Dharmacon Highlights CRISPRa Tools for Transcriptional Activation Studies
YORBA LINDA, CA (PRWEB) October 11, 2017 -- The CRISPR-Cas9 system has been adapted to upregulate any gene in its endogenous context, enabling overexpression experiments and avoiding the use of exogenous expression plasmids. The simplicity of programming this CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) system with small RNA guides is transformative for performing systematic gain-of-function studies.
This complement to loss-of-function studies, such as with RNAi and CRISPR-Cas9, also provides new tools to identify gene functions that might otherwise go undetected using a downregulation or knockout mechanism alone.
In this webinar, sponsored by Dharmacon, part of the Horizon Discovery Group, attendees will learn more about the mechanisms of CRISPR activation. They will gain a better understanding of the different CRISPRa technologies and provide experimental considerations for using either synthetic guide RNA or lentiviral sgRNA, in either arrayed or pooled screening formats. They will learn how to set up CRISPRa experiments using predesigned guide RNA, including delivery optimization and guide RNA format selection recommendations.
The speakers for this event will be Žaklina Strezoska, Senior Scientist, and Benedict Cross, R&D Manager, both from Horizon.
Dr. Strezoska earned a Master’s degree from Belgrade University, before going on to the University of Illinois at Chicago to complete her doctorate in molecular genetics. She currently serves as a senior scientist at Dharmacon, a Horizon Discovery Group company, where she leads projects in multiple research areas including RNA interference, CRISPR-Cas9 genome engineering, and CRISPRa transcriptional modulation with a focus on innovation and new product development.
Dr. Cross completed his doctorate at the University of Manchester, studying reverse chemical genetic screening in the unfolded protein response. As the R&D manager at Functional Genomic Screening, a Horizon Discovery Group company, he now manages the teams applying these functional genomic screening platforms in target discovery, validation, and other research programs.
LabRoots will host the event November 14, 2017, beginning at 9 a.m. PST, noon EST. To learn about this webinar, discover the continuing education credits that will be offered, or to register for free, click here.
About Horizon Discovery Group plc http://www.horizondiscovery.com
Horizon Discovery Group plc (LSE: HZD) ("Horizon") is a world leader in gene editing and gene modulation technologies. Horizon designs and engineers cells using its translational genomics platform, a highly precise and flexible suite of DNA editing tools (rAAV, ZFN, CRISPR and Transposon) and, following the acquisition of Dharmacon, Inc., its functional genomics platform comprising gene knockdown (RNAi) and gene expression (cDNA, ORF) tools, for research and clinical applications that advance human health. Horizon’s platforms and capabilities enable researchers to alter almost any gene or modulate its function in human or mammalian cell-lines.
Horizon offers an extensive range of catalogue products and related research services to support a greater understanding of the function of genes across all species and the genetic drivers of human disease and the development of personalised molecular, cell and gene therapies. These have been adopted by over 10,000 academic, drug discovery, drug manufacturing and clinical diagnostics customers around the globe, as well as in the Company’s own R&D pipeline.
Horizon is headquartered in Cambridge, UK, and is listed on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market under the ticker “HZD”
About LabRoots
LabRoots is the leading scientific social networking website, which provides daily scientific trending news and science-themed apparel, as well as produces educational virtual events and webinars, on the latest discoveries and advancements in science. Contributing to the advancement of science through content sharing capabilities, LabRoots is a powerful advocate in amplifying global networks and communities. Founded in 2008, LabRoots emphasizes digital innovation in scientific collaboration and learning, and is a primary source for current scientific news, webinars, virtual conferences, and more. LabRoots has grown into the world’s largest series of virtual events within the Life Sciences and Clinical Diagnostics community.
Karen Sorenson, LabRoots, Inc., http://www.LabRoots.com, +1 (619) 861-0590, [email protected]
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