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And That, Kids, Was the Day I Created Life

Jun 29, 2007

Yesterday's online edition of Science included the much-anticipated paper from Craig Venter and his team demonstrating successful genome transplantation. Venter and his colleagues inserted the intact genomic DNA of a Mycoplasma mycoides strain into Mycoplasma capricolum cells.

Of course, news of "synthetic life" has whipped the mainstream press into action. Coverage in the Wall Street Journal was thorough and, in addition to recounting the latest news, offers a look at other synthetic biology initiatives as well as scientific and public concerns about the field.

Still not enough? The New York Times is taking readers' questions about the project, and Venter along with corresponding author John Glass will be on hand to answer them.

 

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The Scan

Positive Framing of Genetic Studies Can Spark Mistrust Among Underrepresented Groups

Researchers in Human Genetics and Genomics Advances report that how researchers describe genomic studies may alienate potential participants.

Small Study of Gene Editing to Treat Sickle Cell Disease

In a Novartis-sponsored study in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers found that a CRISPR-Cas9-based treatment targeting promoters of genes encoding fetal hemoglobin could reduce disease symptoms.

Gut Microbiome Changes Appear in Infants Before They Develop Eczema, Study Finds

Researchers report in mSystems that infants experienced an enrichment in Clostridium sensu stricto 1 and Finegoldia and a depletion of Bacteroides before developing eczema.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treatment Specificity Enhanced With Stem Cell Editing

A study in Nature suggests epitope editing in donor stem cells prior to bone marrow transplants can stave off toxicity when targeting acute myeloid leukemia with immunotherapy.