Modified CRISPR Screen Identifies Genes that Protect against Disease

Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a modified form of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing that can effectively screen cells for genes that protect against different diseases. Led by Timothy Lu, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science, and of biological engineering, the MIT team used the technique in a yeast model of Parkinson’s disease (PD) to identify genes that protected against α-synuclein (αSyn) toxicity