FX.co ★ Life-changing advances in biotech industry

Although the CRISPR-Cas9 technology to edit a genome is of relatively recent development, there is already intense competition in the market of gene therapy. In particular, the American Editas Medicas startup creates drugs to treat liver, kidney, lung, eye and blood diseases based on the technology. Another company, Audentes Therapeutics, specializes in gene therapy of rare diseases.

At present, there are over 30% of overweight people in some developed counties. The reason is too much sugar which is used by manufacturers for sweet taste of their products and which has no time to dissolve on the tongue. The solution was found by the Nestle company: it is necessary to change the molecular structure of confectionery sugar, thus reducing its share in the production by 10%.

In early August, AquaBounty announced its first delivery of genetically modified salmon in volume of 4.5 tons to a customer from Canada, whose name is not disclosed. The company applies the technology for crossing of Atlantic and freshwater salmons, thanks to which the fish can be grown in ground storage tanks, rather than in seawater cells, thus reducing the risk of contracting diseases and vermin attacks. Moreover, they have already succeeded in shortening of the fish growing term from 3 to 1.5 years.

Last month, the LazaTech company and the authorities of India concluded an agreement to build the world's first enterprise, which would process carbon dioxide into ethanol. The process is expected to take place in bioreactors containing bacteria grown in the carbon dioxide environment. They ferment carbon dioxide creating ethanol. According to experts, if the project succeeds in commercial terms, greenhouse gases from unwanted production wastes will become a commodity.

During the last ten years, there was an active development of 3D human organ printing methods. Until recently, the main product was heart, since it is an organ of the simpliest structure, however, the trend began to change. For example, the American Organovo company developed a technology for printing tissues of human kidneys and liver. While the printed tissues are used only in laboratory studies. According to the company's representatives, the printing of fully functional body organs will not be long in coming.