Genetics

Keeping genetic engineering localized

Researchers are developing a so-called "daisy-chain" gene-drive system that provides controls for genetic engineering of certain populations.

April 2, 2019

A group of academic institutions has granted a license for SHERLOCK, the highly-sensitive, low-cost CRISPR-based diagnostic, for commercial uses in the developed world, while reserving rights to enable its broad use by organizations to serve developing nations as well as unmet public health needs in the developed world.

Academic institutions grant commercial license for CRISPR-based SHERLOCK diagnostic technology in developed world

Rights are protected for broad use in developing world and for public health needs.

March 21, 2019

Picower Professor Li-Huei Tsai (standing), co-director of the Alana Down Syndrome Center, reviews data in the lab with Senior Alana Fellow Hiruy Meharena.

Alana gift to MIT launches Down syndrome research center, technology program for disabilities

Foundation’s $28.6 million gift will fund science, innovation, and education to advance understanding, ability, and inclusion.

March 20, 2019

MIT Professor Bonnie Berger is being honored for her contributions to the field of computational biology.

Mathematics Professor Bonnie Berger honored with ISCB Senior Scientist Award

The International Society for Computational Biology Senior Scientist Award recognizes highly significant, long-term career achievement.

February 26, 2019

MIT engineers have developed a way to deliver genes to the chloroplasts of plant cells. In these images, mesophyll cells (right) and epidermal cells (left) in an arugula leaf have been engineered to express a yellow fluorescent protein in their chloroplasts. Cell walls are stained red and chloroplasts are stained blue.

An easier way to engineer plants

MIT-led team uses nanoparticles to deliver genes into plant chloroplasts.

February 25, 2019

At left, photoreceptor cells of the retina have undergone severe damage after treatment with an alkylating agent. This damage is exacerbated by the DNA repair enzyme Aag. At right, photoreceptor cells lacking Aag appear normal following treatment with the alkylating agent.

Why too much DNA repair can injure tissue

Overactive repair system promotes cell death following DNA damage by certain toxins, study shows.

February 12, 2019

An exoskeleton-consuming gene found in bacteria sheds light on the first arthropods to walk the Earth.

New technique pinpoints milestones in the evolution of bacteria

Results show bacterial genomes provide “shadow history” of animal evolution.

February 7, 2019

Biologist Adam Martin studies the mechanics of tissue folding

The dynamic process is critical to embryonic development and other cellular phenomena.

January 31, 2019

Crystal structure of Cas12b (purple) bound to RNA (gold) and DNA (brown).

Scientists engineer new CRISPR platform for DNA targeting

CRISPR team harnesses new Cas12b enzyme for use in eukaryotic cells, adding to the CRISPR toolbox.

January 22, 2019

Researchers have discovered that full-length introns — that is, those that have been cut out but remain otherwise intact — can persist and carry out useful biological functions.

Revising the textbook on introns

Whitehead Institute researchers uncover a group of introns in yeast that possess surprising stability and function.

January 16, 2019

Extremophiles are capable of living in some of the harshest locations on Earth, such as the Grand Prismatic Spring at Yellowstone National Park.

Surviving one of Earth’s most extreme environments

New research finds a unique component of cell membranes in an archaea species conveys protection against acidic surroundings.

December 14, 2018

Cells have evolved to produce the components of their multi-protein complexes in precise ratios.

Tracking the footprints of protein synthesis

Researchers refine a method to quantify protein production, show that the precision with which bacteria and eukaryotes tune their gene expression is remarkably similar.

December 14, 2018

MIT engineers have developed new antimicrobial peptides based on a naturally occurring peptide produced by a South American wasp.

MIT engineers repurpose wasp venom as an antibiotic drug

Altered peptides from a South American wasp’s venom can kill bacteria but are nontoxic to human cells.

December 7, 2018

An enzyme encircles the double helix to repair a broken strand of DNA.

The long and short of CDK12

A new study linking RNA processing to DNA repair may open new avenues to cancer therapy.

November 30, 2018

MIT engineers have designed a system that can repeatedly measure cancer cells as they flow through an array of mass sensors. Once the cells reach the end, they are collected for RNA-sequencing.

Measuring cancer cell “fitness” reveals drug susceptibility

Together, cell growth rate and gene expression shed light on why some tumor cells survive treatment.

November 29, 2018

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