Archive for the ‘genetics’ category: Page 340
Jul 4, 2019
Neutral evolution shapes lifespan and aging
Posted by Paul Battista in categories: biotech/medical, evolution, genetics, life extension
Different African killifish species vary extensively in their lifespans—from just a few months to several years. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing in Cologne investigated how different lifespans have evolved in nature and discovered a fundamental mechanism by which detrimental mutations accumulate in the genome causing fish to age fast and become short-lived. In humans, mutations accumulate mainly in the genes that are active in old age.
Jul 4, 2019
Exclusive: Five couples lined up for CRISPR babies to avoid deafness
Posted by Genevieve Klien in categories: biotech/medical, genetics
Russian biologist Denis Rebrikov plans to help five couples who are deaf try CRISPR gene-editing to avoid having a child that inherits the condition.
Jul 3, 2019
Bacteria engineered as Trojan horse for cancer immunotherapy
Posted by Paul Battista in categories: bioengineering, biotech/medical, genetics
The emerging field of synthetic biology—designing new biological components and systems—is revolutionizing medicine. Through the genetic programming of living cells, researchers are creating engineered systems that intelligently sense and respond to diverse environments, leading to more specific and effective solutions in comparison to current molecular-based therapeutics.
At the same time, cancer immunotherapy—using the body’s immune defenses to fight cancer—has transformed cancer treatment over the past decade, but only a handful of solid tumors have responded, and systemic therapy often results in significant side effects. Designing therapies that can induce a potent, anti–tumor immune response within a solid tumor without triggering systemic toxicity has posed a significant challenge.
Researchers at Columbia Engineering and Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) announced today that they are addressing this challenge by engineering a strain of non–pathogenic bacteria that can colonize solid tumors in mice and safely deliver potent immunotherapies, acting as a Trojan Horse that treats tumors from within. The therapy led not only to complete tumor regression in a mouse model of lymphoma, but also significant control of distant, uninjected tumor lesions. Their findings are published today in Nature Medicine.
Jul 2, 2019
Cancer neoantigens provide new research leads for personalized vaccine development
Posted by Paul Battista in categories: biotech/medical, genetics
Next-generation sequencing technologies are helping researchers to find mutations unique to an individual’s cancer as well as the genetic signatures that predict their immune response. Can they use these clues to develop long-lasting and effective anticancer vaccines?
Jul 2, 2019
Hidden layer of gene control influences everything from cancer to memory
Posted by Genevieve Klien in categories: biotech/medical, genetics
Jul 2, 2019
Mind-Uploading: The Impending Meta-System Transition of Humanity
Posted by Quinn Sena in categories: biological, engineering, genetics, nanotechnology, neuroscience
The most probable mainstream non-invasive way to transfer human consciousness in the intermediate future, with initial stages in the 2030s, could be the convergence of optogenetics, nanotechnologies, neuroengineering, Cloud exocortex and an array of neurotechnologies allowing to connect our wetware directly to the Cloud.
Initially, each of us will have a personal exocortex in the Cloud, the third non-biological “de-cerebral” hemisphere, which will be in constant communication with the other two biological brain hemispheres.
At some point, this “third hemisphere,” will have a threshold information content and intimate knowledge of your biology, personality and other physical world attributes in order to seamlessly integrate with your persona as a holistic entity.
Jul 2, 2019
A genetic “cheat code” that activates dormant DNA
Posted by Quinn Sena in categories: biotech/medical, genetics
Circa 2011
Scientists have found a gene that can ‘lock’ and ‘unlock’ certain sections of your genetic code, allowing other genes to be expressed in your body. If you are under enough stress, this gene springs into action.
So you think you have access to all your DNA just by being born? Think again. You have to earn it, people. You have to work to get there. You have to suffer. Epigeneticists have proved this to be so, but they also might have a cheat code.
Jul 2, 2019
First life with ‘alien’ DNA
Posted by Quinn Sena in categories: bioengineering, biotech/medical, genetics
Circa 2014
An engineered bacterium is able to copy DNA that contains unnatural genetic letters.
Jul 1, 2019
First proof-of-concept demonstrates genetic sex selection in mammals
Posted by Genevieve Klien in categories: biotech/medical, genetics, sex
Certain plants, insects, crustaceans and fish possess the uncanny ability to change the sex of their offspring before they are born. Mammals have never before demonstrated this genetic skill, until now.
A new Tel Aviv University study reveals a genetic system in mammals that enables two animals to mate and produce only females. A similar system based on identical principles would produce only males.
Research for the breakthrough study was led by Prof. Udi Qimron, Dr. Ido Yosef and Dr. Motti Gerlic and conducted by Dr. Liat Edry-Botzer, Rea Globus, Inbar Shlomovitz and Prof. Ariel Munitz, all of the Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology at TAU’s Sackler School of Medicine. The research was published on July 1 in EMBO Reports.