Editing Beta cell (section)

=== Experimental techniques ===
Many researchers around the world are investigating the pathogenesis of diabetes and beta-cell failure. Tools used to study beta-cell function are expanding rapidly with technology.

For instance, transcriptomics have allowed researchers to comprehensively analyze gene transcription in beta-cells to look for genes linked to diabetes.<ref name="Chen_2017" /> A more common mechanism of analyzing cellular function is calcium imaging. Fluorescent dyes bind to calcium and allow ''in vitro'' imaging of calcium activity which correlates directly with insulin release.<ref name="Chen_2017" /><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Whitticar NB, Strahler EW, Rajan P, Kaya S, Nunemaker CS | title = An Automated Perifusion System for Modifying Cell Culture Conditions over Time | journal = Biological Procedures Online | volume = 18 | issue = 1 | pages = 19 | date = 2016-11-21 | pmid = 27895534 | pmc = 5117600 | doi = 10.1186/s12575-016-0049-7 | doi-access = free }}</ref> A final tool used in beta-cell research are ''in vivo'' experiments. Diabetes mellitus can be experimentally induced ''in vivo'' for research purposes by [[streptozotocin]]<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Wang Z, Gleichmann H | title = GLUT2 in pancreatic islets: crucial target molecule in diabetes induced with multiple low doses of streptozotocin in mice | journal = Diabetes | volume = 47 | issue = 1 | pages = 50–56 | date = January 1998 | pmid = 9421374 | doi = 10.2337/diabetes.47.1.50 }}</ref> or [[alloxan]],<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Danilova IG, Sarapultsev PA, Medvedeva SU, Gette IF, Bulavintceva TS, Sarapultsev AP | title = Morphological restructuring of myocardium during the early phase of experimental diabetes mellitus | journal = Anatomical Record | volume = 298 | issue = 2 | pages = 396–407 | date = February 2015 | pmid = 25251897 | doi = 10.1002/ar.23052 | s2cid = 205412167 | doi-access = free | hdl = 10995/73117 | hdl-access = free }}</ref> which are specifically toxic to beta cells. Mouse and rat models of diabetes also exist including ob/ob and db/db mice which are a type 2 diabetes model, and non-obese diabetic mice (NOD) which are a model for type 1 diabetes.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = King AJ | title = The use of animal models in diabetes research | journal = British Journal of Pharmacology | volume = 166 | issue = 3 | pages = 877–894 | date = June 2012 | pmid = 22352879 | pmc = 3417415 | doi = 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2012.01911.x }}</ref>