From artificial intelligence to pluripotent stem cells, this year saw the publication of a bevy of intriguing new methods, as well as tweaks to existing protocols. Artificial intelligence tackles life science
Look under the hood of many of this years headline-making discoveries in biology and youll find machine learning, a tool thats gaining ground in the life sciences thanks to growing computational power and the availability of big datasets needed for training. Among other advances in 2019, researchers reported successfully using machine learning to screen images for signs of cancer or infection by pathogens, and to identify epigenetic markers in blood samples that are associated with vascular complications in people with diabetes. Check out our special issue on AI for more examples of how the tool is transforming biology.
Even as computers take on more of the tasks once done by hand, engineers are exploring DNAs capacity to adopt a function usually associated with machines: information storage. This summer, researchers in Boston reported a way of harnessing DNA, together with CRISPR-like base editing machinery, to make a record of events inside living cells that can then be decoded via sequencing. Study coauthor Timothy Lu of MIT told The Scientist that its potential applications include detecting environmental toxins and recording developmental processes.
Another creative spin on CRISPR-Cas9 editing to come out this year is a detection device for particular DNA sequences. Here, the Cas9 enzyme is bound to an RNA and to a graphene chip and engineered not to make cuts in DNA. If the RNA-Cas9 complex connects to its target DNA sequence, it causes a change in the chips electric field and thus a positive readout. The chips developers suggest it could one day be used for quick DNA tests in clinical settings.
Among the endless variations of CRISPR scientists are engineering, one developed this year purports to reduce its off-target effects by avoiding double-strand DNA breaks. The technique, known as prime editing, uses the same Cas9 nuclease as frequently deployed in the CRISPR system but combines the enzyme with a guide RNA called pegRNA and a reverse transcriptase that initiates the addition of a new sequence or base into the genome. Once the new genetic material is incorporated into a cut strand of DNA, the prime editor nicks the unedited strand, signaling to the cell to rebuild it to match the edited strand.
As some researchers worked on their own variations of genome editing, others made an important edit of a recipe for induced pluripotent stem cells. First published by Shinya Yamanaka (now of Kyoto University) in 2006, the method overexpresses genes for four transcription factors in differentiated cells to reset them to a pluripotent state, creating what are known as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The most important of the four overproduced factors was thought to be Oct4. But last month, researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine announced theyd not only managed to make mouse iPSCs without tweaking Oct4 levels, but that the process was more efficient that way. If this works in adult human cells, it will be a huge advantage for the clinical applications of iPS cells, Yamanaka wrote in an email to The Scientist.
Shawna Williams is a senior editor atThe Scientist. Email her at swilliams@the-scientist.com or follow her on Twitter @coloradan.
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Top Technical Advances of 2019 - The Scientist
- Vascular Cell and Molecular Biology | Center for Vascular Biology | Weill Cornell ... - April 13th, 2018 [April 13th, 2018]
- APVBO-Asia Pacific Vascular Biology Organization Conference - April 18th, 2018 [April 18th, 2018]
- Vascular Biology Conferences | Vascular Surgery ... - May 5th, 2018 [May 5th, 2018]
- Vascular Discovery: From Genes to Medicine - May 7th, 2018 [May 7th, 2018]
- 2019 Vascular Cell Biology Conference GRC - May 26th, 2018 [May 26th, 2018]
- Biology 211: Taxonomy of Flowering Plants - June 7th, 2018 [June 7th, 2018]
- esm-evbo2019.org - Menu - July 27th, 2018 [July 27th, 2018]
- Vascular Biology | Pulmonary, Allergy, Sleep & Critical ... - November 16th, 2018 [November 16th, 2018]
- Lower vascular plant | biology | Britannica.com - November 18th, 2018 [November 18th, 2018]
- Vascular Biology - NAVBO - November 20th, 2018 [November 20th, 2018]
- 2019 Cerebral Vascular Biology Conference - cvent.com - November 21st, 2018 [November 21st, 2018]
- PPARs and Their Emerging Role in Vascular Biology ... - November 26th, 2018 [November 26th, 2018]
- Vascular Biology Chicago Medicine - November 30th, 2018 [November 30th, 2018]
- Vascular Biology | Society for Vascular Surgery - November 30th, 2018 [November 30th, 2018]
- Vascular Biology 2018 - NAVBO - December 19th, 2018 [December 19th, 2018]
- Vascular Biology 2019 - NAVBO - December 20th, 2018 [December 20th, 2018]
- Vascular Biology - January 22nd, 2019 [January 22nd, 2019]
- pvb2019.org Plant Vascular Biology Conference 2019 - January 31st, 2019 [January 31st, 2019]
- Plant Physiology | Basic Biology - March 12th, 2019 [March 12th, 2019]
- Awards - esm-evbo2019.org - April 23rd, 2019 [April 23rd, 2019]
- Medication and Exercise to Prevent Muscle Loss - Next Avenue - September 24th, 2019 [September 24th, 2019]
- A Snail as Fast as a Bullet, and Other Darwin-Defying Marvels - Discovery Institute - September 24th, 2019 [September 24th, 2019]
- Nature up close: Life in the Humboldt Penguin National Reserve - CBS News - September 24th, 2019 [September 24th, 2019]
- Oklahoma new hires and promotions announced - Oklahoman.com - September 24th, 2019 [September 24th, 2019]
- Quinn Capers IV, MD - TCTMD - September 24th, 2019 [September 24th, 2019]
- Cardiovascular Repair And Reconstruction Devices Market Global Industry Insights by Top Vendors, Growth, Revenue and Forecast Outlook 2019-2025 -... - September 26th, 2019 [September 26th, 2019]
- Four health projects at Boston Childrens Hospital that could help adults - The Boston Globe - September 30th, 2019 [September 30th, 2019]
- Research Officer/ Postdoctoral Researcher - The Conversation AU - October 16th, 2019 [October 16th, 2019]
- UNSW skin cancer researcher Levon Khachigian hit with string of retractions - ABC News - October 16th, 2019 [October 16th, 2019]
- Michal Wszola: We Expect to Transplant the Bioprinted Bionic Pancreas in Three to Five Years - 3DPrint.com - October 24th, 2019 [October 24th, 2019]
- 'The Blob': This mysterious 'smart' slime can solve puzzles and make decisions - CNBC - October 24th, 2019 [October 24th, 2019]
- University of Maryland and DOD collaborate to study Tick-borne Infections using 3-D models of human blood vessels - Outbreak News Today - November 19th, 2019 [November 19th, 2019]
- Submerged Vegetation Mirrors Coast's Health - Coastal Review Online - November 19th, 2019 [November 19th, 2019]
- Another health warning for e-cigarette users that has nothing to do with lung disease - MarketWatch - November 19th, 2019 [November 19th, 2019]
- E-Cigarettes Take a Dangerous Toll on Heart Health - DocWire News - November 19th, 2019 [November 19th, 2019]
- Vascular biology Department of Surgery College of ... - November 19th, 2019 [November 19th, 2019]
- US Nobel laureates tell us what they think about cancer research, moonshots, the dark side, funding, meritocracy, herd mentality, Trump, and joy - The... - November 21st, 2019 [November 21st, 2019]
- Growing Organs in the Lab: One Step Closer to Reality - BioSpace - November 21st, 2019 [November 21st, 2019]
- Inotrem Announces Enrollment of First Patient in its Phase IIb ASTONISH Trial for Nangibotide in the Treatment of Septic Shock - Business Wire - November 21st, 2019 [November 21st, 2019]
- Another Study Suggests E-cigarettes Hurt Heart Health More Than Regular Cigarettes - Science Times - November 21st, 2019 [November 21st, 2019]
- Cleveland Clinic awarded $12 million by NIH to study the link between gut microbes and heart disease - Crain's Cleveland Business - November 21st, 2019 [November 21st, 2019]
- JanOne Acquires Worldwide, Exclusive License for Promising Treatment of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) - Yahoo Finance - November 27th, 2019 [November 27th, 2019]
- Germ-free lungs of newborn mice are partially protected against hyperoxia - The Mix - November 27th, 2019 [November 27th, 2019]
- Bethesda Health Physician Group Welcomes Fellowship-Trained Endocrine Surgeon Jessica L. Buicko, MD, to Its Team - The Boca Raton Tribune - November 27th, 2019 [November 27th, 2019]
- 9 Harvard researchers named AAAS Fellows Harvard - Harvard Gazette - November 27th, 2019 [November 27th, 2019]
- Growing up Tyrannosaurus rex: Osteohistology refutes the pygmy Nanotyrannus and supports ontogenetic niche partitioning in juvenile Tyrannosaurus -... - January 2nd, 2020 [January 2nd, 2020]
- UCC currently taking applicants for 21 jobs with some incredible pay - Cork Beo - January 2nd, 2020 [January 2nd, 2020]
- Vascular Biology | Surgery Research | Michigan Medicine ... - January 2nd, 2020 [January 2nd, 2020]
- Sandy Bottom wetlands to receive protection for 'national ecological significance' - Citizen Times - January 14th, 2020 [January 14th, 2020]
- Why biotech is a boon for patients and investors - Spear's WMS - January 14th, 2020 [January 14th, 2020]
- Exonate Announces Collaboration With Janssen to Develop a New Eye Drop for the Treatment of Retinal Vascular Diseases Including Wet Age-related... - January 14th, 2020 [January 14th, 2020]
- G-protein Coupled Receptor Market Competitive Research And Precise Outlook 2019 To 2025 Dagoretti News - Dagoretti News - January 18th, 2020 [January 18th, 2020]
- Scientists revealed the oldest known scorpion on Earth - Tech Explorist - January 18th, 2020 [January 18th, 2020]
- How biology creates networks that are cheap, robust, and efficient - Penn: Office of University Communications - January 18th, 2020 [January 18th, 2020]
- Genome editing heralds new era of disease research, therapy - The Augusta Chronicle - January 18th, 2020 [January 18th, 2020]
- Research Fellow in Vascular Stem Cell Biology job with QUEENS UNIVERSITY BELFAST | 195527 - Times Higher Education (THE) - February 10th, 2020 [February 10th, 2020]
- More than skin deep: the latest innovation in 3D printing - Med-Tech Innovation - February 10th, 2020 [February 10th, 2020]
- Examining the link between menopause and heart disease risk - Medical News Bulletin - February 10th, 2020 [February 10th, 2020]
- Women Face an Increased Risk of Heart Disease With AgeRunning Can Help - runnersworld.com - February 12th, 2020 [February 12th, 2020]
- G-protein Coupled Receptor Market Competitive Research And Precise Outlook 2019 To 2025 - Galus Australis - February 15th, 2020 [February 15th, 2020]
- Valentine's Day Matters of the Heart, Biopharma-Style - BioSpace - February 15th, 2020 [February 15th, 2020]
- The Addicted Gardener: Environmental tidbits from around the world - Wicked Local Sharon - February 22nd, 2020 [February 22nd, 2020]
- UI at 150 & Beyond: 'The Quad was the best no matter what the weather' - Champaign/Urbana News-Gazette - February 22nd, 2020 [February 22nd, 2020]
- The Addicted Gardener: Environmental tidbits from around the world - Wicked Local Dedham - February 23rd, 2020 [February 23rd, 2020]
- THE ADDICTED GARDENER: Environmental tidbits from around the world - Wicked Local Wareham - March 22nd, 2020 [March 22nd, 2020]
- 'Little Foot' skull reveals how this more than 3 million year old human ancestor lived - HeritageDaily - March 22nd, 2020 [March 22nd, 2020]
- It's Not Only About Neurons - The Good Men Project - March 22nd, 2020 [March 22nd, 2020]
- Who is Sir Patrick Vallance and what is his role in government during coronavirus outbreak? - The Scottish Sun - March 22nd, 2020 [March 22nd, 2020]
- University of Washington Pathology Professor Dies of COVID-19 - The Scientist - March 22nd, 2020 [March 22nd, 2020]
- THE ADDICTED GARDENER: Environmental tidbits from around the world - Wicked Local Rochester - March 23rd, 2020 [March 23rd, 2020]
- Ancient human ancestor 'Little Foot' probably lived in trees, new research finds - WBAP News/Talk - March 23rd, 2020 [March 23rd, 2020]
- Study shows similarity in anti-VEGF injection intervals for wet AMD - Ophthalmology Times - March 25th, 2020 [March 25th, 2020]
- aTyr Pharma and its Hong Kong Subsidiary, Pangu BioPharma, Announce Government Grant to Fund Bispecific Antibody Development Platform - BioSpace - March 25th, 2020 [March 25th, 2020]
- Health researchers find solution to life-threatening side effect - Mirage News - March 25th, 2020 [March 25th, 2020]
- European Vascular Biology Organisation | Advancing human ... - March 25th, 2020 [March 25th, 2020]
- Vascular Biology Program | Boston Children's Hospital - March 25th, 2020 [March 25th, 2020]
- Vascular Biology Research Program | Johns Hopkins ... - March 25th, 2020 [March 25th, 2020]
- Anatomy of a heatwave: how Antarctica recorded a 20.75C day last month - The Conversation AU - April 1st, 2020 [April 1st, 2020]
- Who is Sir Patrick Vallance and is he speaking at todays government coronavirus press briefing? - The Sun - April 1st, 2020 [April 1st, 2020]
- Meso-Erythritol Market Global Analysis and Future Forecast to 2026 (Based on 2020 COVID-19 Worldwide Spread) - Jewish Life News - April 28th, 2020 [April 28th, 2020]