Gene editing crunches an organism’s genome into single, giant DNA molecule

Enlarge / Individual chromosomes (right) have a complex organization when packed inside a cell’s nucleus (left). (credit: Thomas Ried/NIH) Complex organisms have complex genomes. While bacteria and archaea keep all of their genes on a single loop of DNA, humans scatter them across 23 large DNA molecules called chromosomes; chromosome counts range from a single […]

The Morning Watch: Breaking Down RomCom Statistics, Editing ‘Dunkirk’ & More

The Morning Watch is a recurring feature that highlights a handful of noteworthy videos from around the web. They could be video essays, fanmade productions, featurettes, short films, hilarious sketches, or just anything that has to do with our favorite movies and TV shows. In this edition, a video essay examines the evolution of romcoms […]

Key CRISPR gene editing methods might not work for most humans

At first glance, CRISPR gene editing looks like the solution to all the world’s ills: it could treat or even cure diseases, improve birth rates and otherwise fix genetic conditions that previously seemed permanent. You might want to keep your expectations low, though. Scientists have published preliminary findings indicating that two variants of CRISPR Cas9 […]

Ajit Pai’s FCC is still editing the net neutrality repeal order

Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | Daniel Grill) The Federal Communications Commission voted to repeal net neutrality rules on December 14, but the FCC is still making edits to the repeal order and hasn’t released the final version. The final order should be similar to the draft released by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai three weeks before the […]