The Consequences Of Gene Editing With CRISPR-Cas 9

In the world of science we face a myriad of controversial studies that confront bad press from the public for various reasons, even if the origins reside in the aspiration of the betterment of mankind. One of these studies is the process of gene editing in an attempt to provide people with better health or longer living by moving around and replacing key strands of DNA in their system. Many people opposed to this style of treatment see it as unnatural to mess with nature, some it is perceived as unholy in the eyes of their religious beliefs, and other just care for the safety of the patients that are willing to undergo this sort of treatment. However, me and many others believe that the pros of gene editing out weight the cons. Gene editing may very well may be the secret to unlock the secret to longer and healthier living and maybe push us to something even better than that.

The human species have the extraordinary characteristic that has given us the ability to flourish all over the world. Humans are adaptive; refashioning our surroundings and passing this information down to the next generation to be built upon, has lead to a thriving species. Now, instead of modifying solely our outside environment, it is possible to also engineer our own genetic makeup. This genetic engineering is known as CRISPR. The system was originally discovered in bacteria as a protection mechanism against unknown pathogens; however, after being repurposed into a more generally practical technology, the genetic nature of essentially any species can be revised. This modernizing genomic engineering system has equipped scientists with the ability to precisely modify the DNA of almost any organism, including humans. CRISPR finds the specific strand of DNA that is unfavorable and replaces it

In the recent years there has been a new technology created, called CRISPR-Cas, that allows for gene-editing in germline cells to potentially treat or prevent genetic diseases and conditions. There has already been uses of this technology in clinical trials to edit immune cells that treat cancer. While this sounds like something that would be a fantastic idea it is very controversial and raises concerns of whether it is ethical or not. As of right now, we should be able to edit our cells, but only somatic cell and not our germ line cells.

The author, Joel Achenbach from The Washington Post, wrote about the ethicists caution in applying CRISPR to gene editing in humans. He examines the arguments that the ethicists are concerned about. Some of which are, to prevent the cosmetic enhancements that would lead to permanent genetic changes in the human species, not crossing the thin line of playing God, and having heavy restrictions on this technique. The next steps are to

The author, Joel Achenbach from The Washington Post, wrote about the ethicists caution in applying CRISPR to gene editing in humans. He examines the arguments that the ethicists are concerned about. Some of which are, to prevent the cosmetic enhancements that would lead to permanent genetic changes in the human species, not crossing the thin line of playing God, and having heavy restrictions on this technique. The next steps are to continue with caution and to come up with a list of rules and regulations for this new technique. In my research paper this article will help me discuss the pros and cons and how we should go about this new technology.

CRISPR Cas9 is a gene editing tool that can be used to edit, delete, and change parts of the genome. What makes CRISPR Cas9 different from other gene editing techniques such as Zinc Finger Nuclease (ZFN) or Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases (TALEN) is its targeting efficiency ability. For example, ZFNs and TALENs could only reach targeting efficiencies from 1% to 50% in human cells. On the other hand, CRISPR Cas9 had a much higher rate at greater than 70% in Zebrafish and plants. (Reis, 2014). CRISPR Cas9 is still being heavily researched by scientists today, because although many advancements have been made since its discovery in 1993, it is far from ready to be used commonly. Successful studies and experiments with this gene

Before we move to clinical trials we have to prove efficacy and safety in animal models, but ethics go beyond effectiveness and welfare. Firstly, Crispr raises an issue of social justice equality. Gene editing technologies are inflated and several professionals are afraid that patients who may benefit from them would not have access. Dr. Mitchell Weiss, chair of the hematology department at St. Jude Children's Research Center pointed out that many diseases are impacted in low-income families in developing countries. Questions raised by George Church, professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School: ‘Who would have access to this kind of human germline engineering?’ ‘Do we want to accept the scenario that only those with financial resources get to “improve” the genomes of their children?’ We can’t let the story get ahead of the facts. Secondly, Future generations can’t give consent. Francis S. Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, pointed out that medical research must always seek to balance benefits and risks, with individuals who are partaking in research giving fully informed consent. But the entities whose lives are potentially affected by germline alteration will be extending to countless generations into the future. They can’t give informed consent, in other words, permission granted in the knowledge of the possible

Imagine a world where eyesight can be restored, incurable illness can be cured, and genetic conditions can be treated before they are even developed. This is the world that is possible using CRISPR. CRISPR is a gene editing tool that functions through the use of two types of molecules, enzymes and guide RNA. CRISPR was discovered by two major research teams and has since been found to have numerous applications, but it is plagued by controversy.

Scientists know exactly what genes have certain diseases and they know how to fix them and get rid of the disease altogether. In 2014, a graduate student organization at Harvard University called Science in the News published an article about CRISPR, an organization of DNA in the genome of bacteria, that stated that, “If a viral infection threatens a bacterial cell, the CRISPR immune system can thwart the attack by destroying the genome of the invading virus” (CRISPR). This new tool is crucial part of the immune system which destroys the bacteria’s genome to prevent replication of the disease. By inventing this new tool, scientists can finally save people and cure them without having to do painful treatment like chemotherapy. It also can grant new and possible opportunities to people who found out too late that they had complications. In the article “Genetically Modified Babies” written by Marcy Darnovsky that was published by the The New York Times in 2014 states that, “Developers of these modification techniques say they are a way for women with diseases to give birth to healthy

In the past decade, our world has witnessed and produced some of the most unfathomable technological advances that seem utterly unimaginable and futuristic but is now being developed, unfolding right before our very eyes. These advances include: TV screens as thin as a DVD, high-speed internet, smartphones, and even self-driving cars. Today, we have an advancement that could potentially alter the future of our world, indefinitely. “CRISPR-Cas9”, the remarkable technological advancement that is capable of altering a human’s DNA. Scientists must take extreme caution to the ever growing technology in order for ourselves to be the beneficiary of these advancements.

CRISPR-Cas9 has recently become a popular set of tools for genetic engineering. By targeting specific DNA sequences, biotechnology can edit portions of organism’s genome by adding, replacing, or deleting sequences of DNA. Biotechnology also allows genes to be transferred from one organisms to another. The system uses a modified bacterial protein and a RNA to guide it to a specific DNA sequence. Scientist have also found ways to use these tools to send proteins to DNA targets to remove or add genes. When there is a significant error during repair, an entire sequence can become altered and the CRISPR system can study what happened to the cell which this error occurred in. The system has opened up new possibilities for discovering all areas of

Although the idea of editing genes has been around for quite a while now, genome editing using CRISPR does this cheaper, quicker, with less error than ever before and can target very specific areas of the genome to change. CRISPR may be able to alter genetic defects in a person’s genome and therefore cure many hereditary illnesses like cystic fibrosis. The concern with genome editing in the future is that if scientists can eliminate genetic defects in an egg or embryo to cure a person of a genetic disease, then in theory, it is possible to create a ‘designer baby’, where hair colour, eye colour and perhaps things like height and intelligence are manipulated, which massively impacts

“This year about 564,800 Americans are expected to die of cancer—more than 1,500 people a day” (“Helping Families Face the Challenges”). Imagine if this detrimental disease, and innumerable life-altering others, were removed from the human biological code (Palus 20)? This may become reality, and human genome editing is responsible. However, due to ethical concerns this practice is prohibited in 15 of the 22 European nations (“Don't Edit the Human Germline”). Animals are currently used for this type of research where humans are taboo, though it is no longer practical. Their DNA, despite showing similarities, is neither identical to a humans nor accurately translatable to human embryonic research (“Failure of the Animal Model”). If an effective

This article is about the successful research of some researchers from Oregon Health and Science University. The article said that those researchers found a way to modify the DNA of human in order to change genes that lead to a genetic heart condition. They used a technology called CRISPR, which is a gene modifying system that replaces deficient genes with healthy ones. Also, this technology could lead to the elimination of all hereditary diseases. In addition, the success of this technology is coming up with new ideas such as the possibility to make people taller, stronger, and smarter. Another aspect is that the CRISPR research is heading to the possibility to design babies. Moreover, it said that to forbid scientists from going too far

The possibility of humans being able to edit an unborn baby’s traits has led to strong feelings of both support and opposition. The possibility of gene editing first became a reality over three decades ago. Scientists began using viruses to alter DNA sequences, and with these changes they created transgenic animals. These animals have altered physical, cognitive, and social characteristics then they had previously. For almost all of this time, the technology used was not very precise or efficient. This all changed with the development of a group of gene editing technologies, the most powerful of them being the CRISPR-cas9 system. And in April 2015, it was announced that CRISPR was used to make the first gene edits in human embryos. This was the first time for germline gene