StemCell Therapy

Humans have been able to genetically alter the world around them for thousands of years. With the domestication of dogs at least 14,000 years ago, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been a constant feature of human society; only recently have we gained the ability to perform these modifications at the molecular level.

Even more recently, gene drive technology has fundamentally added the ability of humans to modify wild organisms, not only domesticated organisms. With the ability to make rapid, permanent changes to wild species on the near horizon, we must act now to implement policies that will carefully regulate their use while allowing for vital scientific research to continue.

While GMOs have become fundamental to the farming industry, they always have the same limitation: they must be protected and maintained on farms, in pens, or other human-maintained environments. If released into the wild, GMOs find themselves out-competed by their naturally occurring cousins, since genetic modifications made to suit human tastes (think seedless watermelons) typically have a hard time surviving in the wild. An exception to this rule is the survival of invasive species when introduced into a different environment and have no natural competition in their new habitat.

Gene drive technology now makes it possible for humans to engineer species that are currently and will remain, wild such as the mosquito. Gene drive engineering can create an artificial selective pressure to transmit the gene drive from parent to offspring at a higher rate than would naturally occur.

Eventually, offspring with the gene drive replace the unaltered form of the organism, an overwhelming natural section that would normally favor the unaltered form. This profoundly new capability makes gene drives different from GMOs which are not designed to replace wild organisms and do not have the capability to overtake wild populations if accidentally released.

Because gene drives, as tools for the management and engineering of species in the wild, are intrinsically different from GMOs, it is not adequate to regulate them like other GMOs or rely only upon the framework of existing GMO regulations. We need a series of policy goals to prevent missteps in the deployment of this powerful tool.

It is unlikely that gene drives will see direct use in agricultural crops and animals, despite the agricultural application being the main concern of gene drive opposers. Such cultivated species are already under de facto genetic control by farmers who decide which animals to breed and which seeds are sown. As such, a gene drive in farmed species would be a very expensive and complex way to achieve something already possible through conventional agricultural methods.

It is, however, quite likely that gene drives will soon be used to control malaria, either to suppress malaria-carrying mosquito populations or genetically alter them such that they are unable to transmit malaria to humans. Should this public health application prove to be safe and beneficial, further applications of gene drives may soon follow. Another near-term application could be to control agricultural pest species such as leafhoppers or aphids in order to improve crop yield.

The management of human-influenced species with gene drives presents a potential flashpoint where conflicting economic and environmental interests intersect. We define human-influenced species as those that live and breed wild but are harvested heavily by humans. In other words, humans do not actively alter the environment of these species for agricultural purposes, but human harvesting activities have direct and indirect impacts on their population dynamics. Oceanic fish are an example of human-influenced species. These fish may live and travel across international and national territorial waters, and thus the release of a gene drive in these species would result in significant and competing economic interests. The ability of genes to drive fish to move from jurisdiction to jurisdiction presents a unique problem to international biodiversity protocols.

With the first release of gene drives for malaria control is likely to occur within the next 5-10 years, there is a need for immediate national regulation of gene drives and a need for broad international harmonization of gene drive regulation. While great care has been taken by researchers to safely and ethically advance malaria control gene drive research, explicit regulation is required to mitigate risks from future efforts and to hold all deployable gene drives to appropriate standards.

As we have experienced during COVID-19 with poorly functioning antibody tests, a loose regulatory environment can lead to products entering the market that have not been properly validated. In the case of gene drives, a loose regulatory environment could lead to irreversible damage to wild ecosystems.

The U.S. government should create nationally-mandated tiered registries of gene drive research. Coordinated, nationally-mandated registries would allow for the fast adoption of clear gene drive documentation. In time, the multiple national registries can hopefully be harmonized into a single international registry. These registries should be tiered in such a way that gene drives that are closer to possible deployment must report more detailed information than research projects that are in the exploratory phase.

As projects approach deployment, public transparency and independent review become more important considering the potential for gene drives to radically alter a wild environment. To realize the potential benefits of this technology, we now must act practically, proactively, and carefully to regulate their progress from small-scale research all the way through large-scale deployment.

Michael Montague, Ph.D. is a senior scholar and Amanda Kobokovich, MPH is a senior analyst at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security at the Bloomberg School of Public Health. The authors recently published a report Gene Drives: Pursuing Opportunities, Minimizing Risk.

Go here to read the rest:
Soon we'll be able to engineer the wild, can the policies keep up with the science? | TheHill - The Hill

A team of quantitative biology researchers from Northwestern Engineering and the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences has uncovered new insights into the impact of stochasticity in gene expression, offering new evolutionary clues into organismal design principles in the face of physical constraints.

In cells, genes are expressed through transcription, a process where genetic information encoded in DNA is copied into messenger RNA (mRNA). The mRNA is then translated to make protein molecules, the workhorses of cells. This entire process is subject to bursts of natural stochasticity or randomness which can impact the outcome of biological processes that proteins carry out.

The researchers' new experimental and theoretical analyses studied a collection of genes in Drosophila, a family of fruit flies, and found that gene expression is regulated by the frequency of these transcriptional bursts.

It has been known for almost two decades that protein levels can demonstrate large levels of stochasticity owing to their small numbers, but this has never been empirically demonstrated in multicellular organisms during the course of their development, said Madhav Mani, assistant professor of engineering sciences and applied mathematics at the McCormick School of Engineering. This work for the first time identifies the role of randomness in altering the outcome of a developmental process.

A paper outlining the work, titled The Wg and Dpp Morphogens Regulate Gene Expression by Modulating the Frequency of Transcriptional Bursts, was published in the journal eLife. Mani is a co-corresponding author on the study along with Richard Carthew, professor of molecular biosciences in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. Both are members of Northwesterns NSF-Simons Center for Quantitative Biology, which brings together mathematical scientists and developmental biologists to investigate the biology of animal development.

This study builds upon a recent paper in which the researchers studied the role of stochastic gene expression on sensory pattern formation in Drosophila. By analyzing experimental perturbations of Drosophilas senseless gene against mathematical models, the team determined the sources of the genes stochasticity, and found that the randomness appears to be leveraged in order to accurately determine sensory neuron fates.

The researchers applied that understanding to this latest study using a technique called single molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization (smFISH) to measure nascent and mature mRNA in genes downstream of two key patterning factors, Wg and Dpp, responsible for the organ development of fruit fly wings. In comparing the measurements to their data models, the researchers found that, while each genes pattern of expression is unique, the mechanism by which expression is regulated which the team named burst frequency modulation is the same.

Our results show that proteins levels of randomness are impacted by the physical structure of the genome surrounding the gene of interest by modulating the features of the software that control the levels of gene expression, Mani said. We developed an experimental approach to study a large collection of genes in order to discern overall trends as to how the stochastic software of gene regulation is itself regulated.

The observed patterns of gene regulation, Mani said, works like a stochastic light switch.

Lets say you are quickly flipping a light switch on and off, but you want more brightness out of your bulb. You could either get a brighter bulb that produced more photons per unit time, or you could leave the switch on more than off, Mani said. What we found is that organisms control the amount of gene expression by regulating how often the gene is permitted to switch on, rather than making more mRNAs when it is on.

Carthew, director of the Center for Quantitative Biology, added that this mode of gene expression regulation was observed for multiple genes, which hints at the possibility of a broader biological principle where quantitative control of gene expression leverages the random nature of the process.

From these studies, we are learning rules for how genes can be made more or less noisy, Carthew said. Sometimes cells want to harness the genetic noise the level of variation in gene expression to make randomized decisions. Other times cells want to suppress the noise because it makes cells too variable for the good of the organism. Intrinsic features of a gene can imbue them with more or less noise.

While engineers are excited by the ability to control and manipulate biological systems, Mani said, more fundamental knowledge needs to be discovered.

We only know the tip of the iceberg, Mani said. We are far from a time when basic science is considered complete and all that is left is engineering and design. The natural world is still hiding its deepest mysteries.

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

See the original post:
New Insights Into the Impact of Stochasticity in Gene Expression - Technology Networks

Imagine there was a single method for making just about any product in the worldplastics,food,medicine,data storage devices, evena brain-computer interfaces. Now imagine that this method was faster, cheaper, and more sustainable than conventional manufacturing. Sounds like science fiction, right?

Its not science fiction: itssynthetic biology, a field that uses biology as a manufacturing platform. Using the latest gene-editing techniques, synthetic biology can program yeast and bacteria into tiny cellular factories capable of making an endless range of products. Its also the driving force behindthe $4 trillion bioeconomy, with great promise for building a more sustainable and abundant world.

Compared to sectors like pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals, synthetic biology is relatively young. About 150 companies on Crunchbase describe themselves using the term synthetic biology, although SynBioBeta tracks more than 700 companies in the field. These early adopters either manufacture their own products with synthetic biology or provide synbio tools and technologies to help other companies transform the way they make things.

Early innovators in synthetic biology have had to get creative to grow not just their own businesses, but the industry as a wholeand perhaps few companies have contributed more to the industrys growth than Ginkgo Bioworks.

Ginkgo Bioworks is in a class of companies like Genomatica,Arzeda,Conagen,Zymergen, andAmyrisAMRSthat provides biotech infrastructure and servicesthe back-end of the synthetic biology industry. Rather than produce final products itself, Ginkgo designs and engineers microbes for a wide range of customer needs, from cannabinoid-producing bacteria to yeast that ferment next-generation food proteins.

Inside of Ginkgo Bioworks.

While Ginkgo believes that its microbes could one day produce virtually any physical good, most of Ginkgos would-be customers have relied for decades on traditional petrochemical or agricultural means of production. But Ginkgo isnt waiting for the slow, gradual adoption of synthetic biology by old-world players. Instead, its bringing its biology-based approach to the market by creating its own demand.

Already,Ginkgo has announced three spin-outs and strategic investments:

In February 2019 GinkgolaunchedMotif Foodworks with a $90 million Series A, the largest in food tech history. This spin-out is using microbes to provide next-generation alternative proteins and other ingredients to food companies, showing the holistic view Ginkgo takes in the synthetic biology market. Ginkgo spun out Motif to develop and manufacture animal-free food ingredients, betting that plant-based meats and alternative dairy products would grow into a lucrative market. As part of this spin-out, a servicing agreement positioned Ginkgo as the provider of the microbes that Motif would use to manufacture its products.

Depending on the project, a subsidiary like Motif might have access to Ginkgos platform and technology at no cost. Alternatively, the investment may have dollars specifically earmarked for Ginkgos services, resulting in an immediate, new revenue-paying customer. Regardless of the initial financial arrangement, Ginkgo successfully created both a promising investment and a reliable future customer in one ambitious move.

Joyn Bio is a joint ventureannouncedin March 2018 and funded to the tune of $100 million by agricultural giantBayer, Ginkgo, and Viking Global Investors. The Joyn Bio venture carries technological benefits as well, with 100,000 of Bayers proprietary microbial strains being shared with Gingko. These strains can now be incorporated into Ginkgos internal metagenomics database. Even without explicit IP transfer, Ginkgo gets to flex its technological and commercial muscles in the context of a new industry.

In the pharmaceutical industry, Ginkgo has invested $80 million in its partner Synlogic, which will use Ginkgos cell programming platform to accelerate Synlogics pipeline of living medicines. Both companies believe that the ability to program living cells to sense and respond to treat complex diseases has great potential, possibly transforming the next generation of pharmaceuticals.

We have been working with Ginkgo for over two years now, said Aoife Brennan, Synlogic CEO. We initially started with a pilot project that went so well, we expanded our collaboration.

Brennan says Synlogic has really benefited as a company from working with Ginkgo. Having access to Ginkgos expertise and foundry services has allowed us to initiate more projects and to make sure that we are moving the best synthetic biotics into further development.

Brennan says that Ginkgo is not just a good collaborator, it also shares her companys values. Both of our companies share a passion for synthetic biology and making a positive impact on the world.

As Ginkgo seeks to attract customers in new markets, spin-outs and investments like Motif, Joyn Bio, and Synlogic demonstrate to other big players how synthetic biology is going to disrupt industries like food, agriculture, and pharmaand how synthetic biology can be used to transform their own businesses.

With this business model successfully piloted, Ginkgo has begun building a pipeline of promising biotech start-ups poised to be users of its microbial design platform. Partnering with start-up incubatorsY CombinatorandPetri, Ginkgo offers select start-ups access to its services in exchange for equity. The start-ups benefit from access to a technology stack that can save them large amounts of capital and time that would otherwise be sunk into building their own microbial design infrastructure.

Ginkgo Bioworks was the first life sciences company YC funded, back in 2014, Y Combinator partner Jared Friedman told me. We believed early on that what they were building would help power the next generation of synbio startups, and its been impressive to see them execute on that mission.

Friedman says that Ginkgo is making it cheaper and easier for new companies to get started by providing them with a platform that makes engineering biology easier.

We have a shared vision for the future, one in which bio startups are as easy to start as software startups, where founders dont have to spend years and millions of dollars booting up a genetic engineering lab, said Friedman. Were proud to be part of Ginkgos continuing work to make this the standard.

Further enhancing this early pipeline of start-ups which rely on Ginkgos platform, the company recentlyannouncedthe creation of a $350 million Ferment Fund. The Ferment Fund will spin out additional companies into promising markets identified by the Ginkgo team. Not only do these investments provide Ginkgo with a stake in promising biotech firms, but they also enable Ginkgo to support the growth of a synbio ecosystem reliant on its platform.

In a demonstration of the flexibility of the companys technology platform, as well as its commitment to help in the fight against the coronavirus, Ginkgo recently took several actions to help scale the research communitys response to the pandemic.

Ginkgo announcedConcentric, a program to offer COVID-19 testing at scale to support schools and businesses in their reopening strategies. Concentric can provide end-to-end, on-site testing services for organizations that seek to make testing available to their communities.

Testing is essential for understanding and stopping the spread of the virus, Ginkgo said in anop/ed. By repurposing its next-generation sequencing capacity to rapidly scale testing, Ginkgo hopes to turn the tide.

In March, Ginkgopledged$25 million of its research and development resources to help researchers battling the coronavirus. Ginkgo has used its DNA synthesis capabilities to make the viruss sequences freely available for use in R&D for diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines. Ginkgo also is a part of aBerkeley Lightsconsortium for antibody discovery and testing, helping to scale up infrastructure for antibody lead optimization.

As synthetic biology start-ups grow, they will continue to lean on Ginkgos platform for microbial design, since developing in-house capabilities will appear increasingly redundant with each successful Ginkgo collaboration. In this way, Ginkgo will have created a robust ecosystem of companies modeled after its own Motif Foodworks, full of start-ups that excel at developing and biomanufacturing final products while they outsource their microbial design to the Ginkgo Bioworks mothership.

Follow me on Twitter at@johncumbersand@synbiobeta. Subscribe to my weekly newsletters onsynthetic biology. Thank you toMatthew Kirshnerfor additional research and reporting in this article. Im the founder ofSynBioBeta, and some of the companies that I write aboutincluding Ginkgo Bioworksare sponsors of theSynBioBeta conferenceandweekly digestheres the full list of SynBioBeta sponsors.

Read the original:
If Biology Can Build It, They Will Come: Ginkgo Bioworks Is Laying The Foundation For The $4 Trillion Bioeconomy - SynBioBeta

By: Education Desk | New Delhi | Updated: July 2, 2020 2:25:48 pm Panjab University admissions 2020: Apply at admissions.puchd.ac.in till August 8

Panjab University admissions 2020: The Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh has invited applications for admission to various UG/ PG courses for the academic session 2020-21. The interested candidates should apply online by August 8, 2020. The online window to apply for various varsity courses will be operational from July 8.

The weblink for filling of online admission for undergraduate/ certificate courses is ugadmissions.puchd.ac.in and for postgraduate/ diploma/ advance diploma/ postgraduate diploma courses is onlineadmissions.puchd.ac.in, read the varsity release.

READ | Heres what to expect from UGCs new guidelines

The candidates will have to appear in the entrance exam to secure a seat in their desired courses. The dates of the entrance exam will be announced later.

Eligibility: The candidates with a minimum of 50 per cent marks in the Bachelors programme can apply for the entrance examination. For category-wise minimum marks requirement, please check the official notification.

Age limit: There is no prescribed age limit for the UG, PG courses. For details, please check the official notification.

PU-CET: Check paper pattern

The dates of entrance exam will be announced soon. Candidates will have to answer 75 multiple choice-based questions within the duration of 1.5 hours. Each question will be of one mark each. For every wrong answer, 0.4 marks will be deducted.

Syllabus

MA Punjabi: Punjabi culture and literature, advanced Punjabi conversation, Punjabi dramas and plays, modern age Punjabi poets, culture and heritage, literature, fair and festivals, Punjabi language, grammar and Gurmukhi

MSc Mathematics: An MCQ-based test with 100 questions each for two hours duration will be conducted wherein candidates will be assessed on mathematical skills, mathematics education, general English language, reasoning and mental ability, and general awareness.

Read |As colleges prep to reopen, some campuses to act as isolated spaces, many to offer COVID scholarships

MSc Biochemistry: The syllabus includes essential molecules of life, proteins and enzymes, metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids and nucleotides, cell biology, membrane Biology and Bioenergetics Human Physiology and Hormones, gene organisation, replication, DNA repair, transcription and gene expression, concepts in genetics, genetic engineering and biotechnology, and immunology

MA Hindi: Students will be asses on the basis of their knowledge of Hindi literature. Questions will be asked from Hindi language and culture heritage, literature, and modes and concepts of the language.

The admission form will be charged between Rs 300 to 600 as per courses. Meanwhile, the candidates seeking admission in the sports category shall along with admission form submit the certificate/ documents in the office of Campus Sports, PU.

The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines

For all the latest Education News, download Indian Express App.

IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd

See the original post:
Panjab University commences UG/ PG admissions: Know how to apply - The Indian Express

Kiik said: "We met with Martin Kadai on Tuesday for an hour and a half and we spoke on a lot of topics. During the conversation he informed me that he had previously written a letter of resignation and was strongly considering it."

The social minister added he asked Kadai to reconsider his decision and he would have liked to see the head of the Emergency Medicine Department continue but Kadai stayed true to his decision.

Kiik expressed hope Kadai will find employment in the Estonian health care sector because he has made significant contributions to it over the last three years.

Kadai's last working day will be July 5.

Although Kadai did not directly state the reason for leaving, it is related to the recent events in the office, which also removed the head of the Health Board Merike Jrilo.

Jriloannounced her resignationon June 18 saying she was disappointed by comments made by social minister Tanel Kiik todaily newspaper Postimees(link in Estonian), referring to a lack of trust between the board and the government, as the reason for her resignation.

Answering a question on whether Kadai has another position lined up and if it could be the Ministry of Social Affairs, Kiik said: "Not to my knowledge."

Mari-Anne Hrma appointed acting director general of Health Board

Mari-Anne Hrma, head of the infectious disease monitoring and epidemic control department at the Estonian Health Board, is to become the Health Board's acting director general from Thursday.

Minister of Social Affairs Tanel Kiik said: "Mari-Anne Hrma has been participating in the work of the Health Board's crisis headquarters since the start of the coronavirus crisis, she has a good overview of the Health Board's objectives and operations and she is well informed about the entire health care system.

"Additionally, Hrma also has a strong professional background and the relevant expert knowledge of the health care field. I wish her strength in taking on this role of great responsibility during this critical time when then spread of the coronavirus has decelerated for the summer period, however, work at detecting new infections must continue and preparations need to be carried out for a possible new wave."

Hrma said: "Looking at statistics on the spread of the virus, we're currently in a more relaxed period; however, the Health Board is keeping a close eye on both domestic as well as foreign epidemiological developments.

"I deem it important that my crisis-weary colleagues be able to properly rest and recover this summer, which has also been made possible by the present situation. At the same time, we are making preparations together with the ministry and other agencies for the possibility of the coronavirus starting to spread more widely now that many states are relaxing their restrictions."

Hrma holds a master's degree in genetic engineering from the University of Tartu and is currently pursuing a doctorate in biomedicine at the University of Helsinki.

Hrma, who began work in her current position at the Health board in January 2020, is a member of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Finnish Diabetes Research Foundation, editor for the journal Clinical and Translational Allergy and member of the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes.

The new director general of the Health Board will be appointed by the Government Office's civil service committee for selection of top managers. Harma has been named acting director general of the Health Board until a new director general is appointed to office.

--

Download the ERR News app for Android and iOS now and never miss an update!

Read more from the original source:
Kiik: I would have liked for Kadai to continue at Health Board - ERR News

Behaviour is satellite responses to its environment generated by our social brain the system which we consider as mind. Mind endeavour over persuasion on which behaviour develops. Our characters are responses of some hormones produce in the cell of different gland. The shift in concentration of hormones leads to change in character.

This article reviews various effects of hormones on our physiological status and hence behavioural responses. All the body hormones produced by body cell are actually controlled and managed by the genes present in the cell. As the brain (hypothalamus) sense any character or any situation it sends the response to various hormone glands and the glands synthesis the protein as per the command of active gene.

Depending upon the circumstances behavioural response shifts vary wisely. As the behaviour is controlled by the hormones, the genes which are modulating hormones synthesis must be switching off and on as per response from brain. Specific hormone for the specific task of behaviour is produced under the command of brain. We have tried to establish a relationship between behaviour and genes so that a new study should carry out in the motive to control the gene activity by the mode of behaviour psychology. The word Acharangenetics can be used to express the relation of behaviour psychology and genes. The wordAcharangeneticsis a compound word, form by combination of two words Acharan Hindi origin word meaning behaviour and the second word is genetics the study of heredity.

The strength of any construction is understood by its pillars which are multidisciplinary in nature. To hold its existence one has to focus on its sub fundamental phenomenon, that is, behaviour. According to psychology, behaviour comprises of satellite responses to its environment generated by our social brain (Frith, C. D., 2007) the system which we consider as mind. The conscious exercise of faculty and thought are considered very important for development of mind. Mind endeavour over persuasion on which behaviour develops. Psychological practice is very commonly performed by psychologist in order to provide counselling to a person living life with some non-productive state of mind (Strong et al., 1992).

Hence, counselling can help a person to generate positive psychology, and stabilize the social life of a person with any social psychological disturbance (Harris et al., 2007). Our characters are responses of some hormones produce in the cell of different gland. The shift in concentration of hormones leads to change in character. This article reviews various effects of hormones on our physiological status and hence behavioural responses. Body hormones produced by body cell are actually controlled and managed by the genes present in the cell. As the brain (hypothalamus) sense any character or any situation it sends the response to various hormone glands (Knobil, et al., 1980; Schally, et al., 1973) and the glands synthesis the protein as per the command of active gene.

Depending upon the circumstances behavioural response shifts vary wisely. As the behaviour is controlled by the hormones, the genes which are modulating hormones synthesis must be switching off and on as per response from brain. Specific hormone for the specific task of behaviour is producd as per program under the command of brain. We have tried to establish a relationship between behaviour and genes so that a new study should carry out in the motive to control the gene activity by the mode of behaviour psychology.

Counselling psychology is very much practice in the field of academic, in the field of sports for motivating sportsman and for helping the one who is trying to come back after injury (Webster et al., 2008) or in the area of medical for strengthening the depress state of the patients suffering from chronic diseases like cancer (Watson et al.,1988; Sheard, T., & Maguire, P., 1999), diabetes (Snoek et al., 2002) or in any chronic diseases (Karademas et al., 2009) that has harassed the health as well as the mental stability of patients. Moreover, it is widely used in people who are handling life defeat mentality (Silbert et al., 1991). They are found to be very much effective in uplifting the level of psyche.

In psychology, human nature and motivation have been discussed very extensively. Freud believed that behind every human activity there is the instinctual drive that works as a motivating factor that bring upon types of human behaviour. Psychology is a science of behaviour that is observable. It also means an objective science that depends on the experimental and observable data. All human action and behaviour are the outcome of the physiological and neurological reaction in the human body. This fact also reveals that human behaviours are nothing more than the way man responses to stimuli that come from the environment.

Behaviourists accept determinism in their version of psychology. They deem that every human response can be predicted in relation to the type of stimulus that triggers mans responses. Some of our motives to act are biological, while others have personal and social origins. We are motivated to seek food, water, and sex, but our behaviour is also influenced by social approval, acceptance, the need to achieve, and the motivation to take or to avoid risks, to name a few (Morsella, Bargh, & Gollwitzer, 2009).

Furthermore, during motivation our body gene regulation work on activation of genes that is good in handling stress. And there are some genes that are responsible for the production of dopamine a motivation molecule, that provides the drive and focus you need to accomplish your tasks in the most productive way. This hormone is primarily involved with the attention span, focus and motivation. It is a neurohormone that is released by the hypothalamus. Lack of dopamine in the body is associated with symptoms like fatigue, lack of focus, difficulty in concentrating, forgetfulness, insomnia and lack of motivation.

When dopamine isnt regulated properly, it can contribute to a dysfunctional pursuit of good feelings, such as occurs in addictions, or lead to a hyperactive state like Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). These conditions are generally associated with an increased risk of early death, rather than longevity, but the latest study suggests that risk genes for certain problems in some environments may be beneficial in other situations.

In humans, dopamine neurotransmission is influenced by functional polymorphisms in the dopamine transporter (DAT-1) and catechol-Omethyl transferase (COMT) genes. The COMT and DAT-1 genes was found in the ventral striatum and lateral prefrontal cortex during reward anticipation and in thelateral prefrontal and orbitofrontal cortices as well as in the mid-brain at the time of reward delivery, with carriers of the DAT-1-9 repeat allele and COMT met/met allele exhibiting the highest activation, presumably reflecting functional change consequent to higher synaptic dopamine availability.

The origin of motivation can be felt as either internal as push motivation or external as pull motivation. Push motivation is depicted in terms of biological variables arising in a persons nervous system and mind psychological variables that represent attributes of a persons mind, such as psychological needs. A person has the capability to channelize its motivation and stress hormones concentration by the mode of imagination. And if a person thought is responsible for its hormone concentration, then the person thought or imagination may affect an individual gene regulation. And this gene regulation is a background of push motivation.

Pull motivation is understood in terms of environmental variables that describe external sources of motivation, like incentives or goals. Our internal sources of motivation interact with external sources to direct behaviour (Deckers, 2014). Moreover, it may happen that this external effort implants an idea in a person which allows creating a thought process rising to an imagination.

Furthermore, this imagination leads to affect the body serum metabolite concentration and signalling metabolite modulates the process of gene regulation and gene expression. Hence, it will lead to regulation to the activity of stress handling and risk handling genes (Yashin, et al., 2012). And this leads to the production of hormones such as dopamine, oxytocinetc that are responsible to manage the level of external motivation or push motivation. This system can be observed in the field of extensive sports like boxing and rugby, where coach try to motivate the energy and skills of the player by mentoring with either using sound modulation or by some moral thought related to winning or losing.

Our evolutionary history also explains aspects of motivated behaviour, and our individual personal histories shed light on how our lifelong experiences shape our motives and determine the utility of goals and incentives.

Physiological needs like hunger, thirst, sex or some desire on the basis needs are also the biological beginnings that eventually manifest themselves as a psychological drive in a persons subjective awareness. These biological events become psychological motives. It is important to distinguish the physiological need from the psychological drive it creates because only the later has motivational properties.

The drive theory of motivation tells us that physiological needs originate in our bodies. As our physiological system attempts to maintain health, it registers in our brain a psychological drive to satisfy a physiological craving and motivates us to bring the system from deficiency toward homeostasis (Reeve, 2018). Likewise, the person who motivates themselves for the personal fitness must be channelizing their serum hormones effect. This desire might be helping them to initiate a program of self-caring; a necessity in order to keep up with personal health. As people are not under control for good diet or healthy life style; personal motivation is necessary. The biological need turns into a psychological motive when the drive to satisfy it interferes with our normal functioning by increasing tension until the need is satisfied.

Behavioural feature in relation to social interaction has performed wonders in the field of medical science. Some aspects are visible through the lenses of science but some are the trades of invisible energy. Placebo effect is among that invisible behavioural energy which has stuns the eyes of many thinkers. As per the Stimulus substitution models posit that placebo responses are due to pairings of conditional and unconditional stimuli (Montgomery et al., 1997). This Condition is either created by people or may be a natural place. The placebo effect has a very vital consequence on the synthesis of metabolites in body and in functioning of hormonal glands. Placebo effect gives rise in endorphin release (Levine et al., 1978) and drop down the symptoms of anxiety (Sternbach et al., 1968.), classical conditioning (Wickramasekera et al., 1980), and response expectancy (Kirsch, et al., 1985; Kirsch et al., 1990.).

However, Montgomery and Kirsch (1996) described data that are hard to reconcile with the hypothesis that placebo responses are mediated by such global mechanisms as anxiety reduction or the release of endogenous opioids. It has been found that it can be used as a local anaesthetic.

Genetics states that, what we express as a character, whether its behaviour or phenotype it is just a pre-programmed stimulus of genes on its switching circumstances. And the circumstances could be behavioural or environmental. The change may arise sooner or later, depends on the degree of gene regulation.

On the other hand, the arising of any action or the way someone conduct them self in response to others action is judge during psychological practice. It has been observed that the change in mood, action and development of thought triggers the secretion of different metabolite, by different gland present in different parts of brain and body. The effect of any action could be seen all over the body, such as; at the time of anger the whole body share the heat arise from anger; at the stage of happiness we can feel comfort and energetic and at the stage of meditation we can feel peace. These kicks off of anger can take place by others behavioural activity but its onset initiates the production of adrenaline and noradrenaline cortisol, which anger are causing hormones. Similarly, the state of happiness is the result of production of endorphins, dopamine and serotonin. Likewise, the action of meditation kicks off the production of all good hormones required by the body to be at peace.

The effect of these hormones on whole body can only be seen if these hormones are well distributed in the body cell. Whenever any hormone enters into cell it creates a signalling response which moves from cell cytoplasm to the nucleus. And nucleus is the place where the key genetic material which codes for the behaviour of cell the structural unit of organism.

Psychology and metabolism are mutually related to each other. Any change in psych will trigger the synthesis of different hormones or metabolite or its responsible for the alteration in concentration of metabolite or hormones. And in normal condition of outer environment, social environment and diet intake, the physiological status of a person is found to be normal. Hence, the metabolite concentration is also balanced. As soon as there is any change in the environment (social/environmental) of a person, metabolite and hormonal response changes. Hence there are vital changes in person behaviour or in its health status. There is certain situation where organism has to behave against their natural character. This situation is either created by the social environment or unpredictably. Table 1 listed some of the real life situation and various responses of body metabolism

Moreover, there are situation which are either created or present naturally and are responsible for generating some rare characters in organism. As in a situation for survival some people develop very high spirit to stay alive and start working against their nature. They are found to handle stress condition with an attitude of solving it and bring out anything good as per the things available. This can be the situation of specific activation of stress handling genes by the mode of gene regulation (Yashin, et al., 2012). This regulation tends to modulate behaviour in an organism as presented in Table 2. Hence, such people are found to be having great surviving skills and a behaviour of handling tough situation.

The character whichis in phenotype form or specific social behaviour is actually a command program of the genes present in our DNA. The happening of any behaviour and expression is basically the activity of genes. Hence, learning, expression or behaving could be on and off of genes activity. This on and off of genes is understand by the terminology of gene regulationLikewise, the metabolite or hormones are actually functional protein which produces bytaking the referencefrom the coded information, by various genes in DNA of an organism. Furthermore, the behaviour of person is more likely influenced by the metabolite and hormones. Hencehuman behaviour is more likely to be as concentration of different biochemical or its just based on switching on or switching off of different genes responsible for different character which are control by production of functional protein. Hence, whenever there is activation of any gene there is activation of a specific function which contributes in any biochemical reaction throughout the body. There arenumerous biochemical reactions going on in the bodyeachactually channelize by the metabolic protein produce by the activation of genes of an organism. Apparently, the origin of basic behaviour characteris trigger by genes e.g.in infant we can observe some facial expression and actionInfants are not taught about behaviour, some of them are basically inherited by birthwhich are trigger by genes.

Moreover,if any human psychological disorder generated either by environmental or social stress are responsible for the alteration of functional protein such as hormones and metabolites. Functional protein is only produce by the activation of genes. In a nutshell genes are responsible for behaviour psychology butbehaviour psychology also holds the capacity to influence the activity of genes. Therefore, behaviour psychology at its best possible organised way may have the efficiency to govern and channelizes the activity of genes. Hence, after recognising the complete relation between psychology and genes by the connection of metabolism we can elaborate new area of study either in the field of genetic engineering or in the field of behaviour psychology.Acharangenetics(Acharan + genetics) word can be used to express the relation of behaviour psychology and genes. The wordAcharangeneticsis a compound word, form by combination of two words Acharan a Hindi origin word meaning behaviour and the second word is genetics which is the study of heredity.

Research Questions: The research questions are:

> Can we effect gene regulation by the mode of behaviour psychology?

> Can we use behaviour psychology as a genetic regulation tool?

> As genes activation affect the behaviour and create a person personality characters, can it happen that moulding someones character results in gene regulation?

Answers to the Question

The behaviour of a person is the expression of genes. The change in behaviour by the action of word may generate such hormones which leads to the expression of different genes in the individual which codes for such protein that either alter or generate new character in an individual. Hence, the transformation of human behaviour from a child to a mature person could be response of expression of genes by certain behavioural activities. A talk between two people regarding certain mutual adjustment in behaviour could be another example of gene expression of desired characters by using concept of mutual understanding of requirements. Hence, psychology can be used as a tool for expression of specific genetic traits. If social interaction and genes both affect metabolism, then they might be interacting each other. Metabolic pathway is a connective link in many biological processes therefore; it may happen that there might be a relation between genetics and behavioural psychology. If behaviour psychology can affect genes activity, then we can use it as a tool for expression of specific genetic traits. Any effect to a person during social interaction create certain level of change in its hormones or functional protein concentration lifting the mood or results in stress conditions.

*About the authors: Rajan Keshri, Harpreet Kaur and Dr Gursharan Singh Kainth, Guru Arjan Dev Institute of Development Studies

REFERENCES

Table 1: Hormone Impact on Behaviour and Body at Different Stress Situation.

Table 2: Some Examples of Hormones and Their Effects on Human Body and Behaviour.

Read the rest here:
Acharangenetics: Behavior Psychology As Gene Regulation Tool - Analysis - Eurasia Review

Peers are preparing plans to legalise the gene-editing of crops in England, a move that scientists say would offer the nation a chance to develop and grow hardier, more nutritious varieties. The legislation would also open the door to gene-editing of animals.

The change will be proposed when the current Agriculture Bill reaches its committee stages in the House of Lords next month, and is supported by a wide number of peers who believe such a move is long overdue. At present, the practice is highly restricted by EU regulations.

The plan would involve introducing an amendment to the bill to give the secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs the power to make changes to the Environmental Protection Act, alterations that would no longer restrict gene-editing in England. The rest of the UK would need separate legislation.

Gene-editing of plants and animals is controlled by the same strict European laws that govern genetically modified (GM) organisms. However, scientists say gene-editing is cheaper, faster, simpler, safer and more precise than GM technology.

As they point out, GM technology involves the transfer of entire genes or groups of genes from one species to another while the more recently developed techniques of gene-editing merely involve making slight changes to existing genes in a plant or animal and are considered to be just as safe as traditional plant breeding techniques.

Early benefits for UK agriculture could include gluten-free wheat, disease-resistant sugar beet and potatoes that are even healthier than those that we have now, said plant scientist Professor David Baulcombe of Cambridge University.

This enthusiasm is also shared by peers who have argued that the wide use of gene editing of crops could give the nation a key advantage in agriculture and in the food industry after Brexit.

Peers have argued gene editing could give the nation a key advantage after Brexit

I would like [to send] a clear message in this bill that we will move forward to allow gene editing in our research programmes, said Lord Cameron during last weeks reading of the bill. This is a way of speeding up the natural methods of farm breeding to ensure that we can improve the environmental and nutritional outcomes of feeding our ever-expanding human population.

And there was clear evidence that the government would also be sympathetic to such a move. On gene editing, the government agrees that the EU approach is unscientific, said Lord Gardiner, who was responding for the government.

By freeing gene-editing from the expensive restrictions imposed by the EU on the growing of GM plants it will also be possible for small and medium-sized enterprises to set up new projects, say supporters.

At present only major corporations can pay the costs of the rigorous trials required when growing GM plants. We are looking for a brighter, greener, more innovative future, and this bill helps farmers produce that, said Conservative peer Lord Dobbs last week.

Read more here:
Lords seek to allow gene-editing in UK 'to produce healthy, hardier crops' - The Guardian

Research report on global Genetic Engineering market 2020 with industry primary research, secondary research, product research, size, trends and Forecast.

The report presents a highly comprehensive and accurate research study on the globalGenetic Engineering market. It offers PESTLE analysis, qualitative and quantitative analysis, Porters Five Forces analysis, and absolute dollar opportunity analysis to help players improve their business strategies. It also sheds light on critical Genetic Engineering Marketdynamics such as trends and opportunities, drivers, restraints, and challenges to help market participants stay informed and cement a strong position in the industry. With competitive landscape analysis, the authors of the report have made a brilliant attempt to help readers understand important business tactics that leading companies use to maintainGenetic Engineering market sustainability.

Download Premium Sample Copy Of This Report:Download FREE Sample PDF!

Global Genetic Engineering Market to reach USD XX billion by 2025.

Global Genetic Engineering Market valued approximately USD XX billion in 2017 is anticipated to grow with a healthy growth rate of more than XX% over the forecast period 2018-2025. The major driving factor of global Genetic Engineering market are surging utility of technologies such as CRISPR, Talen & ZNF and rising focus on innovation in Gene Therapy in Genetic Engineering. In addition, increasing funding for research and development of medical products is the some other driving factor that drives the market. However, one of the major restraining factors of Genetic Engineering market is high amount of investment. Genetic engineering is also known as genetic modification or genetic manipulation. It is the direct manipulation of an organisms genes using biotechnology. It is a set of technologies used to change the genetic makeup of cells, including the transfer of genes within and across species boundaries to produce improved or novel organisms. Genetic engineering allows of plant or animals to be modified so their maturity can occur at a quicker pace. Genetic modification can also help to create resistance to common forms of forms of organism death. Genetic engineering can also change the traits of plants or animals so that they produce greater yield per plant. Any genetic mutation caused by environmental mutagens may also be corrected through genetic engineering.

The regional analysis of Global Genetic Engineering Market is considered for the key regions such as Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America and Rest of the World. North America has dominate the market of total generating revenue with 40% across the globe in 2016 due to increasing use of genetic engineering for use of gene therapy, high incidence of cancer and increasing awareness for the use of stem cells. Europe is also contributing second largest major share in the global market of Genetic Engineering. Asia-Pacific region is also anticipated to exhibit higher growth rate / CAGR over the over the coming years due to presence of developing countries, companies grabbing these opportunities and extracting their presence in the region. The Middle East and Africa holds the least share in global genetic engineering market owing to limited availability of medicine facilities.

The major market player included in this report are:

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

Merck KGAA

Horizon Discovery Group Plc

Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals Inc.

New England Biolabs

Genscript Biotech Corporation

Lonza Group Ltd.

Origene Technologies Inc.

Integrated DNA Technologies Inc.

Amgen Inc.

The objective of the study is to define market sizes of different segments & countries in recent years and to forecast the values to the coming eight years. The report is designed to incorporate both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the industry within each of the regions and countries involved in the study. Furthermore, the report also caters the detailed information about the crucial aspects such as driving factors & challenges which will define the future growth of the market. Additionally, the report shall also incorporate available opportunities in micro markets for stakeholders to invest along with the detailed analysis of competitive landscape and product offerings of key players. The detailed segments and sub-segment of the market are explained below:

By Devices:

oPCR

oGene Gun

oGel Assemblies

oOthers

By Techniques:

oArtificial Selection

oGene Splicing

oCloning

oOthers

By End-User:

oResearch Institutes

oAcademic Institutes

oPharmaceutical Industries

oOthers

By Application:

oAgriculture

oMedical Industry

oForensic Science

oOthers

By Regions:

oNorth America

oU.S.

oCanada

oEurope

oUK

oGermany

oAsia Pacific

oChina

oIndia

oJapan

oLatin America

oBrazil

oMexico

oRest of the World

Furthermore, years considered for the study are as follows:

Historical year 2015, 2016

Base year 2017

Forecast period 2018 to 2025

Target Audience of the Global Genetic Engineering Market in Market Study:

oKey Consulting Companies & Advisors

oLarge, medium-sized, and small enterprises

oVenture capitalists

oValue-Added Resellers (VARs)

oThird-party knowledge providers

oInvestment bankers

oInvestors

Have Any Query Or Specific Requirement?Ask Our Industry Experts!

Table of Contents:

Study Coverage:It includes study objectives, years considered for the research study, growth rate and Genetic Engineering market size of type and application segments, key manufacturers covered, product scope, and highlights of segmental analysis.

Executive Summary:In this section, the report focuses on analysis of macroscopic indicators, market issues, drivers, and trends, competitive landscape, CAGR of the global Genetic Engineering market, and global production. Under the global production chapter, the authors of the report have included market pricing and trends, global capacity, global production, and global revenue forecasts.

Genetic Engineering Market Size by Manufacturer: Here, the report concentrates on revenue and production shares of manufacturers for all the years of the forecast period. It also focuses on price by manufacturer and expansion plans and mergers and acquisitions of companies.

Production by Region:It shows how the revenue and production in the global market are distributed among different regions. Each regional market is extensively studied here on the basis of import and export, key players, revenue, and production.

About Us:

We publish market research reports & business insights produced by highly qualified and experienced industry analysts. Our research reports are available in a wide range of industry verticals including aviation, food & beverage, healthcare, ICT, Construction, Chemicals and lot more. Brand Essence Market Research report will be best fit for senior executives, business development managers, marketing managers, consultants, CEOs, CIOs, COOs, and Directors, governments, agencies, organizations and Ph.D. Students.

Top Trending Reports:

https://brandessenceresearch.com/healthcare/radiotherapy-market-global-size

https://brandessenceresearch.com/technology-and-media/lease-accounting-software-market

Top Trending Reports:

https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/europe-composite-materials-market-global-industry-analysis-and-opportunity-assessment-2020-2025-2020-06-15?tesla=y

https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/europe-composite-materials-market-global-industry-analysis-and-opportunity-assessment-2020-2025-2020-06-15?tesla=y

https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/europe-composite-materials-market-global-industry-analysis-and-opportunity-assessment-2020-2025-2020-06-15?tesla=y

https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/europe-lipid-nutrition-market-size-growth-opportunity-and-forecast-to-2025-2020-06-09

Continued here:
2025 Projection: Genetic Engineering Market Strategies and Insight Driven Transformation 2020-2025 - Owned

Swiss men have targeted an ideal lifespan of 108.5 years, while women are content with an average of 93.4 years of life. A survey of 2,000 people by the health insurer Sanitas found that many people are making changes to their lifestyle to secure a longer life.

swissinfo.ch/mga

Two thirds of respondents said they are physically active and eat healthy food while more than half refrain from smoking and a fifth abstain from alcohol.

The Health Forecast survey, which aims to come out annually, found that 40% of people currently use an app to monitor their health. More than a quarter of respondents would employ blood and DNA tests to determine optimal nutritional supplements and other tailor-made fitness measures.

Young men, in the 18-29 age range, appear keener than anyone else to actively boost their health and fitness levels. A third of male respondents in this age group (compared to 20% of all ages and genders) would consider biohacking a buzzword that involves enhancing health via diet, exercise, wearables and sometimes implants, such a microchips, or genetic engineering.

Only half as many women in this age group said they would be prepared to go to such lengths.

The survey also reveals more detail on attitudes to genetic science. Some 58% support gene therapy to treat cancer, 54% are in favour of gene diagnostics to diagnose hereditary diseases and 44% welcome prenatal screenings.

But three-quarters of respondents said this science should stop short of active intervention by altering genes or producing clones.

View original post here:
Swiss men aspire to live to 108.5 years old - swissinfo.ch

Our relationship to Neanderthals has been a point of contention for over a century. It all began with an inaccurate reconstruction of the first Neanderthal ever found, which portrayed them as brutish, stooped-over cavemen (turns out, that Neanderthal was an injured old man with arthritis).

But within the last half century, scientists have noticed the many biological and behavioral similarities that show just how close our species are. While these similarities are clear from hard objects like bones and tools, perishable objects, which comprise the majority of material culture items in humans, have been lacking.

Now, scientists have discovered a Neanderthal feat that hammers another nail in the coffin of supposed Neanderthal inferiority. Last month, an international team of researchers found a small section of a twisted cord attached to a stone flake in Neanderthal site in southeastern France, dated to over 40,000 years old. This constitutes the oldest direct evidence of fiber technology ever found.

A stone flake with three distinct twisted fibers preserved (indicated by the box).

M.-H. Moncel

When artifacts are recovered from archaeological sites, they are generally imaged using high powered microscopes to zoom in on tiny marks and details on the stones. Previously, plant fibers had been found on stones at this site, but they were too poorly preserved to be interpreted. When the team examined this particular flake, they were surprised to find three distinct twisted fibers, which were then twisted together in the opposite direction to form a 3-ply cord.

While it may not sound like much, this piece of string hints at something much more significant. For one, extracting and manipulating plant fibers requires working memory, as well as understanding plant seasonality and the concept of numbers. Also, such cords are the building blocks for creating other textiles, such as baskets, fabrics, and nets. Once adopted, these objects would have been indispensable in daily life.

This little piece of string provides unprecedented insight into the lives of our extinct relatives, which, despite an abundance of genetic, archaeological, and skeletal data, have been extremely difficult to interpret. It seems as though we humans arent as unique as we like to think.

Read the rest here:
Mosquitoes can be genetically engineered to be resistant to malaria - Massive Science

Robb Fraley. Credit: Robert Holly/Big-AgWatch.org

On the five-year anniversary of the Talking Biotech podcast, host and plant geneticist Kevin Folta sits down with former Monsanto chief technology officer Robb Fraley. After growing up on a small farm in Illinois, Fraley earned degrees in microbiology and biotechemistry and played a pivitol role in the development of the first genetically modified crops in the early 1980s.

He recalls the race to transform plants and his work as a leader at Monsanto. While the company did important work to advance crop biotechnology, Fraley says, Monsanto made little effort to explain genetic engineering to food companies, the media and consumers and was thus unprepared for the backlash against GMOs in the 1990s.

It wasnt until many years later that the biotech firm made a concerted effort to join the public discussion about crop biotech. Fraley says this experience transformed his thinking about science communication and his vision for how to talk about the future of food and farming.

Robb Fraley is the former Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Monsanto Company. He holds a PhD in microbiology and biochemistry from the University of Illinois. Follow him on Twitter @RobbFraley

Kevin M. Folta is a professor in the Horticultural Sciences Department at the University of Florida. Follow Professor Folta on Twitter @kevinfolta

Read more:
Podcast: Where did GMOs come from? Former Monsanto scientist Robb Fraley recounts the advent of biotech crops - Genetic Literacy Project

In the School of Chemical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Georgia (UGA), biochemical engineering research is driven by innovators in their own right.

Among them is Dr Yajun Yan, a professor who received UGAs 2020 Award for Excellence in Research.

Dr Yan leads research in the microbial production of biofuels and high-value chemicals. In 2018, he was part of the team that developed a new genetic smart circuit to rewire microorganism metabolism, essentially turning them into miniature machines for specific tasks.

Cells are not happy when they are regulated; they will produce only whats necessary for their growth. Our method tells the cell to switch from growth mode to production mode, Dr Yan explained.

Such breakthroughs at UGA consistently lead to the development of new technologies in energy, environment and health. His innovations have received six issued US patents so far.

Thats how Dr Yan came to be named 2018 Academic Entrepreneur of the Year, which recognised his entrepreneurial spirit in advancing scientific impact through start-ups BiotecEra Inc. and HGG Research LLC.

He started BiotecEra Inc. with his colleague Yuheng Lin, to create eco-friendly microbial technologies for pharmaceutical and chemical industries. This includes developing 5-hydroxytryptophan products to address depression, insomnia, and anxiety in humans as well as milk fever in dairy cows.

Source: University of Georgia School of Chemical Materials and Biomedical Engineering

Suffice to say, Dr Yans research and teaching benefit greatly from each other.

My research helps me integrate the emerging concepts and technologies into my teaching materials and inform students of the most recent progress in our field. The interactions with students during my teaching also inspire me to get new ideas and approaches to address many research problems, he shared.

Connecting biochemical engineering niche to network

At its most creative, a scientific mind is a Petri dish for ingenuity. Biochemical engineering students at UGA are aware of their potential to contribute to real-world change, which they go on to cultivate in focused research labs in the School of Chemical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering.

Here, expert faculty members engage PhD and Masters students in research that advances technologies, disciplinary understanding, and the world itself.

This is the importance of leaders like Dr Mark Eiteman from the Comprehensive Molecular Bioengineering Lab. He holds UGAs 2014 Inventors Award, having created several technologies to industrially produce commodity and chemicals using microorganisms.

These include amino acids used in animal feed and nutritional supplements as well as a group of organic acids used in the production of polymers, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. His inventions have been licensed to four multinational companies, where they are manufactured and distributed for industrial benefit.

On top of that, Dr Eiteman is a named inventor in five US patents and many more abroad.

A firm believer that engineering problems dont have easy answers, Dr Eiteman encourages his students to truly understand the various approaches to solving technical problems.

He believes students bring great diversity to instruction and research. In his words, I have had some students ask me questions or come up with ideas that I never would have thought of, but that often leads to new insights and innovation.

Realise your potential with postgraduate courses

Engineering solutions for the future means optimising renewable sources, and what better energy source to tap into than the sun?

Acknowledging clean energy as the need of the century, Dr Ramaraja Ramasamy, professor and Associate Dean in the UGA College of Engineering, has been working on harvesting electricity directly from plants since 2013.

Source: Shutterstock

For every photon of sunlight a plant captures, it produces an equal number of electrons. This allows them to convert electricity more efficiently than solar panels.

How does this process work?

We have developed a way to interrupt photosynthesis so that we can capture the electrons before the plant uses them to make these sugars, said Dr Ramasamy.

His technology involves separating out thylakoids which capture and store energy from sunlight from plant cells. Then, researchers can manipulate the protein to redirect these electrons through carbon nanotubes.

Dr Ramasamy and his collaborators are working to scale the invention into commercialisation based on this early framework.

In the near term, this technology might best be used for remote sensors or other portable electronic equipment that requires less power to run, he said.

If we are able to leverage technologies like genetic engineering to enhance the stability of the plant photosynthetic machinery, Im hopeful that this technology will be competitive to traditional solar panels in the future.

To join the pursuit for innovation at UGAs School of Chemical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering, take on the MS Biochemical Engineering or PhD in Engineering Biochemical Engineering Emphasis. Students with a background in chemical, environmental, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, biomolecular, or bioprocess engineering are welcome to enrol.

A robust scientific community awaits, ready to tackle persisting challenges with novel solutions and the next big idea could just come from you.

Follow the University of Georgia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn

Cutting-edge research at the frontier of science and engineering

How biomedical engineering research creates transformative real-world impact

See original here:
Behind the scenes of exciting biochemical engineering innovation in the US - Study International News

Genetically Modified Crops Market report provide the COVID19 Outbreak Impact analysis of key factors influencing the growth of the market Size (Production, Value and Consumption). This Genetically Modified Crops industry splits the breakdown (data status 2014-2020 and Six years forecast 2020-2026), by manufacturers, region, type and application. This study also analyses the Genetically Modified Crops market Status, Market Share, Growth Rate, Future Trends, Market Drivers, Opportunities and Challenges, Risks and Entry Barriers, Sales Channels, Distributors and Porters Five Forces Analysis.

Genetically Modified Crops Market competitive landscapes provides details by topmost manufactures like (Monsanto, Dupont Pioneer, Syngenta, Dow, Bayer, Long Ping High-Tech, Shandong Denghai Seeds), including Capacity, Production, Price, Revenue, Cost, Gross, Gross Margin, Growth Rate, Import, Export, Market Share and Technological Developments

Get Free Sample PDF (including COVID19 Impact Analysis, full TOC, Tables and Figures)of Genetically Modified Crops[emailprotected]https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=2398459

Genetically Modified Crops Market Competition by Manufacturers (2020 2026): Genetically Modified Crops Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers, Genetically Modified Crops Market by Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers, Revenue and Share by Manufacturers, Average Price by Manufacturers By Market, Manufacturers Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area, Product Type, Market Competitive Situation and Trends, Market Concentration Rate.

Scope of Genetically Modified Crops Market:Genetically modified crops (GM crops or biotech crops) are plants used in agriculture, the DNA of which has been modified using genetic engineering methods. In most cases, the aim is to introduce a new trait to the plant which does not occur naturally in the species. Examples in food crops include resistance to certain pests, diseases, environmental conditions, reduction of spoilage, resistance to chemical treatments (e.g. resistance to a herbicide), or improving the nutrient profile of the crop. Examples in non-food crops include production of pharmaceutical agents, biofuels, and other industrially useful goods, as well as for bioremediation.

Global Genetically Modified Crops market size will increase to xx Million US$ by 2025, from xx Million US$ in 2018, at a CAGR of xx% during the forecast period. In this study, 2018 has been considered as the base year and 2019 to 2025 as the forecast period to estimate the market size for Genetically Modified Crops.

On the basis of product type, this report displays the shipments, revenue (Million USD), price, and market share and growth rate of each type.

Corn Soybean Sorghum Cotton Other

On the basis on the end users/applications,this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, shipments, revenue (Million USD), price, and market share and growth rate foreach application.

Scientific Research Agriculture Crops

Do You Have Any Query Or Specific Requirement? Ask to Our Industry[emailprotected]https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=2398459

Genetically Modified Crops Market: Regional analysis includes:

The Study Objectives Of This Genetically Modified Crops Market Report Are:

Contact:

ResearchMozMr. Rohit Bhisey,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email:[emailprotected]

Browse More Reports Visit @https://www.mytradeinsight.blogspot.com/

Visit link:
Genetically Modified Crops Market Earnings Margins, Value Of Production & Consumption Demand Figures 2020-2026 - 3rd Watch News

The Genome Editing/Genome Engineering market report focuses on the economic developments and consumer spending trends across different countries for the forecast period 2020 to 2027. The research further reveals which countries and regions will have a better standing in the years to come. Apart from this, the study talks about the growth rate, market share as well as the recent developments in the Genome Editing/Genome Engineering industry worldwide. Besides, the special mention of major market players adds importance to the overall Genome Editing/Genome Engineering market study.

This is the most recent report inclusive of the COVID-19 effects on the functioning of the market. It is well known that some changes, for the worse, were administered by the pandemic on all industries. The current scenario of the business sector and pandemics impact on the past and future of the industry are covered in this report.

The major manufacturers covered in this report:

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Merck KGaA, Horizon Discovery, Genscript USA, Sangamo Biosciences, Integrated DNA Technologies, Origene Technologies, Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals, Lonza Group, New England Biolabs

To Know More about Genome Editing/Genome Engineering Market Get Free Sample Copy of this Report @ https://www.marketographics.com/sample-enquiry-form/4298

Knowing the trends influencing the industry performance

Stakeholders, marketing executives and business owners planning to refer a market research report can use this study to design their offerings and understand how competitors attract their potential customers and manage their supply and distribution channels. When tracking the trends researchers have made a conscious effort to analyze and interpret the consumer behaviour. Besides, the research helps product owners to understand the changes in culture, target market as well as brands so they can draw the attention of the potential customers more effectively.

On the basis of Type Outlook, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into:

CRISPRTALENZFNAntisenseOther Technology

On the basis of Application Outlook, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into:

Cell Line EngineeringAnimal Genetic EngineeringPlant Genetic EngineeringOther

#Genome Editing/Genome Engineering Market Report to grow your business needs and avail !!! Limited Time DISCOUNT Available!!! Get Your Copy at Discounted [emailprotected] https://www.marketographics.com/discount-enquiry-form/4298

Some niche products and services believed to be revenue generators are also included in the report. Apart from this, a wide range of products from various segments and sub-segments expected to present greater opportunities in the Genome Editing/Genome Engineering industry are discussed in the document. Development of new products and substitutes that will completely transform the market dynamics over the forecast period occupies a special section in the report.

Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers:

North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)

Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)

Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)

South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia)

The investigative approach applied for the extensive analysis of the sale, gross margin and profit generated by the industry are presented through resources including tables, charts, and graphic images. Importantly, these resources can be easily integrated or used for preparing business or corporate presentations.

Here are the questions we answer

Browse complete Genome Editing/Genome Engineering report description And Full TOC @ https://www.marketographics.com/industry-reports/genome-editing-genome-engineering-market

To summarize, the global Genome Editing/Genome Engineering market report studies the contemporary market to forecast the growth prospects, challenges, opportunities, risks, threats, and the trends observed in the market that can either propel or curtail the growth rate of the industry. The market factors impacting the global sector also include provincial trade policies, international trade disputes, entry barriers, and other regulatory restrictions.

About Us:With reports from over 500 prominent publishers as well as daily updates on our collection, intended to empower companies and individuals catch-up with vital insights on industries operating across different geographies, along with the trends, share, size and growth rate of market verticals and numerous other services, we have our fingers dipped in just about everything market research-related. Besides meticulously curated research reports, our clients can also access our specialized services without any additional charges to gain vital market insights.

Contact Us:John WatsonHead of Business DevelopmentOffice No, 203 Chandan Nagar,Kharadi Pune, Maharashtra 411014Direct Line:+918484002482Visit our News Site: http://newssucceed.com

Go here to see the original:
Know about Impact of Covid-19 on Genome Editing/Genome Engineering Market Influencing Factors by Top Companies like Thermo Fisher Scientific, Merck...

Trees are easier to cut than genes. But with both, in theory, a pandemic can be unleashed. Deforesting and destroying ecosystems We make it easier for animal pathogens to jump on humans. But it is also true that we can know in great detail the source code in which the entrails of new viruses are written. Your genes. And manipulate them.

In Lluis Montolius laboratory, at the CNB-CSIC, they have been tracking the revolutionary CRISPR genetic editing technique for years. A system that allows cut and paste pieces of the genome of a living being with enormous precision, and whose discovery we owe to the Spanish Francis Mojica.

They are now developing this tool to see if it can be useful in destroying the RNA strands of coronaviruses and, therefore, prevent SARS-CoV-2 from replicating in the body. It would be the first time that such a drug is developed. Basically using the smallest scissors in the universe.

Lets start with one of the most common applications of CRISPR: making custom animals and plants. It has been done for about four years relatively regularly in research laboratories.

Mouse | Pests Mice Rats (CC-BY)

Despite the fact that the technique became world famous for the daring of Dr. He Jiankui, in 2018, to manufacture three children edited using this technique something completely illegal CRISPR is useful to make animal models.

The mouse is the classic animal model with which to experiment from antiviral drugs to vaccines. In the case of SARS-CoV-2, Mice are not infectious because they lack the ACE2 receptor that allows the virus to enter cells.

CRISPR is the technique by which, illegally, three Chinese babies were genetically edited to avoid developing AIDS. But it is common in other everyday laboratory uses.

So there are already several laboratories that are developing humanized mice with CRISPR. Human genes or parts thereof are cut and pasted into the genome of a future rodent, almost before it is an embryo.

The mouse that is born will already be able to have those receptors typical of humans (and some other animals) so that, at that level, they look a bit more similar. The next step is to no longer infect the mice. But cure them.

The coronavirus genome is RNA, explains Montoliu. If we have a CAS protein that we can program to cut RNA, why dont we target it to cut the coronavirus genome? And we are directly attacking the heart, the genetic material of that coronavirus, explains the researcher.

The CNB-CSIC researcher Lluis Montoliu | M. Vicious

When he talks about CAS protein, he means those tiny molecular scissors. There are different types. There are real motorized clippers, called CAS9, that can cut the double strand of DNA. So they are as promising as they are disputed: they work on humans.

For an RNA virus (the chain is simple) a manual scissor pruner is enough, to continue with the metaphor. This is where CAS13a or CAS13d enter. They work (thanks to some guides) no matter what strain, variant, or mutant. Interesting, in case the coronavirus begins to change more than it seems, as it happens with the influenza virus.

The small drawback of these scissors (the CAS13a we have hardly known since 2016) is that once they cut the virus, they can be bundled to cut the rest of the cell. When Dr. Feng Zhang (BROAD / MIT), its inventor tested CAS13a for the first time, he saw that it was doing its job well but immediately freaked out and started cutting, unspecifically, the rest of the RNA in that test tube.

Fortunately, the protein has become more sophisticated so that, already with variant 13d, we have a very specific tool, because the cell has its own RNA and we do not have to touch those, they are useful for it to function.

It also wont enter the nucleus of the human cell (DNA) because CAS13d doesnt need it. That would be as risky as driving the chainsaw into the heart of a hedge. There is a risk of cutting it down.

CAS9, used to edit girls from a tomato, is like that chainsaw, hence the delicacy and prematureness of this technique for editing people. The mess of the cellular patchwork that can be mounted is important, until the gluing technique is fine-tuned, although it shows promise. That is, we are controlling the grafting technique, to continue with the garden comparison.

Regarding the coronavirus, this does not mean that we already have a ready-to-use medicine from these CRISPR scissors. First you will have to check if they work In zebrafish embryos, that we will try Seville, where we will deliver together with CAS13 a guide that tells you where you have to cut .

Then it will be tested in laboratory cells infected with other cousin viruses to avoid risks and we will get their cutting patterns. Hence, yes, in the SARS-CoV-2.

Sure we could start doing the experiment on mice, but its very important that lets go step by step Montoliu warns. At least, with the certainty that the method works in cells outside a living being

The project has received 75,000 euros of financing from donations from companies and individuals. When we have verified that it works in cells, we will test it in mice (also edited), after this year. If we see (this year) that we can degrade SARS-CoV-2 in crops it would already be a success.

In April, after theoretical proposals in this regard, researchers from Stanford and Duke universities developed a curative scissors of this type, experimentally viable in human lung cells. They named it PACMAN (Comecocos). Will it work outside the lab loft?

CAS scissors can cut viruses. And if they do, it is because they detect them, so it is possible to use them to do tests, in theory.

Although, to date, the most reliable method to detect the active virus in a person is RT-PCR, exist other genetic screening approaches which have not yet been shown to work, but which are promising. This is the case of this possible pocket PCR, in which Margarita Salas Luis Blancos patent partner works.

The CRISPR genetic cutter can also aid in the detection of coronaviruses. In classic PCR methods and that of Blancos team, the virus is evident because it literally shines in the laboratory. With CRISPR it is possible to shine each cut that scissors, CAS12 in this case, they hit the gene molecule.

There are several methods to experiment with, under the acronyms SHERLOCK and CARMEN. The interesting thing about these technologies is that, combined, they can perform hundreds of tests simultaneously. And not only for detecting SARS-CoV-2, but for 120 different viruses.

CARMEN Test Plate | Michel James, MIT

These are some of the applications of genetic engineering to destroy viruses or to immunize ourselves against them, since there are several biotechnological approaches in the race for the COVID-19 vaccine that involve the manipulation of genes (of the virus, in this case).

Cut. Paste. And create new viruses. Again, and in the sense of some conspiracy theories, We do have the methodology to (rather than destroy) make viruses, but we dont have the intellectual capacity , responds the head of the virology laboratory at Cambridge University Nerea Irigoyen.

There is methodology, not capacity, to create a laboratory virus, but SARS-CoV-2 is far from being the perfect pandemic virus.

He remembers comments on social networks in which he was told that viruses mutate in laboratories. Indeed, Ive been doing it for many years. But it is one thing to do it and quite another to make a perfect pandemic virus. This is not it. We could still do much better so that it could infect more cell types.

70% of human infectious diseases come from viruses, bacteria, or animal parasites. It has always happened. Flu, Ebola, SARS-1, MERS Why dont we accept the normal?, Concludes the scientist.

Read the original post:
Cut and paste: the true genetic engineering of the coronavirus - Explica

This piece is excerpted from a longer article alum T. Wyatt Reynolds, AB 17, wrote for Mere Orthodoxy.

An atheist, a Christian, and a Jew start talking about science and faith. This might seem like it is either the lead up to a joke or the beginning of a fight. Instead, it was the setting of a meeting convened by S. Joshua Swamidass, MD, associate professor of Pathology & Immunology in the School of Medicine and of Biomedical Engineering in the McKelvey School of Engineering. This meeting gathered scientists and theologians of nearly every stripe to discuss his new book, The Genealogical Adam and Eve (Intervarsity Press). Its argument: that there is no intrinsic contradiction between conventional evolutionary theory and belief in Adam and Eve as a couple specially created six thousand years ago.

The book offers an invitation to skeptics on all sides of the issue to consider either a world where evolution could be true, or a world where Adam and Eve could be real.

Most scientific research to date has focused on whether Adam and Eve could have passed on genetic material to everyone living; however, this doesnt seem to be the type of ancestry the Bible is concerned with. Instead, the Bible is quite concerned with genealogy; extended genealogies fill eleven chapters of Genesis. Who begat whom, and what is the history of their line? This is an entirely different question, and as it turns out, one that can be explored with population genetics. While all genetic ancestors are genealogical ancestors, the inverse is not necessarily true.

So, what does this mean for Adam and Eve? Well, in 2004, a computer simulation of life on Earth was created to test and see when the most recent common ancestor for all humans was. The researchers put higher barriers than historically existed to stack the odds against there being a common ancestor in the recent past. Despite this, the results, published in Nature, found common ancestors only two or three thousand years ago.

Most of these common ancestors are genetic ghosts, meaning that though they are your ancestor, you have inherited no DNA from them. This means that universal ancestors are both surprisingly recent and surprisingly hidden. Swamidass also includes engrossing theological, historical, and philosophical tidbits sprinkled in amidst the science. The book and author are truly making room for many voices at the table of discussion.

The cover art plays a critical role here as it marries DNA strands with a reflective gold foil reminiscent of Makoto Fujimuras paintings. The cover brings together art, theology, and science much as the book itself attempts to create a common ground between these diverse modes of seeing and making sense of the world.

Find more faculty and alumni books on Washington Universitys bookshelf.

Read the rest here:
What does science tell us about Adam and Eve? - Washington University in St. Louis Newsroom

Analysis of the Global Balanced Salt Solutions Market

A recently published market report on the Balanced Salt Solutions market highlights the pitfalls that companies might come across due to the unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Buyers can request comprehensive market analysis of Coronavirus and its impact on the Balanced Salt Solutions market to mitigate revenue losses.

This market research report on the Balanced Salt Solutions market published by Balanced Salt Solutions derives current insights about the competitive landscape of the Balanced Salt Solutions market. Further, the report unfolds detailed analysis of different segments of the Balanced Salt Solutions market and offers a thorough understanding of the growth potential of each market segment over the assessment period (20XX-20XX).

According to the analysts at Balanced Salt Solutions , the Balanced Salt Solutions market is predicted to register a CAGR growth of ~XX% during the assessment and reach a value of ~US$ XX by the end of 20XX. The report analyzes the micro and macro-economic factors that are projected to influence the growth of the Balanced Salt Solutions market in the coming decade.

Get Free Sample PDF (including COVID19 Impact Analysis, full TOC, Tables and Figures) of Market Report @ https://www.researchmoz.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=2530274&source=atm

Key Insights Highlighted in the Report

Segmentation of the Balanced Salt Solutions Market

The presented report elaborate on the Balanced Salt Solutions market into different segments and ponders over the current and future business potentials of each segment. The report showcases the year-on-year growth of each segment and ponders upon the different factors that are likely to influence the growth of each market segment.

The various segments of the Balanced Salt Solutions market explained in the report include:

The following manufacturers are covered:Thermo Fisher ScientificLonza GroupDickinsonEMD MilliporeBectonCorning Life SciencesWheatonPromoCellSigma-AldrichBiological

Segment by RegionsNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndia

Segment by TypeBy product typeHanks Balanced Salt SolutionGeys Balanced Salt SolutionEarles Balanced Salt SolutionDulbeccos Phosphate Buffered SalineOtherBy end userResearch InstitutesPharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies

Segment by ApplicationBiopharmaceuticalstherapeuticsStem Cell TechnologyDrug Screening & DevelopmentGenetic EngineeringCancer ResearchOthers

Do You Have Any Query Or Specific Requirement? Ask to Our Industry [emailprotected] https://www.researchmoz.com/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=2530274&source=atm

Important doubts related to the Balanced Salt Solutions market clarified in the report:

Why Choose Balanced Salt Solutions

You can Buy This Report from Here @ https://www.researchmoz.com/checkout?rep_id=2530274&licType=S&source=atm

Read more here:
Coronavirus threat to global Balanced Salt Solutions Market boosting the growth Worldwide: Market dynamics and trends, efficiencies Forecast 2024 -...

Written by Parthasarathi Biswas | Pune | Updated: June 12, 2020 12:56:06 pm Genetic engineering aims to transcend the genus barrier by introducing an alien gene in the seeds to get the desired effects. (File Photo)

Last week, Shetkari Sanghatana the farmers union founded by the late leader Sharad Joshi announced fresh plans in its agitation for use of genetically modified seeds. In the current kharif season, farmers would undertake mass sowing of GM seeds for maize, soyabean, mustard brinjal and herbicide tolerant (Ht) cotton, although these are not approved. Farmers had carried out a similar movement last year, too.

What are genetically modified seeds?

Conventional plant breeding involves crossing species of the same genus to provide the offspring with the desired traits of both parents. Genetic engineering aims to transcend the genus barrier by introducing an alien gene in the seeds to get the desired effects. The alien gene could be from a plant, an animal or even a soil bacterium.

Bt cotton, the only GM crop that is allowed in India, has two alien genes from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that allows the crop to develop a protein toxic to the common pest pink bollworm. Ht Bt, on the other, cotton is derived with the insertion of an additional gene, from another soil bacterium, which allows the plant to resist the common herbicide glyphosate.

In Bt brinjal, a gene allows the plant to resist attacks of fruit and shoot borer.

In DMH-11 mustard, developed by Deepak Pental and colleague in the South Campus of University of Delhi, genetic modification allows cross-pollination in a crop that self-pollinates in nature.

Across the world, GM variants of maize, canola and soyabean, too, are available.

What is the legal position of genetically modified crops in India?

In India, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is the apex body that allows for commercial release of GM crops. In 2002, the GEAC had allowed the commercial release of Bt cotton. More than 95 per cent of the countrys cotton area has since then come under Bt cotton. Use of the unapproved GM variant can attract a jail term of 5 years and fine of Rs 1 lakh under the Environmental Protection Act ,1989.

Why are farmers rooting for GM crops?

In the case of cotton, farmers cite the high cost of weeding, which goes down considerably if they grow Ht Bt cotton and use glyphosate against weeds. Brinjal growers in Haryana have rooted for Bt brinjal as it reduces the cost of production by cutting down on the use of pesticides.

Unauthorised crops are widely used. Industry estimates say that of the 4-4.5 crore packets (each weighing 400 gm) of cotton sold in the country, 50 lakh are of the unapproved Ht Bt cotton. Haryana has reported farmers growing Bt brinjal in pockets which had caused a major agitation there. In June last year, in a movement led by Shetkari Sanghatana in Akola district of Maharashtra, more than 1,000 farmers defied the government and sowed Ht Bt cotton. The Akola district authorities subsequently booked the organisers.

Express Explainedis now onTelegram. Clickhere to join our channel (@ieexplained)and stay updated with the latest

Environmentalists argue that the long-lasting effect of GM crops is yet to be studied and thus they should not be released commercially. Genetic modification, they say, brings about changes that can be harmful to humans in the long run.

What is the movement about?

The Sanghatana has announced that this year they are going to undertake large-scale sowing of unapproved GM crops like maize, Ht Bt cotton, soyabean and brinjal across Maharashtra. Farmers who plant such variants will put up boards on their fields proclaiming the GM nature of their crop. Anil Ghanwat, president of the union, has said this action will draw attention to the need for introduction of the latest technology in the fields. He said farmers will not be deterred by any action taken against them by the authorities.

The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines

For all the latest Explained News, download Indian Express App.

The Indian Express (P) Ltd

Read the original post:
GM seeds: the debate, and a sowing agitation - The Indian Express

Gene editing is a type of genetic engineering and it is a relatively newer concept. It involves insertion, deletion, modification or replacement of DNA in a living organisms genome. Gene editing could be a powerful tool for helping people suffering from chronic ailments. Some companies are working tirelessly to employ gene editing for solving health problems and Cambridge, Massachusetts based Verve Therapeutics is one of them. The company has now secured 56M in Series A2 to advance gene-editing therapies for reducing the risk of coronary heart disease.

The latest series A2 round for Verve Therapeutics was led by companys existing investor GV, which was formerly known as Google Ventures. Furthermore, current investors ARCH Venture Partners, F-Prime Capital, and Biomatics Capital also joined the investment round. New investors Wellington Management and Casdin Capital also joined in. With the latest funding, the overall funds raised by the company touch a total of 109.5 million.

Coronary heart disease is said to be one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. and worldwide. Verve capital is developing a solution to tackle the issue and lower its risks in adults. It is doing so by developing one-time, gene-editing therapies that can safely edit targeted genes in the liver, which will result in permanent lowering of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, which are key risk factors causing coronary heart disease. With the freshly acquired funds, the company will focus on advancing its lead program through IND-enabling studies and progress follow-on pipeline programs.

We are immensely grateful to our existing investors for their continued support and commitment to our bold vision to eradicate coronary heart disease, and are very pleased to welcome Wellington Management and Casdin Capital to our investor syndicate, says Sekar Kathiresan, M.D, co-founder and CEO of Verve. This financing is a testament to the tremendous work by the Verve team and will position us to rapidly advance our lead therapeutic candidate through IND-enabling studies and expand our pipeline of development programs. People with heart disease are in urgent need of new therapeutic options, and Verves research to date further underscores the transformative potential of gene editing as a therapeutic approach for these patients.

Image credits: Verve Therapeutics

Stay tuned toSilicon Canalsfor more European technology news

The rest is here:
Gene-editing company raises 56M in Series A2 to advance gene-editing therapies for curing heart disease - Silicon Canals

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) Health experts say a vaccine is the worlds best hope to ending the coronavirus pandemic.

And while there are currently dozens of human clinical trials underway, other trials are enlisting animals. Some are house pets, some live in pastures, and others in tropical rain forests.

Ferrets

Ferrets are vulnerable to many respiratory illnesses found in humans, including lung cancer, cystic fibrosis and the novel coronavirus,thus making them great candidates for experimentation, scientists say.

Researchers now know ferrets can contract and transmit COVID-19. This has a lot to do with how the virus enters the body and attacks the lungs. The mechanism mirrors how COVID-19 attaches to human lungs, scientists say.

Scientists from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization in Australia have started two pre-clinical trials to test a potential COVID-19 vaccine using the animal.

Monkeys

Scientists from The Jenner Institute at Oxford University began working on a coronavirus vaccine back in 2019. While its not for COVID-19, the virus responsible for this pandemic, its very similar.

The vaccine was tested at the National Institutes of Healths Rocky Mountain Laboratory in Montana. Scientists injected six rhesus monkeys with the 2019 vaccine and then exposed them to the novel coronavirus. Less than a month later, all six monkeys showed no signs of COVID-19.

Cows

Researchers are also looking to cows in an effort to develop a treatment. Scientists at SAB Biotherapeutics in South Dakota, through genetic engineering, created an embryo that contains parts of human chromosomes. The embryo is then implanted into the cow.

The resulting calf then grows into what scientists call a genetically humanized cow. The only overlap between the cow and a person is a portion of their immune system.

The genetically humanized cows are then injected with COVID-19. The cows immune system now similar to a persons would then attack the coronavirus. From there, scientists would look to see if the cows develop antibodies against it. The idea is that these antibodies would then be extracted from the cows blood and used as a drug to combat the coronavirus.

Original post:
What scientists are learning about COVID-19 from animals - WISHTV.com