Welcome to the first BioTechniques Spotlight!
Find out more about our new feature – the BioTechniques Spotlight – and how this will enable us to shine a light on topics important to you, beginning with CRISPR.
What is a Spotlight?
Over the space of 2–3 months, we will feature a variety of content on a particular ‘hot topic’. This will include exclusive interviews presented as podcasts, videos or articles; BioTechniques journal content; a panel discussion with key experts; and much more!
This enables you to keep up to date with the latest developments, techniques and opinions from within that particular field, all in one space on the BioTechniques website.
Spotlights also feature a survey in which you can share your research goals and voice your opinions. These survey results will be used to showcase trends to peers and the wider research community.
You can find our Spotlights section on the Features dropdown of the BioTechniques.com menu.
Spotlight on CRISPR
You, our readers, have made it clear to us that news and novel ideas regarding CRISPR tools, uses and regulations are increasingly important to you. Therefore, CRISPR was the ideal candidate to launch our brand-new Spotlight feature.
Within the field of genome engineering, CRISPR refers to the group of CRISPR/Cas gene editing systems – tools that have been vastly accelerated over the past decade. CRISPR systems can edit DNA at precise locations, so have huge potential in everything from fighting disease to increasing crop yields.
CRISPR has demonstrated its ability to edit DNA in bacteria, viruses, plants and human cells. It is proving itself to have many advantages over other gene editing techniques, including its simplicity, efficiency, easy customization of target DNA and the ability to target multiple genes simultaneously. Novel CRISPR systems and applications are continuously being developed, so its potential is ever-growing.
CRISPR systems can edit DNA at precise locations, so have huge potential in everything from fighting disease to increasing crop yields. However, CRISPR is not currently perfect and does not come without its concerns. CRISPR can affect regions of DNA outside of its target, hence continuous evaluation and technique development is necessary. Therefore, there are also huge ethical issues with utilizing CRISPR editing on humans, on top of the question of whether gene editing on humans is moral in the first place.
As part of this Spotlight we will explore the latest developments and challenges in using CRISPR, what is on the horizon for CRISPR and alternative applications in diagnostics and modeling.
Register now for the expert panel discussion: What does the future hold for CRISPR?
Complete the CRISPR survey here.
Check out the whole CRISPR Spotlight here.
Keep an eye out on site, and our Twitter or Facebook pages, for new content and updates on our CRISPR spotlight.
Spotlight on cancer research
CRISPR isn’t your bag? Not to worry – our next Spotlight featuring the latest within cancer research will begin in September!
