A ‘Genomic Smartwatch’ technology initiative launched by the Seattle Hub for Synthetic Biology will provide instantaneous observations of individual cell transformations, potentially transforming the landscape of disease research and intervention.
An exciting new project brings together some of the biggest brains in science on a mission to install tiny bio computers inside our cells! These cellular trackers will record everything cells experience over their lifespan. Just imagine them as mini fitness trackers inside the body’s cells. How cool is that?!
By collecting cells’ life stories, researchers believe they can better understand the chain of events that lead from gene changes to problems like disease. Right now, they either have to watch cells under a microscope and miss the bigger picture or destroy cells during testing to get lots of data but no history. These cellular memories would give context about cells’ adventures from start to finish.
Three powerhouse science groups have combined their special talents on this grand goal:
First, the Allen Institute (a leader in large-scale open science) will provide funding and their mastery of mapping cell connections through time using the breakthrough gene editing tool CRISPR.
Next, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) has made waves supporting bold medical projects just like this. Their tech industry know-how and experience guiding inventive science towards making health tools everyone can access bring a valuable perspective.
Finally, the University of Washington professors will handle the critical biological and engineering innovations under the hood. By fusing specialties like gene sequencing, embryology, and biotech, they’re the perfect team to convert concepts into reality!
The team believes successfully pulling this off could totally change how we diagnose and make sense of complex diseases. Checking cells’ logs would let doctors trace back the steps linking genetics, environment, and outcomes instead of just treating symptoms in the end.
The project’s leaders say it feels like putting a smartwatch inside each cell to turn our genomes into memories, preserving the story of cells’ lives, not just their final moments before sampling. How neat!
While a big challenge lies ahead, the collaborative brain trust looks well-positioned thanks to previous breakthrough devices and a shared spirit around using science to help people.
They plan the first steps to understanding immune response and embryo development by reading cellular memoirs. Before this transforms medicine, the bio tracker tech needs to mature just like early smartphones. But creative ideas are flowing to apply the concept faster for studying diseases like infection or even personalized medicine!
Even in the early days, it’s uplifting to see such a talented techno-team come together to transform possibilities when science works toward the greater good. And perhaps the human stories interweaving along the way will prove equally profound.
Story Source: Reference Article
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Dr. Tamanna Anwar is a Scientist and Co-founder of the Centre of Bioinformatics Research and Technology (CBIRT). She is a passionate bioinformatics scientist and a visionary entrepreneur. Dr. Tamanna has worked as a Young Scientist at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She has also worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. She has several scientific research publications in high-impact research journals. Her latest endeavor is the development of a platform that acts as a one-stop solution for all bioinformatics related information as well as developing a bioinformatics news portal to report cutting-edge bioinformatics breakthroughs.
