基因技术对传统伦理道德的冲击

基因技术的发展使许多传统的伦理道德观念面临着挑战，文章将其主要归结为生命观、公平观和家庭观三个方面，并将基因技术对此三个方面的冲击加以分析。     

基于上转换纳米粒子的低损伤神经界面技术

Optogenetics is a neuromodulation technology that combines light control technology with genetic technology, thus allowing the selective activation and inhibition of the electrical activity in specific types of neurons with millisecond time resolution. Over the past several years, optogenetics has become a powerful tool for understanding the organization and functions of neural circuits, and it holds great promise to treat neurological disorders. To date, the excitation wavelengths of commonly employed opsins in optogenetics are located in the visible spectrum. This poses a serious limitation for neural activity regulation because the intense absorption and scattering of visible light by tissues lead to the loss of excitation light energy and also cause tissue heating. To regulate the activity of neurons in deep brain regions, it is necessary to implant optical fibers or optoelectronic devices into target brain areas, which however can induce severe tissue damage. Non- or minimally-invasive remote control technologies that can manipulate neural activity have been highly desirable in neuroscience research. Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) can emit light with a short wavelength and high frequency upon excitation by light with a long wavelength and low frequency. Therefore, UCNPs can convert low-frequency near-infrared (NIR) light into high-frequency visible light for the activation of light-sensitive proteins, thus indirectly realizing the NIR optogenetic system. Because NIR light has a large tissue penetration depth, UCNP-mediated optogenetics has attracted significant interest for deep-tissue neuromodulation. However, in UCNP-mediated in vivo optogenetic experiments, as the up-conversion efficiency of UCNPs is low, it is generally necessary to apply high-power NIR light to obtain up-converted fluorescence with energy high enough to activate a photosensitive protein. High-power NIR light can cause thermal damage to tissues, which seriously restricts the applications of UCNPs in optogenetic technology. Therefore, the exploration of strategies to increase the up-conversion efficiency, fluorescence intensity, and biocompatibility of UCNPs is of great significance to their wide applications in optogenetic systems. This review summarizes recent developments and challenges in UCNP-mediated optogenetics for deep-brain neuromodulation. We firstly discuss the correspondence between the parameters of UCNPs and employed opsins in optogenetic experiments, which mainly include excitation wavelengths, emission wavelengths, and luminescent lifetimes. Thereafter, we introduce the methods to enhance the conversion efficiency of UCNPs, including optimizing the structure of UCNPs and modifying the organic dyes in UCNPs. In addition, we also discuss the future opportunities in combining UCNP-mediated optogenetics with flexible microelectrode technology for the long-term detection and regulation of neural activity in the case of minimal injury.     

90年前的禽流感

1918年，突如其来的传染病夺走了5000万人的生命。面对一种新的病毒，人们甚至完全不知所措，然而追查病毒真相的工作从未停止。直到2005年，美国病理学家利用最新的基因技术将病毒复原，发现它很可能就是至今仍在肆虐的禽流感病毒。     

为个体化医疗奠定基石——对话Life Technologies大中华区总裁Siddhartha Kadia博士

2011年5月1日,美国海军特种作战强化大队在巴基斯坦首都伊斯兰堡附近阿伯塔巴德市一处建筑中击毙了本·拉登. 那么,那个被击毙的人真的是本·拉登吗?5月2日下午,美国总统国土安全与反恐助理布伦南表示,基因检测结果证明:"该尸体和本·拉登本人达到99.9％的匹配率". 在这次举世瞩目的事件中,美国LifeTechnologies公司提供的基因测序技术进入了大众的视线.     

Progress in non-viral gene delivery systems fabricated via supramolecular assembly

Gene delivery systems are one of key issues that limit the development of gene therapy. The novel non-viral gene delivery systems fabricated via supramolecular assembly have begun to show increasing promising and applications in gene therapy due to its suitable nanometric size,controllable structure and excellent biocompatibility. In this review, the fundamental and recent progress of non-viral gene supramolecular assembly is reviewed. Artificial viruses the future direction of non-viral gene delivery systems are also described.     

生命科学带来的思考

科学家研究表明,人类的疾病瑟DNA遗传基因有密切相关.