Science Philanthropy Alliance’s Post

Research from the lab of Salk President Gerald Joyce provides fresh insights into the origins of life, presenting compelling evidence that supports the 'RNA World' hypothesis. The study unveils an RNA enzyme capable of making accurate copies of other functional RNA strands, while also allowing new variants of the molecule to emerge over time. These findings bring scientists one step closer to re-creating RNA-based life in the laboratory. By modeling these primitive environments in the lab, scientists can directly test hypotheses about how life may have started on Earth or on other planets. https://lnkd.in/gY2cK_GE

Your research shouldn’t be limited by sequence complexity. Our groundbreaking enzymatic DNA synthesis approach empowers us to rapidly and reliably synthesize complex DNA sequences. We specialize in tackling those demanding sequences that others find daunting. We’re excited to make this DNA available through our Early Access Program. We will synthesize the sequences you have always wanted — CRISPR arrays, promoters, ITRs, and more — to make your research in these areas more accessible. Sign up today for a consultation. We’ll walk you through the benefits of our Early Access Program and demonstrate how it can contribute to your scientific endeavors. https://lnkd.in/gy_HmihZ #DNAsynthesis #syntheticbiology #EnzymaticDNAsynthesis #syntheticDNA

There's a very interesting new book coming out this summer "The Catalyst: RNA and the Quest to Unlock Life's Deepest Secrets" by Nobel prize-winner Thomas Cech. From an recent excerpt published in the NY Times: "This means that the RNA could cut and join biochemical bonds all by itself — the sort of activity that had been thought to be the sole purview of protein enzymes. This gave us a tantalizing glimpse at our deepest origins: If RNA could both hold information and orchestrate the assembly of molecules, it was very likely that the first living things to spring out of the primordial ooze were RNA-based organisms. [...] In recent years, our understanding of RNA has begun to advance even more rapidly. [...] There are more than 400 RNA-based drugs in development, beyond the ones that are already in use. And in 2022 alone, more than $1 billion in private equity funds was invested in biotechnology start-ups to explore frontiers in RNA research. [...] RNA discoveries have led to new therapies, such as the use of antisense RNA to help treat children afflicted with the devastating disease spinal muscular atrophy. The mRNA vaccines, which saved millions of lives during the Covid pandemic, are being reformulated to attack other diseases, including some cancers. RNA research may also be helping us rewrite the future; the genetic scissors that give CRISPR its breathtaking power to edit genes are guided to their sites of action by RNAs." I love a good popular science book, and this looks like it won't disappoint! As a former cell biologist, I'm fascinated by these modern treatment approaches that make creative use of the cell's own machinery. Will you be picking this one up? Any other pop-sci books to recommend for summer reading? https://lnkd.in/dCebMfYW

New innovation in mass spectrometry is helping scientists to gather a more complete picture of human health. While many studies have explored the genomic underpinnings of human health, few have been able to study proteomics at the same scale. In this interview with @Mendelspod(tag), Rosy Lee, VP and general manager of life sciences mass spectrometry @ThermoFisher(tag), discusses how the Orbitrap Astral MS is enabling a new era of proteomics, the final mile of “omics” in life sciences. Listen: https://lnkd.in/ghN7K5gt

In this exclusive whitepaper, learn how it all starts with patient data. In the drive towards precision medicine, explore patient-centric omics mining strategies for target identification. Using state-of-the-art systems biology, find out how transcriptomic, clinical, and morphological data can be integrated to construct verifiable models of diseases like chronic kidney disease. Read the whitepaper here: https://hubs.ly/Q02xxqYX0 #researchneverstops #evotec #drugdiscovery #targetidentification #omics

Did SARS-CoV-2 come from gain-of-function research? And if so, will we ever find out? I have been on a scientific journey for a definitive answer that took me to the cutting edge of #covidorigin science. Here is what I found

There's a very interesting new book coming out this summer "The Catalyst: RNA and the Quest to Unlock Life's Deepest Secrets" by Nobel prize-winner Thomas Cech. From a recent excerpt published in the NY Times: "This means that the RNA could cut and join biochemical bonds all by itself — the sort of activity that had been thought to be the sole purview of protein enzymes. This gave us a tantalizing glimpse at our deepest origins: If RNA could both hold information and orchestrate the assembly of molecules, it was very likely that the first living things to spring out of the primordial ooze were RNA-based organisms. [...] In recent years, our understanding of RNA has begun to advance even more rapidly. [...] There are more than 400 RNA-based drugs in development, beyond the ones that are already in use. And in 2022 alone, more than $1 billion in private equity funds was invested in biotechnology start-ups to explore frontiers in RNA research. [...] RNA discoveries have led to new therapies, such as the use of antisense RNA to help treat children afflicted with the devastating disease spinal muscular atrophy. The mRNA vaccines, which saved millions of lives during the Covid pandemic, are being reformulated to attack other diseases, including some cancers. RNA research may also be helping us rewrite the future; the genetic scissors that give CRISPR its breathtaking power to edit genes are guided to their sites of action by RNAs." I love a good popular science book, and this looks like it won't disappoint! As a former cell biologist, I'm fascinated by these modern treatment approaches that make creative use of the cell's own machinery. Will you be picking this one up? Any other pop-sci books to recommend for summer reading?

New innovation in mass spectrometry is helping scientists to gather a more complete picture of human health. While many studies have explored the genomic underpinnings of human health, few have been able to study proteomics at the same scale. In this interview with @Mendelspod(tag), Rosy Lee, VP and general manager of life sciences mass spectrometry @ThermoFisher(tag), discusses how the Orbitrap Astral MS is enabling a new era of proteomics, the final mile of “omics” in life sciences. Listen: https://lnkd.in/ghN7K5gt

A good reason for Illumina's stranglehold on the industry is that they basically built the sequencing market. And they did it by establishing themselves in the academic research community. As applications transitioned from the academic market to the applied market in diagnostics labs, Illumina was the obvious choice. In this weekend's issue of Omicly, premium members ($5/month) get access to my hot-take on how spatial omics companies, including new in-situ sequencing offerings from Element Biosciences and Singular Genomics, are trying to run the same academic playbook to grab market share. But if industry drama isn't your thing, the free issue includes: 1) The evidence that Epstein-Barr Virus can cause multiple sclerosis is mounting 2) The importance of taking out the trash: An overview of cellular protein degradation pathways. 3) Linus Pauling proposed a triple helical structure for DNA in 1953. Here's why he got it so wrong. Supporters ($1/month) and above also get access to the Omicly Weekly Reading List! Catch it here: https://buff.ly/49cJ3JA

"Precision medicine is a therapy or treatment that is tailored just for you. All of us are individuals and individuals at a genetic level, and therefore, your treatment to be really effective has to be specific enough to address your specific genetics." Rosy Lee, our VP and General Manager of Life Sciences Mass Spectrometry, joined Clinical Lab Chat to discuss how recent advances in genomics and proteomics are unlocking new possibilities for human health. Listen to the full episode for more insights from Rosy and how Thermo Fisher Scientific works with our partners to enable precision medicine ⬇️