Things Worth Noting
In 2026, MIT and Stanford researchers introduced AbLecs—antibody-lectin chimeras that remove the sugar coating (glycans, including sialic acids) cancer cells use to hide from the immune system. By blocking these glycans from binding to Siglec receptors, AbLecs disable glyco-immune checkpoints, exposing tumor-associated antigens and enabling immune cells like macrophages to recognize and destroy tumors. Preclinical […]
Biological immortality remains impossible due to fundamental limits in human biology. The Hayflick limit restricts normal body cells to about 50-70 divisions before they enter replicative senescence and stop dividing, acting as a built-in molecular clock. This is driven by telomere shortening—protective caps on chromosomes that erode with each cell division because of the end […]
Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco have developed a promising new cancer therapy using CRISPR activation to turn ordinary white fat cells—taken from liposuction—into energy-burning beige fat cells. These engineered cells are highly efficient at consuming glucose and fatty acids, directly competing with nearby or distant tumors for vital nutrients and effectively starving […]
Artificial womb technology, or ectogenesis, could transform reproduction by growing babies in biobags, addressing infertility, high-risk pregnancies, and population decline. This biotechnology mimics natural wombs, supporting premature infants and potentially enabling full-term lab-grown babies. It tackles age-related fertility issues, like ovarian aging, allowing older adults to conceive via in vitro fertilization and artificial placentas. By […]
“Bubble boy” disease, or ADA-SCID, is a rare immune disorder caused by ADA gene mutations, leaving kids unable to fight infections without isolation. Affecting 1 in 200,000 births, it disrupts T cells, B cells, and NK cells, often detected via newborn screening. Traditional treatments like enzyme replacement therapy or bone marrow transplants have limitations, including […]
In the annals of human history, few ideas have captured the imagination as powerfully as the prospect of improving our very essence—our DNA. From the dawn of genetics to the cutting-edge innovations of today, the quest to enhance and upgrade human biology has evolved from science fiction into a tangible reality. This article explores the […]
In 2017, A Crack in Creation: Gene Editing and the Unthinkable Power to Control Evolution hit bookshelves, authored by Jennifer Doudna, a pioneer in molecular biology, and Samuel Sternberg, her collaborator in the CRISPR revolution. This book isn’t just a scientific memoir—it’s a clarion call to humanity, a deep dive into the biotechnology that’s reshaping […]