Tokyo Tech Research Videos Now Online: Learn about our cutting-edge research that will shape the future

What was the earth’s environment like in prehistoric times? What kind of atmosphere and continents existed, and what kind of organisms lived there? Professor Yuichiro Ueno and his research team at the School of Science collect rocks found all over the world that date back to various geologic ages, and work to unravel the information contained in them to discover the environment of bygone days and the history of life. In this video, he introduces some of his findings and his future goals.

Genome is the blueprint of life and contains all the information about an organism’s characteristics and functions. Scientists completed the decoding of all human genetic information (human genome) in 2003. They then proceeded to develop editing tools to intentionally cut DNA and rewrite genomes to treat serious diseases. In 2020, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to the developer of a genome editing tool called CRISPR-Cas9. The laboratory led by Professor Yuriko Osakabe from the School of Life Science and Technology, has developed the world's first CRISPR-Cas, which belongs to subtypes Type I-D, and is conducting research to make safer use of genome editing.

Professor Masahiro Takinoue from the School of Computing is engaged in research and development to create molecular computer (DNA computer) by incorporating information into molecules as DNA base sequences, and to apply it to create artificial cells and molecular robots. The DNA computer is characterized by its ability to process information in the same way as in electronic circuit, by controlling information through the design of DNA base sequences. He is making step-by-step progress in explaining life phenomena by bringing together knowledge from a wide range of research fields, including physics, information science, and life science, aiming to explain as-yet unexplained life processes.

Humans have created an affluent society and dramatically prolonged life expectancy. In addition to improvements in nutrition and sanitation, advances in medicine have made it possible to treat diseases which were previously difficult to treat. We live in an era in which people can be expected to live for 100years and we need to think about what we will require in the future. Professor Nobuhiro Hayashi's laboratory at the School of Bioscience and Biotechnology aims to create predictive health management and a prosperous society based on AI proteomics which uses AI to analyze protein information.