Macquarie University neuroscientists have developed a single-dose genetic medicine that has been proven to halt the progression of both motor neuron disease (MND) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in mice—and may even offer the potential to reverse some of the effects of the fatal diseases.
It may also hold opportunities for treating more common forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, which is the second most common cause of death in Australia after heart disease.
The new treatment, dubbed CTx1000, targets pathological build-ups of the protein TDP-43 in cells in the brain and spinal cord.
Live Science spoke with Šikšnys about what it’s been like to see CRISPR enter clinical use and how he thinks the system might be applied and improved upon in the future.
Editor’s Note: This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
Related: Gene therapy: What is it and how does it work?
CHICAGO, Feb 19 (Reuters) — A study that analyzed the genetic code of a quarter of a million U.S. volunteers found more than 275 million entirely new variants that may help explain why some groups are more prone to disease than others, researchers reported on Monday.
The whole genome sequencing data from a wide range of Americans aims to address the historical lack of diversity in existing genomic datasets by focusing on previously under-represented groups. The U.S. National Institutes of Health-funded “All of Us” study turned up 1 billion genetic variants in total.
“Sequencing diverse populations can lead to new drug targets that are relevant to everyone,” said Dr. Josh Denny, a study author and its chief executive. “It can also help uncover disparities that lead to specific treatments for people that are experiencing higher burdens of disease or different disease.”
Genetic Engineering and DNA alteration is an emerging technology with huge ramifications in the future, including potentially altering the DNA of adult humans, not just embryos or plants \& animals. Try Dashlane here: https://www.dashlane.com/isaacarthur. Get 10% off now with my promo code: isaacarthur.
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Credits: DNA Manipulation in Living Subjects (original title) Genetically Altering Living Organisms. Episode 227; Feb 27, 2020
A study in mice and nematodes has investigated a potential new therapeutic approach that could help people with the genetic variant that predisposes them to Alzheimer’s disease.
Japanese startup PorMedTec says it’s have cloned three piglets with the express purpose of having their organs be viable for transplantation to humans, without being rejected by the immune system.
The company imported gene-edited cells from a US biotech startup called eGenesis and used them to create genetically modified embryos, the Japan Times reports, which were then implanted into the uterus of a pig.
“The realization of xenotransplantation has been long awaited in Japan for several years, but it remained in the basic research stage because pigs that could withstand clinical application were still under development,” the company said in a statement.
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💡 Future Business Tech explores the future of technology and the world.
Examples of topics I cover include: • Artificial Intelligence & Robotics. • Virtual and Augmented Reality. • Brain-Computer Interfaces. • Transhumanism. • Genetic Engineering.
Plant leaves come in many different shapes, sizes and complexities. Some leaves are large and smooth, while others are smaller and serrated. Some leaves grow in single pieces while others form multiple leaflets. These variations in leaf structure play a crucial role in how plants adapt—and survive—in different environments.
“Plant morphology is diverse in nature,” said Zhongchi Liu, a professor emerita in the University of Maryland’s Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics. “Morphological differences contribute to plant survival, including how well plants can regulate their temperatures and how efficiently they can transport water from their roots to the rest of their bodies.
Understanding the mechanisms responsible for diverse leaf forms will lead to a better understanding of how plants can survive challenging conditions.
