NBIC - Multidisciplinary scientific field at the crossroads of nanotechnologies (N), biotechnologies (B), information technology (I) and cognitive sciences (C).
NBIC - Champ scientifique multidisciplinaire qui se situe au carrefour des nanotechnologies (N), des biotechnologies (B), de l'informatique (I) et des sciences cognitives (C).
Researchers at ETH Zurich have refined the famous
CRISPR-Cas method. Now, for the very first time, it is possible to
modify dozens, if not hundreds, of genes in a cell simultaneously.
Genes and proteins
in cells interact in many different ways. Each dot represents a gene;
the lines are their interactions. For the first time, the new method
uses biotechnology to influence entire gene networks in one single step.
(Visualizations: ETH Zurich / Carlo Cosimo Campa)
Everyone’s talking about CRISPR-Cas. This
biotechnological method offers a relatively quick and easy way to
manipulate single genes in cells, meaning they can be precisely deleted,
replaced or modified. Furthermore, in recent years, researchers have
also been using technologies based on CRISPR-Cas to systematically
increase or decrease the activity of individual genes. The corresponding
methods have become the worldwide standard within a very short time,
both in basic biological research and in applied fields such as plant
breeding.
Very little was known till now about DNA repair by
homologous recombination, which is fundamental for human health. Now an
ETH research group has for the first time isolated and studied all the
key proteins involved in this process, laying the foundation for
investigating many diseases.
Which proteins are
essential for cell division? The biochemist Philipp Wild (left) and his
colleagues Ilaria Piazza and Christian Dörig examine the results from
the mass spectrometer. (Photograph: ETH Zurich / Adrian Henggeler)
Within our body, the process of cell division is constantly
creating new cells to replace old or damaged ones. The genetic
information is also duplicated and passed on to the new cells. Complex
interaction of many different proteins ensures a smooth process. This is
because these proteins immediately repair any errors that creep in
during DNA duplication. However, the same protein machinery also
performs another function: in germ cells that divide to from gametes –
egg cells and sperm – it is responsible for mixing the genetic
information of the original maternal and paternal side during cell
division. The same mechanism therefore has to resolve two conflicting
problems: in normal cell division, called mitosis, it ensures genetic
preservation, while in the cell division to produce gametes, or meiosis,
it ensures genetic diversity.
Researchers from China’s Peking University have developed a new
gene-editing technology — and they think it shows promise as a CRISPR
alternative for fighting human diseases.
According to a paper published on Monday in the journal Nature Biotechnology,
this new technology, LEAPER, which stands for “leveraging endogenous
ADAR for programmable editing of RNA,” works similarly to CRISPR-Cas13, targeting RNA molecules as opposed to DNA like the well-known CRISPR-Cas9.
But
while CRISPR-Cas13 relies on both a guide RNA and the Cas13 enzyme to
make its edits to RNA, the LEAPER system needs just one component known
as an arRNA.
In laboratories around the world, some of the brightest scientists—well-established and those early in their careers—are conceiving novel theories at the very forefront of knowledge. In tissue regeneration, multilevel function, multiscale modeling, longevity, and other cutting-edge fields, breakthrough research will soon enable us to improve human health and perhaps even reveal the deepest mechanisms of life itself.
Paul G. Allen is the cofounder of Microsoft, the chief executive officer of Vulcan Inc., a recipient of the 2015 Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy, and the founder of the Allen Institute for Brain Science, Institute for Cell Science, and Institute for Artificial Intelligence.
In his article Allen explains how "...the complexity of biology is a fascinating challenge, and I am keen to see the field deconstruct its mysteries, establish reliable and predictive models, and put that knowledge to work."
Allen further believes ".....we should also be working more aggressively to break down scientific silos by backing more collaborative, interdisciplinary teams that include experts in bioscience, mathematics, computer science, medicine, engineering, and other fields. For example, the Human Genome Project succeeded because of the convergence of massive computing power, new algorithms, expertise in laboratory biology, and broad support from the public and private sectors."
