BioTech Review

With a second delayed report of a child's death in China, criticism is rising of a looser form of clinical trial. One expert: what "bothers me is the lack of…

Matt Walker couldn't pet a dog without sneezing—until he and other scientists used a gene editing technique to produce a hypoallergenic beagle named Bailey.

The puppies represent a key first step towards addressing canine allergenicity and mark potentially a significant advance in veterinary biotechnology. The post Fur Real: Biotech Startup Eliminates Major Dog Allergen in Beagle Pups Using CRISPR appeared first on GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.

A startup has created beagles without the gene that causes runny noses and watery eyes for allergy sufferers.

Penn researchers found that TRF2, long known for protecting chromosome ends, also preserves muscle stem cell identity during injury repair in mice.

Learn more about the medical treatments CRISPR could improve and the ethical concerns it raises. 

The FDA, while promising flexibility in approving Baby KJ-type gene editing, still has set standards difficult for a small startup to meet.

Transposable elements, once dismissed as genomic “junk,” are emerging as active regulators of cell identity, stress responses and disease. A new study published in Cell Death Discovery examines how these mobile DNA sequences are expressed and regulated in an adult stem cell with major physiological and clinical importance. The work, led by Fu, Cai, Zhao […]

An investigation raises concerns about oversight, informed consent, and transparency after an undisclosed death in a first-in-human gene editing trial.

For decades, mammary stem cells have been portrayed as the hidden architects of the breast: rare, self-renewing cells capable of producing the specialized cell types that build and maintain mammary tissue. A new review in Experimental & Molecular Medicine brings together the latest understanding of how these cells behave during development, how they respond to […]

Nature is the foremost international weekly scientific journal in the world and is the flagship journal for Nature Portfolio. It publishes the finest peer-reviewed research in all fields of science and technology on the basis of its originality, importance, interdisciplinary interest, timeliness, accessibility, elegance and surprising conclusions. Nature publishes landmark papers, award winning news, leading comment and expert opinion on important, topical scientific news and events that enable readers to share the latest discoveries in science and evolve the discussion amongst the global scientific community.

The main function of CRISPR-Cas systems is to defend bacteria against various threats, including viruses called bacteriophages. Researchers have continued to study all varieties of CRISPR-Cas systems (to date, two classes, seven types and 46 subtypes have been identified) to understand their capabilities.

A process long associated with genomic instability may have a carefully controlled role in human development, according to a study published in Cell Death Discovery. Researchers report evidence that human stem cells can undergo “physiological re-replication” as they differentiate, duplicating portions of their genetic material in a regulated biological context rather than as a consequence […]

For years, cancer research has treated tumor cells as relatively stable enemies: cells that multiply, spread and acquire resistance through genetic mutations. A study published in Cell Death Discovery challenges that simplified view in non-small cell lung cancer, suggesting that some of the most dangerous tumor cells can change their behavior in response to the […]

A joint research team led by Professor Daesik Kim (Department of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University), along with Professor Yong-Sub Kim (University of Ulsan College of Medicine) and Professor Jae-Hyun Park (Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine), has announced the development of 'OpenABE' (Open Adenine Base Editor).

In many animal tissues, stem cells continually divide to create new cells that replace old or damaged ones. However, this capacity requires strict regulation, as uncontrolled stem cell proliferation can disrupt tissue homeostasis and contribute to tumorigenesis.

A gene-editing tool designed to precisely rewrite the gene that causes Huntington's disease reduced toxic protein fragments and symptoms associated with the disease in mice, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign report.

Shirguppe, S., Gapinske, M., Swami, D. et al. In vivo CRISPR base editing for treatment of Huntington’s disease. Nat. Biomed. Eng (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-026-01747-y https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-026-01747-y Tags: advancements in neurogenetic therapiesbiomedical engineering in neurogeneticsCRISPR technology in Huntington’s diseaseCRISPR-based gene correction in vivogene editing in neurodegenerative disordersgenome editing for hereditary neurological disordersHuntington’s disease genetic mutation targetingin vivo CRISPR […]

A new perfusion-bioreactor platform developed by researchers in France offers tighter control of large bioprinted tissue cultures, combining regulated growth conditions with MRI monitoring to improve reproducibility and support future advances in drug testing and regenerative medicine. The post Large Bioprinted Tissues Get a Precision Boost appeared first on GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.

The death of a six-year-old girl after receiving an experimental gene-editing therapy has been described by scientists as a tragedy that highlights the need to improve trial safeguards. But some in the biotechnology industry fear Chinese policymakers may curtail the regulatory flexibility that scientists have long enjoyed in initiating clinical trials – a key mechanism behind China’s competitive edge in frontier treatments. “I hope this tragedy does not have a lasting negative impact on...

A new multi-site study published in Gene Therapy reports that two streamlined assays—SACF and GILA—can improve how scientists evaluate whether CRISPR/Cas9-edited cell therapy candidates undergo unintended transformation in vitro. The work addresses a core challenge in gene editing: even when on-target edits look clean, rare cellular changes can emerge that may alter growth behavior or […]

A gene editing tool designed to precisely rewrite the gene that causes Huntington's disease reduced toxic protein fragments and symptoms associated with the disease in mice, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign report.

Stem cells in the Drosophila intestine continuously generate new cells, but their division must be precisely limited to preserve tissue balance. Left unchecked, overproliferation can destabilize epithelial organization and mirror the early logic of tumorigenesis. A new study now traces how differentiated progenitor cells help enforce this brake—using a molecular system better known for physically […]

Bacteria face relentless pressure from bacteriophages, yet their protective arsenals include many partially independent defense modules. A central question has been how these modules coordinate rather than compete—especially when multiple innate immunity systems are arranged across the same genome. In a new study, researchers reveal a regulatory strategy in which CRISPR–Cas does more than target […]

Gene editing is a highly precise and powerful technology that allows scientists to insert, delete, modify or replace DNA bases in living organisms. It has a variety of uses, including correcting disease-causing mutations and improving crops. Tools like CRISPR act as molecular scissors that target specific places in a genome to make these changes. But the technology is not perfect and can accidentally edit the wrong pieces of DNA or RNA.

Buck Institute researchers report APOE2 helps neurons repair DNA and resist senescence. The work is preclinical, in lab-grown cells and mice.

Scientists used CRISPR to make prostate cancer cells easier for the immune system to detect and destroy. The experimental treatment dramatically improved the effects of immunotherapy in mice and may offer hope for other hard-to-treat tumors.

Bacteria rely on CRISPR-Cas systems to survive attacks from bacteriophages, viruses that infect and hijack bacterial cells. Beyond its well-known role as an adaptive immune mechanism, CRISPR-Cas is now emerging as a more versatile regulator of bacterial defense. In a new study, researchers investigated the type I CRISPR-Cas system in Neisseria and uncovered an unexpected […]

A Chinese university is looking into reports that a gene-editing trial caused the death of a 6-year-old girl, which was not disclosed in the published research, the school said Sunday.

The main function of CRISPR-Cas systems, the revolutionary tool scientists now employ to edit genes, is to defend bacteria against threats such as viruses called bacteriophages.

To make CRISPR better at its job, researchers are turning to algorithms like DeepMind's AlphaFold. The post Scientists Are Designing CRISPR Gene Editors With AI appeared first on SingularityHub.

Google's AlphaFold can help ID what parts of a gene editing protein enable mistakes.

A 6-year-old Chinese girl died last year after receiving an experimental gene therapy to correct a non-life-threatening condition, according to an investigation by Science and Retraction Watch.

Sanofi insulin pen in short supply, a win for peptide compounds, and more biotech news from The Readout

A 9-year-old biotech co-founded by CRISPR pioneer Jennifer Doudna is kicking off a run of biotech IPOs set for this year's second half. Scribe Therapeutics priced its $128.7 million

The European Union adopted new legislation on plants obtained through certain new genomic techniques in June 2026. The new framework will apply after a two-year transition period. It distinguishes between two categories. Plants in Category 1 (NGT-1) have a limited number and type of genetic changes that could also occur naturally or through conventional breeding. Under the new legislation, they will largely be regulated like conventionally bred plants. Category 2 plants with more extensive or complex modifications will remain subject to the existing genetically modified organism (GMO) rules.

The FDA on July 1, 2026, expanded Casgevy CRISPR gene therapy to children as young as 2 with sickle cell disease. Here is what families need to know about eligibility and access.

Parents want accountability after study went disastrously wrong, Science and Retraction Watch investigation reveals

When it comes to organ donation, time is everything. As soon as an organ has been carefully removed from a donor’s body, it starts to deteriorate. Surgeons have a matter of hours to get it into a recipient. Leave it too long and the organ will become unusable. In most cases, organs will be kept…

All cellular life-from humans to bacteria-possesses two layers of immunity: innate and adaptive. Scientists have long understood how these two types of immunity work together in higher organisms but not in the microbial world.

A gentler stem cell transplant rejuvenated aging blood and immune systems in mice. Imagine storing your own healthy blood stem cells while young, then receiving them decades later to refresh the systems that produce blood and support immunity. That possibility remains speculative for people, but researchers have shown that young stem cells can rejuvenate these [...]

Sickle cell disease causes premature aging of blood stem cells, which scientists may be able to address with a special class of drugs, according to a new study from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

All cellular life—from humans to bacteria—possesses two layers of immunity: innate and adaptive. Scientists have long understood how these two types of immunity work together in higher organisms but not in the microbial world.

Autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease (ADAD) is a genetically inherited form of Alzheimer's disease that accounts for only about 1% of Alzheimer's disease cases. However, because individuals with the gene mutations are extremely likely to develop Alzheimer's disease at an early age, and because the mutation is highly heritable, ADAD is widely studied by Alzheimer's disease researchers.

Miniature brain models grown from patients’ cells revealed striking differences in how Alzheimer’s-related tissue responds to an antidepressant. The organoids and the particles they release could eventually guide more personalized treatments and provide new clues for diagnosing the disease.

UC San Diego has joined the Innovative Genomics Institute as its fourth UC partner, expanding collaboration to develop next-generation genome-editing technologies that address major health, climate, agriculture, and environmental challenges through interdisciplinary research. The post UCSD, IGI Partnership Expands CRISPR Innovation Across Health, Agriculture, and the Environment appeared first on GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.

The University of California San Diego and the Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI), founded by Nobel laureate and CRISPR gene editing co-discoverer Jennifer Doudna, announced a new partnership today to jointly develop cutting-edge genomic tools for addressing large-scale challenges in health and the environment.

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FDA approved Casgevy CRISPR gene therapy for children as young as 2 with sickle cell disease on July 1, 2026. Here's what families need to know about this milestone.

Researchers have described a method of using exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to fight harmful metabolic changes in the liver. Another look […]

Scientists have successfully edited the genome of biting midges, opening the door to new research on how these insects transmit disease. Culicoides biting midges are small blood-feeding insects responsible for spreading important vector-borne viruses such as bluetongue virus (BTV), Schmallenberg virus (SBV) and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV), which cause major losses to livestock production worldwide. Despite their importance as disease vectors, Culicoides are among the smallest blood-feeding insects, just 1–4 mm (0.04–0.16 inches) long, making them difficult to study in the laboratory.

Blood transfusions are crucial in human and veterinary medicine, yet human blood reserves are in constant need of donors, while blood bank systems in veterinary care are nearly nonexistent. This leaves canine transfusions largely reliant on donations from healthy dogs, but securing compatible blood remains a major challenge because dogs also have different blood types.

The future of pediatric gene therapy is being reshaped by a three-way convergence: CRISPR–Cas9 genome editing, artificial intelligence (AI), and personalized medicine. Together, these approaches are opening routes toward durable, potentially curative treatments for rare genetic disorders that have historically had limited options for children. CRISPR–Cas9 remains at the center of this transformation by enabling […]

Scientists have made many advances using traditional CRISPR technology, especially in medicine, but they are now seeking ways to create genuinely new gene-editing enzymes with properties that have not already evolved naturally. A new study, published in Science, describes a new AI-designed synthetic TnpB enzyme, called SynTnpBs, that has outperformed the natural reference enzyme.

Controlling ribosomal RNA could help researchers target diseases driven by too little or too much protein production. Cells do not simply make proteins at a fixed pace. They continually adjust production to match their needs, and those changes can help determine whether a cell keeps dividing, adopts a specialized identity, or retains the developmental flexibility [...]

Artificial intelligence is beginning to redesign the molecular machinery that powers genome editing. A new Science report describes how researchers created synthetic, RNA-guided nucleases that rival—or outperform—natural enzymes. The work extends the CRISPR toolbox by showing that structure-guided protein design can yield genome-editing proteins with substantially different sequences while preserving function. CRISPR-Cas systems work by […]

Scientists used artificial intelligence to design CRISPR nucleases with properties not found in nature, achieving activity that matches or exceeds natural enzymes despite the proteins' complex, multi-domain structure. The post AI-Designed Synthetic CRISPR-Like Nucleases Show Activity in Cells appeared first on GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.

Cancer therapy is increasingly limited by two stubborn realities: tumors change their phenotype as they evolve, and they rarely share a single genetic blueprint. That plasticity makes “one-and-done” treatments less effective, while the genetic heterogeneity of malignant cells complicates attempts to precisely reprogram their behavior. Against this backdrop, a new proposal aims to upgrade CRISPR-based […]

Traffic lights aren’t the only things that can shift from red to green. A team at Hiroshima University reports that the color of perilla can be reprogrammed using CRISPR-Cas9—while also rewiring the plant’s underlying chemical machinery. The result is a striking conversion of red perilla into a green phenotype that visually resembles conventional green varieties. […]

In 1982, she led the research team that figured out how to genetically alter plants, a discovery that would eventually transform global agriculture.

In 1982, she led the research team that figured out how to genetically alter plants, a discovery that would eventually transform global agriculture.

In 1982, she led the research team that figured out how to genetically alter plants, a discovery that would eventually transform global agriculture.

About 9% of men of reproductive age in the United States experience fertility problems. One of the many causes of male infertility is a failure in germline development, the process by which embryonic cells develop into sperm or eggs. Finding treatments has been challenging because there are no laboratory models that accurately mimic how sperm develop, but a recent study brings us a step closer.

Cadmium (Cd) contamination poses a serious threat to global food safety. As a toxic and carcinogenic heavy metal, cadmium can accumulate in agricultural soils through industrialization and urbanization before entering the human food chain. Rice is especially vulnerable because it absorbs more cadmium than other major cereal crops, making it one of the largest dietary sources of cadmium exposure for nearly half the world's population.

Cadmium (Cd) contamination is a growing threat to food safety, and rice is one of the most vulnerable crops. Because rice plants can accumulate cadmium from contaminated soils more readily than many other staples, Cd can become a major dietary exposure route for large parts of the world’s population. Yet attempts to lower cadmium often […]

Fungi quietly underpin modern life, from producing medicines and shaping food systems to enabling industrial material processing. Yet their genetic blueprints remain far less understood than their biological impact suggests. Even among the best-studied fungal species, scientists still lack functional annotations for the majority of genes, largely because gene-by-gene investigation has been slow and technically […]

A new startup is making a bold move in the world of obesity drug development: It’s not working with the GLP-1 target that has taken the world by storm.

The tally of biotechs waiting to list in the coming weeks has increased to three, after biologics maker Attovia Therapeutics filed for an initial public offering on Tuesday after the market closed. Attovia, which has ...

Body Repairs Itself by Reverting Aged Cells into Stem-Like States A new study from the Technion suggests the body can regenerate damaged tissue in a way that overturns a long-held assumption: that stem-cell loss is irreversible. Researchers report that mature, aged cells can be reprogrammed into an active, stem-like state, enabling durable repair without relying […]

Researchers at Technion have uncovered a surprising natural mechanism through which the body repairs itself: Contrary to what was previously believed, mature, aged cells retain an extraordinary ability to "turn back time" and revert to active stem cells that regenerate damaged tissue.

Lab-grown meat, gene editing and extreme fire: researchers' predictions for life in the 2100s

Microorganisms are increasingly being engineered to manufacture valuable compounds ranging from medicines and food ingredients to biofuels and industrial chemicals. However, turning microbes into efficient production platforms requires extensive strain optimization. Finding the right genetic changes to transform an ordinary microbe into a high-performing producer remains a major challenge, as beneficial genetic targets and gene combinations are often hidden within complex cellular networks.

A team led by bioengineers at the University of California San Diego has developed a genome-scale reference map that details how individual genes control the functions and identities of human stem cells. This open-access resource could help researchers build virtual cell models for complex diseases, as well as design patient-specific treatments for these diseases.

By freezing your own healthy blood stem cells in your 20s, thawing them and undergoing a stem cell transplant in your 40s or 50s, it might be possible to rejuvenate your blood-forming and immune systems. Science fiction? At least it works when old mice receive healthy blood stem cells from young mice.

As experimental cell therapy heads to BIOCHINA, company tests whether personalized treatment could reshape future of neurodegenerative care. What if one cellular therapy could one day be used against not just Alzheimer’s disease, but Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) as well? That’s the question emerging around NKGen Biotech as the […] The post NKGen Biotech takes Alzheimer’s research global appeared first on Longevity.Technology.

CRISPR Flips a Hidden Switch Inside Human Cells Scientists have developed a powerful new technique to control protein production, a key process behind growth, development, and cancer. Researchers have created a novel method using CRISPR which can control the production of proteins in the cells. The research can give scientists more critical insights into cell […] The post New CRISPR Method Helps Scientists Control Protein Production in Cells appeared first on BioTecNika.

Future therapies for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) must target both the virus and its immune response to ensure babies get the best possible outcomes, finds a new study by researchers at UCL and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH).

California-based company Auxilium Biotechnologies just produced kidney and liver tissue in space for the first time, using a method called bioprinting,

A newly identified molecular mechanism reveals how glycocholic acid, a bile acid derivative, accelerates colitis progression by targeting intestinal stem cell renewal—a discovery that could reshape therapeutic approaches for inflammatory bowel diseases. Colitis, characterized by chronic inflammation of the colon, remains a significant clinical challenge with complex underlying molecular pathways. In groundbreaking research published in […]

A new study associated with Immorta Bio suggests that combining a senolytic vaccine with mesenchymal stem cells might create a synergistic impact. However, the findings rest on acute, artificially induced injury models rather […]

In a groundbreaking advancement for cancer research, scientists at Baylor College of Medicine have developed an innovative approach to modeling estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer using genetically engineered rats. This novel technique leverages modified somatic genome editing tools based on the CRISPR-Cas9 system, enabling precise oncogene alterations that lead to authentic tumor formation resembling human […]

Rat disease models have played an integral role in scientific discovery and cancer research, including Nobel Prize–winning work from Charles Huggins on hormone therapy for prostate cancer in 1966. However, technical challenges in genetic engineering of rat models have limited their use in research, and over the decades, mouse models have become much more widely used.

After an infant last year was saved from a deadly disease thanks to a bespoke gene editing therapy that fixed an incredibly rare mutation in his DNA, the US government is hoping ...

An ARPA-H program to jump-start custom gene editing treatments was delayed by a change in administrations. Now seven labs will get sizable grants.

CRISPR Technologies Propel Cancer Care into a New Era of Precision Medicine Cancer treatment is undergoing a profound transformation as molecular classification reshapes therapeutic strategies. Yet, despite advances, many pivotal oncogenic drivers remain elusive drug targets, and the shadow of both intrinsic and acquired resistance curtails long-term clinical success. Emerging from the crucible of experimental […]

Combining CRISPR/Cas9 with CAR T aims to let patients’ T cells be reprogrammed in vivo, potentially lowering cost and expanding use to solid tumors and autoimmune disease.

In a groundbreaking fusion of cutting-edge technology and dermatological research, scientists at Biohub have unveiled novel therapeutic targets for psoriasis by conducting the first comprehensive genome-wide CRISPR screen in primary human adult skin cells. By overcoming the longstanding technical hurdle of delivering CRISPR components into notoriously resistant keratinocytes without toxicity, the team utilized centrifuge-based transfection […]

Biohub researchers have performed what they believe is the first genome-wide CRISPR study of primary human adult skin cells, then used an AI model to mine the results for overlooked drug targets for psoriasis. They found an unlikely candidate: the receptor for oxytocin, a hormone involved in childbirth and sometimes called the "love hormone" for its additional role in social bonding.

Researchers are investigating the potential of CRISPR in relation to Down syndrome.

Learn how gene editing is transforming sickle cell disease treatment and why expanding access to younger children matters.

The speed at which a cell produces proteins is a decisive factor in determining whether it divides, specializes or retains its stem cell properties. A team of researchers led by Professor Stefan H. Stricker, professor of epigenetic engineering at LMU's Biomedical Center and research group leader at Helmholtz Munich, has worked with international partners to demonstrate directly for the first time that the amount of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) directly regulates these processes. Their results were published in the journal Science.