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RE: What's up with nucleases?

in #science6 years ago (edited)

I think your article should be on "programable" nuclease as used in genome editing. As the ZFNs, TALEs, Cas9 all can be guided to a specific sequence by the researcher. Before these nucleases, the "bread and butter" of molecular biology were the restriction nuclease which really revolutionized molecular biology. These nucleases cut a specific sequence eg. EcoRI GAATTC or HindIII AAGCTT and still very useful today.

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You're correct. But explaining that too would have made the post even longer. It's the usual problem I face on here when trying to write for a broad audience: Do I make it 100% correct, or do I gloss over some details to make it easier to digest? I usually take the second path.

Yes it is hard to be comprehensive but in a post about nucleases, someone who doesn't know what a nuclease might think of only the types you mentioned. So something like "What is a nuclease?" A nuclease is an enzyme that cuts nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) and scientist can direct nucleases to cut at specific sequences to edit genomes....(then mention the 3 as in your post). I just felt that there is so much history in the discovery of restriction enzymes that your post should have mentioned these very important nucleases. The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1978 was awarded to Werner Arber, Daniel Nathans and Hamilton O. Smith for the discovery of restriction enzymes and their application in molecular biology.

Now you mentioned it :P

ha ha as long as people read the comments.

Best of both worlds: The easy to digest analysis on top and the nitty gritty historical details in the comments. Upvoted for visibility.