News Items

Question 1

Zika virus
Brazil
Mosquitos transmit

February

Answer 1

Link with pregnant women infected giving birth to babies with small heads so often brain damaged

Question 2

Zika virus

Eradicate the mosquitos

Answer 2

Possible to use genetic engineering to eradicate the mosquitos which carry the virus

Used gene snipping technology

Forces genetic changes to spread through population as it reproduces

Question 3

Using genetically modified worms to test drug for Alzheimer’s disease

February

Answer 3

Drug acts like statins for the brain

It prevents the first step towards brain cell damage

Question 4

Edit genes in human embryos

1st February

Answer 4

UK regulator is now allowing scientists to edit embryo genes

Is for research purposes as they look to find what genes are needed for embryo to develop successfully

Can only study them for 14 days and not allowed to be implanted into a woman

Question 5

Possible new cancer treatment
Research still in early stages

Genetic engineering

Answer 5

Genetically modify killer t-cells with new targeting mechanism so they target leukaemia thus killing the tumour cells

Question 6

Immunotherapy treatment

Halt Diabetes

Answer 6

Injections given containing peptides
Prompt T regulatory cells in immune system to mount protective response to beta cells
Retrain immune system