A new project aims to synthesise a human chromosome
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Economist
2 days ago
- Economist
A new project aims to synthesise a human chromosome
WHEN THE first draft of the DNA sequence that makes up the human genome was unveiled in 2000, America's president at the time, Bill Clinton, announced that humankind was 'learning the language with which God created life'. His assessment was a little quick off the mark. For one thing, the full sequence would not be completed until 2022. For another, whereas scientists can use sequencing tools to read DNA, and CRISPR technology to make small edits, actually writing the genomic language has proved trickier.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Reuters
Health Rounds: 3D printed insulin-producing cells show promise for type 1 diabetes in lab tests
July 2 (Reuters) - Insulin-producing human pancreas cells can be manufactured with 3D printers, researchers reported at the International Transplant Congress, opens new tab underway in London. Using a bio-ink made from human pancreatic tissue from which all cellular components had been removed, and alginate - a substance derived from seaweed - they printed human pancreatic islet cells. The printed cells remained alive and functional in test tubes for up to three weeks, maintaining strong insulin responses to glucose and showing real potential for future clinical use, the researchers said. While current methods of isolating islet cells for transplantation strip away the structural scaffold that supports the cells, the bio-ink retains key components of that extracellular matrix, thereby improving the cells' survival and function, the researchers said. The printed cells were more efficient than standard islet cell preparations at releasing insulin when exposed to glucose. By day 21, the bio-printed islets showed a stronger ability to sense and react to blood sugar levels, and they maintained their structure without clumping or breaking down. In traditional islet-cell transplants, done in patients with type 1 diabetes who experience dangerous and unpredictable low blood sugar episodes, islet cells from human donors are infused into the liver. The 3D-printed islets would be implanted under the skin using local anesthesia and a small incision, which could be safer and more comfortable option for patients, the researchers said. The team is now testing the bio-printed cells in animals and exploring long-term storage options that could make the therapy widely available. 'This is one of the first studies to use real human islets instead of animal cells in bio-printing, and the results are incredibly promising,' study leader Quentin Perrier of Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina said in a statement. 'It means we're getting closer to creating an off-the-shelf treatment for diabetes that could one day eliminate the need for insulin injections.' GENE EDITING BREAKTHROUGH IN CELLS' ENERGY FACTORIES Incurable disorders of mitochondria, the energy-producing 'factories' inside of cells, may one day be addressed by gene therapies, lab experiments suggest. Mitochondria – specialized structures within cells - have their own DNA, separate from the DNA in the cell's nucleus. Mutations in mitochondrial DNA can cause a variety of debilitating conditions affecting multiple organs, particularly those that require high energy, such as the brain, liver, heart, muscles, and kidneys. Existing gene editing tools like CRISPR have not been useful for these disorders because they can't efficiently pass through the mitochondrial membranes. 'Using a new kind of gene editing tool, we were able to fix DNA mistakes that cause mitochondrial disease,' said study leader Dr. Martijn Koppens from the University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands. To cut and paste pieces of DNA, the new tool uses different mechanisms and components than CRISPR. For example, instead of the Cas protein, the new tool, called DdCBE, uses an inactive version of a bacterial toxin as its molecular scissors. To deliver the 'scissors' to the mitochondria, the tool uses mRNA encapsulated in tiny lipid particles, a transport method also used to deliver COVID-19 vaccines. As reported in PLoS Biology, opens new tab, Koppens' team successfully used their tool to introduce a mutation into a gene in liver cell mitochondria, thereby disrupting energy production in the cells. They were also able to correct a mutation in mitochondria from a patient with a genetic kidney disorder. 'I envision that in the near future, mitochondrial gene editing will be used to generate accurate mitochondrial disease models, which will transform basic research as well as therapy development,' Koppens said. Blood thinner therapy need not be delayed in most patients with a recent stroke attributable to an irregular heartbeat, according to a new analysis. Pooling data from four randomized trials involving nearly 5,500 patients with atrial fibrillation and a recent stroke, researchers found that starting direct oral anticoagulants - which prevent formation of blood clots - within four days was safe and effective. These drugs include Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ.N), opens new tab Xarelto or Eliquis from Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY.N), opens new tab and Pfizer (PFE.N), opens new tab. Atrial fibrillation can lead to blood clots in the heart that dislodge and travel to the brain, causing a stroke. Blood thinners can prevent clots, but they also increase the risk of bleeding in the brain, so it has been common practice to hold off for a while after a stroke before starting them. Based on the safety observed in the current analysis, 'the benefits of early initiation of blood-thinning treatment are clear," study leader Nick Freemantle of University College London said in a statement. "This approach ensures that crucial treatments are not delayed or missed, particularly for patients who are discharged from the hospital." Patients were split into two groups, with 2,691 receiving the blood thinners within 4 days and 2,750 starting the pills on day 5 or later. The incidence of either recurrent strokes from blood clots or strokes from bleeding in the brain was 2.1% with early anti-coagulation administration and 3.0% with delayed treatment, researchers reported in The Lancet, opens new tab. There was no increase in brain bleeding in the early-treatment group. However, few patients in the trial had experienced strokes that extensively damaged the brain, which would have increased the bleeding risks associated with starting the blood thinners right away. An editorial, opens new tab published with the study concludes that overall, the findings favor early initiation of oral anticoagulation in patients with strokes related to atrial fibrillation, especially those with smaller amounts of brain damage. However, the editorial noted some additional factors for providers to consider. 'Adherence to strict predefined early or late initiation thresholds might oversimplify the complexity" of deciding when to start blood thinners, it noted. It said there should be an assessment of other co-morbidities, including advanced age, other medications being taken and frailty, when delayed blood thinner therapy "might derive increased benefit.' (To receive the full newsletter in your inbox for free sign up here)
Daily Mirror
10-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
Incredible scientific discovery proves Moses did part Red Sea and how he did it
A key moment in Christianity, Islam and Judaism which requires a certain amount of faith to believe could have happened - now has a plausible scientific explanation The story of Moses parting the Red Sea - 'Yam Suph' in Hebrew - is one of the most well known parables of the Old Testament. It tells the tale of the prophet leading the Israelites out of slavery in the exodus from Egypt. According to the biblical narrative, Moses - led by God- raised his staff over the Red Sea, causing the waters to divide, which allowed his people to walk across on dry land. The pharaoh and his pursuing armies then perished after following the fleeing party as the sea closed back together, drowning them. This event is recounted in the Old Testament (Exodus 14: 19-31). According to the National Gallery in London: "When the Israelites reached the Red Sea Moses stretched out his hand and the waters divided, allowing his followers safe passage. The Egyptians followed them but God again commanded Moses to stretch out his hand and the sea engulfed the army." In the biblical account, after dispatching the seven plagues of Egypt, Moses led the Israelites out into the wilderness in search of the promised land, reports the Irish Star. The fleeing group found themselves trapped between the advancing army of the Pharaoh on one side and the Red Sea on the other. Depictions in films such as 'The Ten Commandments' or 'The Prince of Egypt' show Moses commanding the waters of the Red Sea to open long enough for the Israelites to flee Egypt which paints a vivid picture on the big screen. But now scientists have hypothesised that there may be a natural phenomenon which caused the sea to part and they argue that the real miracle would have been in the impeccable timing of the Israelites fleeing the Egyptians. According to the Daily Mail, the theory is backed up by computer modelling which indicates that a strong wind of 62 mile per hour (100kmph) winds blowing from the right direction could open a 3-mile-wide (5km) channel through the water. And, as those winds dipped, the waters would have rushed back with the speed of a tsunami which would have drowned the Egyptian army who were weighed down by chariots and other equipment. Carl Drews, an oceanographer from the National Center for Atmospheric Research, told MailOnline: "The crossing of the Red Sea is a supernatural phenomenon that incorporates a natural component - the miracle is in the timing." According to Dr Bruce Parker, former chief scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the prophet could have used his knowledge of the tides to flee Egypt. This is also backed up in the Bible which states: "The Lord caused the sea to go by a strong east wind all that night and made the sea into dry and the waters were divided." Some scientific experts claim the mention of a strong wind is key to understanding how Moses really crossed the Red Sea. In an article for the Wall Street Journal, Dr Parker wrote: "Moses had lived in the nearby wilderness in his early years, and he knew where caravans crossed the Red Sea at low tide. He knew the night sky and the ancient methods of predicting the tide, based on where the moon was overhead and how full it was." Meanwhile, the Pharaoh's men lived on the tide-less Nile River and would have been unaware of the dangers that faced them - leading the soldiers to be ambushed by nature when the tide came rushing back in. One issue, however is the direction of the breeze mentioned in the Bible which is that it was a easterly wind. Professor Nathan Paldor, an ocean scientist from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, told MailOnline: "When a strong wind blows southward from the head of Gulf for about one day, the water is pushed seawards, thus exposing the bottom that was previously underwater." The professor's calculations theorise that a wind blowing between 65 and 70 kilometres per hour (40-45 mph) from the northwest could have made such a path for the Israelites in their escape from Egypt. A wind in the conditions mentioned blowing for an entire night could have pushed the waters of the sea back by up to a mile. It would also drop the sea level by about three metres and allow the Israelites to move across the floor on an underwater ridge. In his original research paper, Professor Paldor maintains that the original Hebrew description is 'Rauch kadim' which can mean either north-easterly or south-easterly. It may also be the case that the true direction was lost in translation at some point. There are also theories that the location of the event occurred elsewhere with others believing it could have occurred at the Lake of Tannis.
