Raman Flow Cytometry Enables Rapid Sorting of Live Cells for Metabolic Traits

Fast Summary

• The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (Volume 122, Issue 22, June 2025) published research focused on advances in synthetic biology.
• Researchers developed a label-free, high-throughput Raman-activated cell sorting technology to improve the process of identifying and isolating cells with target metabolic functions from a genetically diverse mutant pool.
• Cell sorting is identified as a critical step in synthetic biology research.

Indian Opinion Analysis
This new growth in synthetic biology has the potential to impact fields where India has ongoing investments, such as pharmaceutical manufacturing and agricultural biotechnology. Advancements like high-throughput Raman technology could enable Indian researchers and industries to streamline cell-based innovations more effectively, reducing costs while enhancing precision and scalability. By accelerating fundamental processes like targeted cell sorting without labels or invasive methods, this approach may also contribute to sustainability goals by minimizing waste during experiments or productions reliant on microbial systems.

For India’s scientific community and policymakers supporting biotechnological innovation through initiatives like “Make in India,” such accessible global advancements might serve as inspiration for local R&D investments targeting similar methodological breakthroughs.

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