Genetics

The programmable proteins are compact, modular, and can be directed by RNA guides to modify DNA in human cells.

A vast search of natural diversity has led scientists at MIT’s McGovern Institute and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard to uncover ancient systems with potential to expand the genome editing toolbox. These systems, which the researchers call TIGR (Tandem Interspaced Guide RNA) systems, use RNA to guide them to specific sites on DNA. TIGR systems can be reprogrammed to target any DNA sequence of interest, and they have distinct functional modules that can act on the targeted DNA. In addition to its modularity, TIGR is very compact compared to other RNA-guided systems, like CRISPR, which is a major advantage for delivering it in a therapeutic context. These findings were reported online on February 27, 2025 in the journal Science. The article is titled “TIGR-Tas: A Family of Modular RNA-Guided DNA-Targeting Systems in Prokaryotes and Their Viruses.” “This is a very versatile RNA-guided system with a lot of diverse functionalities,” says Feng Zhang, PhD, the James and Patricia Poitras Professor of Neuroscience at MIT who led the research. The TIGR-associated (Tas) proteins that Zhang’s team found share a characteristic RNA-binding component that interacts with an RNA guide that directs it to a specific site in the genome. Some cut the DNA at that site, using an adjacent DNA-cutting segment of the protein. That modularity could facilitate tool development, allowing researchers to swap useful new features into natural Tas proteins.

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•  Commercial launch of UG 100 Solaris which includes new chemistry, software, and simplified workflows for the UG 100 sequencing platform, now with expanded applications support and integration with leading “omics” technologies
• Over 50% increase in output to 10 to 12 billion reads per wafer and pricing reduced by 20% to $0.24 per million reads, enabling the $80 genome
• Increased sensitivity with 5X yield improvement for the SNVQ60 ppmSeq^TM mode enabling 30X coverage from as little as 2 nanograms of DNA (1/5th of the cfDNA found in a standard tube of blood)
• Early access availability of UG 100 Solaris Boost, a new high-throughput operating mode providing up to 100 billion reads per day for select short-read applications

Ultima Genomics, Inc., a developer of an ultra-high-throughput sequencing architecture, announced the commercial launch of UG 100 Solarisat the Advances in Genome Biology and Technology (AGBT) Conference on February 24, 2025.  UG 100Solaris features new chemistry, software, and simplified workflows to significantly increase output and lower cost on the UG 100 sequencing platform.

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New single cell and spatial innovations extend 10x Genomics’ technology and performance leadership across all three platforms

On February 23, 2025, at the Advances in Genome Biology and Technology (AGBT) General Meeting, 10x Genomics, Inc. (Nasdaq: TXG), a leader in single-cell and spatial biology, announced a series of new product innovations to solidify its position as the best partner for high-performance single-cell research at scale. In addition, the company unveiled a robust new product roadmap for its Visium and Xenium portfolios, extending its performance and technology leadership in the rapidly growing field of spatial biology. “After a record year of innovation, we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in single cell and spatial biology, taking on the hardest challenges so researchers can make the biggest impact,” said Ben Hindson, PhD, Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of 10x Genomics. “Our 2025 roadmap will once again raise the bar for the field and enable researchers to tackle bigger questions, analyze more samples and extract deeper insights from their data.”

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