05/12/2021
New Gene-Editing Tool Could Rival CRISPR 🧬🔬🧫
A new tool uses segments of bacterial DNA to perform millions of genetic experiments simultaneously. These segments are known as retrons and used to produce fragments of single-stranded DNA. Created by Researchers from the Harvard’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering (), called the (Retron Library Recombineering) RLR technique.
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CRISPR-Cas9 is the primary technique in gene-editing, gives researchers the tools needed to alter DNA sequences. While this technique has a variety of potential applications, including life-saving treatments for various illnesses, CRISPR has its limitations. The Cas9 enzyme, known as “molecular scissors”, which slices segments of DNA, often cuts non-targeted sites and can be toxic to cells. CRISPR-Cas9 are not easily delivered in large quantities, limiting studies and increases experiment time.
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The newly introduced RLR technique proved to be successful in large-scale genetic experiments. Harvard researchers tested RLR on E. coli bacteria to locate antibiotic resistance mutations. Researchers explained how they were able to randomly chop up a bacterial genome, turn genetic fragments into single-stranded DNA in situ and use them to screen millions of sequences simultaneously. By sequencing retron barcodes instead of individually, making the process a lot faster.
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Do you support gene editing in humans or are you against it?
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✍️ Eduardo Cortez ()
📰 Engadget ()
🔸 Mariella Moon (May 2021) “Harvard scientists create gene-editing tool that could rival CRISPR”
# biologist
