research

RIP – Donald Ainslie “D. A.” Henderson

Donald Ainslie "D. A." Henderson

Donald Ainslie “D. A.” Henderson (September 7, 1928 – August 19, 2016) was an American physician, educator, and epidemiologist who directed a 10-year international effort (1967–1977) that eradicated smallpox throughout the world and launched international childhood vaccination programs. From 1977 to 1990, he was Dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. Later, he played a leading role in instigating national programs for public health preparedness and response following biological attacks and national disasters. At the time of his death, he was Professor and Dean Emeritus of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and Professor of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh, as well as Distinguished Scholar at the UPMC Center for Health Security.

Born: Donald Ainslie Henderson (September 7, 1928 – Lakewood, Ohio)
Died: August 19, 2016 (aged 87) – Baltimore, Maryland
Nationality: American
Fields: Epidemiology
Institutions: World Health Organization, Johns Hopkins University
Known for: Eradicating smallpox
Notable awards: Ernst Jung Prize (1976), Public Welfare Medal (1978), National Medal of Science (1986), Japan Prize (1988), Albert B. Sabin Gold Medal (1994), Presidential Medal of Freedom (2002)

MIT Uses CRISPR to Engineer Synthetic DNA Capable of Event Memories

MIT Research

Score another win for CRISPR. Scientists at MIT are using the ever-intriguing genome-editing system to engineer human cells capable of recording and reporting the intensity and duration past events.

The analog memory storage system builds upon past work developed by scientists that programed cells to flip DNA sections when events – like exposure to specific chemicals – occurred. What sets the new research apart, however, is the addition exposure duration and intensity to the cell-reported information.

The older research has also largerly been relegated to bacteria. Moving the technology to human cells means, among other things, a potential method for studying the ways in which cellular events like gene regulation impact disease, according to MIT associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science, and of biological engineering, Timothy Lu.

The researchers are also able to get a bit fancier with things, with cells capable of recording multiple different input sources – in the case of this demo, doxycycline (an antibiotic and the lactose-like molecule, IPTG.

All of the information allows for a much closure study on the impact of infections and diseases like cancer. It could also potentially be used to follow the role of specialized cells during development from an embryo to full grown adult.

— Source [MIT]: MIT engineers human cells to store ‘memories’ in DNA