The Ellington Lab

My research focuses on using evolutionary techniques to engineer biopolymers and cells. Researchers in my lab select binding species (aptamers) and ribozymes from random sequence populations. We then attempt to apply the selected species to solve real-world problems. For example, we have selected aptamers that can interact tightly and specifically with the Rev protein of HIV-1, and are exploring how these aptamers can be used to block viral replication....

living bacterial photographs

Student scientists create living bacterial photographs

Using Petri dishes full of genetically engineered E. coli instead of photo paper, students at The University of Texas at Austin and UCSF successfully created the first-ever bacterial photographs. Their work was published in the Nov. 24, 2005 issue of Nature, which focused on the emerging field of synthetic biology.

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