New Atlas

Biology Audio available

Long-lost "tasty genes" could soon be spliced back into store-bought tomatoes

Michael Irving May 14, 2019

It’s no secret that tomatoes plucked from the supermarket aisles just aren’t that tasty. To find taste genes that could be spliced back into commercial crops, researchers have complied a pan-genome of all cultivated and related wild tomato species, uncovering almost 5,000 previously-unknown genes.

Researchers have completed a pan-genome of all cultivated tomato breeds, uncovering thousands of unknown genes that ...

Biology Audio available

NASA's twin study shows how space travel affects genes, cognition, aging and gut microbiome

Michael Irving April 11, 2019

NASA has conducted a comprehensive study comparing the genes and biology of identical twins Scott and Mark Kelly, after Scott spent almost a year in space while Mark stayed on Earth as a control. And now the results of that study have finally been released.

For NASA's comprehensive study on space travel's effects on human health, astronaut Scott Kelly (right) spent ...

Medical

A DNA "shredder" is the latest CRISPR gene-editing tool

Michael Irving April 9, 2019

CRISPR-Cas9 acts like a pair of molecular scissors and enables precise cut-and-paste DNA edits. But now, researchers have developed a new genetic tool that, they say, acts more like a motorized DNA “shredder.”

A new gene-editing enzyme called CRiSPR-Cas3 could function like a "DNA shredder"

Biology Audio available

First computer-generated genome could lead to custom synthetic lifeforms

Michael Irving April 1, 2019

Scientists have created the first fully computer-generated genome of a living organism. Named Caulobacter ethensis-2.0, it was built by simplifying the natural code of Caulobacter crescentus. The team says this is a huge step towards creating completely synthetic life and medicinal DNA molecules.

Scientists have created the first computer-generated genome of a living organism

Science Audio available

WHO calls for global gene editing research registry as debate over moratorium rages

Rich Haridy March 24, 2019

Following a recent call for a moratorium on human germline gene editing, several scientists have pushed back, claiming prohibition is redundant and problematic. The WHO's panel on the topic also sidestepped the issue, instead recommending a central registry on human gene editing research be created.

Some scientists suggest a moratorium on gene editing is an unnecessary distraction from the regulatory conversation ...

Biology

Great white shark genome has been sequenced, revealing clues to longevity and cancer resistance

Michael Irving February 18, 2019

To many of us, the great white shark is a mysterious and scary creature from the deep – but now it’s a little less mysterious. Scientists have sequenced the entire genome of the great white shark, revealing a few clues as to how these animals are so good at healing wounds and resisting cancer.

The genome of the great white shark has been sequenced

Biology Audio available

Breeding bees with "clean genes" could help prevent colony collapse

Michael Irving February 17, 2019

Honeybees are increasingly under threat. To help save these creatures from extinction, researchers from York University have found a group of genes that appears to be related to how hygienic a particular colony of bees is, and selective breeding for these genes could help fight colony collapse.

Researchers have identified genes associated with cleanliness behaviors in bees, which could ultimately help protect colonies ...

Medical Audio available

CRISPR-CasX could be the next small gene-editing enzyme

Michael Irving February 6, 2019

In the world of gene-editing, CRISPR and Cas9 usually go hand in hand, but that might not necessarily be the best pairing. Now, researchers at UC Berkeley have tested a new candidate, CasX, which seems to have a few advantages of its own.

The structure of the CasX enzyme (grey), which uses RNA (red) to target and cut DNA ...

Medical Audio available

New CRISPR enzyme makes for more precise gene-editing

Michael Irving January 22, 2019

Although Cas9 has been the go-to enzyme for gene-editing, that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the best option. Now a team of scientists, including the co-creator of CRISPR, has engineered a more precise enzyme, known as Cas12b.

An illustration of the structure of Cas12b (purple) bound to RNA (gold) and DNA (brown)

Space Audio available

Genomic study shows how space travel influences the evolution of bacteria

Michael Irving January 8, 2019

It almost goes without saying that space is a pretty harsh environment. Now researchers have examined what effects that environment might have on bacteria, and found that the bugs are mutating in response – but that probably isn’t cause for concern.

Researchers have examined how the harsh environment of space may influence genetic mutations in bacteria