Allessandra DiCorato  |  Broad Institute. “Search Algorithm Reveals Nearly 200 New Kinds of CRISPR Systems.” MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology, news.mit.edu/2023/search-algorithm-reveals-nearly-200-new-kinds-crispr-systems-1123. Accessed 28 Jan. 2024. 

The article “Search Algorithm Reveals Nearly 200 New Kinds of CRISPR Systems.”, is about a group of scientists at MIT at the National Institutes of Health that have developed a new search algorithm named Fast Locality Sensitive Hashing based clustering. Basically, the algorithm has already successfully identified 188 new rare CRISPR systems in bacterial genomes. This can overall lead to more studies and information on genomic data in diverse bacteria, coal mines, breweries, Antarctic lakes, and dog saliva. Overall researchers may believe that there are definitely more rare systems yet to be possibly discovered with the algorithm in many other databases as they continue. 

This study could benefit APES in many ways, such as biodiversity and agriculture. Biodiversity and agriculture could benefit from the algorithm to find new ways of making crops and farming lifestyles more sustainable for the consumer and producer, which could lead to the creation of special traits for different types of crops to have better growth rates. Microbial could benefit from the study as it tends to be in various biodiverse areas such as coal mines, Antarctica lakes, and breweries while contributing to biodiversity. 

Rabin, Roni Caryn. “Second Maryland Man to Receive an Altered Pig’s Heart Has Died.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 31 Oct. 2023, www.nytimes.com/2023/10/31/health/pig-heart-transplant-faucette.html. 

The article “Second Maryland Man to Receive an Altered Pig’s Heart Has Died.” by Roni Caryn sheds light on a 58-year-old man from Maryland who received a heart transplant from a genetically modified pig. The man died about six weeks later and is the second man ever to get the transplant. The first patient passed away after two months. The transplant took part at the University of Maryland Medical Center, involving genetically modified pigs to make their organs more suitable for humans. It seems to be a solution for the lack of human donors, but it has little success and still needs to be worked on.

 Based on the information from the article, it shows negative factors to APES towards pigs and biodiversity. If or when the treatment is successful, it could kill even more pigs, leading to dramatic decreases in biodiversity due to not as many pigs being there to support ecosystems. The treatment is sustainable in the future if it is successful as it will lead to less need from human donors and having pig organs to rely on as a main source of hearts for humans. 

Anthes, Emily. “Scientists Use CRISPR to Make Chickens More Resistant to Bird Flu.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 10 Oct. 2023, www.nytimes.com/2023/10/10/science/bird-flu-chickens-crispr.html. 

The article “Scientists Use CRISPR to Make Chickens More Resistant to Bird Flu” by Emily Anthes talks about CRISPR gene editing technology used on chickens to increase resistance to avian influenza. Scientists and studies in the article suggest that genetic Engineering could be an excellent tool for combating the impacts of the bird flu. The tool targets a chicken gene associated with a protein utilized with the flu virus. After the procedure, resistance of infections to lower doses of viruses but has trouble combating high doses. Overall, the potential benefits of editing these chicken genes could help put an end to the fast adapting viruses. 

The study uses APES biodiversity and disease targeting to address the avian influenza virus that could lead to the wildlife of birds, but taking out one could lead to death in many other parts of ecosystems. Genetic engineering is explored using tools to help genetically modify the chickens to increase the chicken population, provide for human consumption, and boost ecosystems. It is creating sustainable agriculture and food security for Americans. 

Kolata, Gina. “Gene Therapy Allows an 11-Year-Old Boy to Hear for the First Time.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 23 Jan. 2024, www.nytimes.com/2024/01/23/health/deaf-gene-therapy.html. 

The article “Gene Therapy Allows an 11-Year-Old Boy to Hear for the First Time” by Kolata Gina sheds groundbreaking information about a new therapy treatment targeting a rare form of congenital deafness by replacing the gene with a functional one. The boy, 11-year-old Aissam Dam, was the first person in the U.S. to perform this special treatment for his deafness caused by a mutation in the otoferlin gene. The treatment was a success overall at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Still, the treatment did not realize the factors that would limit his whole language development due to the learning window for speech after a certain age. Today, his hearing is expected after two months of the treatment. 

The article connects with the biodiversity and genetic diversity of APES. The article does not directly mention anything about it. However, genetic diversity is a critical factor of biodiversity, and it could lead to helping or killing even more different types of cancer cells. Advancing engineering technologies that may treat or prevent more advanced diseases later on. Ethics might raise considerations for even more societal benefits, reducing potential risks. 

Jewett, Christina. “F.D.A. Issues Warning of Cancer Risk Linked to CAR-T Therapies.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 23 Jan. 2024, www.nytimes.com/2024/01/23/health/fda-cancer-car-t-warning.html.

This article, “F.D.A. Issues Warning of Cancer Risk Linked to CAR-T Therapies.” by Christina Jewett, sheds light on exciting information on newly past warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA ruled over companies that produce CAR-T, which is chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies, helping specialized cancer treatments. The companies will have to place a warning on the box acknowledging that the treatment could lead to potential risks of secondary cancers.  The box is intended to kill cancer cells rather than cause more or spread throughout the body. Studies have shown that the box has generated roughly 25 cases of secondary cancers in CAR-T therapies. 

Based on the studies in the article, it would relate to APES because CAR-T therapies could lead to better biotechnology advancements for the therapies to make a better design that will not cause or reduce the chances of getting secondary cancers from the product. It could also lead to negative factors such as risk to public health, causing an increase in cancers for the consumer. Finally, another negative factor is medical waste due to increased medical waste when disposing of improper waste management.

Jackson, C. (2023, August 4). Dopamine neurons more diverse than previously thought. GEN. https://www.genengnews.com/topics/translational-medicine/dopamine-neurons-more-diverse-than-previously-thought/ 

A study by researchers at Northwestern University challenges understanding dopamine neurons in the brain. The study revealed that dopamine neurons are more diverse than initially thought, which are genetic subtypes of dopamine neurons that control movements without responding to feelings of reward. This study shows how the brain’s complexity may cause dopamine neuron loss and affect the motor system. 

Neurological disorders significantly affect individuals and their communities, including potential impacts on the environment, healthcare systems, and quality of life. Further understanding the brain’s functions and diseases will help produce better effective treatments and interventions. Overall, it positively benefits society and environmental aspects related to neurological health.

Thomas, U. (2023a, August 4). U.K. population study links obesity risk to sex and age genes. GEN. https://www.genengnews.com/topics/omics/uk-population-study-links-obesity-risk-to-sex-and-age-genes/ 

The article discusses a U.K. population study about the links between genes and obesity risk, focusing on the effects of one’s genetic factors based on biological sex and age. The research analyzed exome data from over 400,000 adults to identify genetic mutations associated with their BMI since age ten. The findings suggest specific genes that affect one’s risk of obesity depending on an individual’s sex and age, revealing new biological pathways for understanding obesity etiology. Obesity may be caused by significant environmental and social impacts, research on genetic determinants and gene-environment interactions can offer insights into addressing obesity through personalized approaches and targeted drug discovery.     

Although the article may not mainly correlate to environmental science, it relates to broader public health and well-being. Obesity is a complex health issue influenced by environmental and lifestyle factors, including diet, physical activity, and social conditions. Obesity is a relevant topic due to its rising relevance in social media and marketing. Through research, understanding the genetic factors of obesity and how they interact with environmental factors can provide knowledgeable insights to help make more effective public health policies and interventions to address obesity and its associated health risks globally.

Vuksanaj, K. (2023, June 5). Three ways CRISPR is making animal research models more predictive. GEN. https://www.genengnews.com/insights/three-ways-crispr-is-making-animal-research-models-more-predictive/ 

The article discusses the impact of CRISPR gene editing technology on animal research models, specifically mice, and rats, to help drug discovery and development. CRISPR-Cas9 has changed precise alterations to genomes, allowing for the quick creation of structural variants in animal models to study disease phenotypes and identify new drug targets. The article highlights three ways CRISPR makes animal research models more predictive, including precision modeling for target validation, testing efficacy in humanized systems, and inspiring confidence in treatment safety. Researchers can generate more relevant animal models, potentially reducing the overall use of animals in conducting research.

CRISPR-Cas9 can create more predictive animal models, potentially minimizing the number of animals used in studies. This technology’s ability to produce more relevant in vitro and in vivo models could contribute to more effective and targeted drug development. It could potentially reduce the need for large-scale animal testing and promote ethical research practices in environmental science.

Julianna LeMieux, P. (2023, August 2). Genetic variant in people of African descent reduces HIV load. GEN. https://www.genengnews.com/topics/infectious-diseases/genetic-variant-in-people-of-african-descent-reduces-hiv-load/ 

New reports of an international team of researchers found a genetic variant related to HIV infection in people of African ancestry. This variant causes potentially slowing in the progression of the illness and lowers the risk of virus transmission. These findings could lead to developing new treatment approaches for HIV individuals. Studying these genetic variations in diverse populations is important to find regions that are heavily impacted by HIV, such as Africa.

The article’s ideas have impacted environmental science regarding global health and disease dynamics. The impact of HIV on populations in Africa highlights the need for extensive research on the genetic factors influencing HIV infection in diverse populations. Disease progression can aid in developing targeted treatments and interventions, ultimately contributing to better health outcomes and potentially reducing the overall burden of HIV on the environment and affected communities. The intersection between health, genetics, and the environment is an essential aspect of environmental science, as it involves studying the complex interactions between human health and the ecosystems in which diseases like HIV thrive.

Bello, C. (2023, May 22). Scientists find protein that can extend lives and kill cancer cells. Euronews. https://www.euronews.com/next/2023/05/19/scientists-discover-the-key-to-extending-human-lifespans-and-supercharging-cancer-fighting 

This article sheds light on groundbreaking scientific research conducted by scientists from Taipei Medical University in Taiwan. The scientists found a genetic modification that enhances the cancer-killing capabilities of certain blood cells by two to seven times. It could help extend the lifespan of mice by up to 20%. The discovery has the potential for cancer treatments and could extend human lifespans.

As human lifespans increase, there are potential consequences for population growth, resource consumption, and environmental impacts. And advancements in cancer therapies and treatments can improve public health, which may affect the environment. The more significant amount of humans on Earth, the more influence there will be on environmental sustainability. Therefore, this research has broader implications beyond healthcare and may affect environmental science.