Silicon biotech

Genencor International Inc. may have redefined itself as a drug development company in the past year or so, but it hasn't abandoned its industrial biotechnology roots. GCOR last week agreed to collaborate with Dow Corning Corp. to develop organosilicon-based materials for various biotech and industrial applications.

The deal combines enzyme technology from GCOR (Palo Alto, Calif.) with silicon chemistry from Dow Corning (Midland, Mich.) to produce biologically mediated organosilicon-based materials for diagnostics, biosensors, controlled delivery of active ingredients and personal care products...