Biological systems are nature’s version of nanotechnology. They are built from the same fundamental elements of matter and follow the same physical laws as human-engineered systems. When functioning properly, biological systems possess capabilities that exceed those of human technologies by a vast margin.
When functioning poorly, however, biological systems — especially at the molecular and cellular levels — can generate major health threats such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and the deficits associated with aging. As a result, Berkeley Lab researchers focus on the molecular and cellular levels where these breakdowns begin.
Berkeley Lab is recognized as a world leader in the development of imaging technologies, such as electron and x-ray crystallography, confocal microscopy, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Nuclear/ Magnetic Resonance Imaging (NMR/MRI), which have made it possible to zoom in on the internal structures of biological cells and the DNA, RNA and proteins through which they are formatted. Berkeley Lab researchers also pursue advanced genomic and proteomic studies; cancer and neurodegenerative disease research; systems biology, in which biological processes and functions are studied as whole systems; and synthetic biology, in which novel organisms and systems are created to solve problems natural systems cannot. Berkeley Lab is also a contributor to the Joint Genome Institute.
