CRISPR to the rescue as bacteria develop antibiotics resistance
Antibiotics resistance of harmful organisms becomes a major problem – in agriculture, in human and veterinary medicine. Scientists now try to come up with new methods. They think that CRISPR (discovered less than 10 years ago) might be a solution. Scientists don’t often highlight it, but resistance of harmful organisms to our drugs is becoming
Can we engineer life? 5.1a Animal gene technology, AquAdvantage GM salmon: the gene construct
Researchers do not apply genetic modification just to microorganisms and plants. Animals are genetically modified as well, we will treat this in the articles of Essay 5. With regards to plants, the entire process of regulation and acceptation is complicated and lengthy; with regards to animals it is like a never-ending story. After thirty years,
Cannabis: the next business opportunity
Medical and recreational cannabis is becoming big business, according to Lux Research, a Boston-based international research company. The size of the cannabis market in the Americas is $ 12 billion now, and is expected to grow 15% p.a. over the next five years. Venture funding grew from $ 10 million in 2014 to more than
Can we engineer life? 4.8 Plant gene technology, the photosynthesis boost
Photosynthesis is one of the most important biological processes on earth, if not the most important one: no life without photosynthesis! The Rubisco enzyme plays a key role in this process. But from the viewpoint of modern agricultural science, the photosynthesis process is far from perfect. So commentators devoted much hyperbolic praise on a publication
Can we engineer life? 4.7 Plant gene technology, cisgenesis
In cisgenesis, we insert new DNA in a stable form into plant DNA, just like in transgenesis. The difference being that in transgenesis, the new DNA originates from another species, in cisgenesis from a plant with which the acceptor plant can crossbreed. Researchers from Plant Research International at Wageningen UR have been arguing for almost
Engineering life will require responsibility and control
The quest for engineering life is an infinite ‘marketplace’ for science, commerce and society. They are the very stakeholders that will have to decide on the rules of the game: responsibility and control. An almost impossible task, but one that we will have to face squarely. The answers will determine our future. This is the
Modern biotechnology: does it develop too fast?
The birth of the hiv-resistant gentech twins Lulu and Nana in China has stirred up the debate on methods and results of modern biotechnology. Rightfully so. The gap between what science can do, and what is ethically responsible in the human domain, is getting too wide. In fact, we even don’t know how to wage
Saving the American chestnut tree by genetic modification
Am I mistaken, or is there really a gradual shift taking place among opinion leaders in favour of genetic modification? Or is it just my perception that changes? Meaning: do I see people who agree with me behind every corner just because I myself have changed my opinion, very gradually? Take the example of the
on: 15 August 2019