CRISPR

Fierce Syrian hamster gnawing on its cage bars

Researchers created gene-edited hamsters full of rage in an experiment gone wrong

June 26th, 2022

Joshua Hawkins

A group of researchers made gene-edited hamsters that were meant to be less aggressive. The researchers used CRISPR, a gene-editing platform, to remove a gene they believed was responsible for aggressive behavior in hamsters. However, the genetic modification had a much different effect. Instead of being more docile, the hamsters became overly aggressive.

genetically modified cockroaches could open new doors for gene-editing research

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Scientists made genetically modified cockroaches

May 18th, 2022

Joshua Hawkins

Scientists have finally gone too far. For the first time in history, scientists have created genetically modified cockroaches. Now, obviously, scientists going too far is a joke. But why exactly would scientists edit the genes of cockroaches? Well, for scientific progress, of course.

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Scientists might actually create hypoallergenic cats

April 1st, 2022

Joshua Hawkins

People with cat allergies may be able to have a cat sometime in the future thanks to gene-editing technology. Of course, the creation of truly hypoallergenic cats is far off. But, scientists believe they could use CRISPR, a gene-editing tool, to remove the gene responsible for creating the protein that causes cat allergies.

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This remarkable tech can actually improve the eyesight of the visually impaired

January 26th, 2022

Joshua Hawkins

A gene-editing treatment known as CRISPR appears to have positive results for people suffering from a rare visual disorder. According to new reports, researchers injected seven volunteers with CRISPR to treat a rare vision disorder. Unlike other treatments, scientists designed CRISPR to fight diseases at a genetic level. Following the experiment, some of the volunteers …

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Novel CRISPR system can stop cancer in its tracks

November 21st, 2020

Mike Wehner

Scientists have developed a new system using the CRISPR genome-editing system to attack and kill cancer cells. The system targets cancel cells directly and, like “scissors,” cuts their DNA, killing them. Additional trials and testing are needed, but the promising new system could eventually be used to fight cancer in humans. The fight against cancer …

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Revolutionary new coronavirus test delivers a diagnosis in 5 minutes

October 9th, 2020

Chris Smith

A new coronavirus test needs only five minutes to deliver a positive diagnosis and has another advantage compared to traditional testing — it can also determine the viral load of an individual. The CRISPR test was developed by a USCF team led by Jennifer Doudna, the scientist who won a share of this year’s Nobel …

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Chinese scientist who genetically edited babies will spend 3 years in prison

December 30th, 2019

Mike Wehner

One of the craziest stories to come out of 2018 was the saga of a Chinese scientist named He Jiankui. The genetics researcher took it upon himself to use the CRISPR gene-editing technique to modify human embryos and then have those embryos carried to term by their mothers. This resulted in what are believed to …

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New gene-editing technique shows promise in negating bad mutations

August 26th, 2019

Mike Wehner

We’ve all heard a lot about genetic modification this year, thanks in large part to one Chinese scientist taking it upon himself to edited the genes of human babies. His work was universally decried by fellow scientists and he got himself into some serious trouble because of it. But genetic modification is an incredible tool …

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Scientists say genetically modified babies will have shorter lives

June 4th, 2019

Mike Wehner

In late 2018 a Chinese scientist name He Jiankui performed work that has gained him not only the criticism of his peers but also backlash from his home country’s government. He took the extraordinary step of performing genetic modification on human embryos with the intention of having them carried to term. A pair of newborns …

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Scientists demand a prohibition on human genetic modification

March 16th, 2019

Mike Wehner

It’s now been several months since Chinese geneticist He Jiankui announced to the world that he had genetically modified human embryos which were then carried to term and resulted in twin girls. His work, which has come under harsh criticism from every corner of the scientific community, landed him in state detention and he may …