OREANDA-NEWS. Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced that The Scientist magazine has named the company's CRISPR Epigenetic Activator one of its Top 10 Innovations of 2015.

The CRISPR Epigenetic Activator is a key product of Merck's life science business after the acquisition of Sigma-Aldrich Corp last year.

"The life science research community lacked an effective method for the activation of endogenous gene expression," said Udit Batra, CEO of Merck's life science business. "We are excited to bring the research community a highly specific, robust tool for both targeted epigenetic manipulation and transcriptional regulation."

The annual Top 10 Innovations competition recognizes "the newest life science products making waves in labs and clinics," according to an article in the December 2015 issue of The Scientist, which ranks the CRISPR Epigenetic Activator number six in a list of 10 innovations that could have a major impact on science and medicine.

The award recognizes the potential impact of the activator on human health, by enabling new platforms for drug screening, gene therapy and disease monitoring.

The system will enable the life science community to explore advanced regulatory aspects of gene expression by allowing the epigenetic modification of genetic loci at both close and distal locations to a gene of interest.