A new gene therapy approach developed at St.
Jude Children’s Research Hospital has cured infants born with X-linked
severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID-X1), known as “Bubble Boy” disease. The
patients recovered with fully functioning immune systems and started producing immune
cells, including T cells, B cells, and natural killer (NK) cells. The researchers
achieved that by hijacking the HIV virus to replace the mutated gene,
called IL2RG, with a corrected copy.
American twin astronauts provided NASA scientists
with rare data on how long-term spaceflight affects the human body. While one
brother spent a record-setting 340 days in outer space, the other was stranded on Earth. They spent years under a
medical microscope. A comparative study on their genetic profiles showed
differences in length of telomeres and gene expression, which seemed to
diminish slowly over time.
Scientists from Washington University in St. Louis have
found a new method to genetically alter bacteria
and acquire super-strong spider silk. Farming spiders is incredibly inefficient and finding a way to
mass-produce the material would bring us a
step away from a ready supply of incredibly resilient fabrics.
The method could clear the way for the production
of other scarce proteins that could even be used
for future space missions.
Inventing
a product that allows drinkers to enjoy
all the benefits of alcohol and none of its drawbacks was a goal of scientist
David Nutt for over a decade. He developed a synthetic alcohol substitute he
calls Alcarelle, which could eliminate the downsides of alcohol consumption,
from hangovers to alcohol-related cancers
and even physical addiction.
An advisory panel to the World Health Organization (WHO) has called for the creation of a global registry to monitor gene-editing research in humans. The recommendations of the 18-person committee are aimed at improving transparency and responsibility in the field. An advisory committee did not recommend banning human gene-editing research, but researchers will have to register with the government before beginning an experiment.
A person living in the modern world today faces more traumas and ordeals in a day than the entire lifetime of a similar person living a hundred years ago. Humanity has come a long way from inventing the wheel to wireless implants that heal nerves. This rapid development has caused considerable repercussions on mankind’s emotional wellbeing.
New measles outbreaks constantly
appear around the globe and vaccination hesitancy and skepticism is at least in
part to blame. Latest clinical evidence unequivocally denies any link between
autism and the vaccine for measles, mumps, and
rubella, in hopes of mitigating the re-emergence
of potentially fatal diseases.
Researchers from the University of California have modified brewer’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) to manufacture cannabis
compounds including the psychoactive chemical THC in a world’s first. This
technology could soon provide researchers with cheaper, more efficient and
reliable access to medicinal cannabis compounds that are found in trace amounts
in nature.
Scientists from Europe and the U.S. have managed to restore hearing in an adult mouse model. The mice suffered from so-called DFNB9 deafness, a genetic hearing disorder that represents one of the most frequent causes of congenital deafness. These findings could open doors to new gene therapies for other forms of deafness.
Indian researchers are criticizing a government proposal by which graduate
students who publish in select journals
will be paid extra money. Such a practice
could degrade the quality of research and increase scientific misconduct,
critics say. Months-long protests of academics against the proposal have just concluded
in India and new ones are already on the
horizon.
