The DIPA-CRISPR method was tested for the first time in non-insect animals, paving the way for a better understanding of the genetic basis of survival in extreme conditions.
The Tardigrades, Champions of Survival
Tardigrades, also known as โwater bearsโ or โmoss pigs,โ are ultra-tough microscopic animals. There are more than 1,300 species of tardigrades living in a wide variety of environments, from flowering plants to wet moss, sand, freshwater, and the ocean. Most of these invertebrates measure between 0.05 and 1.3 millimeters long.
These fascinating creatures can survive extreme conditions:
Understanding the secrets of their robustness could have important scientific applications, particularly in the medical field.
DIPA-CRISPR, a Revolutionary Technique
In a study published June 13 in the journal PLOS Genetics, a team from the University of Tokyo used a recently developed technique called DIPA-CRISPR (direct parental CRISPR) to edit the genes of the tardigrade species Ramazzottius varieornatus. This method, based on the Nobel Prize-winning CRISPR gene editing technique, allows the genome of the offspring of a target organism to be modified.
Unlike classic CRISPR, DIPA-CRISPR can be used to:
Although DIPA-CRISPR has already been used successfully on insects, this is the first time it has been applied to non-insect organisms.
Towards Promising Medical Applications
Tardigrades possess a unique ability to survive extreme dehydration for extended periods of time. They can enter a slowed-life state when they sense danger, repair their radiation-damaged DNA, and use a special type of gel protein in their cells.
This last characteristic could be applied to human cells. Researchers specializing in the study of tardigrades believe it would be interesting to explore the possibility of successfully dehydrating and rehydrating an entire human organ without degradation. Such a breakthrough could revolutionize the way organs are harvested, transported and used in surgery, saving many lives.
Although there are sometimes concerns about gene editing, researchers emphasize that these experiments are carried out under strictly controlled conditions. Not only do tardigrades offer a glimpse into potential medical advancements, their array of remarkable traits suggests they have had an incredible evolutionary history that scientists hope to trace by comparing their genomes to those of closely related species using the DIPA- technique. CRISPR.
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