José Luis Villanueva-Cañas

The range of CRISPR tools for genome editing can extend beyond nature-inspired designs thanks to proteins designed using artificial intelligence. A new study by Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna’s team, published in Science, describes the design of synthetic RNA-guided nucleases, with sequences substantially different from those found in nature, which match or exceed the activity of their natural counterparts whilst offering novel properties.

At least some of the genes that enable hibernation in certain animals are also found in our DNA, but they are regulated differently. Now, researchers at the University of Utah (United States) have analyzed the human genome and identified specific regions and changes that affect this regulation, which could be useful in the future to take advantage of some of its benefits. According to the researchers, who share their findings in two papers published simultaneously in the journal Science, "there is a possibility that, by understanding these mechanisms, we may find strategies to intervene and help with age-related diseases and improve our own health".