A new study from the J. Craig Venter Institute simulates the complete life cycle of a minimal bacterial cell in 4D space and time at nanoscale resolution. Meanwhile, in gene editing, a new technology has designed DNA donors that evade the immune system, allowing safer large gene insertion that is one step closer to scalable mutation-agnostic therapies. In brain diseases, researchers have found a novel blood-based biomarker that can predict a woman’s risk of developing dementia as many as 25 years before symptoms appear. Our episode rounds out with uniQure’s roller coaster stock, following Vinay Prasad, MD, and his second departure from the FDA.
Listed below are links to the GEN stories referenced in this episode of Touching Base:
Simulating Life: 4D Whole-Cell Model of a Minimal Bacterium
GEN, March 9, 2026
Safer Large DNA Insertion Moves Genetic Medicine Toward Scalability
By Fay Lin, PhD, GEN, March 11, 2026
Blood Biomarker Predicts Women’s Dementia Risk Up to 25 Years Early
GEN, March 10, 2026
StockWatch: Under Fire from FDA, uniQure Stock Roller-Coasters
By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, March 8, 2026
Touching Base Podcast
Hosted by Corinna Singleman, PhD
Behind the Breakthroughs
Hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhD
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