THE BIOLOGICAL CONSIDERATION OF GENOME EDITING/CRISPR TECHNOLOGY
Please consider these statistics:
“Approximately 4 million babies are born each year. ~4% with and genetic disease or major birth defect, ~1% with a chromosomal abnormality. Upwards of 20% of infant deaths are caused by birth defects or genetic conditions, and ~10% of all adults and 30% of children in hospitals are there due to genetically related problems.” (Matthews)
Hereditary defects and disorders have been present throughout time, bringing about havoc on families and individuals across the globe. CRISPR technology is essentially a system in which Cas9 proteins are manipulated to apply different DNA to the cells. The Cas9 protein is existent as a protective device,
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Predictions can still be made about the potential effects, though cannot be exactly sure about these propositions. Even so, the positive effects of the potential genome editing of humans significantly outweigh any possible negative effects, in terms of biological data.
Scientific Limitations
The possibility of human genome editing was not exactly promising until a few limitations were set aside. Patrick D Hsu, Feng Zhang, and Eric S Lander are all very qualified specialists of biology at the broad institute of MIT and Harvard. In their report, they discuss the limits with genome editing in eukaryotes specifically: “Eukaryotic genomes contain billions of DNA bases and are difficult to manipulate. One of the breakthroughs in genome manipulation has been the development of gene targeting by homologous recombination (HR), which integrates exogenous repair templates that contain sequence homology to the donor site” (Hsu) Here, the scientists recognize some trouble with altering DNA bases. Though after further study, the biologists soon recognized that homologous recombination was quick fix to this issue. With a big limitation out of the way, potential application of this new technology was a new focus. The scientists concluded with the ability for CRISPR technology to underlay the key factors in order to produce new drug targets, as well as directly altering harmful mutations through genome editing. The ability to understand the
CRISPR is a new gene-modifying tool that has the potential to treat numerous medical conditions by editing genes that are responsible for certain diseases. This technology is based on the ability of bacteria to destroy the DNA of invading viruses. Studies have suggested that this new technology can be applied to human cells, although the idea of chopping up regions of the human genome can be unethical and could even be harmful. In order for the treatment to be administered to a patient, a small piece of RNA and an enzyme that makes a cut in the DNA are delivered to the cells. A biotechnology company, known as Editas Medicine, located in Cambridge, MA, is already designing treatments for conditions of the blood and the eye using CRISPR. For
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
However, with the statements being made in the Shorthorn article there are strong arguments. One being the designer babies instead of finding out at birth. It ruins the purpose of a surprise for the parents. Also the lack of consent to the offspring is unsettling. With the process of gene alteration there is a risk of genetic mutation but, would be solved with CRISPR. The concept of designer babies strips originality of an individual. CRISPR is still in the beginning stages as well so there will be trial and error. If the wrong gene were to be deleted would the side effects be permanent or temporary?
From the science community perspective, the CRISPR-Cas system could reduce or even eliminate many of the difficulties researchers face when gene editing such as cost, duration and accuracy. Prior to CRISPR-Cas, gene editing was performed in “big labs” with experts
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.
Victor Frankenstein may have created and abandoned a creature, but what happens when you start to design future generations? Any scientific advancement that can have such a great effect on the lives of people has a possibility to be misused. Something as large as genome editing can be extremely useful, life changing, and effect every future generation. Then again, with great power comes great responsibility. Will genome editing be the modern Frankenstein?
There are other types of gene editing out there but research shows us that CRISPR is fast, precise, and simple. Researchers are developing a way for CRISPR therapy to help with Alzheimer’s all the way to HIV. There are two categories the researchers and people have put CRISPR in: practical and philosophical. The researchers say that the immediate barrier is practical. During the tests, CRISPR has found targets in other parts of the DNA that need fixing other than the intended part of the DNA. Because of this, it may take at least a generation to ensure that it is safe. Some people oppose CRISPR because the oppositionists say it lets people play god but getting medicine every time you get sick with the same thing obscures the natural order of things. The opportunities are getting pushed ahead for treating cancer, childhood diseases that are genetic, and how to understand diabetes better. The one question some people have is whether it’s right to edit genes that are
In “Life the Remix,” Alice Park discusses the impact and influence CRISPR has on science as well as its potential and risks. CRISPR—“clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats”—is a technique to alter DNA, virtually for anything involving DNA. Although there have been attempts to edit DNA, none were as cheap and simple as CRISPR. This technique, which is based on the immune system of a bacetria, revolutionizes genetics after the subsequent discoveries of the molecular scissors enzyme: Cas9 and a method to efficiently and accurately edit human DNA using CRISPR, explains Park.
Therefore, people should consider not only the cost and attainability, but also the possible negative results and impacts on the genes. Despite some noble intentions on the part of a parent as it relates to preventing genetic defects, consideration of the negative impacts of gene manipulation are necessary. Gene editing should not be used to accomplish desirable physical traits. Furthermore, while the benefits to gene modification certainly seem attractive, there is risk associated with the practice. At this stage, it can be argued that the application of an imprecise technology that is not well understood, has the potential to create unintended generational edits. “Given the unlikely success of creating a “perfect” (i.e. presumably genetically error-free) baby, the high risk of collateral damage makes CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing ultimately unethical” (Sas et al, 2017, p. 1). Thus, while gene editing has the potential for positive results, the outcome may ultimately prove to be
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.
In the future, medical professionals hope to be able to treat or even eradicate a disorder by inserting a new gene into the cell via drug or surgery that will combat or even fix the mutation in the DNA that causes that disease. This therapy is still in the very early stages of experiments, and the ethical questions surrounding it prevents much progress from being made at all. There are many potential health complications surrounding this type of approach: scientists still do not completely understand how genes work and if they can be replaced. CRISPR will be a major tool used in gene therapy. CRISPR, which stands for , is a unique technology that lets geneticist and medical researches edit part of the genome by pinpointing a certain area of DNA and adding DNA, removing DNA, or altering the DNA sequence (Your
Human genome editing has the impact to be life altering. Human Genome editing impacts social, political, as well as ethnical issues (Kane). It can cure diseases such as cancer and save lives by allowing humans to alter genetic defects. Humans will be able to create the “perfect person.” However, human genome editing also has the impact to create fear. Adolf Hitler attempted to create the “perfect person” and all of History knows how that ended.
Being able to genetically modify animals to be friendlier, or make better police dogs would be very beneficial. Also being able to genetically modify genes in humans to prevent serious diseases is phenomenal. Some things I believe we shouldn’t change, or better yet have to change. I think CRISPR-Cas9 is a very powerful and beneficial tool, but we have to use it in the right way and also not let it get too out of hand. It can be very useful but if we abuse this power I think it can hurt us more than help us in the long
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