Genetic engineering

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.

By decoding a genetic process responsible for asexual reproduction, researchers induced virgin births for the first time in a normally sexual fruit fly species. It was then discovered that the trait was passed down to all of the flies' daughters.

Conventional breeding of trees takes time, but CRISPR gene editing should help speed things up. Now, scientists at North Carolina State University have used CRISPR to adjust the genomes of poplar trees to make them easier to turn into paper products.

CRISPR-Cas9 is the household name of genetic engineering tools, but there might be other, better ways. MIT scientists have now demonstrated an alternative called Fanzor, which is naturally found in animals so could be a better fit for human use.

Great strides are being made in the field of lab-grown meat, but its price remains a barrier to wide use. British startup Moolec has created what it claims is a less costly alternative, in the form of soya plants that produce pig-protein-rich beans.

It's cheap, easy to transport, effective and non-invasive. Scientists have had their eye on genetically modified lettuce for insulin delivery for a while now (we're as surprised as you are), but it's one step closer after this promising animal trial.

Egg allergies are one of the most common allergies in children, triggered by everything from meatloaf to flu vaccines. Now, researchers have used genome editing technology to develop a chicken egg that may be safe for allergy sufferers to eat.

Fusarium fungus once decimated the world’s dominant Gros Michel bananas, so much so that the Cavendish variety became the global go-to. Now, as a new strain threatens its survival, approval of the very first GM Cavendish could prevent "bananageddon."

Modified viruses have proven a handy way to get CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing materials into the nucleus of cells – but they're expensive, difficult to scale and potentially toxic. Now, researchers have found a non-viral approach that does the job better.

Researchers have developed a highly efficient new gene-editing method that uses virus-based protein fragments. The method could be used to level up existing cell and gene therapies used to treat cancer and other diseases.

Cancer cells are notorious for evading detection by the immune system. But a promising new type of genetically engineered T-cell that can effectively destroy solid cancer tumors may be just what the doctor ordered.

Some cancer cells develop resistance to chemotherapy. Belgian scientists have investigated the cause of chemotherapy resistance and switched off the gene contributing to it, making cancer cells more sensitive to treatment.