Genetics

Our ancestors probably didn’t smell good, but did they smell well? A new study has grown odor receptors from Neanderthals and Denisovans, and tested their sensitivities to different smells compared to modern humans.

Not content with the woolly mammoth and the thylacine, Colossal Biosciences has now announced the third animal on its de-extinction list – the dodo. The company has received new funding, and provided an update on its scientific progress so far.

Harvard scientists have investigated why we age, and how we could stop it. In tests in mice, the team showed that epigenetic “software glitches” drive the symptoms of aging – and a system reboot can reverse them, potentially extending lifespan.

A clinical trial is underway testing a new kind of eczema drug developed to silence certain genes that play a role in skin inflammation. The results of a preclinical study demonstrated the experimental topical treatment reduces symptoms of dermatitis in mice.

Researchers have resurrected ancient CRISPR proteins from millions and even billions of years ago. Not only can they still edit human cells, but they’re more versatile than modern versions, paving the way for new synthetic CRISPR gene-editing tools.

It's often hard to see the forest from the trees but if we zoom out a little it becomes clear 2022 saw some incredible breakthroughs in the world of medical science. All of these stories are landmark moments that are set to shape the future of medicine.

Breeding plants can give them new beneficial traits, but trees have a frustratingly long reproductive cycle. Now, scientists at the University of Georgia have used CRISPR gene-editing to make poplar trees flower within months rather than a decade.

A teenager in the UK has become the first person to be treated with a revolutionary new gene editing therapy. The patient's incurable leukemia was effectively cleared using "base-edited" immune T-cells from a donor.

A genetic predisposition to ADHD has been linked to an increased risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease in old age, according to new research. The findings are the first to associate ADHD genetic risk with age-related cognitive impairment.

New research has homed in on the way our genes can be turned up or down depending on levels of physical activity. The unique study focused on exercise-induced epigenetic differences in genetically identical twins.

A study looking at post-mortem brain tissue samples has found severe COVID-19 is associated with molecular signs of brain aging. The researchers warn potential long-term neurological problems could emerge in the years following the pandemic.

A new technique has been added to the CRISPR gene-editing toolbox. Known as PASTE, the system uses virus enzymes to “drag-and-drop” large sections of DNA into a genome, which could help treat a range of genetic diseases.