A Brief Look at Genome Editing

Humans have been genetically engineering organisms for nearly 10,000 years using traditional methods of modification—among these methods include selective breeding and crossbreeding. Though effective, these methods were unreliable and were only able to change certain traits. A lack of control over our genetic material proved to be a clear hindrance to our species; when harnessed, advancements in other fields of knowledge would be immeasurable. Once seen as an impossible task, scientists have been able to exploit genes and take control of them. CRISPR-Cas9 is a system that allows scientists to cleave off sections of DNA and artificially modify them by inserting a mutation into the place of the old DNA. This is exceptionally precise, whilst

Genome editing is a huge leap forward in science and medicine. Because of recent advances in technology, the study of genes and induced ‘point’ mutations have led to the discovery and advancement of methods previously used in order to mutate genes. The development of Clusters of Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPRs) and CRISPR associated system 9 protein (Cas9) technology is a hugely significant leap forward as this is a tool that could potentially be used for the research into and hopefully the treatment of a range of medical conditions that are genetically related. Cystic fibrosis (Schwank, G. et al, 2013), haemophilia and sickle cell disease are an example of some of the conditions that have the

I am Kaylyn Stewart from the KAS research center. I have a bachelors in biological science from Louisiana Tech University and I’m in the process of getting my masters in biomedical engineering. At KAS, we are currently gathering research on the world’s top new promising technology known as genome editing. Our goal at the KAS research center is to shine the light on the advantages and disadvantages of genome editing around the world and provide the public with core evidence and explanations for the defaults that have taken place with most genome editing experiments.

Genome editing is still relatively new in the science world. It was only fairly recently that we gained the first ability to fix our DNA (Rajan). Genome editing is changing the DNA, which gives us the ability to change it for the better – which is not an easy thing to do (What Is Genome Editing?). In order to change the DNA, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) are manipulated to improve the DNA (Hornblower, Reis, Robb, and Tzertzinis). A fracture is made in the DNA to modify it, in order to adjust the DNA to try to rid it of genetic diseases and abnormalities (What Is Genome Editing?). Then, a new sequence can be added into the existing DNA and be repaired (What Is Genome Editing?). This is the basic idea of the difficult genome editing. While complicated, once more progress is made and it becomes more successful, this process could work on a variety of diseases (What Is Genome Editing?).

Every few years, advancements in technology alter the way scientists do their work. Recently CRISPR-Cas9, a RNA useful for working organisms in the animal kingdom has proven itself beneficial on a gene-editing platform. After performing many abortive attempts to manipulate gene function, including homologous recombination and RNA interference, scientists have finally had a breakthrough with CRISPR-Cas9.

I found Weintraub’s article to be the most down to earth and approachable when it comes to the topic of Gene editing. In the article, she mentions several reasons why gene editing can be beneficial including stopping progressive diseases, such as dementia, completely in their tracks. Weintraub even suggests that gene editing could be used to save certain animals that are facing extinction due to genetic abnormalities or diseases. On the flipside, she brings up a very interesting point about how some parents may not want to use gene editing to heal their children, but rather to “improve” them by altering their genes to make them taller, more athletic, skinnier, etc. Weintraub also worries that utilizing gene editing this manner might end up

Recently the scientific community has discovered Gene Editing. Gene Editing is the changing and or manipulation of the human DNA, to create certain characteristics or can be used as a method of curing a disease or disorder. There have been many disputes on whether this newfound invention should be practiced and

The animals that belong in our ecosystem is diminishing as time goes on, many of which we have not thought of becoming endangered, are being threatened. Scientists have figured out an alternative solution to save species from being threatened by humans and natural disasters. This alternative way is gene editing, as Joseph Dussault stated in the Christian Monitor: “Gene drive, a controversial genetic editing technique through which scientists could alter or eliminate entire species, is mostly discussed alongside Zika and malaria fears” (par. 2). It can help save species as well as turn it around and attack themselves for carrying a disease. With the use of gene editing, helping preserve the species

The power to edit genomes quickly and effectively is here and it is in the form of Cas9. Recent discoveries have shown that the complex has the power that can activate, deactivate, and make genes locatable. It can also add genes and remove genes from the genome. Although this mechanism is not completely man made, we have made modifications to make it do what we want. It was originally a defense mechanism for bacteriophages. Now we have made it capable of changing mutated genes into working ones with a quick removal of base pairs. Humans have succeeded in changing genomes in many species including Drosophila. Because of its youth as a system, it has a incredibly bright future. The power to possibly cure disease like Alzheimer’s and edit

Gene editing has been a big technological topic that has been talked about a lot over the last few years. Is it ethical? Does it promote social justice? Is it good for the environment? I personally do not think it promotes any of these ideas. It signifies the idea that the rich get richer, and gene editing has a huge ethical complication. Not to mention that it is not the most natural thing to be able to edit genes to someone’s liking.

The research surround genome editing is fairly recent but has been of great scientific discovery by correcting faulty genetic diseases. With the contemporary research regarding genome editing or genetically altering the genes of an embryo, the types of sources that embodied this research was minimal yet paramount. The amount of information gathered from online libraries and texts attained from the library the technology used for genome editing CRISPR/Cas9, it is clear that there are many innovations that come along with this scientific advancement. Though modernizations are high, there are many factors that play into the success of this genome editing regarding the ethics, costs, and many social principles due to this technology. American life science company Sigma-Aldrich which biochemical kits are used in biotechnology, disease diagnosis, and technological manufacturing are one of very few establishments that currently offer genome-editing tools called Sigma CRISPRs to bind or break RNA’s to a “localized genomic region” (Sigma-Aldrich 3). This technology is a lot more modern than many may think because of the amount of genetic research that has already been subsidized with. Genome editing is a technology that has the potential to eradicate deficient DNAs that lead to diseases and dysfunctions such as cancers as well as certain structural immobility.

Our world has an abundance of problems, and solutions are a scarcity. Genetic diseases and predispositions cause unneeded suffering in our population, and I believe that this solution is within reach.

Laws may vary and contribute to where genetic experimentation and the lack thereof occurs. The scientist conducting the experiment may also factor into this. Undeterred by limitations, there is one method of genome editing that can be applied not only humans, but to plants and animals as well: Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. More commonly known as CRISPR/CAS9, this technique uses RNA molecules to recognize DNA sequences to precisely cut and remove undesired segments of said DNA. Swedish scientist Fredrik Lanner, one of the first to openly experiment on healthy human embryos, uses this procedure (Stein). Reportedly, Lanner is not alone; biologists in China have allegedly also tried to create a genetically modified infant using CRISPR/CAS9 (Palus 20).In addition to the CRISPR/CAS9, there is an older yet equally functional technique used at Sangamo BioSciences of Richmond, California: Zinc-Finger nucleases. Removal of receptor genes used for disease bonding on white blood cells is the primary function of this method (“Ethics or Embryo Editing”). There are more ways to edit genes, but these are the 2 most commonly

In 1990, the science world began a vigorous new exploration of human DNA- the Human Genome Project. The goal of this project was to map out all the human genes (An Overview of, 2015), which ultimately led to a deeper understanding of all genes, not just a human’s. This deeper understanding also helped scientists to progress further in the technology of recombinant DNA. Recombinant DNA is when DNA from different cells is spliced together, creating a new strand (Kuure-Kinsey, 2000). Recombinant DNA is often used to genetically change a cell, which is known as genetic engineering. Genetic engineering can be used to prevent and alleviate symptoms of various diseases, by pinpointing and fixing the gene that causes them. It enables organisms to

There still needs much to be done such as researching the appropriate risks and benefits for the clinical trials (Sciences Engineering medicine (20--). It is rapidly growing and increasing by making heritable genome editing of the embryo, egg, and sperm in the hopeful future (Sciences Engineering medicine (20--) It is very likely to be many years before CRISPR-cas9 is used in human beings. The main attention is drawn towards animal models or isolated human cells (CRIPSR 20--). The purpose of this for the goal to treat diseases in humans. Another plan for the future is to focus on eliminating “off-target” effects, where the CRISPR-cas9 entity cuts different gene to one the one intended to be edited (CRIPSR 20--). In our world today, the