Utilizing CRISPR as a Novel Tool for the Induction of Cell Reprogramming

Researchers can now target specific DNA sequences and easily modify them thanks to recent developments in CRISPR technology, enabling genome manipulation with unmatched precision. Furthermore, cell reprogramming is one of the most fascinating fields in which CRISPR-based techniques are being used. Nowadays, without using embryonic stem cells, scientists can change one type of cell into another by inserting particular genetic alterations. This has significant implications for regenerative medicine since it enables the creation of transplantable cell lines that are patient-specific

Application of Data-Driven and Process-Based Modeling Approaches for Water Quality Simulation in Lakes and Freshwater Reservoirs

Lakes and freshwater reservoirs often serve as the primary drinking and irrigation water sources for surrounding communities. They provide recreational and tourism opportunities, thereby promoting the prosperity of neighboring communities. Reliable estimates of water quality in lakes and reservoirs can improve management practices to protect water resources. Seasonal water temperature and solar shortwave radiation variations, and their subsequent interactions with water column aquatic life, combined with seasonal variations of mixing intensity throughout the water column, result in variations of water quality constituents with depth during the annual cycle. The complexity of these variations entails the use of advanced water quality modeling approaches to evaluate the trends of water quality variations over time. The current study presents two different modeling approaches for water quality modeling in lakes and reservoirs. In the first approach, a three-dimensional process-based model (AEM3D, HydroNumerics Pty Ltd.) was used for hydrodynamic modeling of Lake Arrowhead, California. The model was calibrated based on in-situ measured meteorological and water quality data. The calibrated process-based model was able to simulate water temperature and salinity profiles in the lake at different depths from May 2018 to April 2019, with mean relative errors of less than 6.1% and 4.2%, respectively. The model was also used to evaluate the mixing intensities at different depths during the study period. The second approach employed two separate data-driven models incorporating wavelet transform and artificial neural networks for water quality modeling of Boulder Basin, Lake Mead. The first data-driven model proposed a cost-effective method for estimating water quality profiles based on environmental data measured at the water surface. The model could estimate water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and electrical conductivity profiles from May 2011 to January 2015 with mean relative errors of 0.52%, 0.62%, and 0.22%, respectively. The second data-driven model was designed to forecast future water quality variations at different depths in Boulder Basin, Lake Mead. This model used a time step of 6 hours based on the availability of water quality data, and forecasted up to 960 step-ahead (240 days) water quality profiles in the basin. The data-driven model was able to successfully forecast 180-day ahead water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and electrical conductivity profiles in the basin with relative errors of less than 7.5%, 15.5%, and 4.7%, respectively. Results of this study can benefit water management practices to evaluate different water quality modeling approaches and select appropriate methods based on their needs and budget to simulate water quality variations of their lakes and reservoirs

A Review on Epigenome Editing using CRISPR-based Tools to Rejuvenate Skin Tissues

Genomic activity is controlled by a sophisticated series of cell functions known as the epigenome. The creation of tools capable of directly altering various processes is required to unravel this intricacy. Additionally, by employing tailored DNA-binding platforms connected with effector domains to serve as targeted transcription factors or epigenetic modifiers, it is possible to control the chemical modifiers that regulate the genome's activity. Neoplastic disorders have received the most attention in the study of epigenetics, though the epigenome's significance in a variety of disease processes is now well acknowledged. Researchers are inspired to investigate novel approaches to revert these pathogenic alterations to their normal patterns by considering the fact that the epigenome profile of individuals with aging skin cells or other skin disorders, including atopic dermatitis, differs from that of healthy individuals. Here in this review, we discuss the use of CRISPR/dCas9 as a cutting-edge and flexible tool for fundamental studies on chromatin structure, transcription regulation, and epigenetic landscapes, as well as the potential of this method in these fields. Furthermore, we review on common and recently invented methods to make epigenetic alterations possible in daughter cells after any mitotic differentiations. In the very near future, CRISPR-based epigenomic editing will become a potent tool for comprehending and regulating biological functions