Fine-Tuned Gene Expression
A new adaptation of CRISPR enables researchers to change gene expression, rather than changing the genes themselves, reports Emily Mullin for WIRED. This "epigenetic editing" was shown to reverse the effects of early alcohol exposure in rats. Addiction and mental health are known to have epigenetic factors. In 2020 R. Douglas Fields explained for Quanta the role of serotonin and dopamine in controlling gene expression.
Darkness Down Under
Scientists are building a new dark matter detector in Melbourne. With it, they hope to independently verify in the southern hemisphere an annually periodic signal detected in Italy that some think is evidence of dark matter. Derek Muller explains for Veritasium on YouTube. The signal seen in Italy consistently peaks in June. Some think this is due to Earth moving faster through the invisible dark matter sea in June; others think it's some other seasonal change, as Natalie Wolchover wrote for Quanta in 2018 | |
