about vaccines and the origins of COVID-19 can create distrust in science, making it harder for public health efforts to succeed. It's essential to rely on accurate information to manage potential biological threats.
  3. The rapid development and deployment of mRNA vaccines are crucial for defending against future biological attacks. These vaccines can be produced quickly and efficiently, which is vital for protecting public health.

Nautilus Early Access

ASeq Newsletter • 14 implied HN points • 25 Nov 25
🔬 Science Biotechnology
  1. Nautilus has been pushing an early-access program and that push seems to have increased market interest by showing the platform can support early-access projects.
  2. A recent scientific demo focused on Tau proteoforms (about 768), which is a useful small-scale result but doesn’t demonstrate the claimed ability to interrogate billions of wells or many different proteins.
  3. Because the demo was small, it’s unclear how well the high-density patterning and machine-learning pattern matching perform at scale, so fuller multi-protein or high-well-count demonstrations are needed.

On Big Pharma's demolition of Dr. Vinay Prasad, one of the most honest people in medicine

Unreported Truths • 47 implied HN points • 31 Jul 25
🏥 Health Politics Biotechnology
  1. Dr. Vinay Prasad was a strong advocate for the safety and efficacy of new drugs. He tried to set high standards at the FDA but was pushed out quickly because he challenged Big Pharma interests.
  2. Pharmaceutical companies often get approvals for drugs that have not proven to be effective for patients. This can put patients at risk, especially when treatments are very expensive and potentially harmful.
  3. The FDA needs to maintain strict standards to protect patients from unsafe drugs. If companies can't prove their drugs work, they shouldn't profit from them until there's real evidence of benefit.

ASeq, 200 Posts in 2025. Subscription Discounts.

ASeq Newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 29 Dec 25
🔬 Science Biotechnology
  1. Two hundred posts were published in 2025 and there’s an archive of over 500 posts available behind a subscription; access is $20 per month.
  2. Two limited-time annual discounts are being offered: 25% off standard annual subscriptions and 50% off annual subscriptions for educational users.
  3. The newsletter delivers focused coverage of DNA sequencing, life-science tools, diagnostics, and industry news, and relies on subscription revenue to sustain a niche audience with relatively low conversion rates.

Weekly Dose of Optimism #127

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 121 implied HN points • 17 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Biotechnology
  1. Blue Origin successfully launched its New Glenn rocket, marking a big step for Jeff Bezos in the space race against Elon Musk's SpaceX. This could lead to more competition and innovation in space exploration.
  2. A startup called Colossal is working to bring back extinct animals like woolly mammoths using advanced genetics. They believe this could open up new possibilities in science and conservation.
  3. AI is showing positive results in education, especially in Nigeria, where students using AI tutors outperformed their peers. This suggests that AI can be a helpful tool in learning when combined with good teaching.

Data Deficits

A Biologist's Guide to Life • 9 implied HN points • 13 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Biotechnology
  1. Data, not just compute or model design, is often the limiting factor for high-performance bio-AI, so who controls unique, high-quality data will largely determine competitive success.
  2. Public scientific databases can catalyze big breakthroughs (e.g., AlphaFold) but they also let fast-following competitors benefit without having contributed equally, creating a public-goods problem.
  3. Policy matters: investing in data generation and open sharing without rules to ensure reciprocity or strategic protection can create a one-sided "data deficit," so governance must balance openness with safeguarding national advantage.

DNA Fragments as Vaccine Adjuvants

Who is Robert Malone • 12 implied HN points • 24 Nov 25
🔬 Science Biotechnology
  1. DNA fragments used in vaccine production may pose risks if they integrate into human cells. This could affect how our cells produce proteins and replicate.
  2. Injecting 'naked' DNA or RNA can allow cells to take up these materials directly, which can be used for vaccine development.
  3. CpG sequences in DNA fragments can enhance immune responses and have been explored in various vaccines, but their presence in mRNA vaccines raises safety and patent concerns for companies like Pfizer.

Weekly Dose of Optimism #126

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 106 implied HN points • 10 Jan 25
🔬 Science Biotechnology
  1. Sana Biotechnology has made a huge step by transplanting insulin-producing cells for diabetes patients without needing drugs to suppress the immune system. This could change diabetes treatment for the better.
  2. Recent research shows that even non-brain cells can have memory-like processes, suggesting that memory might not be exclusive to the brain. This could lead to new ways of treating diseases by training our body's cells.
  3. A new AI model called METAGENE-1 can analyze wastewater to detect pathogens and monitor health risks. This technology could help us better prepare for pandemics in the future.

Letter to Mother Nature: Amendments to the Human Constitution

Extropic Thoughts • 78 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
🔬 Science Biotechnology
  1. The essay discusses amending the human constitution to overcome limitations like aging and death.
  2. It proposes expanding human perceptual abilities and enhancing intelligence through biotechnology and neural improvements.
  3. The amendments aim to move humanity towards a posthuman condition, integrating technology into individuals for unprecedented innovation.

Embrace the Future

Extropic Thoughts • 78 implied HN points • 08 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Biotechnology
  1. Bill Joy's call for global relinquishment of emerging technologies is unworkable and ignoble.
  2. Accelerating development of advanced technologies is crucial to defend against potential dangers.
  3. Embracing the future and integrating advanced technologies can lead to progress and benefits for humanity.

Gas Chamber: An Industrial Accident at a Poop Science Lab

Eat Shit and Prosper • 159 implied HN points • 09 Apr 23
🔬 Science Biotechnology
  1. Working with bacteria, especially in a lab, can lead to unexpected and funny situations. In this case, a vacuum chamber experiment led to an overwhelming smell due to fermentation gases.
  2. It's important to follow safety protocols, like weighing flasks, when handling materials in a centrifuge to prevent accidents.
  3. Despite the humorous mishap, the science behind using gut bacteria for mental health treatments shows promise and is an exciting field.

The CycloneSeq 40K Pores? 400Gb/Run?

ASeq Newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 17 Dec 25
🔬 Science Biotechnology
  1. BGI’s CycloneSeq claims to use novel motor and pore proteins found in extreme ocean environments as the core components for its nanopore sequencing chemistry.
  2. The device reportedly uses a spider-web-inspired, nano-imprinted micro-well chip design to achieve ultra-low electrical noise and stable membrane embedding, enabling very long sequencing runs (up to about 107 hours).
  3. Slides and coverage suggest high throughput — on the order of tens of thousands of pores and around hundreds of gigabases per run (e.g., ~40K pores and ~400 Gb/run) — implying significant per-run data yield if accurate.

EviziaDx PRECYSE - An AFM for DNA QC

ASeq Newsletter • 29 implied HN points • 22 Aug 25
🔬 Science Biotechnology
  1. EviziaDx PRECYSE is a new tool for checking the quality of DNA samples using advanced imaging techniques. It allows scientists to see individual molecules and measure their lengths accurately.
  2. This tool uses atomic force microscopy (AFM), which is quite expensive and needs special conditions to work properly. Despite these challenges, the images produced are very fascinating.
  3. Instead of traditional methods like electrophoresis and UV-spectroscopy, this technology offers a more detailed look at DNA fragments, pushing boundaries in DNA quality control.

Miracle in Mainz

Diane Francis • 679 implied HN points • 05 Apr 21
🏥 Health Politics Biotechnology
  1. mRNA technology is changing medicine, promising to extend life and improve health. Vaccines for COVID-19 showed how effective this approach can be.
  2. BioNTech and Moderna rushed to create vaccines quickly, successfully using their mRNA methods. This faster way of making vaccines works better than older methods.
  3. There are plans to use mRNA technology for cancer vaccines in the near future. This could transform how we treat cancer and save many lives.

Drug the Undruggable: Learn how Elsie Biotechnologies is advancing oligonucleotide therapeutics

LatchBio • 268 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
🔬 Science Biotechnology
  1. Elsie Biotechnologies uses computational design tools and high-throughput experimental approaches to develop drugs.
  2. Partnerships with large pharmaceutical companies like GSK can significantly impact the progress of smaller biotech companies.
  3. Oligonucleotide therapies represent the future of drug development, promising safer and more effective treatments.

Green Goo (Republished)

De Novo • 110 implied HN points • 12 Dec 24
🔬 Science Biotechnology
  1. Synthetic biology can create engineered organisms, which may outcompete natural organisms and harm ecosystems. We need to be careful about the kinds of organisms we create and the possible consequences.
  2. Creating mirror-image organisms could lead to unexpected environmental problems. If these organisms take over, they could cause damage far beyond what we're prepared for.
  3. We should invest in ways to contain engineered organisms and be aware of the risks of releasing them into nature. It's important to proceed cautiously when considering big changes to global ecosystems.

Weekly Dose of Optimism #122

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 111 implied HN points • 29 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Biotechnology
  1. Microsoft and Atom Computing are making big moves in quantum computing by using neutral atom processors to create stable computations. This could lead to real breakthroughs in things like medicine and cryptography.
  2. Nabla Bio has created an AI platform that can design new antibodies from scratch, speeding up the process of developing new drugs. This means we could potentially treat more diseases faster and cheaper.
  3. Starting in fall 2025, MIT will offer free tuition to students from families earning under $200,000, making education more accessible. This could help more talented students pursue important scientific and technical careers.

Genesis Mission challenges for biotechnology

A Biologist's Guide to Life • 8 implied HN points • 03 Dec 25
🔬 Science Biotechnology
  1. Automating research in high-security labs can make work safer and more efficient. This will help scientists handle dangerous pathogens without direct human contact, which is crucial for preventing accidents.
  2. There is a need for better tools in genetics, specifically for aligning and annotating DNA sequences. Modernizing these tools can lead to faster results and more discoveries in biology.
  3. Improving how quickly patients receive medical care is essential. By using AI to streamline processes and reduce paperwork, we can make healthcare more efficient and improve patient experiences.

What If We Could Change The Colour Of *Everything*?

Everything Is Amazing • 488 implied HN points • 24 Mar 23
🔬 Science Biotechnology
  1. The way chameleons change color can inspire future color-changing technology for surfaces and fabrics.
  2. Current advancements in color-changing materials like Fabrican and PhotoChromeleon show promise for future fashion and architectural applications.
  3. The deep meanings and social implications of colors in fashion and pigmentation mean that changing color technology may have complex impacts on society.

Weekly Dose of Optimism #118

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 119 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Biotechnology
  1. Osmo Labs has made a breakthrough in scent teleportation. They can now predict how smells will be based on chemical structures, which could change how we experience scents online.
  2. Semaglutide, a diabetes drug, might help lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease. A study shows it significantly reduces the chances of first-time diagnosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.
  3. A company called Physical Intelligence is developing robots that can fold laundry like humans. This could save us from doing tedious chores and allow us to focus on more enjoyable tasks.

The COB vision

The Century of Biology • 408 implied HN points • 07 May 23
🔬 Science Biotechnology
  1. The newsletter focuses on cutting-edge biotech research
  2. The author is dedicated to accelerating the biotechnological revolution
  3. Newsletter content includes data/research, companies/strategy/analysis, and philosophy

What's Behind the SynBio Bust?

Rough Diamonds • 72 implied HN points • 30 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Biotechnology
  1. Synthetic biology and biomanufacturing can be expensive. It's usually cheaper to make simple chemicals using traditional methods than using living organisms.
  2. Biomanufacturing startups need to focus on products that can only be made with biological processes. If they try to compete on common products, they will struggle.
  3. Successful biomanufacturing requires good teamwork between design and manufacturing. Companies that only focus on one part of the process often face big problems.