The present invention provides a novel modified protein which is to be used, as a novel detection tool relating to gene expression, for detecting a chromatin open structure more easily at a higher sensitivity than by the conventional technique. The present invention relates to: a nucleic acid binding fluorescent protein, said protein containing a DNA binding domain in which 3 or more TAL-repeats are repeatedly connected, characterized by binding independently from base sequences; and a method for fluorescent labeling of an open chromatin in a vital cell, said method comprising a step for transferring a gene encoding a nucleic acid binding protein into the vital cell, characterized in that the nucleic acid binding protein is a protein comprising a DNA binding domain, in which 3 or more TAL-repeats are repeatedly connected, and a fluorescent protein directly or indirectly bound thereto and the DNA binding domain binds to a nucleic acid independently from base sequences.

Entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora having an enhanced longevity, comprising a first locus comprising a single nucleotide polymorphism at position 75 of the nucleotide sequence SC00004647 as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 5, in which C is substituted by T; and/or a second locus comprising a single nucleotide polymorphism at position 54 of the nucleotide sequence SC00006203 as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 7, in which C is substituted by T.

Disclosed herein are microinjection chips, devices, and systems for injection of unicellular or multicellular organisms. The microinjection chip and device disclosed herein include the microfluidic features, inlet port, pre-injection reservoir, injection channel and post injection channel in fluid communication with each other. The inlet port is adapted to sequentially move individual organisms into the injection channel, which is adapted to immobilize the individual organism in fluid. The injection channel features a side wall adapted to receive a microinjection pipette without a microinjection port and to reseal when the microinjection pipette is removed.

The present disclosure provides transgenic nematode systems for assessing function of heterologous genes, their variants and drug discovery. The transgenic nematodes contain a heterologous gene that is inserted via homologous recombination at the native locus replacing and removing the nematode ortholog, wherein expression of the heterologous gene rescues function of the removed nematode ortholog and a transgenic control animal is provided. The heterologous gene may be further modified to provide a variant, such as a human clinical variant, whereby a transgenic test animal is provided. Those transgenic test animals are used in methods to assess function of the heterologous variant and drug screens to find therapeutic candidates reversing deviant activity back to wildtype.

A system is provided comprising a plurality of C. elegans cultures, where each culture comprises a transgenic C. elegans strain that models a mammalian disease or condition. Methods of using a system, e.g., for characterizing microbial strains of a mammalian microbiome and determining whether such microbial strains affect a mammalian disease or disorder.

A system is provided comprising a plurality of C. elegans cultures, where each culture comprises a transgenic C. elegans strain that models a mammalian disease or condition. Methods of using a system, e.g., for characterizing microbial strains of a mammalian microbiome and determining whether such microbial strains affect a mammalian disease or disorder.

Provided herein are genetically modified cells and methods of their production, wherein such methods include introducing a nucleic acid molecule including a plurality of index sequences into a cell comprising a synthetic landing pad, wherein each of the plurality of index sequences includes a first portion of a sequence and the synthetic landing pad includes a second portion of the sequence. The method further includes generating a plurality of cells that include the synthetic landing pad and the nucleic acid molecule including the plurality of index sequences and integrating one of the plurality of index sequences into the synthetic landing pad in each of the cells, thereby linking the first and second portions of the sequence. The linked first and second portions of the sequence result in a functional gene and cells including the integrated index sequence are selected based on presence or activity of the functional gene.

It was found that Rubicon is involved in aging through suppression of autophagic activity, and it is possible to achieve suppression of aging, prevention, amelioration, or treatment of an age-related disease or symptom, or extension of lifespan, by targeting Rubicon.

The present invention relates to: a transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans in which a glutamine tRNA 5′ terminus-derived fragment (Gln 5′-tsRNA) is overexpressed; a preparation method therefor; and a method for screening for aging-associated factors by using the transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans. A transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans model provided in the present invention is an animal model in which Gln 5′-tsRNA is overexpressed such that aging is inhibited. When the model of the present invention is used, anti-aging mechanisms can be easily investigated, thereby significantly contributing to various research fields such as that of developing new anti-aging drugs and screening for age-inducing materials.

Systems and methods for automated imaging and manipulation of a plurality of small organisms are provided. In exemplary embodiments, the disclosed subject matter provides a housing, comprising an upper gantry, a lower gantry, and a tray with an array of plates, wherein the tray includes at least one source plate and at least one destination plate. The tray is adapted to hold the plurality of small organisms. A carriage, disposed within the upper gantry, is adapted to move relative to the tray. A camera, also disposed within the carriage, is adapted to acquire images of at least a portion of the small organisms. A computational processor, coupled to the camera, is adapted to identify an approximate size and shape for at least a portion of the small animals from the images, and to select one or more small animals based therefrom on its size and shape. A motorized picking assembly, also disposed within the carriage, is coupled to the processor and adapted to remove the one or more selected small organisms from the at least one source plate and effect transfer thereof to the at least one destination plate. In some embodiments, the disclosed subject matter provides methods, which include identifying at least one parameter for the small organisms, selecting one or more small organisms based the at least one parameter, removing the one or more selected small organisms from at least one source plate, and effecting transfer thereof to at least one destination plate.