Ida Emilie Steinmark

Sep 7, 2023 | the-scientist.com | Ida Emilie Steinmark

Between 10 to 15% of all genetic diseases have the same underlying cause: a nonsense mutation.1 This type of mutation results from a stop codon in the middle of a gene sequence, which terminates translation prematurely and leads to half-finished proteins. Instead of trying to develop cures for these diseases one by one, some scientists and start-up companies now believe that a single drug could target and fix the nonsense mutations in many diseases at once. That drug is a nonsense suppressor tRNA.

Sep 7, 2023 | the-scientist.com | Ida Emilie Steinmark

One of the surprises that came out of the Human Genome Project was that only 2% of the genome codes for proteins.1 By contrast, most of it is transcribed into RNA.2 Matthew Disney was a graduate student working on RNA folding at the University of Rochester when the first draft sequence came out in 2001, and it lit a lightbulb in his head. Usually, drugs target proteins, but this discovery suggested that there could be another way.

Sep 7, 2023 | the-scientist.com | Ida Emilie Steinmark

CRISPR is perhaps the most popular tool in the genome editing toolkit. However, despite CRISPR’s obvious success, there are concerns about double-stranded breaks leading to unwanted, potentially dangerous edits.1 At the same time, some applications might require larger changes than the fairly limited single-base substitution repertoire of base editors. Prime editing, which can achieve targeted edits with single-nucleotide precision and without cutting both strands of DNA, may offer a solution.

Sep 7, 2023 | the-scientist.com | Ida Emilie Steinmark

Supercentenarians, or people older than 110, are few and far between, and as a result, they are intensely studied by scientists who hope to find the secrets to a long life. However, the majority of supercentenarian age claims are false.1 Now, a research team led by biogerontologist Steve Horvath at the University of California, Los Angeles has developed the world’s first centenarian epigenetic clocks as a biological test for extreme old age. The story of Jeanne Calment inspired the project.

Sep 1, 2023 | the-scientist.com | Meenakshi Prabhune |Danielle M. Gerhard |Ida Emilie Steinmark

From the Editor| ArticleHandling the Extras in AcademiaTo say that academics wear multiple hats is an understatement. A researcher must ideate, experiment, teach, analyze, collaborate, present, write, and more. As academics move up the ladder, their hat closets expand further. A new list of responsibilities adds to their already lengthy to-do lists: oversee budgets, mentor students, plan conferences, apply for funding, review papers, and serve on committees, to name a few.