Biotech Updates

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced the results of their review of 12 plants improved through genetic engineering techniques. APHIS found that the modified plants were unlikely to pose an increased plant pest risk compared with their non-modified counterparts.

FDA Approves First Gene Therapy using CRISPR-Cas9 to Treat Sickle Cell Disease

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Casgevy and Lyfgenia, the first cell-based gene therapies to treat sickle cell disease (SCD). Casgevy is the first FDA-approved treatment developed using CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology, signaling an innovative advancement in gene therapy.

Electric Eels Transfer Genes to Nearby Animals Through Electroporation

Researchers from Nagoya University in Japan found that electric eels can release electricity to modify small fish larvae through electroporation. This gene delivery technique enables DNA or proteins to enter the target cells through intense electrical pulses.