World’s first human-sheep hybrids pave way for diabetes cure and mass organ transplants
Human-sheep hybrids have been created by scientists for the first time, opening the door to organs being grown inside the farmyard animals for use in transplants or to cure diabetes.
A team at Stanford University successfully grew embryos inside a surrogate for three weeks which had both sheep and human cells.
It is the first stage towards growing an unlimited supply of human organs for transplants and even providing a cure for Type 1 diabetes.…
What is CRISPR gene editing, and how does it work?
by Merlin Crossley | 3 Feb 2018
What is CRISPR gene editing, and how does it work?
You’ve probably read stories about new research using the gene editing technique CRISPR, also called CRISPR/Cas9. The scientific world is captivated by this revolutionary technology, since it is easier, cheaper and more efficient than previous strategies for modifying DNA.
The term CRISPR/Cas9 stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/CRISPR associated protein 9. The names reflect important features …
UK doctors select first women to have “three-person babies”
Two women carrying mutations that cause rare genetic disease to undergo radical therapy
Doctors in Newcastle have been granted permission to create Britain’s first “three-person babies” for two women who are at risk of passing on devastating and incurable genetic diseases to their children.
The green light from the fertility regulator means that doctors at the Newcastle Fertility Centre will now attempt to make healthy embryos for the women by merging fertilised eggs created through …
NCER Open Letter to FDA Committee Regarding Gene Editing
Attn: Michael Berrios
The Committee on Ethical and Social Policy Considerations of Novel Techniques for Prevention of Maternal Transmission of Mitochondrial DNA Diseases
Dear Committee Members:
There are at least five reasons why the Board of Directors of the Nebraska Coalition for Ethical Research recommends that the FDA deny licensure for the use of mitochondrial techniques in U.S. fertility clinics or research laboratories.
- The pronuclear transfer technique of mitochondrial replacement (MR) involves the
Supercharging Stem Cells to Create New Therapies
As seen in Science Daily:July 3, 2015
Source:University of Adelaide
Summary:
A new method for culturing stem cells has been developed, which sees the highly therapeutic cells grow faster and stronger. Stem cell therapy is showing promising signs for transplant patients, and the IL-17 treated stem cells should be even more effective at preventing and treating inflammation in transplant recipients — particularly controlling rejection in transplant patients.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide have discovered …
Gene-Sequence Swap Using CRISPR to Cure Hemophilia
As seen in Science Daily – July 23, 2015
Source: Institute for Basic Science
Summary:
For the first time, chromosomal defects responsible for hemophilia have been corrected in patient-specific iPSCs using CRISPR-Cas9 nucleases. Hemophilia A occurs in about 1 in 5,000 male births and almost half of severe cases are caused by identified “chromosomal inversions.” In a chromosomal inversion, the order of the base pairs on the chromosome are reversed so the gene doesn’t express …
Stem Cell Therapy for Pediatric Stroke:Clinical Trial Launched
as seen in BioInsights
In News by Sarah Freeston
The efficacy of autologous stem cell therapy for children who have been diagnosed as having a prenatal or perinatal stroke is being tested in an FDA-regulated clinical trial, it has been announced. The hope is that the stem cells will help to repair to damage caused by the stroke and ease the often debilitating symptoms.
The launch news came from Cord Blood Registry® (CBR®), the world’s …
NCER states position on use of CRISPR/Cas-9
Nebraska Coalition for Ethical Research encourages the continued use of CRISPR/Cas-9 in animal research and in adult human cell cultures as a means toward it’s eventual safe and efficacious use for the correction of disease genes in adult human beings.
NCER agrees with the calls for a self-imposed moratorium and an international meeting on the use of CRISPR/Cas-9 for germline genetic engineering on human embryos or human germ cells.
However, regardless of the outcome of …
Jun
A guide to CRISPR, the human gene-editing tool that has scientists excited — and terrified
We are now one step closer to designer babies. Using a technique called CRISPR, geneticists in China recently modified the DNA of nonviable human embryos and published the results in the journal Protein & Cell.
Editing the genetic material of human embryos was a first — and the April 18 publication of the results set off a cascade of awe and controversy.
“While these embryos will not be growing up into genetically modified people,” …
NHS to give volunteers ‘synthetic blood’ made in laboratory within two years
as seen in THE INDEPENDENT
- SUNDAY 28 JUNE 2015
The first attempt at giving human volunteers “synthetic blood” made in a laboratory for the first time will take place within the next two years, the NHS has announced.
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