Combine some microbiologists with some mechanical engineers and you never know what might happen. <\/p>\n
A recent collaboration of those two fields of scientists at Brigham Young University produced a machine so small it takes a microscope to see it. <\/p>\n
It's not just for fun, however. It could pave the way for research into diseases including Alzheimer's, cancer and diabetes. <\/p>\n
For decades scientists have conducted gene research by transferring genetic material into a new cell by a process called microinjection. It was just considered an unfortunate by-product of the process to have 40 percent of the cells die. <\/p>\n
Enter BYU and a different process called nanoinjection, which occurs by transferring material including DNA into cells. <\/p>\n
\"Because DNA is naturally negatively charged, it is attracted to the outside of the lance using positive voltage,\" said Brian Jensen, a BYU professor of mechanical engineering, in a release. \"Once we insert the lance into a cell, we simply reverse the polarity of the electrical force and the lance releases the DNA.\" <\/p>\n
The lance being used is 10 times smaller than what was used previously. In the past, researchers used a hollow needle to pump a DNA-filled liquid into an egg cell nucleus, but the extra fluid caused many of the cells to swell and die. <\/p>\n
With the new method, the team found that nearly 80 percent of the cells proceeded to the next stage of development, a significant increase from the previous 60 percent success rate. <\/p>\n
No extra fluid is used and the cells undergo less stress and have a higher survival rate. <\/p>\n
\"It is really great engineering stuff,\" said Sandra Burnett, associate professor of microbiology at BYU. <\/p>\n
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The rest is here: <\/p>\n
Smaller is better: BYU creates new gene therapy technology<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Combine some microbiologists with some mechanical engineers and you never know what might happen. A recent collaboration of those two fields of scientists at Brigham Young University produced a machine so small it takes a microscope to see it Continue reading