July 16, 2018, City of Hope A City of Hope scientist has discovered a gene-editing technology that could efficiently and accurately correct the genetic defects that underlie certain diseases, positioning the new tool as the basis for the next generation of genetic therapies. City of Hope’s Saswati Chatterjee (left), Ph.D., discovered a gene-editing technology that...
Category: <span>Genetics</span>
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Killer Immunotherapy—fighting cancer with genetic engineering
July 17, 2018 by Teresa Belcher, Particle Finding a cure for cancer is no easy feat, but Dr. Misty Jenkins has built her career in immunotherapy to do just that. Since 2016, Misty has led a lab at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research. From a young age, Misty was fascinated with how the...
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Biochemists discover cause of genome editing failures with hyped CRISPR system
New study sheds light on biology of most-used Cas9 target UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO Researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago are the first to describe why CRISPR gene editing sometimes fails to work, and how the process can be made to be much more efficient. IMAGE: UIC RESEARCHERS SHOW PERSISTENT CAS9 BINDING TO A DOUBLE STRAND...
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Researchers cure type 2 diabetes and obesity in mice using gene therapy
July 10, 2018, Autonomous University of Barcelona A research team from the UAB led by Professor Fatima Bosch has managed to cure obesity and type 2 diabetes in mice using gene therapy. The research team at CBATEG (UAB). Credit: UAB A single administration of an adeno-associated viral vector (AAV) carrying the FGF21 (Fibroblast Growth Factor 21) gene, resulted in genetic...
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Mayo Clinic Researchers Use Targeted Sequencing to Diagnose Short Telomere Syndrome
NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – A team from the Mayo Clinic has examined the genetic and phenotypic features that occurs in individuals diagnosed with short telomere syndrome (STS), a condition resulting in symptoms that range from accelerated aging or bone marrow failure to immune and multiple organ problems. “With the help of this patient series, we...
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Through the use of self-stopping enzymes, DNA synthesis has become faster, cheaper and better
Scientists at the Department of Energy’s Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) based at the University of California, Berkeley (CA, USA) have developed a new way to synthesize DNA through the creative use of enzymes. The discovery, published in Nature Biotechnology, has the potential to revolutionize the fields of DNA synthesis and biological engineering. Until now, the...
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Gene discovery unlocks mysteries to our immunity
CSIRO AUSTRALIA Australia’s national science agency CSIRO has identified a new gene that plays a critical role in regulating the body’s immune response to infection and disease. The discovery could lead to the development of new treatments for influenza, arthritis and even cancer. The gene, called C6orf106 or “C6”, controls the production of proteins involved...
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Autism traits could be ‘edited’ out genetic trial suggests
Researchers are hailing a breakthrough after they used cutting-edge gene editing to significantly reduce repetitive behavior associated with the disorder. The study on mice used gold nanoparticles to target genes causing repetitive behaviour. CREDIT: SOLOMON BANDA The technique, which was performed on mice, could also be developed to treat conditions ranging from opioid addiction and neuropathic pain to schizophrenia...
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Scientists eradicate cancer cells through dual targeting of DNA repair mechanisms
Proteins are commonly known as BRCA—short for BReast CAncer susceptibility gene- serve a critical role in cellular DNA repair, but when mutated they allow genetic errors to replicate, facilitating cancer development. If the BRCA repair system is disabled in cancer cells, the cells simply turn to backup repair mechanisms and adapt to alternative repair pathways,...
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Recipe for perfect balance of breaks and repairs in our genome could help fight cancer
Scientists at the University of Sheffield have discovered what keeps the perfect balance of breaks and repairs in our DNA—something which could help improve the success of chemotherapy and combat neurodegeneration associated with aging. Our genome, where precious genetic information is stored, is challenged with thousands of breaks every day. Cells possess an army of...