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Genetic modification of mammals for research and therapy - Dr. Steven Fiering / Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine - USA

O Dr. Steven Fiering irá discutir, no Café com Ciência, a modificação genética em mamíferos. Em particular, irá comentar sobre o impacto de uma técnica revolucionária denominada CRISPR.

 

Genetic modification of mammals for research and therapy

Palestrante: Dr. Steven Fiering

Afiliação: Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine - USA

Data: 14/05/2019 (terça-feira)

Horário: 12h45

Local: Anfiteatro I do IF/UFG

 

Abstract:

The molecular biology revolution began in the 1970s with the ability to generate large amounts of identical genetic sequences (clone genes) by splicing DNA sequences into plasmids using restriction enzymes and purification of the recombined plasmids. Once large amounts of identical copies of DNA were available efforts turned to introducing that DNA into organisms, including mammalian cells and mice, in the 1980s. This capability has supported the development of our current increasingly detailed understanding of the molecular and cellular biology of mammals. The capability to genetically modify embryos and implant those embryos in foster mothers leading to birth of genetically modified animals has been a major research tool. Currently we have the potential for genetic manipulation of human embryos. For important ethical reasons the genetic modification of the human germline is being approached slowly and cautiously. However, there is minimal ethical concern about genetically manipulating somatic tissues (body cells, not germline), in humans to treat disease, broadly known as “gene therapy”. Although challenging and not yet frequently used, the rapidly maturing technologies enabling genetic manipulation of mammalian cells are now being used to genetically modify somatic cells of humans to treat disease. We will review the history of technical developments of genetic manipulation of mammals and mammalian cells with a focus on the use of this type technology in mice, including the most recent technical breakthrough, CRISPR/Cas9. The technical challenges and the future of gene therapy of both somatic tissues and the human germline will be the basis of our discussion.