News — Molecular Biology RSS

Prime Editing: A Revolution in Gene Editing? The world of gene editing has always been dominated by CRISPR-Cas9, the powerful technology that allows scientists to precisely target and modify DNA sequences. But a new player is emerging, promising even greater precision and versatility: Prime Editing. Developed by David Liu's team at Harvard University, Prime Editing offers a revolutionary approach to gene editing that combines the best of RNA-guided DNA targeting with reverse transcriptase enzymes. This unique combination allows for a wider range of genetic modifications than CRISPR-Cas9, including insertions, deletions, and substitutions without relying on double-stranded breaks. How does Prime Editing work? Prime Editing utilizes a modified enzyme called pegRNA, which consists of two key components: Guide RNA: This component...

Turning the Genetic Volume Up and Down: Exploring Knockout and Knockin Gene Editing The human genome is an intricate tapestry of DNA, coding for every aspect of our being. But what if we could selectively edit this code, tweaking specific genes to understand their function or even correct genetic defects? Enter gene editing techniques like knockout and knockin, powerful tools revolutionizing research and medicine. Knockout: Silencing the Genes Imagine a dimmer switch for genes. That's essentially what knockout technology does. It allows researchers to "switch off" specific genes, effectively silencing their expression. By deleting or disrupting a gene's sequence, scientists can observe the consequences on an organism's development and function. Think of it like removing a single instrument from an...