Researchers in the U.S. and in China are using new genetic approaches to speed up cancer research and develop gene therapy. They are using transposons, or jumping genes, which were discovered 50 years ago, to insert genes from fish and insects into mice and humans. According to Forbes, they are using a moth transposon, dubbed PiggyBac, which can efficiently transpose in mice and human cells, to create glowing mice. These new techniques could reduce "the price of creating a new gene modification in a mouse from the $100,000 some pharmaceutical firms pay to a mere $500." Read more on ZDNet's Emerging Technology Trends.
Sources: Matthew Herper, Forbes.com, September 12, 2005; and various web sites
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