CRISPR

Everybody loves roses, but we'd probably love them even more if they didn't have those sharp thorns. Well, scientists have found a way of growing thornless roses, and their findings could lead to easier-to-harvest crops.

CRISPR gene-editing has improved the vision of patients with a form of blindness in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial. The results give new hope to patients with the condition, and show that CRISPR could be put to use in humans to treat a range of conditions.

Medically, AI is helping us with everything from identifying abnormal heart rhythms before they happen to spotting skin cancer. But do we really need it to get involved with our genome? Protein-design company Profluent believes we do.

By silencing the gene responsible for regulating ‘bad’ cholesterol without altering the primary DNA sequence, researchers have unlocked the potential of epigenetic editing to safely and effectively treat not just this but a wide range of diseases.

The FDA has approved the first cell-based gene therapies for treating sickle cell disease, one of which is the first approved therapy to utilize the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology. It signals advancements in gene therapy and regenerative medicine.

A new study has identified, for the first time, how the mutated protein p53, present in half of all human cancers, drives tumor growth. The discovery will not only facilitate a rethink of the way cancer is treated but may lead to new therapeutics.

CRISPR systems are powerful tools for genetic engineering, but they have their limitations. Now, scientists have discovered almost 200 new CRISPR systems in bacteria, and found that some can edit human cells even more precisely than existing ones.

The term ‘personalized medicine’ is being used more and more frequently. But what does it mean? This explainer outlines what personalized medicine is, its advantages and some concerns that have been raised in relation to it.

Researchers presented the interim results of a clinical trial using a single infusion of gene-editing technology to permanently switch off LDL cholesterol production in people with a genetic condition that elevates levels of the ‘bad’ cholesterol.

Following on from the discovery of programmable DNA-cutting enzymes Fanzors, scientists have identified more than 3,600 Fanzors in a broad set of species. It presents a massive opportunity in the development of new medicines, gene therapy and biotech.

Splitting the gene editor used in traditional CRISPR technology creates a more precise tool with significantly less chance of causing unintended mutations, a new study has found. The novel tool could correct half of the mutations that cause disease.

For the first time, scientists have successfully produced full-length spider silk fibers using genetically modified silkworms. This silk has the potential to provide a scalable, sustainable and better-quality alternative to current synthetic fibers.