Synopsis: Japanese researchers have discovered that standard methods of animal and plant gene-editing introduce DNA from unexpected sources. They found DNA from the E.coli genome (a bacterium) and from the cow genome, along with goat DNA, incorporated into the genomes of their edited mouse cells They traced this adventitious presence to contaminants of standard components of the gene-editing process, such as cell culture media. The discovery suggests, for example, that present methods of gene-editing can transmit genetic elements, viruses, and other pathogenic agents between species. The findings have very important implications for biosecurity and for the regulation of gene-editing.
Read the full article at: https://www.independentsciencenews.org/health/gene-editing-unintentionally-adds-bovine-dna-goat-dna-and-bacterial-dna-mouse-researchers-find/
