Watch out Cas9: Cpf1 Hits the Mark in Human Cells and Creates a Mouse ModelJune 15, 2016In the Wild West of CRISPR genome editing, Cas9 has established itself as a wrangler of animal models that takes out any sequence with an sgRNA bounty on its head. But now there’s a new sheriff in town with marksman aim. CRISPR from Prevotella and Francisella 1 (Cpf1) was brought forth by the pioneering lab […]
New C2c2 CRISPR Turns The Tables on RNAJune 15, 2016In the CRISPR hype up to now, DNA has gotten a raw deal. In all known CRISPR systems, RNA guides gang up with protein effectors (e.g., Cas9 and Cpf1) to chop up poor, abused DNA helices. Now, a new CRISPR protein – C2c2 – is giving DNA a reprieve, turning the tables on RNA instead. […]
Freeze-Dried, Zika-Detecting Gene CircuitsJune 15, 2016Freeze-drying has claimed to be the technology the future before, but its fruits – from strawberries to ice cream – have never quite lived up to the hype. However, synthetic gene circuits recently joined the picnic with a powerful new use for the process; they can be freeze dried onto filter paper along with cell-free […]
Tracing Cell Lineages with CRISPR/Cas9-Based Genetic BarcodesJune 15, 2016Digital barcodes are a pervasive and highly utile means of tracking just about anything that you can imagine. Through the application of barcode technology we can create a grand overview of the journey each book, beer, burger, or boat took to travel from A to Z. Scientists would love a similar system to track cells […]
The Mixed Messages of Bivalent ChromatinJune 14, 2016Navigating the epigenetic landscape is no easy feat. Clear markings and smooth rides through its canals can quickly give way to a hectic hodgepodge of mixed signals and uncertain routes. A great example is bivalent chromatin, which contains marks of both activation and repression. Characterized by Bernstein et al. in 2006, the most studied bivalent […]
