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Archive for the ‘genetics’ category: Page 205

Feb 10, 2021

Soft subdermal implant capable of wireless battery charging and programmable controls for applications in optogenetics

Posted by in categories: genetics, neuroscience

Although wireless optogenetic technologies enable brain circuit investigation in freely moving animals, existing devices have limited their full potential, requiring special power setups. Here, the authors report fully implantable optogenetic systems that allow intervention-free wireless charging and controls for operation in any environment.

Feb 10, 2021

Central Regulation of Branched-Chain Amino Acids Is Mediated by AgRP Neurons

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, food, genetics, neuroscience

Circulating branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are elevated in obesity and diabetes, and recent studies support a causal role for BCAAs in insulin resistance and defective glycemic control. The physiological mechanisms underlying BCAA regulation are poorly understood. Here we show that insulin signaling in the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) of rats is mandatory for lowering plasma BCAAs, most probably by inducing hepatic BCAA catabolism. Insulin receptor deletion only in agouti-related protein (AgRP)–expressing neurons (AgRP neurons) in the MBH impaired hepatic BCAA breakdown and suppression of plasma BCAAs during hyperinsulinemic clamps in mice. In support of this, chemogenetic stimulation of AgRP neurons in the absence of food significantly raised plasma BCAAs and impaired hepatic BCAA degradation.

Feb 10, 2021

New Research Highlights Risk of New COVID Mutations Emerging During Chronic Infection

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, genetics

SARS-CoV-2 mutations similar to those in the B1.1.7 UK variant could arise in cases of chronic infection, where treatment over an extended period can provide the virus multiple opportunities to evolve, say scientists.

Writing in Nature, a team led by Cambridge researchers report how they were able to observe SARS-CoV-2 mutating in the case of an immunocompromised patient treated with convalescent plasma. In particular, they saw the emergence of a key mutation also seen in the new variant that led to the UK being forced once again into strict lockdown, though there is no suggestion that the variant originated from this patient.

Using a synthetic version of the virus Spike protein created in the lab, the team showed that specific changes to its genetic code — the mutation seen in the B1.1.7 variant — made the virus twice as infectious on cells as the more common strain.

Feb 9, 2021

New Algorithm Generates Synthetic Human Genetic Code

Posted by in categories: genetics, information science

As far as ‘compiling’ this into a human — I definitely don’t see the path to that.

Feb 9, 2021

Comprehensive Genetic Map Reveals Circuitry of 30,000 Human Disease Regions

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, genetics

Analysis reveals genetic control elements that are linked to hundreds of human traits.

Twenty years ago this month, the first draft of the human genome was publicly released. One of the major surprises that came from that project was the revelation that only 1.5 percent of the human genome consists of protein-coding genes.

Over the past two decades, it has become apparent that those noncoding stretches of DNA, originally thought to be “junk DNA,” play critical roles in development and gene regulation. In a new study published on February 32021, a team of researchers from MIT has published the most comprehensive map yet of this noncoding DNA.

Feb 8, 2021

Devious sperm ‘poison’ their rivals, forcing them to swim in circles until they die

Posted by in category: genetics

Sperm are ‘ruthless competitors’ who aren’t above poisoning their brothers.


Mouse sperm carrying a genetic sequence called the t-haplotype will poison their competitors, then make an ‘antidote’ only for themselves, new research finds.

Feb 3, 2021

Machine learning tool pinpoints disease-related genes, functions

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, genetics, robotics/AI

The idea struck Robert Ietswaart, a research fellow in genetics at Harvard Medical School, while he was trying to determine how an experimental drug slowed the growth of lung cancer cells.

Feb 1, 2021

What’s stopping us from using CRISPR to gene edit humans to fight disease?

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, genetics

This is a potential game changer in medicine.


Over the past two decades, gene therapy has come of age, but there are different means of delivering genetic payload.

Feb 1, 2021

Partial Reprogramming Rejuvenates Human Cells by 30 Years

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, genetics

Cells in a lab. But very good news.


Researchers from the Reik lab at the Babraham Institute have used the four Yamanaka reprogramming factors (OSKM) in order to epigenetically rejuvenate cells by 30 years, according to one epigenetic clock. […]

Jan 31, 2021

2020 Was a Breakout Year for Crispr

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, genetics

Between glimpses of a medical cure and winning science’s shiniest prize, this proved to the gene-editing technology’s biggest year yet.