Weekly science reads: CRISPR, stem cells, cell size & space, more
Maybe we can use science as an escape from politics during the last week or so before the election? I hope so. Here are my weekly recommended reads. Several papers ended up relating to nucleus, cell and embryo size and space as well as chromatin, which is very interesting.
Cell and chromatin biology pubs, media
CRISPR
bioRxiv preprint, Comprehensive deletion landscape of CRISPR-Cas9 identifies minimal RNA-guided DNA-binding modules
About that potential new human organ…
Tubarial salivary glands: A potential new organ at risk for radiotherapy. I teach histology including a lab with salivary glands so this, if real, would be a new addition to the course.
Knees
Why Don’t Runners’ Knees Fail More Often? Outside Online. In part I think this is because of the chondrogenic potential of the perichondrium, the capsule around the cartilage. But once a knee or other joint has an injury to cartilage then that’s not easily fixable so still not wise to over do it to the point of injury while running.
I did a post where I took a look at stem cells for knee arthritis and other arthritis and the data so far are not compelling. Not much has changed in the last few years. So do stem cells or PRP work for arthritis? Maybe, maybe not. It probably depends on the prep, the health care provider’s expertise, and the patient.
Congrats to the Robertson Investigators
Welcome 2020 NYSCF – Robertson Investigators: @DiMiccoLab (San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy), @morris_lab (@WUSTL), @ordovas_phd (@BostonChildrens), Jiami Guo (University of Calgary), @schneiderneuro (@nyuniversity), & John Tuthill (@UW) https://t.co/wPRpfYJFGs pic.twitter.com/Zgr3hEg8GC
— New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute (@nyscf) October 20, 2020
Blast from the past
Only 4 months ago, but this may be useful now: Research lab ramp-up plan & real-world tips to lower COVID-19 risk.