Rapid Assessment of CRISPR Genome EditingAugust 3, 2014Well begun is half done. But if you are making a CRISPR knock-out mouse, it is hard to tell early enough whether you’ve begun well. Thankfully, a talented team of researchers in Japan led by Takayuki Sakurai have now optimized an assay that helps you do just that – predict if you are on the […]
The Long and Short of It: ZFNs are Choosey About Repeat LengthAugust 2, 2014In a classic switcheroo, a talented research team led by ChongHua Ren inserted a repeat-flanked Zinc Finger Nuclease (ZFN) binding site right in the middle of the transcription factor Gal4, shifting control of Gal4 expression to capricious homologous recombination events. ZFNs edit the genome at specific locations by cutting DNA at the endonuclease site. When […]
Editor in Chief: TALEN, CRISPR and the iPSC GenomeAugust 2, 2014Undeniably, the future of therapeutics is moving away from panacea miracle drugs and gravitating towards personalized treatments using gene therapy. Furthermore, the discovery of iPSCs verified the idea that individuals could have their own stem cell line available for therapeutic purposes—therapies that are made possible by editing the genome of iPSCs. Transcription activator-like effector (TALEN) and […]
CRISPR Paves the Way for Large Fragment Genome EditingAugust 1, 2014Traditional large genome editing techniques employ indirect cloning of large genomes into bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) plasmid. This technique is rather difficult and protracted. Thus, bypassing the BAC plasmid stage in large genome editing would be a big win for the application. The CRISPR-cas9 system, first discovered in Streptococcus pyogenes, is an important tool for […]
Hold Your ‘breadth’ – H3K4me3 Domain Size MattersAugust 1, 2014Apple may have finally thrown the gloves off in the race for larger screens, but it appears that this is old news for cells, who have been elevating the status of important genes for years by marking them with large billboards of H3K4 tri-methylation. These genes then get the VIP treatment from cellular machinery ensuring “enhanced […]
Webinar: Using CRISPR/Cas9 Technology for Editing Genes in Haematopoietic Cells and MiceJuly 29, 2014Presented by: Dr Marco Herold, Laboratory Head, Molecular Genetics of Cancer Division, The Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research Abstract: The CRISPR/Cas9 technology provides an easy and rapid way to edit genes in vitro and in vivo. Initial experimental strategies utilized a transient transfection approach to modulate genes in vitro, but this proved […]
TAL Effectors Dig the Long Distance ThingJuly 25, 2014If you think the subway is crowded you haven’t seen what a TAL Effector (TALE) has to put up with when getting to work. In a new study involving the production of more than 200 TALE modulators, researches at Beijing University found the long sought explanation of why some TALEs effectively modulate transcription while others do not. […]
CRISPRs and TALENs Stay on Target in Stem Cell GenomesJuly 25, 2014Some of our most touted advancements in weaponry involve ‘surgical strike capabilities’, the idea being that the more precisely you attack a specific target, the less unintended damage there will be. Recent innovations in genome editing, such as CRISPRs and TALENs, may provide researchers with an improved genomic targeting system, enabling more precise aiming towards […]
Blame Your Old Man: Age-Related Sperm Methylation Changes May Up Disease OddsJuly 24, 2014Delayed parenthood in developed countries means more old dads. Who cares you ask? You should, as this trend doesn’t just increase early morning traffic at Starbucks, it can also increase the incidence of autism, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, some forms of cancer, or other disorders that accompany the offspring of older fathers. Way to go Dad; […]
Webinar – Bringing ChIP Seq Data into Focus: Advanced Normalization StrategiesJuly 23, 2014If you’ve ever struggled to make sense of your ChIP Seq data, then check out this webinar presented by our colleagues at Active Motif, to get some ideas on how to bring some order to the chaos of ChIP-seq. Presented by Brian Egan, Ph.D, Epigenetic Services Manager at Active Motif Normalization of ChIP-seq Data Today, […]