TALENs are proteins from Xanthomonas bacteria that recognize specific DNA sequences with modular repeat domains and direct FokI endonuclease for precise DNA cleavage.
Xenotransplantation involves genetically modifying animal organs (usually pig organs) to reduce immune rejection, potentially addressing the chronic shortage of human donor organs.
Base editors (BEs) convert one DNA base to another without creating double-strand breaks, reducing off-target effects and cellular damage compared to standard CRISPR-Cas9.
Major concerns include the development of resistance in target insects, impacts on non-target beneficial organisms, and long-term ecological effects of Bt crop cultivation.
CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) has been at the forefront of developing CRISPR-based diagnostic tools for various diseases in India.
Chimeric genes combine regulatory sequences from one organism with coding sequences from another, creating novel genetic constructs for transgenic organism development.
RNAi uses small interfering RNAs (siRNA) or short hairpin RNA (shRNA) to target and degrade specific mRNA molecules, leading to gene silencing.
Ex vivo gene therapy involves isolating cells from the patient, modifying them genetically outside the body, and then reintroducing them, reducing immune reactions.
Lantana camara outcompetes native vegetation through superior resource acquisition and allelopathy, leading to competitive exclusion. This reduces niche availability for native species, fundamentally altering community structure and ecosystem functions like nutrient cycling.
Deciduous trees in Indian dry and moist deciduous forests shed leaves during the dry season (March-May) as an adaptation to seasonal water scarcity, reducing transpirational water loss while maintaining survival.