Researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) have found the mechanism behind sickle cell anaemia and beta thalassemia—common genetic anaemia—through CRISPR (DNA editing) techniques, with the discovery promising for future therapies. “We can use this understanding of the mechanism to help us look for new therapeutic approaches–it’s a key piece of the puzzle,” Co-lead author Assoc. Prof. Kate Quinlan from UNSW said. Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) and Beta thalassemia (BTHAL) are caused by mutations that change adult genes that carry instructions on how to make functional haemoglobin. Haemoglobin refers to a protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen to the body from the lungs and are made up of four subunits, two of which are named alpha and two subunits named beta. SCA and BTHAL affect the genes that make beta subunits of haemoglobin. The change causes red blood cells to alter from a round doughnut shape …