Biotech Updates

New Genetic Tool for Gene Therapy

February 4, 2015

Standford University researchers led a study in developing a new genetic tool that will help in controlling genes in living cells. This genetic tool is a kind of a programmable genetic code that lets the researchers activate or deactivate genes. This technique has been developed by adapting the clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and manipulating how it works.

The researchers designed the CRISPR having a second piece of information in the RNA, telling the molecule how much to produce for the activation of a gene or whether it must be turned on or off. They also designed it to target two different genes at once. This will help in producing different and more gene products without the chances of getting uncontrolled behaviors. The development of this new tool will be necessary in designing future gene therapies specifically for complex diseases.

Read full details of the story at:  http://news.stanford.edu/news/2015/january/crispr-control-genes-012615.html.