Genetics & Applications

CRISPR-Cas based precision genome editing: current advances and associated challenges in crop improvement and trait enhancement

2024-11-06T08:47:10+00:00

The CRISPR-Cas system has revolutionized precision genome editing and opened up enormous prospects for crop improvement and trait enhancement. This review covers recent advances related to the application of CRISPR-Cas in agricultural biotechnology, with an emphasis on its potential to contribute to solving critical issues of food security and sustainability. Global population is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, presenting a challenge that demands new approaches to raise agricultural productivity. The review investigates the mechanisms by which CRISPR-Cas systems, especially Cas9 and Cas12a, facilitate precise alterations in plant genomes, leading to augmented resilience against both biological and environmental challenges. Significant accomplishments comprise increased drought resistance, enhanced disease tolerance, and improved nutritional quality in agricultural species such as wheat, maize, and soybean. However, the application of CRISPR-Cas technology encounters challenges, including regulatory hurdles and public acceptance. This paper underlines modern achievements together with future possibilities, at the same time paying much attention to the connected challenges and emphasizing the crucial role of CRISPR-Cas technology for the advancement of sustainable agriculture. Using such a powerful tool, scientists aim at creating resistant crop species that will be able to meet the needs of the growing population while providing food safety and quality.

Rapid and Simple DNA Extraction Method for Polymerase Chain Reaction Using Contact Lens Solutions

2024-12-17T08:10:06+00:00

DNA extraction is an important step for DNA amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), but existing methods often require complex procedures, expensive commercial kits, or harmful organic solvents. This study addresses current issues related to safety, cost, and processing time in DNA extraction by presenting a rapid and cost-effective DNA extraction method that utilizes commercially available contact lens solutions (CLS). A simple protocol involving tissue crushing, heat treatment and centrifugation was developed to extract DNA from blood-sucking mosquito Aedes albopictus Skuse, 1894. This process is completed within 30 minutes and requires no specialized equipment, making it highly accessible. The quality of the extracted DNA was sufficient for the amplification of 700 bp of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene segment. The proposed method showed superior efficiency compared to the extraction control in which insect samples were treated with sterile water, and clear PCR amplification products were obtained in all DNA samples extracted by CLS. These results suggest that protein-degrading agents or surfactants in CLS may function in DNA isolation. Moreover, since CLS are designed for direct ocular contact, the safety of this method is an advantage over common extraction techniques that use organic solvents. Although the present study focused on insect specimens, the method could potentially be widely applied to various types of biological specimens. By providing a low-cost, rapid, and user-friendly DNA extraction technique, this method can substantially reduce barriers in DNA extraction for PCR. This method may be a preferable option for school educators seeking safe and time-efficient experimental approaches.

Investigation of the Effects Of ACE Gene Polymorphism on Athletic Performance in Active Adult Males

2024-09-25T13:17:46+00:00

Studying genes associated with exercise-related physiological systems and metabolic pathways has proven to be an effective method for identifying genetic markers associated with enhanced athletic performance. One of the extensively studied genes in genetics is "Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE)" which has a significant role in regulating blood pressure, plasma volume, and the development of cardiac and skeletal muscle. The objective of this study was to determine the different results and genetic variations in the effects of ACE gene polymorphisms on the performance of the 30m sprint test and the arrowhead agility drill test in active adult males after a 6-week training program. Following the manufacturer's instructions, genomic DNA was extracted from participant mouth swab samples using the Buccalyse DNA Extraction Kit from Isohelix. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 25 application was used to perform statistical analysis on the research data. The findings indicate that 45.7% of the participants possess the I/D genotype, 31.4% possess the I/I genotype, and 22.9% possess the D/D genotype. There was no notable disparity in the performance of the arrowhead agility test and the 30 m sprint test among the different genotype groups (p<0.05). Our analysis revealed a lack of association between genetic variants and the values obtained from performance measurements in the test outcomes. Due to the involvement of various genes and variables, further research is needed to improve the predictability of approaches to ACE gene variations, considering their performance-enhancing benefits.

Exploring the variation association between four head traits

2024-09-06T07:34:36+00:00

This research work presents a comprehensive overview of four traits related to the head, with the aim of assessing the statistical phenotypic association among them. The traits examined in this study encompass earlobe type, tongue rugosity, cleft chin and tongue rolling. The primary objective was to investigate the potential associations between these traits and understand their interrelationships. The study focused on examining specific traits in a diverse group of 7431 unrelated individuals, where the genders were almost evenly distributed. To facilitate a comprehensive analysis, three distinct groups were created for each characteristic, comprising the total population, as well as male and female subsets. The selection of subjects was carefully done to ensure a fair representation across different geographical regions within Bosnia and Herzegovina, thereby accurately reflecting the nation's national and ethnic diversity. The association among these traits was assessed for statistical significance using the Chi-squared test, with Fisher's exact test used as a supplementary method to examine the connection between each pair of observed traits. Additionally, the Chi-squared test was applied to examine gender-based differences in the frequencies of the phenotypic characteristics of the head. Following traits were shown to have a statistically significant association: tongue rugosity - tongue rolling, tongue rugosity – earlobe type, cleft chin – earlobe type, cleft chin – tongue rolling and earlobe type – tongue rolling. Investigation into the variations in the frequencies of observed phenotypic traits of the head, with respect to gender, revealed statistically significant results for every trait examined.

The role of CYP2C19*2 variant and other factors in clopidogrel resistance in Montenegrin ACS patients

2024-11-04T11:09:18+00:00

Clopidogrel, an antiplatelet drug, has been widely prescribed for the treatment of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) for over two decades. Despite the fact that the drug proved to be effective in the majority of patients, in some, due to an inadequate response, the recurrence of adverse cardiovascular events represents a significant problem. These interindividual differences in response to clopidogrel may be due to genetic variations, concomitant therapy and associated diseases. The purpose of this study is to examine the association of the CYP2C19*2 loss of function variant, as well as other variables such as demographic characteristics, concomitant diseases and therapy with resistance, i.e. reduced drug efficacy in the Montenegrin cohort. The study included a total of 196 patients diagnosed with ACS who were on clopidogrel therapy. Patients were monitored for a one- year period, after the introduction of therapy, and divided into two groups: effective and ineffective clopidogrel therapy group. Genotyping for the CYP2C19*2 variant was performed using the real-time qPCR method. Our results show that atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with impaired efficacy of clopidogrel in reducing the occurrence of adverse CV events during one year after the diagnosis of ACS (p = 0.040). There was no statistically significant difference between the effective and ineffective therapy group concerning CYP2C19*2 allele and genotype distribution (p = 0.438, p = 0.328) respectively. In conclusion, our findings indicate that AF could be potential non-genetic cause of ineffective clopidogrel therapy in ACS patients.