The Cornell Alliance for Science seeks to build “a significant international alliance of partners” to “correct misinformation and counter conspiracy theories” slowing progress on climate change, synthetic biology, agricultural innovations, and other issues. Slashdot reader wooloohoo shares their article about research on Ghana’s first gene-edited crop — a high-yielding sweet potato with increased beta carotone content. “For sweet potatoes, we want…
Tag: CRISPR
Mini brains genetically altered with CRISPR to be Neanderthal-like
Miniature brains grown in the lab are helping to reveal how modern humans survived when other hominins died out, by comparing their development when a key gene is altered Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2267610-mini-brains-genetically-altered-with-crispr-to-be-neanderthal-like/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…
Researchers Try Using CRISPR To Genetically Engineer Zika-Resistant Mosquitoes
A new research study at the University of Missouri is using CRISPR gene-editing technology to produce mosquitoes that are unable to replicate Zika virus and therefore cannot infect a human through biting. Slashdot reader wooloohoo shared an announcement from Cornell’s Alliance for Science: Alexander Franz, an associate professor in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine, collaborated with researchers at Colorado State…
Are We Slowing Global Warming?
This week New York Magazine featured a new article by journalist David Wallace-Wells about the state of the fight against global warming. He warns that “Already, the planet is warmer, at just 1.2 degrees, than it has ever been…” But there’s also some good news:
Just a half-decade ago, it was widely believed that a “business as usual” emissions path would bring…
CRISPR gene editing used to store data in DNA inside living cells
Biologists have used CRISPR gene editing to store information inside DNA in living bacterial cells, which could become a storage medium of the future Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2264383-crispr-gene-editing-used-to-store-data-in-dna-inside-living-cells/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…
CRISPR doubles lifespan of mice with rapid ageing disease progeria
CRISPR gene editing in mice has been used to correct a mutation that can cause rapid ageing, dramatically improving the animals’ health and lifespan Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2264168-crispr-doubles-lifespan-of-mice-with-rapid-ageing-disease-progeria/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…
CRISPR gene editing of brain cells might prevent Alzheimer’s disease
CRISPR gene editing could be used to introduce a rare gene variant that greatly reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s, but it has only been tried in a dish so far Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2261034-crispr-gene-editing-of-brain-cells-might-prevent-alzheimers-disease/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…
CRISPR weapon spread by bacterial sex could destroy deadly superbugs
Bacteria armed with a CRISPR-based weapon that infects other microbes during the bacterial equivalent of sex could help us kill off dangerous antibiotic-resistant superbugs – if regulators approve their use Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2258049-crispr-weapon-spread-by-bacterial-sex-could-destroy-deadly-superbugs/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…
CRISPR turns normal body fat into a type that burns energy
Animal studies suggest the metabolic conditions linked to obesity could be treated by using CRISPR gene editing to turn normal fat into heat-producing beige fat Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2257655-crispr-turns-normal-body-fat-into-a-type-that-burns-energy/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…
Gene-editing CRISPR technique can help us cut emissions from farming
There are risks to using CRISPR, but also to not embracing it, because it will be much harder to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from food production without gene editing Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24833033-000-gene-editing-crispr-technique-can-help-us-cut-emissions-from-farming/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…