Scientists See Potential Cure For Sickle Cell In Gene-Editing Technology
The disease occurs when a single letter in the HBB gene is a T instead of an A, which makes it an ideal target for gene editing. “It is one single target that is the same in every sickle cell patient,” said Dana Carroll, a biochemist.
Los Angeles Times:
With CRISPR, Scientists Correct Genetic Mutation That Causes Sickle Cell Disease
The promise of a revolutionary gene-editing technology is beginning to be realized in experiments aimed at curing sickle cell disease. Scientists reported Wednesday that they used the CRISPR-Cas9 system to correct a tiny genetic mutation that causes the blood disease, which affects millions of people around the world. (Netburn, 10/12)
In other public health news —
Los Angeles Times:
Cosmic Radiation May Leave Astronauts With Long-Term Cases Of ‘Space Brain,’ Study Says
This is your brain in space — and it does not look pretty. Scientists studying the effects of radiation in rodents say that astronauts’ exposure to galactic cosmic rays could face a host of cognitive problems, including chronic dementia. The UC Irvine-led study, published in Scientific Reports, adds to a growing body of research on the harmful effects humans may reckon with as they venture out longer and deeper into space, whether on trips to Mars or potentially beyond. (Khan, 10/12)