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An On/Off Switch for Genes

Posted by Hemos on from the turn-off-the-bad-stuff dept.

Jett wrote to us with a report on some of the latest work being done in genetic theory. Scientists have made progress in being able to turn genes on and off at will, which is a critical step towards creating systems that will do what you want to them. This "toggle switch" can be triggered by either a specific chemical or a thermal rise. Nanotechnology is an area of convergence here as well - you can imagine the need for the ability to turn off some of your living nanites when unneeded.

1 of 116 comments (clear)

  1. I am a Molecular Biologist... by Foamy · · Score: 5

    and I can tell you that this story is not in any way 'new' news. Maybe the nano blurb is a new idea for this technology, but the idea of turning on and off engineered genes at you're discretion is not.

    The system they are referring to is known as a tetracycline responsive promoter. A commercially kits for this purpose are available here.

    Having used the system, I can tell you it does not work very well. A better system is located here and an even newer system here. I rarely post here, but I have noticed that most of the pieces on biologically related topics that make it on /. are not well researched on the poster's part. When I think about it, the majority of news and pseudonews sites on the web and in the traditional media fail miserably when producing stories about science in general and particulary regarding biology.

    Yo