Thermo Fisher Launches CRISPR and TALEN Genome-Editing Workshops – Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (press release)

Thermo Fisher Scientific has launched a program of four-day lecture-based and hands-on CRISPR (clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats) and TALEN (transcription activator-like effector nuclease) genome-editing workshops at its global training facilities.

The workshops will provide an overview of CRISPR/Cas9 and TALEN technologies through both lecture-based sessions and laboratory practice. The focus will be on topics spanning experimental design strategies, methods for delivering guide RNAs (gRNAs) and Cas9 mRNA/Cas9 proteins into cells for generating gene knockouts, the use of TALs as genome-editing tools for gene knockins, and approaches to analyzing editing efficiency. The workshops will highlight the use of TALEN genome-editing technology for genome-editing applications, including single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) repair.

Workshop participants will have the opportunity to design a genome-editing experiment with experts in the field. "Our workshops are designed to equip researchers with the instruction and hands-on training they need to comfortably utilize the leading genome-editing technologies in their own labs," said Helge Bastian, Ph.D., vp and general manager of synthetic biology at Thermo Fisher Scientific. "As the practice of engineering nucleic acids in silico, in vitro, and in living cells evolves at a high-speed pace, it is increasingly important for life science professionals to learn about the basics and the newest formats of these high-precision molecular technologies. This will enable them to unravel the underlying mechanisms of normal cellular processes and disease onset or progression, support the discovery and development of new drugs, and enhance biomanufacturing and therapy solutions."

Thermo Fisher says that as a result of strong demand following workshops in the U.S., Germany, and the U.K., it has now more than doubled the number of workshops offered, and plans to hold courses throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Last month, the firm reported a deal to acquire contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) Patheon, for $7.2 billion.

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Thermo Fisher Launches CRISPR and TALEN Genome-Editing Workshops - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (press release)