The latest innovations in DNA & RNA technologies

Last Tuesday was DNA day at FHI in Leusden. Together with eleven exhibitors, the trade association for laboratory technology organized the FHI Life Science event: Innovations in DNA & RNA Technologies. Were you unable to attend or would you like to relive the day? Read on for a brief impression.

 One by one, visitors receive their badge and start the day with a cup of coffee. The atrium of FHI has quickly transformed into a bustling information market and the exhibitors are ready with the latest laboratory innovations. All supplies – from sample to result – are present.   

Infection diagnostics

John Rossen is a special professor of molecular microbiology at Isala Zwolle and the UMCG. He specializes in infection diagnostics and tells the visitors how genomics technologies contribute to this. "Infectious diseases are usually acute problems that require an immediate solution. The speed of a diagnosis is therefore crucial," says John.

Metagenomics allows us to analyze the entire genetic material in a sample. John: “It is an unbiased approach, which is particularly interesting if you cannot find the cause of the symptoms. You map the entire microbial profile.” But there are also other applications. For example, it is possible to use metagenomics for preventive screening of wastewater in hospitals, to predict outbreaks of infections. Or to identify new pathogens, such as SARS-CoV-2.

Pharmacogenetics

Maaike van der Lee starts by asking the audience: “How big do you estimate the chance that you carry a pharmacogenetic variant?” This is bigger than most visitors think. Maaike: “The chance that you have a variant that is responsible for an abnormal drug metabolism is 95 percent. Just as big as the chance that the Netherlands wins the korfball championship,” Maaike adds with a laugh.

Maaike van der Lee is a pharmacist and researcher at the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Toxicology at the LUMC. There she conducts research into pharmacogenetics: a science that studies the influence of genetic variations on the individual response to medication. “Pharmacogenetics is very important. Everyone responds differently to medication and if you know how someone responds to a medication, you can adjust the dose accordingly or prescribe a different medication.”

Cutting with CRISPR

Plant breeding is a long process, sometimes taking up to twenty years. With the changing climate and a growing population, the demand for new, improved plant varieties is increasing. Nelleke Kreike is a lecturer in Green Biotechnology at Inholland University of Applied Sciences and explains which technologies can accelerate the breeding process. “Many breeders use molecular markers. With these, you look for a connection between a marker and a property and 'design' your plant based on the markers.” But what if you want more? “Selection is nice, but sometimes you want something that you don't know exists yet.”

In that case, you have to adjust the genotype. And that is possible, says Nelleke. “CRISPR-Cas is a technique that allows you to insert new alleles or genes into the genome. The Cas9 enzyme cuts the DNA at exactly the right place, through a piece of guide RNA.” This makes it a very precise technique for editing genetic material. “By adjusting just one gene, we can use CRISPR-Cas to design a corn variety that uses water more efficiently and is therefore better able to withstand drought.” With a new appreciation for the fresh food that is ready in the atrium, we start lunch.

LEGO blocks

Imagine: 1 trillion data points. That is the challenge that Bas Bolmer, Team lead data & questionnaires, was given at Lifelines. Lifelines collects health data, measurements and samples from 167,000 participants over a period of thirty years. The data and samples are then made available for scientific research.

“With our original data structure, the scale was difficult to oversee, we kept adding data. It was therefore time to revise our data structure. We kept going back to the idea of LEGO blocks. It is up to the researchers which blocks they want to use and what they want to make of them.” Bas says that they identified three pillars in the data: who, where and what. These three pillars formed the basis for restructuring the data in a simple way.  

“We found it a very interesting day! The event covers multiple areas and different applications. The program paints a complete picture with broad and diverse topics.” – Li Yen Wong & Lotte Conings, Pathofinder

After a day full of lectures, we will end the day with a drink. It is clear that DNA technologies have a major impact on our society. Whether it concerns the future of our food or our health. The visitors will go home with a complete picture of the applications and practical solutions for their own research.

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