Genome Editing—Principles and Applications for Functional Genomics Research and Crop Improvement

Genome editing technologies are powerful tools for studying gene function and for crop improvement. The technologies rely on engineered endonucleases to generate double stranded breaks (DSBs) at target loci. The DSBs are repaired through the error-prone non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and homology-directed repair (HDR) pathways in cells, resulting in mutations and sequence replacement, respectively. In the widely used CRISPR/Cas9 system, the endonuclease Cas9 is targeted by a CRISPR small RNA to DNA sequence of interest. In this review, we describe the four available types of genome editing tools, ZFN, TALEN, CRISPR/Cas9 and CRISPR/Cpf1, and show their applications in functional genomics research and precision molecular breeding of crops.     

Editorial to the special issue: “Phytochemicals in nutrition and health: advances and challenges”

Phytochemistry Reviews -     

Being the Pioneer of Life Sciences in China——Introduction to Beijing Genomics Institute

The Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI) of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) was officially founded in December 2003. Its predecessor, Beijing Huada Genomics Research Center, has presented significant contributions to the development of life sciences in China by its excellent scientific innovations and     

Correction to: Who is the ocean? Preface to the future seas 2030 special issue

Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries - A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11160-021-09657-9     

Introduction to Special Section: Understanding Paths to Youth Purpose—Why Content and Contexts Matter

Applying latent class and regression techniques to data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (n = 997), this study explored the potential academic advantages of time spent in out-of-school activities. Of particular interest was how these potential advantages played out in relation to the timing and duration of activity participation and the family contexts in which it occurred. Participation closer to the start of high school—including consistent participants and latecomers—was associated with higher grades at the transition into high school, especially for youth from low-income families. Sensitivity analyses indicated that this link between school-age activity participation and adolescent academic progress was unlikely to be solely a function of selection. It also tended to be more pronounced among youth from lower-income families, although without varying by other aspects of family status or process.     

Taro—With special reference to its culture and uses in hawaii

A staple food since ancient times for countless Pacific island natives, taro may today be entering a new era of utilization by way of the baker’s flour manufactured from it and other comestibles such as poi and paiai derived from its corm.     

Human Genomics in China — Ten Years Endeavor: From Planning to Implementation

Ten years ago, the Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai (South Center,hereafter) was established in the Zhangjiang HiTech     

The Lepidopteran KAAT1 and CAATCH1: Orthologs to Understand Structure–Function Relationships in Mammalian SLC6 Transporters

To the SLC6 family belong 20 human transporters that utilize the sodium electrochemical gradient to move biogenic amines, osmolytes, amino acids and related compounds into cells. They are classified into two functional groups, the Neurotransmitter transporters (NTT) and Nutrient amino acid transporters (NAT). Here we summarize how since their first cloning in 1998, the insect (Lepidopteran) Orthologs of the SLC6 family transporters have represented very important tools for investigating functional–structural relationships, mechanism of transport, ion and pH dependence and substate interaction of the mammalian (and human) counterparts.

     

Medicine in Society—Part I: Change and Challenge

The Committee to Study the Role of Medicine of the California Medical Education and Research Foundation (CMERF) is grateful to Dr. Watts for the following paper which served as the philosophical basis for the Committee''s study and discussions. The Committee is also grateful to CMERF and to its president, James C. Doyle, for the encouragement and cooperation it has received in the course of its intensive study of a problem which is of great interest and concern to the medical profession of California.Dr. Watts'' background paper has served as a potent stimulus in directing the Committee''s attention to the continuing dialogue between medicine and society, and in focussing on problems and issues which will be the subject of the Committee''s Second Progress Report, excerpts from which are scheduled for publication in the next issue of California Medicine.