Some of the best stuff we picked up around the internet
By: Gorm Palmgren - Apr. 16, 2021
Top pick
CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing can lead to unintended mutations at the targeted section of DNA in early human embryos, according to researchers at the Francis Crick Institute. Unintended outcomes in a 4-20 kb region occurred in ∼16% of the human embryo cells analysed and included loss of heterozygosity in edited cells.
A new gene-editing technology called CRISPRoff allows transient, light-controlled gene expression. CRISPRoff is developed by Whitehead Institute researchers and utilises a dead Cas9 fusion protein that establishes DNA methylation and repressive histone modifications. The technology should not be confused with a similarly named technology by Synthego that enables light-controlled gene editing, which we wrote about last year.
CRISPR Therapeutics has presented new preclinical data on its novel CRISPR-Cas9 mediated CD70 knockout approach to augment CAR-T cell function. CD70 is an immunosuppresive ligand, and its knockout showed improved potency and persistence of CAR-T cells.
Tango Therapeutics - that takes a CRISPR-focused search for new cancer genes - has raised $353 Mio in a so called SPAC deal with Boxer Capital, a blank-check company.
Don't forget our own free webinar Certainty After CRISPR that takes off next Tuesday April 20 at 3:00 pm–4:30 pm CEST / 9:00 am–10:30 am EDT. Keyi Geng and Eric Paul Bennett will discuss the nature of unexpected gene editing outcomes and ways to detect and characterise both the expected and unexpected editing outcomes.