“What if a single injection could lower blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides — for a lifetime?” asks the New York Times. “In the first gene-editing experiment of its kind, scientists have disabled two genes in monkeys that raise the risk for heart disease.” (Alternate source here.)
Humans carry the genes as well, and the experiment has raised hopes that a leading…
Tag: Mutations
CRISPR Gene Editing In Human Embryos Wreaks Chromosomal Mayhem
A suite of experiments that use the gene-editing tool CRISPR-Cas9 to modify human embryos have revealed how the process can make large, unwanted changes to the genome at or near the target site. Nature reports: The first preprint was posted online on June 5 by developmental biologist Kathy Niakan of the Francis Crick Institute in London and her colleagues. In that…
Accumulating fewer genetic mutations linked to living a longer life
People who accumulate genetic mutations more slowly than others live longer and have children later in their life – which could mean we can predict lifespan using these mutations Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2247088-accumulating-fewer-genetic-mutations-linked-to-living-a-longer-life/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…
How Iceland ‘Virtually Eliminated’ Its Coronavirus Cases
Iceland is the most sparsely-populated country in Europe, with a population of 364,134 spread across 40,000 square miles (103,000 square kilometers). But the New Yorker notes Iceland has “virtually eliminated” Covid-19 cases — and tries to explore how they did it. By February 28th, Iceland had already implemented a contact-tracing team. “And then, two hours later, we got the call,” remembers…
Coronavirus genome like a shipping label that lets epidemiologists track where it’s been
Every time the virus copies itself it makes mistakes, creating a trail that researchers can use to build a family tree with information about where it’s traveled, and when. Source: https://earthsky.org/human-world/coronavirus-genome-epidemiologists-track…
What the coronavirus does to your body that makes it so deadly
How the coronavirus infects and how it makes people sick. Source: https://earthsky.org/human-world/what-covid19-coronavirus-does-to-body-that-makes-it-deadly…
Scientists Reveal How Proteins Team Up To Repair DNA
Scientists have revealed an important mechanism in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks, according to new research published today in eLife. Phys.Org reports: One of the main DNA repair processes is called homologous recombination (HR). This repairs a severe form of DNA damage where both strands of DNA are broken. A protein called Rad51 orchestrates HR, and Rad51 itself is supported…
Many plants may soon be illegal in France and no one knows what to do
France’s highest court has ruled that many common crops are illegal because they contain genetic mutations, but enforcing the law will be near impossible Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24532742-800-many-plants-may-soon-be-illegal-in-france-and-no-one-knows-what-to-do/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…
How fast can the coronavirus mutate?
The new coronavirus, like all other viruses, mutates, or undergoes small changes in its genome. Source: https://www.livescience.com/coronavirus-mutations.html
Early Riser or Night Owl? New Study May Help To Explain the Difference
Some people are early risers, wide awake at the crack of dawn. Others are night owls who can’t seem to get to bed until well after midnight and prefer to sleep in. Why is this? An NIH-funded team has some new clues based on evidence showing how a molecular “switch” wired into the biological clocks of extreme early risers leads them…