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A tiny gene edit makes rice safer without reducing harvests

Researchers identified a precise gene edit that lowers cadmium in rice grains while maintaining yield and essential mineral nutrients. The OsNramp5 I441T mutation selectively limits cadmium translocation, reducing grain cadmium by 48% without compromising zinc or manganese uptake.

SourceOkayama University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 16, 2026

European survey reveals broad support for fertility care, embryo research and genome editing, alongside opportunities for greater public engagement

A new Europe-wide survey found broad public support for fertility treatment and reproductive research in the UK, Netherlands, Spain, and Italy. The study suggests that public understanding and opinion on these topics continue to develop, with areas where public views are not yet settled identified.

Wild yeast discovery enables non-GM brewing of ornithine-enriched craft beer

Researchers at Nara Institute of Science and Technology developed a practical, non-genetically modified brewing yeast that produces over nine times higher intracellular ornithine levels than the original yeast. The improved yeast retained normal brewing performance, making it suitable for value-added fermentation.

SourceNara Institute of Science and Technology·JournalJournal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 2, 2026

New models enable better therapies against primary sclerosing cholangitis

Recent advancements in animal models, organoid models, and bioengineered organoids have provided new tools for studying primary sclerosing cholangitis. These models replicate the effects of bile retention and inflammation, enabling studies of disease mechanisms, drug screening, and preclinical evaluation.

SourceChinese Medical Journals Publishing House Co., Ltd.·JournalPortal Hypertension & Cirrhosis·TypeLiterature review·DateMay 19, 2026

JMIR Publications’ JMIR Bioinformatics and Biotechnology invites submissions on Bridging Data, AI, and Innovation to Transform Health

The journal explores the convergence of computational biology, artificial intelligence, and healthcare innovation, with a focus on precision medicine and enhanced patient care. Submissions are accepted from researchers, clinicians, and technologists on topics such as AI in medicine, computational genomics, and drug discovery.

Rhododendron-derived drugs now made by bacteria

Kobe University scientists have engineered bacteria to produce a group of compounds with promising pharmacological activities. The breakthrough uses a rational design strategy to create a platform for industrial production of drug candidates.

SourceKobe University·JournalMetabolic Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 17, 2026

Scientists use AI to develop a precise, safe and fast way to keep CRISPR technology in-check

Researchers at Monash University have developed an AI-powered approach to create highly accurate and specific anti-CRISPR molecules, enabling faster development of gene editing tools for various applications. This breakthrough addresses the inconsistent performance and safety risks associated with CRISPR technology.

SourceMonash University·JournalNature Chemical Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 26, 2026

Golden Gate method enables rapid, fully-synthetic engineering of therapeutically relevant bacteriophages

Researchers from New England Biolabs and Yale University have developed a first fully synthetic bacteriophage engineering system using the High-Complexity Golden Gate Assembly platform. This method simplifies strain engineering techniques, allowing for rapid creation of tailored therapeutic strains to overcome antibiotic resistance.

SourceNew England Biolabs·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 19, 2026

Texas Tech scientists develop novel acceleration technique for crop creation

A team of plant biotechnologists at Texas Tech University has developed a groundbreaking method to accelerate crop creation, bypassing the time-consuming process of tissue culture. The new technique enables plants to grow new shoots directly from wounded tissue, eliminating the need for traditional lab-based regeneration steps.

SourceTexas Tech University·JournalMolecular Plant·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 6, 2025

New gene-editing tech holds promise for treating complex genetic diseases

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a novel gene-editing method that can correct multiple disease-causing mutations simultaneously. This approach uses bacterial retrons to protect the microbes from viral infection and has shown promising results in correcting scoliosis-causing mutations in zebrafish embryos.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalNature Biotechnology·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 23, 2025

AI meets CRISPR for precise gene editing

A research team developed a new method to precisely edit DNA by combining genetic engineering with artificial intelligence. The technique enables accurate modeling of human diseases and lays the groundwork for next-generation gene therapies.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalNature Biotechnology·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 12, 2025

Pusan National University researchers developed an advanced AI model for accelerating therapeutic gene target discovery

The new AI model leverages hypergraphs to quickly and accurately identify therapeutic gene targets for diseases. HIT outperformed existing models in all tested metrics, demonstrating its accuracy in classifying therapeutic gene targets with great precision.

SourcePusan National University·JournalBriefings in Bioinformatics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 5, 2025

From lab to field: CABBI pipeline delivers oil-rich sorghum

Researchers have developed a new sorghum variant that can outperform soybeans in oil production, with great potential as a clean source of renewable fuel. The 'push-pull-protect' strategy successfully engineered sorghum lines to accumulate up to 5.5% TAG in their leaves and 3.5% dry weight in their stems under field conditions.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment·JournalPlant Biotechnology Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 17, 2025

How the dirt under our feet could affect human health

Researchers found that soil contains antibiotic resistance genes that can be transmitted to humans, making it a pressing public health threat. The study reveals how these genes spread through the environment and highlights the importance of understanding soil ecosystems to control antibiotic resistance.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 12, 2024

Gene therapy gets a turbo boost from University of Hawaii researchers

Researchers at the University of Hawaii have developed a new gene editing technology that can efficiently deliver healthy genes to the body. This method addresses limitations of current methods and has shown success rates of up to 96%, potentially leading to faster and more affordable treatments for various genetic diseases.

SourceUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa·JournalNucleic Acids Research·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 29, 2024

A new coating method in mRNA engineering points the way to advanced therapies

Researchers at Tokyo Medical and Dental University have developed a novel method for coating engineered messenger RNA molecules with polyethylene glycol (PEG), allowing selective delivery to the spleen. This breakthrough enables fine-tuned control over mRNA therapy, facilitating effective treatment of diseases previously considered inc...

SourceTokyo Medical and Dental University·JournalSmall Science·DateApr 10, 2024

CRISPR-copies: New tool accelerates and optimizes genome editing

Researchers at CABBI developed a computational pipeline for identifying CRISPR/Cas-facilitated integration sites, which can pinpoint neutral integration sites in two to three minutes. This tool enables researchers to efficiently locate all the needles that align with their specific criteria, transforming the genome editing process.

Pioneering the future: An innovative approach to plant synthetic genomics

A new bottom-up approach to genome synthesis in multicellular plants is proposed using the model moss Physcomitrium patens. The study discusses challenges such as genome assembly and plant transformation, highlighting recent breakthroughs and limitations that must be overcome for wider application.

SourceNanjing Agricultural University The Academy of Science·JournalBioDesign Research·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 3, 2023

A safer alternative to CRISPR-Cas approaches?: Retroelement-based genome editing tools

Researchers propose retroelement-based gene editing as a safer alternative to CRISPR-Cas systems due to reduced risk of DNA double strand breaks and unwanted chromosomal modifications. This approach leverages endogenous mobile genetic elements, which can be programmed for targeted genomic engineering without generating DSB.

High school students learn the basics of base editing to cure “GFP-itis”

Students participate in a genome-editing experiment to correct a mutation that causes 'GFP-itis', gaining hands-on experience with gene editing and understanding its therapeutic potential. The program aims to encourage critical thinking about the implications of germline genome editing and inspire students to pursue careers in STEM.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalThe CRISPR Journal·TypeNews article·DateMay 4, 2023

Advancing genome editing through studying DNA repair mechanisms

Researchers at CeMM Research Center discovered that the DNA mismatch repair process plays a crucial role in prime editing. By eliminating mismatch repair, they increased prime editing efficiency by 2-17-fold and improved its accuracy. This fundamental understanding brings the technology closer to clinical applications.