The version of CRISPR whose selling point has been its precision suffers, ironically, from the same shortcoming that has dogged other forms of the genome editor — that it makes a lot of unintended, off-target DNA changes. In two studies published on Thursday, one in mice embryos and one in rice plants, scientists find that...
Category: <span>Genetics</span>
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New DNA coding basis
DNA Gets a New — and Bigger — Genetic Alphabet DNA is spelled out with four letters, or bases. Researchers have now built a system with eight. It may hold clues to the potential for life elsewhere in the universe and could also expand our capacity to store digital data on Earth In 1985, the...
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First gene therapy operation for macular degeneration is a success
A woman treated at Oxford Eye Hospital has become the first person in the world to undergo a gene therapy operation that could combat the most common cause of vision loss in the Western World. The treatment is the first to target the underlying genetic cause of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which affects more than...
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A missing gene makes a big difference in patients’ recovery from mild stroke
Brain tissue reveals scar formation (at left) and inflammation (on right) in mice after stroke. Bottom images show less scarring and inflammation (in red) in animals treated with the drug maraviroc, which blocks the CCR5 gene. Credit: UCLA/Carmichael lab More than 6 million Americans live with disabilities following a stroke. Even mild strokes can leave...
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What is RNA?
DNA vs. RNA Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a complex molecule that is primarily found within the nucleus of cells. DNA is present within all living organisms and contains the genetic instructions required for the development and maintenance of life. The structure of DNA versus RNA. ShadeDesign | Shutterstock The nucleic acid of DNA is deoxyribose,...
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What is RNA?
Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is an important biological macromolecule that functions to convert the genetic information encoded by DNA into proteins. DNA vs. RNA Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a complex molecule that is primarily found within the nucleus of cells. DNA is present within all living organisms and contains the genetic instructions required for the development...
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Genetic study reveals possible new routes to treating osteoarthritis
In the largest genetic study of osteoarthritis, an international team of scientists including researchers from the University of Sheffield, have uncovered 52 new genetic changes linked to the disease, which doubles the number of genetic regions associated with the disabling condition. Scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, GSK and their collaborators – including Mark Wilkinson,...
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Breakthrough in understanding male infertility
Hope has emerged for infertile men as scientists at Newcastle University have understood the importance of a gene in regulating the production of fully-functioning sperm. For the first time, experts have identified the role of gene, RBMXL2, which is very similar to a possible infertility gene found on the Y chromosome found only in men....
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Researchers discover an RNA sequence interaction that could be Hepatitis C virus therapy
Researchers Ángel Cantero and José Gallego, from the Structural and Computational Biochemistry laboratory of Valencia’s Catholic University (UCV) have jointly published a research article in Nucleic Acids Research on their progress in the fight against the hepatitis C virus. Credit: Asociación RUVID In the article, Cantero and Gallego describe a new distal interaction mechanism among...
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New CRISPR enzyme (Cas12b) makes for more precise gene-editing
The CRISPR gene-editing tool may be one of the most important medical breakthroughs in decades, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement. Although Cas9 has been the go-to enzyme for gene-editing, that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the best option. Now a team of scientists, including the co-creator of CRISPR, has engineered a more precise...