Tracing a cancer’s family tree to its roots reveals how tumors grow

Family trees of lung cancer cells reveal how cancer evolves from its earliest stages to an aggressive form capable of spreading throughout the body.

Greta Friar | Whitehead Institute • mit
May 5, 2022 ~9 min

Genetic GPS system of animal development explains why limbs grow from torsos and not heads

Hox genes make sure all your body parts grow in the right place. Understanding how they work can reveal the process of evolution and lead to potential treatments for congenital birth defects.

Ethan Bier, Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego • conversation
Nov. 10, 2021 ~10 min


A better gene-transport system targets diseased muscle tissue

A newly engineered gene-delivery system has the potential to make gene therapy for muscle diseases both safer and more effective for patients.

Juan Siliezar • harvard
Oct. 19, 2021 ~8 min

Gene-edited crops: expert Q+A on what field trials could mean for the future of food

Field trials of genetically edited crop plants are to be allowed in England under new government proposals.

Guy Poppy, Director of Multidisciplinary Research and Professor of Ecology, University of Southampton • conversation
Sept. 30, 2021 ~11 min

New programmable gene editing proteins found outside of CRISPR systems

Researchers find RNA-guided enzymes are more diverse and widespread than previously believed.

Jennifer Michalowski | McGovern Institute for Brain Research • mit
Sept. 15, 2021 ~6 min

Scientists harness human protein to deliver molecular medicines to cells

Made of components found in the human body, the programmable system is a step toward safer, targeted delivery of gene editing and other molecular therapeutics.

Broad Institute • mit
Aug. 19, 2021 ~8 min

Should we genetically edit the food we eat? We asked two experts

Catherine Price, sociologist, and Nicola Patron, synthetic plant biologist, discuss the promises, dangers and concerns around gene edited and GM crops.

Catherine Price, Postdoctoral Researcher, Change in Agriculture, University of Reading • conversation
Aug. 11, 2021 ~22 min

New at-home test detects COVID-19 variants in your spit

Researchers have now created a simple, inexpensive diagnostic test that allows users to test themselves for multiple variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus at home, using just a sample of their saliva.

Lindsay Brownell • harvard
Aug. 6, 2021 ~10 min


From CRISPR to glowing proteins to optogenetics – scientists' most powerful technologies have been borrowed from nature

Three pioneering technologies have forever altered how researchers do their work and promise to revolutionize medicine, from correcting genetic disorders to treating degenerative brain diseases.

Marc Zimmer, Professor of Chemistry, Connecticut College • conversation
Aug. 5, 2021 ~9 min

Study takes step toward finding cause of joint disease

A Harvard study could lead to potential therapeutics for one of the most prominent ailments of the elderly and one of the most prominent musculoskeletal defects in newborns.

Juan Siliezar • harvard
July 14, 2021 ~6 min

/

11