TOKYO — In 2018, Chinese researcher He Jiankui announced the birth of the world’s first genome-edited babies, and was subsequently imprisoned in China. In his first solo interview with Japanese media, he revealed to the Mainichi Shimbun that he has resumed research on human embryo genome editing for the treatment of genetic diseases while adhering to international rules, and claimed “society will eventually accept it.”
A team of medical researchers at Zhejiang University, in China, has developed a way to use cryo-shocked tumor cells to fight lung cancer. In their study, published in the journal Science Advances, the group used fast liquid nitrogen treatment to modify tumor cells to carry gene-editing tools to fight tumors in mouse models.
Two progressively degenerative diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD, recently in the news with the diagnoses of actor Bruce Willis and talk show host Wendy Williams), are linked by more than the fact that they both damage nerve cells critical to normal functioning—the former affecting nerves in the brain and spinal cord leading to loss of movement, the latter eroding the brain regions controlling personality, behavior and language.
Research studies have repeatedly shown that in patients with ALS or FTD, the function of TAR DNA-binding protein 43, more commonly called TDP-43, becomes corrupted. When this happens, pieces of the genetic material called ribonucleic acid (RNA) can no longer be properly spliced together to form the coded instructions needed to direct the manufacture of other proteins required for healthy nerve growth and function.
The RNA strands become riddled with erroneous code sequences called “cryptic exons” that instead affect proteins believed to be associated with increased risk for ALS and FTD development.
Salk scientists unveil RNA capabilities that enable Darwinian evolution at a molecular scale, and bring researchers closer to producing autonomous RNA life in the laboratory.
Charles Darwin described evolution as “descent with modification.” Genetic information in the form of DNA sequences is copied and passed down from one generation to the next. But this process must also be somewhat flexible, allowing slight variations of genes to arise over time and introduce new traits into the population.
But how did all of this begin? In the origins of life, long before cells and proteins and DNA, could a similar sort of evolution have taken place on a simpler scale? Scientists in the 1960s, including Salk Fellow Leslie Orgel, proposed that life began with the “RNA World,” a hypothetical era in which small, stringy RNA molecules ruled the early Earth and established the dynamics of Darwinian evolution.
Scientists created a highly accurate reference genome for one of the most important modern crops and found a rare example of how genes confer disease resistance in plants. Exploring sugarcane’s genetic code could help researchers develop more resilient and productive crops, with implications for both sugar production and biofuels.
Autoimmune diseases pose significant challenges in healthcare, affecting millions worldwide. Recent research has suggested a potential link between gut microbiota and autoimmune conditions, paving the way for innovative therapeutic approaches. A study published in BMC Medicine aimed to systematically review the efficacy of probiotic therapy in managing various autoimmune diseases. The study was conducted by Zeng L. and colleagues.
Autoimmune diseases, including fibromyalgia, psoriasis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), lupus nephritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease, result from dysregulation of the immune system. Genetic, environmental, and microbial factors, particularly gut microbiota, are implicated in their pathogenesis. Probiotics, defined as beneficial microorganisms that colonize the gut and modulate host immunity and metabolism, offer a promising avenue for treatment.
The study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy of probiotic therapy in autoimmune diseases. Researchers searched multiple databases for eligible trials up to June 2022 and assessed outcomes such as Disease Activity Score at 28 joints (DAS28), Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Measure (SLEDAI).
Fanconi anemia is rare genetic disorder that can be caused by changes in the sequence of one of at least 22 different genes. The disease can lead to a variety of symptoms including bone marrow failure, skeletal abnormalities, and increases the risk of cancer in patients. Scientists have long thought that the disease is due to problems with DNA that cause cell death, and disruptions in blood stem cells (also known as hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which are crucial for constantly replenishing the body’s supply of blood cells.
When protein-coding genes are expressed, the proteins they encode for start out as strings of amino acids, which have to be properly folded into a three-dimensional shape, or else serious problems can arise. Scientists have now determined that a buildup of miscoded proteins is actually a root cause of Fanconi anemia, and that a bile acid may be useful as a new treatment for the disorder. The research has been reported in Nature Communications.
Every day, our cells are hard at work multiplying. Cell division is a precise process, but sometimes this process is impaired and diseases like cancer occur. Mitosis is one of the most important phases in the cell cycle. During this phase, a cell’s DNA is split into two equal sets of chromosomes and it divides into two genetically identical daughter cells.
Scientists have long pondered the beginnings of life on Earth. One theory is that RNA, which is ubiquitous across all domains of life, played a central role in early life. Similar to DNA, RNA possesses the ability to store genetic information. However, to initiate life’s processes, early RNA must have also possessed the capability to self-replicate and catalyze biochemical reactions independently, without the assistance of specialized enzymes.