Genomics Sponsored by Nvidia
Making CRISPR safer with new enzyme-based prediction tool
A new technique will help scientists choose the best available gene editing option for any given indication, making CRISPR technology safer, cheaper, and more effective. The tool is outlined in a September 7 article in Nature Biotechnology.  Discuss
Customized gene therapies successfully target rare eye diseases
Can gene therapies prove effective for the treatment of rare genetic diseases? One company may have found a solution that incorporates a high degree of customization, manufacturing expertise, and years' worth of knowledge.  Discuss
New CRISPR-repressor system improves efficiency of gene therapies
Researchers have developed a CRISPR-based system that can simultaneously provide transcriptional control and gene editing on demand to improve the efficacy of gene therapies. The details were published in Nature Cell Biology on September 3.  Discuss
New gene therapy destroys latent oral herpes in mice
Researchers recently reported that they were able to eliminate latent herpes simplex virus 1 in mice using a new gene editing technique that targets the root cause of oral herpes. The findings were published on August 18 in Nature Communications.  Discuss
Molecular barcoding of DNA identifies rare mutations in stem cells
Scientists have developed a new next-generation sequencing technique using molecular barcodes that can accurately detect a single genetic mutation in a pool of 10,000 cells. The researchers applied the approach to CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing to search for undesirable mutations caused by the platform. The research and methods were published in Genome Biology on August 24.  Discuss
Genetic engineering shows how 'foreign' DNA impacts evolution
A new study has demonstrated that "foreign" DNA -- DNA transferred horizontally into a species from a source other than a parent -- can become functional over time and can impact an organism's evolution and fitness, according to a paper published August 10 in Nature Ecology and Evolution.  Discuss
DNA 'origami' informs coronavirus vaccine design
Strategically folded DNA arranged to mimic viral antigens -- known as DNA "origami" -- may produce strong immune responses, according to a June 29 report in Nature Nanotechnology. Researchers are now working on adapting this approach for the development of a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2.  Discuss
Innovations in synthetic chemistry help identify new cancer therapies
The pathway to discovering and developing cancer therapies is not always linear, but well-designed models incorporating smart chemical innovations can provide elegant solutions to treatments for some of the most difficult cancers. Some of these efforts were shared on June 22 during the American Association for Cancer Research 2020 virtual annual meeting II.  Discuss
From DNA to precision medicine, researchers discuss breakthroughs in cancer research
From the use of novel technologies such as machine learning and CRISPR, to gaining a deeper understanding of the genetic and molecular drivers of cancer, researchers from around the globe shared their progress with the cancer research community on June 22 at the opening plenary session of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020 virtual annual meeting II.  Discuss
Spell-check gene editing corrects hearing loss in mice
Using a new genetic engineering technique called base editing, researchers restored genetic hearing loss in mice with a recessive point mutation. The research was published by a group from Boston Children's Hospital, the Broad Institute of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard University in Science Translational Medicine on June 3.  Discuss
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September 20-22
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September 21-25
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September 21-25
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