Transposons and Gene Therapy

The topic for my research paper is the role of transposons in generating biological diversity, but I found an article that talks about the possibility that transposons can be used in gene therapy. A transposon is small piece of DNA that inserts itself into another place in the genome. Transposons can interrupt the normal spelling of DNA, creating gene mutations with a variety of effects. They can turn nearby genes off and cause a loss of function, or they can turn genes on causing a gain of function or increasing the amount of protein made.

An ancient transposon in fish referred to as Sleeping Beauty has been reconstructed to possibly be considered in developing efficient and safe vectors for vertebrate transgenesis as well as for human gene therapy. The transposon integrates into the chromosome and provides the basis for long term or possibly permanent transgene expression in transgenic cells and organisms.


The abstract for the article can be found here http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17073604

Nature's Genetically Modified Butterflies

Researchers have found that humans are not the only thing genetically modifying organisms. Butterflies and moths have been found to posses genes from parasitic wasp, that protect them against other viruses. These parasitic wasp known as braconids, inject eggs and the bracovirus into caterpillars of butterflies and moths. The virus is injected to inhibit  the immune system of the caterpillar to protect the larvae. When a caterpillar survives an attack against the wasp, the bracovirus has modified the gene and it is now able to be passed to the off spring. The researchers have also found that the gene helps protect them against baculoviruses. The baculovirus is used by farmers to control insect pests.

A consequence of humans genetically modifying insects is that the genes can be transferred into other species. For example genes introduced into parasitic wasp that are used to control pest may be transferred into pest.

Herreror which is one of the researcher for this said "we must be aware of the types of genes that we add, since they could also be transferred to other insects."

The article can be found here
http://www.livescience.com/52225-parasites-viruses-genetically-modify-butterflies.html

Bringing Next-Generation DNA Sequencing to Working Crime Laboratories

The Penn State Forensic Program is collaborating with Battle Memorial Institute to get next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology in working crime labs. NGS is different methods used to sequence DNA and RNA faster and cheaper than Sanger sequencing. The hope for this research is to be able to incorporate instruments that use NGS into working crime labs and replace old equipment that is less informative. The information from NGS is supposed to help in DNA profiling and comparison of known suspects and victims. This new technology will also help generate investigative leads and identify individuals with only traces of genetic evidence.

The demand for low cost sequencing is very high. For molecular biology purposes DNA sequencing is used to study genomes and the proteins they encode for. The first human genome took $3 billion dollars and 13 years to sequence now it only takes about $4,000 and only one to two days. One method of NGS is the Single Molecule Real-Time DNA sequencing with Pacific Biosciences it would cost only $100 and take only 15 minutes!

The article can be found
http://science.psu.edu/news-and-events/research-in-action-with-new-grant-penn-state-helps-bring-next-generation-dna-sequencing-to-working-crime-laboratories