ABSTRACT Genome editing tools such as the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-associated system (Cas) have been widely used to modify genes in model systems including animal zygotes and human cells, and hold tremendous promise for both basic research and clinical applications. To date, a serious knowledge gap remains in our understanding of DNA repair mechanisms in human early embryos, and in the efficiency and potential off-target effects of using technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 in human pre-implantation embryos. In this report, we used tripronuclear (3PN) zygotes to further investigate CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing in human cells. We found that CRISPR/Cas9 could effectively cleave the endogenous β-globin gene (HBB). However, the efficiency of homologous recombination directed repair (HDR) of HBB was low and the edited embryos were mosaic. Off-target cleavage was also apparent in these 3PN zygotes as revealed by the T7E1 assay and whole-exome sequencing. Furthermore, the endogenous delta-globin gene (HBD), which is homologous to HBB, competed with exogenous donor oligos to act as the repair template, leading to untoward mutations. Our data also indicated that repair of the HBB locus in these embryos occurred preferentially through the non-crossover HDR pathway. Taken together, our work highlights the pressing need to further improve the fidelity and specificity of the CRISPR/Cas9 platform, a prerequisite for any clinical applications of CRSIPR/Cas9-mediated editing. (http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13238-015-0153-5/fulltext.html)
PROTEIN & CELL誌を発行しているのはシュプリンガー(Springer)社ですが、チーフエディターが中国の人で、他のエディターも5人中4人が中国、ボードメンバーも66人中26人が中国の人です。また、この雑誌は通常の学術論文を掲載するだけでなく、特に、
Presents research highlights, news and views, and commentaries covering research policies and funding trends in China (http://www.springer.com/life+sciences/biochemistry+%26+biophysics/journal/13238)
中国の研究動向を取り上げる方針を持っており、さらに、オープンアクセスのための論文掲載費用は、
Protein & Cellis a peer-reviewed open access journal published monthly. The open access fees (article-processing charges) for this journal are kindly sponsored by Higher Education Press, Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Biophysical Society of China. Authors can publish in the journal without any additional charges.(http://www.springer.com/life+sciences/biochemistry+%26+biophysics/journal/13238)
First experiment ‘editing’ human embryos ignites ethical furor (Reuters Apr 23, 2015):”Biologists in China reported carrying out the first experiment to alter the DNA of human embryos, igniting an outcry from scientists who warn against altering the human genome in a way that could last for generations.”
「コンピュータチップに集積されるトランジスターの数は2年ごとに倍に増えるだろう」(The number of transistors incorporated on a computer chip will double every 2 years. )という経験則、いわゆる「ムーアの法則」が1965年に提唱されてから、今年で50周年になります。
提唱者であるゴードン・ムーアさんが振り返る50年のテクノロジーの進歩。
Intel celebrates 50th Anniversary of Moore’s Law w. Gordon Moore
ムーアの法則が終焉する理由をDerek McAuley教授が解説。
Is it the End for Moore’s Law? – Computerphile
ムーアの法則が成りたたなくなる理由をSciShowが一般向けに解説。
Moore’s Law and The Secret World Of Ones And Zeroes
参考
Moore’s law is the observation that, over the history of computing hardware, the number of transistors in a dense integrated circuit has doubled approximately every two years. (Wikipedia)
Today, 16 April 2015, WikiLeaks publishes an analysis and search system for The Sony Archives: 30,287 documents from Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) and 173,132 emails, to and from more than 2,200 SPE email addresses. (https://wikileaks.org/sony/press/)
Japanese Court Rejects Bid to Restart of 2 Nuclear Reactors (New York Times/Associated Press APRIL 14, 2015):”A court issued an injunction Tuesday ordering two nuclear reactors in western Japan to stay offline, rejecting regulators’ safety approval of the reactors’ planned restart later this year, a decision that could further delay the government’s restart plans.”
第84期棋聖戦五番勝負第2局 【渡辺明竜王 vs 羽生善治棋聖】の棋譜と感想(結城の将棋ブログ 2013年6月22日 ):”愛知県豊田市「ホテルフォレスタ」にて、第84期棋聖戦五番勝負第2局【渡辺明竜王 vs 羽生善治棋聖】が行われました。…ニコ生解説の塚田泰明九段も「タイトル戦で久々に見た」と仰っていたように、羽生三冠が後手番で相横歩取りを選んだのは24年ぶりらしいです。”