Researchers from Salk Institute have discovered a holy grail of gene editing.
For the first time, they found the ability to insert DNA at a target location into the
non-dividing cells that make up the majority of adult organs and tissues.
The technique was able to partially restore visual responses in blind rodents, will open
new avenues for basic research and a variety of treatments, such as for retinal, heart
and neurological diseases.
Until now, techniques that modify DNA—such as the CRISPR-Cas9 system—have been most
effective in dividing cells, such as those in skin or the gut, using the cells’ normal
copying mechanisms.
The new Salk technology is ten times more efficient than other methods at incorporating
new DNA into cultures of dividing cells, making it a promising tool for both research and
medicine.
But, more importantly, the Salk technique represents the first time scientists have
managed to insert a new gene into a precise DNA location in adult cells that no longer
divide, such as those of the eye, brain, pancreas or heart, offering new possibilities for therapeutic
applications in these cells.