A University of Michigan study finds that plants growing in nutrient-rich soil may be more likely to defend themselves against insects.

Researchers at the Broad Institute and The Jackson Laboratory have used prime editing, a precise and versatile form of gene editing, to correct the root cause of alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC), a debilitating genetic condition, in mice. The team used a scalable approach to develop prime editing treatments that directly repaired five different AHC-causing genetic mutations. Mice that received the treatment had far fewer and less severe symptoms of AHC, and survived more than twice as long as untreated mice.

A newly discovered pathway in a plant process could help farmers grow more successful crops, particularly in places where harsh, high light stresses plants.