Targeted Genetic Modification: Xenotransplantation And Beyond

Xenotransplantation: immune barriers beyond hyperacute rejection

1. The use of organs from animal donors (xenotransplantation) is a potential solution to the chronic shortage of allogeneic organs and currently the pig is thought to be the most suitable donor for man. However, porcine organs are rejected rapidly by a vascular process called hyperacute rejection which has so far prevented clinical xenotransplantation. Although it is likely that this barrier wi...

Genetic modification and genetic determinism

In this article we examine four objections to the genetic modification of human beings: the freedom argument, the giftedness argument, the authenticity argument, and the uniqueness argument. We then demonstrate that each of these arguments against genetic modification assumes a strong version of genetic determinism. Since these strong deterministic assumptions are false, the arguments against g...

Targeted modification and transportation of cellular proteins.

Peptide aptamers are proteins selected from combinatorial libraries that display conformationally constrained variable regions. Peptide aptamers can disrupt specific protein interactions and thus represent a useful method for manipulating protein function in vivo. Here, we describe aptamer derivatives that extend the range of functional manipulations. We isolated an aptamer with increased affin...

Molecularly Targeted Therapy: Imatinib and Beyond

Towards improved butanol production through targeted genetic modification of Clostridium pasteurianum

Declining fossil fuel reserves, coupled with environmental concerns over their continued extraction and exploitation have led to strenuous efforts to identify renewable routes to energy and fuels. One attractive option is to convert glycerol, a by-product of the biodiesel industry, into n-butanol, an industrially important chemical and potential liquid transportation fuel, using Clostridium pas...