Cas9+ Conditionally Immortalized Neutrophil Progenitors as a Tool for Genome Wide CRISPR Screening for Neutrophil Differentiation and Function
Researchers at UC Berkeley have engineered a Cas9‑expressing, estrogen‑regulated Hoxb8 neutrophil progenitor line that can be genetically edited and differentiated into functional neutrophils both in vitro and in vivo. The platform enables forward and reverse genetics, demonstrated by a pooled CRISPR screen that uncovered hundreds of genes required for neutrophil survival, including the transcription factor Cebpe and all components of the WASH complex. Edited progenitors differentiate efficiently after estrogen withdrawal, and the system supports in vivo studies after transfer into mice. The resource opens the door to genome‑wide interrogation of neutrophil biology and its role in disease.
Adaptive Variation in Avian Eggshell Gas Conductance and Structure Across Elevational Gradients?
A new eLife study examined eggshell gas conductance and microstructure in 197 Andean bird species to test for adaptive variation across elevational gradients. Researchers measured water vapor conductance and used scanning electron microscopy, finding that conductance consistently declines at higher...