StemCell Therapy

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WSET) -- Some scientists say they've figured out how to safely 'shut off' genes.

WCAV in Charlottesville reported that it could potentially lead to curing some genetic diseases.

'Gene editing,' using something called using the CRISPR system, has been around for a few years, but a team at UVA says it found a way to 'silence' genes without harming surrounding cells.

The discovery could eventually help doctors turn off genes that are making patients sick.

It will also help scientists be able to more directly research genes individually.

"For a lot of these genes in our body, we still don't know their functions," said Dr. Mazhar Adli, with the UVA Dept. of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics. "So now we are able to go and inactivate each gene and to study what the gene is doing."

Among the diseases that doctors could possible treat with the gene-silencing method are cystic fibrosis and hemophilia.

Follow this link:
UVA scientists say they can safely 'shut off' genes. | WSET - WSET.com - WSET

This entry was posted on July 12, 2017 at 4:53 pm and is filed under Molecular Genetics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |