Altering the genome, typically to better understand gene and protein function. This also paves the way for gene therapy.
Front Line Genomics hosted the webinar Improved Methods for CRISPR Homology-Directed Repair Using Alt-R HDR Enhancer and ssDNA Donors with Optimized Design, which you can watch on demand for free here. The webinar described how to overcome some of the bottlenecks to using the CRISPR-Cas9 for genome manipulation and ensure its efficacy in a clinical […]
We are delighted to introduce our new guest contributor Dr Neil Lamb, who’s Shareable Science blog will be a fortnightly feature on the website. Neil is the Vice President for Educational Outreach at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology and Shareable Science will explore how genetics is relevant to people in their everyday lives. The Impossible […]
In a study last week researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have highlighted how the development of mono-sex prawns could increase the aquaculture yield whilst reducing the spread of the second most devasting parasitic disease: schistosomiasis. Additionally, in a triple whammy the sterility of a single-sex population negates the ecological risk of the crustacean […]
It has been less than a week since the landmark study into the genetics of same-sex sexual behaviour first broke and sparked debate across the twitterverse. There has been much disagreement amongst the scientific and LGBTQ+ communities alike, regarding whether this research should have been conducted at all. Conversely, many have praised the study for […]
Despite vast progress in leveraging the CRISPR-Cas9 system for genome manipulation, bottlenecks still remain. Overcoming these bottlenecks is critical to ensure the efficacy of this technology in a clinical context. Several engineering approaches involve inducing a double -stranded break (DSB) to introduce new mutations, which are then repaired by the endogenous cellular machinery. The two […]
A new technique that can store information in DNA, known as DOMINO, has been successfully developed by researchers at MIT. The future of biotechnology and biodata requires an effective method to store information in DNA. Just like a hard drive, the information should be readable, writable and able to be edited. Writable DNA information can […]
Researchers have created the first artificial human liver model from genetically engineered human liver cells. It is hoped that the artificial liver will be an effective model to study fatty liver diseases. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition where fat builds up in the liver, eventually leading to liver failure. There is currently […]
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released a statement calling for a stop to germline editing in humans. This is in light of recent controversial experiments in the field which emphasized patient safety concerns. Germline editing refers to the genome editing of reproductive cells. These changes are inheritable, and the technology has the potential to […]
Scientists have engineered proteins to form fractal geometric shapes with never-ending patterns, closely resembling those found in nature. The protein patterns could have applications in next-generation biomaterials. Fractal geometric shapes make extremely useful biomaterials as they have large surface to volume ratios, allowing rapid exchange of materials. This makes them ideal for applications both in […]
Scientists have genetically engineered neurons in mice to give them hallucinations. The research could help identify why certain people experience hallucinations, associated with several mental illnesses, and inform new treatments. Two genes were inserted into the neuron cells of the mice’s visual cortex, the part of the brain that processes visual information. One coded for […]
Scientists have genetically engineered plant mitochondrial DNA for the first time. This advancement could enable a more secure food supply for the future. Low mitochondrial diversity in plants leaves whole species vulnerable to diseases. If all plants are genetically similar, very few individuals will have resistance to certain diseases, which will give a low survival […]
A CRISPR-based technique has been used in mice to ensure they give birth to exclusively female offspring. This has applications for selecting the sex ratio in livestock. Although offspring sex selection through genetic techniques has previously been achieved in fish and insects, this is the first successful attempt in mammals. Mammal offspring sex selection has […]
Inscripta has presented its scalable platform for benchtop digital CRISPR engineering, described as world first, at the 2019 Synthetic Biology: Engineering, Evolution & Design (SEED) conference. The technology, “CRISPR-enabled trackable genome engineering” or CREATE, is meant to remove certain limitations of CRISPR to allow for more wide-reaching research in the future.
From 1 July, international scientists looking to use Chinese genetic material and data must have at least on Chinese collaborator working with them, according to new regulations. This follows a trend as individuals and organisations realise the value of their genetic data.
Russian biologist Denis Rebrikov has announced his intentions to produce further gene-edited babies, ignoring the scientific consensus that this should not be done until an ethical framework is constructed to regulate the science involved. Rebrikov’s plans could occur before the end of the year if he receives approval in time.
