This is the first mashup of 2014 – Happy New Year from the whole Synbio Consulting team!
The Synthetic Biology mashup is a weekly review of articles and pieces of news related to synthetic biology. While we share most of this on our twitter feed, if you need to catch up on this week’s headlines just read on!
Glow-In-The-Dark Piglets Developed at the University of Hawaii-Manoa
Moisyadi’s lab (http://www.ibr.hawaii.edu/faculty/moisyadi.html) at the University of Hawaii-Manoa in collaboration with researchers from the South China Agricultural University successfully injected pig embryos with DNA coding for a green fluorescent protein, resulting in healthy “glow-in-the-dark” piglets. This technique, already successful in rabbits in August 2013 is an interesting first step towards human gene therapy and Moisyadi’s team is already looking into possible haemophilia treatments.
Rothamsted Research develops Plants Producing Omega-3 Fatty Acids
The UK biotech company, Rothamsted Research (http://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/), has engineerd transgenic Camelina sativa specifically producing omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids into their seeds. There is hope that the genetically modified plant can be used for the production of healthier foods and for potential biofuels, as well as the relief of fish stocks. The findings were published in The Plant Journal.
“The GMO Stigma” an interesting article by Henry Miller.
The GMO debate was elegantly addressed this week by addressed by Henry I. Miller, a Robert Wesson Fellow in Scientific Philosophy and Public Policy at Stanford University, in an article named “The GMO Stigma” that highlights the indistinguishable nature of food considered “natural” and “genetically modified”, based on a long history of human manipulation
Intrexon to Collaborate with Agilis Biotherapeutics and Johnson & Johnson
On New Year’s Eve Agilis Biotherapeutics, a synthetic biology company focused on rare genetic diseases, and Intrexon, announced an Exclusive Channel Collaboration to develop DNA-based therapeutics for Friedreich’s ataxia, a genetic neurodegenerative disease caused by a mutation in the frataxin gene. The two companies are planning to use an inducible gene switch technology to precisely regulate the expression of therapeutic proteins and bioactive RNAs. Intrexon has also agreed to collaborate with Johnson & Johnson , in the creation of a new range of skin and hair products that will be developed using synthetic biology techniques.
Using Synthetic Biology to lower american bats mortality rate caused by virulent fungal disease
Bats are very important ecologically, controlling insect populations and fertilizing crops. American bats are currently decimated by an important fungal disease with an almost 100% fatality rate. In the above article, Rob Carlson discusses a recent conference that brought together conservationists and synthetic biologists to find a solution to the epidemy. Advanced genetic engineering, whereby resistant European bats genes would be introduced into American bats was proposed in order to restore the natural population.
That’s it for this week’s Synthetic Biology Mashup! A suggestion or a question? Shoot us an email.
