Improved CRISPR System with Power on Switch for Gene Editing
February 13, 2019 |
CRISPR is one of the power tools used by molecular biologists in gene-editing. However, the system lacks one important part - a switch. If something goes wrong, there's no switch for shutting it down. Thus, scientists from the University of California, Berkeley worked on improving the system.
The researchers used circular permutation and reorganized CRISPR into a programmable tool called ProCas9 which can silently exist within cells until an external factor such as viral infection turns it on. ProCas9 works like an extra layer of security, limiting the editing ability of CRISPR to only a subset of cells to ensure accurate cutting. ProCas9 may also respond to Boolean inputs such as "and" or "not", thus, will only activate when a set of instructions are met. For example, an instruction that says "the cell is infected" leads to a response to "sacrifice the cell", activating CRISPR to cut the genes vital for survival.
Read more from Cell and Berkeley News.
|
Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.
-
See more articles:
-
News from Around the World
- A Comprehensive Review of the Environmental Safety of Bt Crops Now Published
- New Chocolate has Its Own Pro-GMO Label to Promote GMO Farming
- NASA: Tree Planting and Agri in China and India Make Earth Greener
- Experts Call for Urgent Political Support for Agri-biotech in the Philippines
- Genes that Resist White Rust Pathogen Found
- Study Finds Attitudes of the Youth toward GM Food Affected by Family Members
- Rothamsted Research Applies for New Trials of GM Camelina
- COGEM: No Risk in Import and Processing of GM Maize Bt11
-
Research Highlights
- Scientists Report First Genetic Transformation of Einkorn
- Haplotype Analysis of Rice Genes Helps Development of Tailor-made Rice with Improved Genetic Gains
- GMOs Not the Cause of Monarch Butterfly Decline, Study
-
Beyond Crop Biotech
- NRGene and Kayagene Introduce the First Fully-Phased Cannabis Genome
-
Announcements
- International Conference on Industrial Crops
-
Plant
- CRISPR-Cas9 Used for Targeted Disruption of FAD2–2 Microsomal Omega-6 Desaturase in Soybean
- Improved CRISPR System with Power on Switch for Gene Editing
-
Read the latest: - Biotech Updates (October 30, 2024)
- Gene Editing Supplement (October 30, 2024)
- Gene Drive Supplement (February 22, 2023)
-
Subscribe to BU: - Share
- Tweet