Latest news with #geneticEngineering
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
RNA has newly identified role: Repairing serious DNA damage to maintain the genome
Your DNA is continually damaged by sources both inside and outside your body. One especially severe form of damage called a double-strand break involves the severing of both strands of the DNA double helix. Double-strand breaks are among the most difficult forms of DNA damage for cells to repair because they disrupt the continuity of DNA and leave no intact template to base new strands on. If misrepaired, these breaks can lead to other mutations that make the genome unstable and increase the risk of many diseases, including cancer, neurodegeneration and immunodeficiency. Cells primarily repair double-strand breaks by either rejoining the broken DNA ends or by using another DNA molecule as a template for repair. However, my team and I discovered that RNA, a type of genetic material best known for its role in making proteins, surprisingly plays a key role in facilitating the repair of these harmful breaks. These insights could not only pave the way for new treatment strategies for genetic disorders, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, but also enhance gene-editing technologies. I have spent the past two decades investigating the relationship between RNA and DNA in order to understand how cells maintain genome integrity and how these mechanisms could be harnessed for genetic engineering. A long-standing question in the field has been whether RNA in cells helps keep the genome stable beyond acting as a copy of DNA in the process of making proteins and a regulator of gene expression. Studying how RNA might do this has been especially difficult due to its similarity to DNA and how fast it degrades. It's also technically challenging to tell whether the RNA is directly working to repair DNA or indirectly regulating the process. Traditional models and tools for studying DNA repair have for the most part focused on proteins and DNA, leaving RNA's potential contributions largely unexplored. My team and I were curious about whether RNA might actively participate in fixing double-strand breaks as a first line of defense. To explore this, we used the gene-editing tool CRISPR-Cas9 to make breaks at specific spots in the DNA of human and yeast cells. We then analyzed how RNA influences various aspects of the repair process, including efficiency and outcomes. We found that RNA can actively guide the repair process of double-strand breaks. It does this by binding to broken DNA ends, helping align sequences of DNA on a matching strand that isn't broken. It can also seal gaps or remove mismatched segments, further influencing whether and how the original sequence is restored. Additionally, we found that RNA aids in double-strand break repair in both yeast and human cells, suggesting that its role in DNA repair is evolutionary conserved across species. Notably, even low levels of RNA were sufficient to influence the efficiency and outcome of repair, pointing to its broad and previously unrecognized function in maintaining genome stability. By uncovering RNA's previously unknown function to repair DNA damage, our findings show how RNA may directly contribute to the stability and evolution of the genome. It's not merely a passive messenger, but an active participant in genome maintenance. These insights could help researchers develop new ways to target the genomic instability that underlies many diseases, including cancer and neurodegeneration. Traditionally, treatments and gene-editing tools have focused almost exclusively on DNA or proteins. Our findings suggest that modifying RNA in different ways could also influence how cells respond to DNA damage. For example, researchers could design RNA-based therapies to enhance the repair of harmful breaks that could cause cancer, or selectively disrupt DNA break repair in cancer cells to help kill them. In addition, these findings could improve the precision of gene-editing technologies like CRISPR by accounting for interactions between RNA and DNA at the site of the cut. This could reduce off-target effects and increase editing precision, ultimately contributing to the development of safer and more effective gene therapies. There are still many unanswered questions about how RNA interacts with DNA in the repair process. The evolutionary role that RNA plays in maintaining genome stability is also unclear. But one thing is certain: RNA is no longer just a messenger, it is a molecule with a direct hand in DNA repair, rewriting what researchers know about how cells safeguard their genetic code. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Francesca Storici, Georgia Institute of Technology Read more: How does RNA know where to go in the city of the cell? Using cellular ZIP codes and postal carrier routes Cells have more mini 'organs' than researchers thought − unbound by membranes, these rogue organelles challenge biology's fundamentals Drugs of the future will be easier and faster to make, thanks to mRNA – after researchers work out a few remaining kinks Francesca Storici consults at Tessera Therapeutics. She has received funding from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Cast & Characters of Jurassic World Rebirth, Explained
As long as genetically-engineered dinosaurs roam the Earth, there will be someone looking to capitalize on them. Humanity still hasn't learned its lesson on the dangers of greed and hubris, as audiences will see in Jurassic World Rebirth (opening wide July 2; tickets are now on sale here), hailing from Rogue One director Gareth Edwards. Written by Jurassic Park and Lost World wordsmith David Koepp, Rebirth takes place five years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion (which is currently streaming on Peacock in case you need a refresher). While most of the escaped dinosaurs have begun to die off as a result of our modern and inhospitable climate, there is one dino-biome left on Ile Saint-Hubert, InGen's research facility for the original Jurassic Park, along the equator. RELATED: The place is teeming with colossal and mutated wildlife, whose genetic material may hold the key to a medical breakthrough. But who's gonna collect said DNA? Head below for a rundown on all the major players in Jurassic World Rebirth! A former special forces operative and a top-notch extraction expert, Zora Bennett is tapped to lead the dangerous expedition to collect DNA samples from the largest dinosaurs inhabiting Ile Saint-Hubert. Of course, she and her teammates are promised a fat payday for their services. But while they're some of the toughest mercenaries around, nothing can prepare one for a dangerous environment where man-eating dinosaurs lurk around every corner. 'Zora is a gun for hire with a rich past and private pain, so it was important to me that you could believe she had lived that life,' Johansson says. 'I thought we could convey all that by creating a character who was at a turning point in her life, where she's ready to make a pivot. And there are personal stakes for her, too. That was something David and I talked about a lot. What is missing from Zora's life? She's made so many sacrifices for others; what is she ready to do for herself?" Where you've seen Johansson before: , , An old friend of Zora's, Duncaid spends his days beachside in Paramaribo, Suriname, playing cards and downing Bloody Marys under the watchful gaze of a stuffed Plesiosaur. The maritime theme fits the character like a glove, owing to the fact that he captains a stripped-down military patrol vessel named The Essex. Reeling from a recent loss, Duncan agrees to transport the expeditionary forces to Ile Saint-Hubert and finds a new sense of purpose after rescuing the shipwrecked Delgado family (more on them below). 'Duncan felt so different from anyone else that I've played in recent years," notes Ali. "Duncan is a modern-day pirate, but with a good heart. He's very active, always in motion, driven by clear purposes. I was excited as an actor to hook into that and play that. I haven't read a lot of action-adventure scripts before, but this one struck me as a thrilling expression of that genre.' Where you've seen Ali before: , , A former student of the legendary Alan Grant (Sam Neill), Dr. Loomis is a museum-based paleontologist with a speciality in oversized dinosaurs. Loomis agrees to serve as the expedition's chief science expert, eager to help cure disease and witness real-live dinosaurs in a modern backdrop approaching the creatures' natural habitats from millions of years ago. But as the mission progresses and dark — not to mention mutant — secrets are revealed to them, Loomis becomes the voice of the group's conscience. RELATED: 'To carry forward the baton of Alan Grant is special,' Bailey proclaims. 'And to play Henry, who embodies the love of nature and our best curiosities about it, was great fun. David Koepp's script was exciting and so fascinating in its ideas. It struck a chord in the part of me that's a bit of a nerd.' Where you've seen Bailey before: , Bridgerton, Broadchurch Molded in the vein of Lewis Dogdson (the man who hired Dennis Nedry to steal patented secrets from the original Jurassic Park), Martin Krebs is a representative of ParkerGenix, a pharmaceutical giant looking to cure heart disease with the help of dino-DNA. Motivated by a nasty combination of self-preservation, greed, and fealty to his corporate masters, Krebs stands as the true antagonist of the film and, indeed, the cautionary warning at the heart of the entire franchise. 'Krebs has an action-packed background in the secret service or paramilitary or both, and now he's a fixer for Big Pharma,' Friend teases. 'His job is to move in the shadows between the FDA world of drug testing and financing all that, and the slightly less legal world of how such materials might be obtained." Where you've seen Friend before:, , The Essex's head of security, Bobby is described as "a very capable man" by Skrein, who "thought it would be funny if he presented as unassuming." As such, he worked with costume designer Sammy Differ to create a look inspired by Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski and Jason Momoa in Aquaman, compelte with flip-flops, baggy pants, and friendship bracelets. Where you've seen Skrein before: , , 'I was a 12-year-old kid growing up in Haiti, who didn't yet speak English, when I first saw Jurassic Park, and it blew me away," says Sylvain, who takes on the role of Essex co-pilot and deckhand. 'To now be part of this world, in a movie written by David Koepp, the original screenwriter, feels like a tremendous honor. Even more thrilling is that David Koepp wrote most of Leclerc's lines in French, which inspired me to approach our director, Gareth Edwards, with the idea of portraying Leclerc as Haitian. To my surprise, they all embraced the concept, and that was a monumental moment for me.' Where you've seen Sylvain before: , , Recruited from the military at a young age, Nina shares an unbreakable bond with her fellow co-pilot and deckhand, LeClerc. "Where Nina will be running up and down the decks and doing whatever she can, LeClerc, although he's a step above her, is a lot lazier," Velge reveals. "He will do the smallest amount possible on the boat!" In addition, Nina has a number of nautical-themed tattoos, including the white whale from Moby Dick. Rather fitting, given the film's story about a perilous hunt for giant animals. Where you've seen Velge before: Station Eleven, , Rueben is simply trying to enjoy a relaxing ocean voyage with his two daughters — and the eldest daughter's boyfriend— when the family finds itself shipwrecked on Ile Saint-Hubert following an unfortunate run-in with a Mosasaur. The Delgado clan, which gets to realize a previously unadapted scene from Michael Crichton's original novel, eventually crosses paths with Zora and her team. RELATED: 'The thing about Reuben is that, in the wrong hands, he could be boring, as his primary identity is that of a father,' Edwards explains. 'But the character that David wrote is fundamentally more interesting than that: As we find Reuben, he's somewhat alienated and distant from his kids. And Manuel was able to find a tone for playing that that elevated the part and made Reuben and his relationships really interesting. There are so many shots in this film where I just want to hug him because he's conveying so much with so few lines of dialogue." Where you've seen Garcia-Rulfo before: , , Eighteen-year-old Teresa is preparing to go away to college and would much rather spend time with her boyfriend, Xavier (see below), than put up with her father's awkward effort to reconnect via an open-sea journey. 'She's young and innocent in a lot of ways, but when things go wrong, she's brave and self-reliant," teases Blaise. "She puts everything on the line to protect the people she loves, and that strength really resonated with me." Where you've seen Blaise before: , , The youngest member of the Delgado family, 11-year-old Isabella contains a number of sly references to the 1993 film in her costume design — namely a yellow rain slicker (a nod to Wayne Knight's Dennis Nedry) and a Spanish phrase on her pelican logo T-shirt that reads "Life finds a way." She also ends up befriending an adorable Aquilops she names Dolores. 'Dolores reminded me so much of my dogs, so it made it easy for me to connect with this amazing animatronic,' Miranda says. 'She was cute and so realistic. When I first read the script, I had to do some research online, to see what an Aquilops looks like so I could visualize her while I rehearsed. When I finally met her, it was like the animatronics team who made Dolores turned those pictures into reality. Having Dolores on set was very helpful because it put me in the mind of Isabella and felt like I had a real dinosaur to interact with.' Where you've seen Miranda before: , At first glance, Teresa's boyfriend seems like your dime-a-dozen teenage boy: handsome, yet completely useless. However, he ends up redeeming himself in Rueben's eyes when the danger ramps up. 'It didn't really require too much of my imagination to get into the world of this movie because of the places where we filmed,' Iacono says. 'The jungles and caves of Thailand, sailing on the Mediterranean Sea, it was all so unreal, and you could sink into the environments and just focus on the relationships and the words." Where you've seen Dobbs before: , , Rebirth features a number of returning snouts, beaks, and jaws in the form of T. rex, Velociraptor, Dilophosaurus, Spinosaurus, Mosasaurus, Carnotaurus, Quetzalcoatlus, Compsognathus (aka "Compy"), and Ankylosaurus. Newcomers to the franchise include Aquilops, Diabloceratops, Titanosaurus, Anurognathus, Mutadon, and the most feared of them all — Distortus Rex, a horrific lab reject that would make even Viktor Frankenstein squirm with mortal terror. 'I was out having dinner and Gareth called me to say, 'We only have six weeks to design all our dinosaurs. We're going to need an army of artists,'" recalls VFX supervisor David Vickery. "The next day, I was on a Zoom call with over 50 amazingly talented concept artists from around the world. Within a week, we had over 700 pieces of concept art for Gareth to start looking through. Gareth is so smart about design, he has an uncanny ability to look at hundreds of images and very quickly focus down on the elements he likes from each concept. That was the start of a very long and version-filled journey!' Jurassic World Rebirth opens in theaters nationwide Wednesday, July 2. for tickets! If you'd like to catch up on the saga thus far, the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World trilogies are now streaming .
