SCIENCE SNAPSHOTS a quick summary of 10 genetics and biotech stories
6. Did gastrointestinal issues, a Hepatitis B infection, or liver
1. Bats have robust immune systems that elude deadly viruses and cancer. Researchers identified specific changes in bat genes compared to humans. Key changes thwart viral infection and control inflammatory responses. This knowledge could pave the path to potential treatments for humans in the future. 2. The FDA approved two groundbreaking cell-based gene therapies for sickle cell disease. Both therapies use patients’ own blood stem cells. Casgevy ® , the first CRISPR-based therapy, edits cells to increase fetal hemoglobin. Lyfgenia ® genetically modifies cells to produce HbAT87Q, which functions like normal adult hemoglobin. Both therapies reduce red blood cell sickling, the main contributor to sickle cell disease symptoms." cheese by disrupting microbiome interac- tions. Deleting a specific gene in the invading mold allows bacteria to grow normally and ensures cheese makers can preserve the distinctive flavors of their products. 4. Acrocentric human chromosomes (13, 14, 15, 21, 22) have their centromere very near one chromosome tip. Long-read sequencing has shown their short p-arms are unusually similar and suggests they’ve periodically exchanged ge- netic material during meiosis. This reinforces the hypothesis behind Robertsonian translocations: improper recombination between the p-arms of different acrocentrics joins their q-arms into a single extended chromosome. 3. Bacteria are crucial for forming the rind of cheeses like Parmesan and cheddar. Unwanted molds can spoil the 5. Purple tomatoes, genetically modified to produce anthocyanin in both the skin and fruit, were cleared for commercial production by the FDA. By inserting two snapdragon genes, researchers turned up the plant's levels of the deep purple pigment. This makes the fruit ripen more slowly for less damage during transport, and the pigment is an antioxidant with known health benefits.
disease from heavy drinking kill Beethoven? No one knows, but researchers have a better idea now that they sequenced his genome using preserved DNA from strands of Beethoven’s hair. They found several risk factors for liver disease, including a variant that tripled his risk for liver issues. 7. In late 2022, President Biden issued an Executive order on Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe and Secure American Bioeconomy . The order pledges to increase funding for innovation in biotechnology, emphasizing medicine, renewable energy, and food security. The order seeks to untangle the regulatory landscape for 8. Accurately determining the impact of a particular genetic change is critical for research and medical care. A study found that 27% of 1,113 genetic changes predicted to be loss-of-function (pLoF) may not actually cause loss of protein function. An updated framework considers additional loss of function evasion mechanisms and lowers the false positive rate in genetic testing. 9. DNA analysis of modern and ancient head lice shows that the tiny parasite was brought into the New World at least twice, once from Asia and more recently from Europe. Using genetic information, researchers found new lice evolutionary relationships and used them to trace human migration patterns. biotechnology products, addressing gaps and ambiguities in regulations among the multiple federal agencies that monitor biotech applications.
head lice
10. A team of researchers found a portion of a skull in eastern China that may change how scientists think about human evolution. The skull may belong to a new group of hominids that
had modern human features long before modern humans were present in this part of the world.
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SCIENCE FOR LIFE
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