During my search I found this article about how a new compact tool is being used for genetic modification. The scientists working on it say that because of how compact it is, it is more practical for future treatment of genetic conditions. The system is called mvGPT, and it can simultaneously edit genes, activate gene expression, and suppress gene expression all in one system.
I think that this is an incredible advancement, especially as someone with family diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The fact that it can handle doing multiple tools jobs simultaneously is enough on its own but the potential for practical treatment applications this has is extraordinary to think about.
Source: www.seas.upenn.edu/stories/a-new-era-in-genetic-engineering/
Secondary: https://www.genengnews.com/topics/genome-editing/new-prime-editing-system-mvgpt-combines-editing-and-regulation/
This is a great find mvGPT really does feel like a major step forward in genetic engineering. What stood out to me is how it combines three separate functions (editing, activating genes, and silencing genes) into one compact system. Most current tools can only do one of those things at a time, so being able to perform all three makes this technology incredibly versatile.
ReplyDeleteI also like how you connected it to real-life impact with type 1 diabetes. A tool like this could eventually target multiple aspects of the disease at once: correcting immune-related genes, restoring insulin production pathways, or regulating inflammation. The compact size also means it might be easier to deliver into cells or tissues, which is one of the biggest challenges in gene therapy.
Overall, this definitely feels like the start of a new era, just like your title says. The possibilities for treating complex diseases ones caused by not just one gene but whole pathways are really exciting. Great post!