[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":317},["ShallowReactive",2],{"slug-designer-babies-a-dystopian-sidetrack-of-gene-editing":3},{"post":4,"relatedPosts":194,"relatedBooks":316},{"id":5,"date":6,"date_gmt":7,"guid":8,"modified":10,"modified_gmt":11,"slug":12,"status":13,"type":14,"link":15,"title":16,"content":18,"excerpt":21,"author":23,"featured_media":24,"comment_status":25,"ping_status":25,"sticky":26,"template":27,"format":28,"meta":29,"categories":30,"tags":34,"project_category":50,"contact_email_category":51,"yst_prominent_words":52,"class_list":60,"better_featured_image":85,"acf":130,"yoast_meta":139,"_links":141},22549,"2018-12-15T14:31:13","2018-12-15T12:31:13",{"rendered":9},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F","2022-05-27T10:26:40","2022-05-27T08:26:40","designer-babies-a-dystopian-sidetrack-of-gene-editing","publish","post","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fdesigner-babies-a-dystopian-sidetrack-of-gene-editing",{"rendered":17},"Designer Babies: A Dystopian Sidetrack Of Gene Editing",{"rendered":19,"protected":20},"\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"5px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp style=\"color: #555;font-size: 12px;line-height: 14px\">THIS ARTICLE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2018. THE INFORMATION SHARED IN THE ARTICLE WAS ACCURATE AT THE TIME OF ITS PUBLICATION, BUT IT MAY BE OUT OF DATE NOW. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fmagazine\">BROWSE OUR LATEST ARTICLES HERE\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003C\u002Ftbody>\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>A Chinese scientist shocked the scientific community a couple of days ago with the announcement of having modified the very blueprint of life. If his claims are true, he tried to bestow two baby girls the ability to resist possible future infections with HIV. The outrage shows that humanity is not prepared to utilize the power of gene editing on embryos yet. We have no idea about the biological consequences, and we haven’t tackled the necessary legal and ethical issues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003C!--more-->\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Genes to become toys of the “Gods”?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Humanity has come a long way since Aldous Huxley pinned down how methods of genetic engineering, biological conditioning, and predestined genetic stratification lead to a society of “obedient, efficient and happy” citizens in his \u003Cem>Brave New World\u003C\u002Fem>. No wonder that most newsrooms go back to this dystopian masterpiece when breaking news about the latest advancements of genetic engineering erupt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>How could we meddle with matters of nature, God or the universe? In opening Pandora’s box (it \u003Cem>is\u003C\u002Fem> clear humanity is doing that), what horrors are we inviting upon us? Are we placing babies in the hands of future parents as toys in the arms of Gods? What happens if the more affluent layers of society edit their genes into long and healthy lives while the poorer groups stand in line for medication? Will gene technologies give a new direction to inequality? What if governments with authoritarian inclinations start using it for shaping society? \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Before we dive into the ethical, legal and social issues around gene editing and the baby girls with edited DNAs, let’s start with the basics. Gene editing technologies bestow scientists the power to add, alter or remove parts of any creature’s DNA. Well, unicorns or dragons may be out of the question, but mosquitos’ or even \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.coolantarctica.com\u002Fschools\u002Fsanta_claus_genetics.php\">Christmas trees’\u003C\u002Fa> tiniest building blocks may be the subject of such scientific meddling. While numerous approaches emerged to gene editing, one of the most well-known is CRISPR, the fastest, cheapest and most efficient method developed so far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-22550\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"653\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FCRISPR-Technology.jpg\" alt=\"Gene editing\" class=\"wp-image-22550\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FCRISPR-Technology.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FCRISPR-Technology-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FCRISPR-Technology-512x384.jpg 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Source: www.allphysicianjobs.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>CRISPR-Cas9 and combatant bacteria\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>By \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fcrispr\">CRISPR (pronounced crisper), the medical community means the CRISPR\u002FCas9 system\u003C\u002Fa>. It is a bacterial-derived RNA-directed endonuclease that generates blunt ends. I know that’s kinda difficult to digest, so let me explain. The method works on the same principle how bacteria fight viruses. When a nasty measles virus invades bacteria, the latter captures snippets of DNA from the intruder and creates DNA segments known as CRISPR arrays. These function as “most wanted” posters as they allow bacteria to “remember” viruses when they attack the next time. If the measles comes again, the bacteria fight back by \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fghr.nlm.nih.gov\u002Fprimer\u002Fgenomicresearch\u002Fgenomeediting\">taking the appropriate CRISPR array to produce RNA segments and target the viruses’ DNA\u003C\u002Fa>. The bacteria then use Cas9 (the word Cas comes from CRISPR Associated) or a similar enzyme to cut the DNA apart, which disables the virus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fghr.nlm.nih.gov\u002Fprimer\u002Fgenomicresearch\u002Fgenomeediting\">The CRISPR-Cas9 system works similarly in the lab\u003C\u002Fa>. Scientists produce a small piece of RNA binding to the Cas9 enzyme and a “guide” sequence that attaches to a specific part of the DNA. As in bacteria, the modified RNA is used to recognize the DNA sequence, and the Cas9 enzyme cuts the DNA at the targeted location. Once that’s done, researchers use the cell’s own DNA repair machinery to add or delete pieces of genetic material or to make changes to the DNA by replacing an existing segment with a customized DNA sequence. Easy-peasy, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-22552\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"605\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FCRISPR.jpg\" alt=\"gene editing\" class=\"wp-image-22552\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FCRISPR.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FCRISPR-768x534.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FCRISPR-512x356.jpg 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Source: www.emag.medicalexpo.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Does CRISPR have potential?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Although the technology is being explored in research on a wide variety of diseases with promising preliminary results, gene editing is costly, risky and not examined in detail yet. The first conditions to be most likely corrected by the CRISPR-Cas9 system constitute “single gene” conditions, such as beta-thalassemia, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy or sickle cell disease.\u003C\u002Fstrong> As these disorders presuppose that either parent passed down one mutation in a single piece of DNA to the given patient, gene editing could be more targeted and the results more unambiguous. The \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fpharmaphorum.com\u002Fnews\u002Ffda-gives-go-ahead-for-crispr-based-sickle-cell-disease-trial\u002F\">FDA already approved in October 2018 the first clinical trial of a stem cell therapy\u003C\u002Fa> for sickle cell disease using CRISPR.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>While the method also holds \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fghr.nlm.nih.gov\u002Fprimer\u002Fgenomicresearch\u002Fgenomeediting\">promise for the treatment and prevention of more complex diseases\u003C\u002Fa>, such as cancer, heart disease, mental illness, and HIV, humanity is light years from effective therapies. As Eric Topol, director and founder of the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.scripps.edu\u002Fscience-and-medicine\u002Ftranslational-institute\u002F\">Scripps Research Translational Institute\u003C\u002Fa> said with six billion letters in the genome that could be affected, the risk of unintended editing is considerable. We don’t know what happens when another DNA segment gets targeted instead of the originally planned. Moreover, in a study published in \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fpress.nature.com\u002F?post_type=press_release&p=118715\">Nature Biotechnology\u003C\u002Fa> in July 2018, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fscience\u002F2018\u002Fjul\u002F17\u002Fgenetically-modified-babies-given-go-ahead-by-uk-ethics-body\">British researchers found\u003C\u002Fa> that CRISPR caused more damage to DNA than previously thought. If the scientists are right, gene editing could disrupt healthy genes when it is meant only to fix faulty ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-22551\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"489\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FGene-Editing.jpg\" alt=\"gene editing\" class=\"wp-image-22551\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FGene-Editing.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FGene-Editing-370x208.jpg 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FGene-Editing-768x431.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FGene-Editing-512x288.jpg 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Source: www.geneticsandsociety.org\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>A quick fix to mutated genes?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>On the other hand, research efforts are underway with regard to gene therapies for patients with inherited genetic diseases. For example, researchers in Oxford’s Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.ox.ac.uk\u002Fresearch\u002Fresearch-impact\u002Frestoring-sight-gene-therapy\">help restore eyesight to patients with genetic vision defects\u003C\u002Fa>. One of the methods is to inject working genes into the back of the eye. Early December 2018, \u003Ca href=\"Scripps%20Research%20scientists%20have%20made%20a%20major%20breakthrough%20in%20unveiling%20this%20medical%20mystery%20by%20precisely%20cutting%20the%20DNA%20culprit%20from%20the%20genome,%20which%20prevents%20blood%20vessel%20cell%20abnormalities%20related%20to%20these%20devastating%20diseases.\">Scripps Research scientists have made a significant breakthrough\u003C\u002Fa> by precisely cutting the DNA specter from the genome, which prevents blood vessel cell abnormalities related to life-threatening cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attacks, aneurysms or strokes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>When it comes to patients whose genetic composition is manipulated through technology, fixing, altering or removing parts of the DNA, it is clear that the intervention narrows down to that individual – not the future generation. That’s the main problem with gene editing in human embryos, and that’s one reason why the recent announcement of Chinese scientist, He Jiankui, a physicist on the faculty of Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen outraged the scientific community.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>So, here comes the more difficult question: do we allow intervening and changing human embryos’ genetic makeup? If so, to what end shall we do so?\u003C\u002Fstrong> The \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fnuffieldbioethics.org\u002F\">Nuffield Council on Bioethics\u003C\u002Fa> \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fscience\u002F2018\u002Fjul\u002F17\u002Fgenetically-modified-babies-given-go-ahead-by-uk-ethics-body\">said in July 2018\u003C\u002Fa> that changing the DNA of a human embryo could be “morally permissible” if it was in the future child’s interests and did not add to the kinds of inequalities that already divide society. However, what does the interest of the future child entail? Do we talk about averting future health risks and inherited diseases or about enhancing the kid with better IQ, better eyesight and blue eyes? While the former could be considered as a logical and rational step from parents, the latter already belongs to the area of eugenics – the enhancement of humans by genetics – for an assumed better life or pure aesthetics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-22553\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"580\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FGene-Therapy-For-Vision.jpg\" alt=\"gene editing\" class=\"wp-image-22553\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FGene-Therapy-For-Vision.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FGene-Therapy-For-Vision-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FGene-Therapy-For-Vision-512x341.jpg 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Source: www.biopharma-reporter.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Embryo selection: Who should or shouldn’t be born?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>There are already methods for genetically testing embryos and picking the one with immaculate genetic makeup to prevent diseases, for example, dystonia. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.technologyreview.com\u002Fs\u002F612258\u002Fare-we-designing-inequality-into-our-genes\u002F\">Parents undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) and have their embryos genetically tested\u003C\u002Fa> while still in a laboratory dish. Using a technology called pre-implantation genetic testing, they could pick the embryos that didn’t inherit the given mutation and ensure that their future baby is healthy. However, parents have to pay at least $30,000, and the process also requires an unpleasant two-week process of ovarian stimulation and egg harvesting. Thus, it is unlikely that people will flock to try the technology at the moment, but advancements in egg harvesting and a drop in price could change that in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>And \u003Cstrong>while the idea of selecting embryos based on their future health risks has strong grounds, how far are we from cherrypicking lives arbitrarily? What are the guarantees currently that humans won’t abuse gene editing – if the practice of picking the „right” embryos flourishes even without the latest technologies?\u003C\u002Fstrong> Just think about China or India where the birth of a baby girl is a tragedy for the family, and in many cases, pregnant women rather abort their fetuses than give birth to a female. That tradition causes massive distortions in both societies and has enormous negative consequences for generations to come. Why would communities treat gene editing any differently or more cautiously?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-22554\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"522\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FDesigner-Babies.jpg\" alt=\"gene editing\" class=\"wp-image-22554\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FDesigner-Babies.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FDesigner-Babies-768x461.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FDesigner-Babies-512x307.jpg 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Source: www.ted.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Well-designed babies for future societies\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The Chinese or Indian practice for preferring a gender is just as an arbitrary selection as picking hair or eye color. \u003Cstrong>If gene editing were used on embryos to end up with more boys than girls – we would arrive at the territory of designer babies. When it comes to enhancing a capacity, such as intelligence, or picking traits that nature planned some other way, that’s when the issue of “baby design” is put on the table. \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>On an individual level, it might be a dangerous tool in the hands of helicopter parents with the aim to create the perfect child, while on a societal level, it might reproduce the notion of standardization and homogenization. Who doesn’t want a tall, strong, beautiful child with high IQ and empathy? Does that mean that in the future, we will have people as similar to each other as never before? \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fscience\u002F2017\u002Fjan\u002F08\u002Fdesigner-babies-ethical-horror-waiting-to-happen\">Bioethicist Ronald Green of Dartmouth College in New Hampshire believes that\u003C\u002Fa> “we’ll start seeing the use of gene editing and reproductive technologies for enhancement: blond hair and blue eyes, improved athletic abilities, enhanced reading skills or numeracy, and so on.” He added, though, that \u003Cstrong>it’s further down the road: within the next 40-50 years. So, we still have time to strengthen our \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fscience\u002F2017\u002Fjan\u002F08\u002Fdesigner-babies-ethical-horror-waiting-to-happen\">ability to love one another with all our imperfections and see how foibles outweigh any notion of ‘improving’ children\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong> through genetics\u003C\u002Fstrong>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-22555\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FDesigner-Society.jpg\" alt=\"gene editing\" class=\"wp-image-22555\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FDesigner-Society.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FDesigner-Society-768x573.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FDesigner-Society-512x382.jpg 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Source: www.geneticliteracyproject.org\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Do we really need gene editing?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Besides the skyrocketing costs, the uncertainties around the consequences of the technology and the ethical concerns, some believe that in the case of human embryos, gene editing is overridden by other options. Mainly because the achievements of the technology can mostly be realized already in different ways, too. For example, in the recent case of the twin baby girls, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nytimes.com\u002F2018\u002F11\u002F27\u002Fopinion\u002Fgenetically-edited-babies-china.html\">Eric Topol explained\u003C\u002Fa> that the genetic intervention against HIV was needless as studies have shown earlier that the given gene could be turned off in adults.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Also, \u003Cstrong>some experts see embryo selection in the process of IVF as a viable alternative to gene editing. Bioethicist Henry Greely of Stanford University in California told The Guardian that in the future, embryos produced by IVF will be genetically screened and prospective parents will be able to choose which embryos to implant in the hope of achieving a pregnancy. He believes that embryo selection will become a more viable and appealing way in 20 years to ensure a healthy baby\u003C\u002Fstrong> – especially with the advancement of harvesting or producing human eggs, or preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) of IVF embryos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone wp-image-22556 size-full\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"653\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FIVF-Embryo.jpg\" alt=\"designer babies\" class=\"wp-image-22556\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FIVF-Embryo.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FIVF-Embryo-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FIVF-Embryo-512x384.jpg 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Source: https:\u002F\u002Fbabymaybeinfertility.wordpress.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>What does the law say?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Previous examples show that scientists and the public could more or less expect an experiment of similar scope to happen in China as the one carried out by He Jiankui. In 2015, \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.genengnews.com\u002Fgen-news-highlights\u002Fchinese-scientists-defy-ethics-double-down-on-editing-human-embryos\u002F81252608\">other Chinese scientists already maddened\u003C\u002Fa> the global scientific community with their reckless research leading to an international moratorium on the use of CRISPR in human embryos. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fscience\u002F2017\u002Fjan\u002F08\u002Fdesigner-babies-ethical-horror-waiting-to-happen\">While most countries have not yet legislated on genetic modification in human reproduction\u003C\u002Fa>, but of those that have, all have banned it. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.technologyreview.com\u002Fs\u002F600774\u002Ftop-us-intelligence-official-calls-gene-editing-a-wmd-threat\u002F\">James Clapper, US director of national intelligence even added gene editing\u003C\u002Fa> to a list of threats posed by “weapons of mass destruction and proliferation” in 2016, explaining the move with the “relative ease of use” of the technology.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Ignoring the international moratorium and the broad scientific consensus that gene editing is not considered as safe and any genetic modifications – whether beneficial or unintentionally harmful – affect not only the child but their children and future generations, Chinese researchers proceeded to experiment twice more. And now again. \u003Cstrong>Jennifer Doudna, professor of chemistry and molecular & cell biology at UC Berkeley and co-inventor of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fnews.berkeley.edu\u002F2018\u002F11\u002F26\u002Fdoudna-responds-to-claim-of-first-crispr-edited-babies\u002F\">announced\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong> that human germline editing should not proceed at the present time.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Although \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.newsweek.com\u002Fgene-editing-chinese-scientist-he-jiankui-missing-house-arrest-1240749\">Chinese authorities have opened an “immediate investigation”\u003C\u002Fa>, placed the scientist under house arrest and ordered those involved in the project to suspend their activities, that’s a one-time response, and the overall consensus of the international scientific community did not materialize in any regulation or serious oversight so far. “It’s ethically Swiss cheese, more holes than substance,” \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theverge.com\u002F2018\u002F11\u002F26\u002F18112970\u002Fcrispr-china-babies-embryos-genetic-engineering-bioethics-policy\">says Arthur Caplan, a bioethicist at New York University\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-22557\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"575\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FGene-Editing-Map.png\" alt=\"gene editing\" class=\"wp-image-22557\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FGene-Editing-Map.png 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FGene-Editing-Map-768x508.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FGene-Editing-Map-512x338.png 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Source: www.uk.businessinsider.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>The genetic haves and have-nots\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>If not regulated well-enough legally, gene editing could soon result in catastrophic consequences. Nevertheless, the letter of the law could not embody the ultimate solution for CRISPR. Gene editing already constitutes specific social barriers, which might further grow in the future. As these technologies are very costly, only the affluent social groups have access to them. Moreover, \u003Cstrong>certain religious groups or ethnicities with belief systems about the sanctity of life might also decide against the use of such medical innovations. These disparities might create a future society where the differences in wealth could already flip over into a biological rift – deepening with every new generation. \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Japanese writer, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fscience\u002F2016\u002Fdec\u002F02\u002Fkazuo-ishiguro-were-coming-close-to-the-point-where-we-can-create-people-who-are-superior-to-others\">Kazuo Ishiguro warned\u003C\u002Fa> that due to CRISPR and gene editing, a two-tiered society with elite citizens, genetically engineered to be smarter, healthier and to live longer, and an underclass of biologically run-of-the-mill humans could evolve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>To\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong> avoid this scenario, governments should intervene: not only with regulations but good policies. But then again, too many questions arise. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fscience\u002F2017\u002Fjan\u002F08\u002Fdesigner-babies-ethical-horror-waiting-to-happen\">When is it proper for governments to coerce people into, or prohibit them from particular choices\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong>, such as not selecting a human embryo due to a disability? How can one balance individual freedoms and social consequences?\u003C\u002Fstrong> In a darker scenario: what if the government has its own interests in creating a society along certain lines drawn by genetic engineering? What if a central authority decides that an army of genetically modified soldiers is the best “tool” for border defense?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>With going deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole, we end up with Aldous Huxley and the vision about “obedient, efficient and happy” citizens in a \u003Cem>Brave New World. \u003C\u002Fem>Again. Shouldn’t we step up our game to make sure we avoid this scenario becoming too familiar?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"10px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>At The Medical Futurist, we are building a community for making a bold vision about the future of healthcare reality today.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FFIbMejImnxs\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\">\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003Cp>If you’d like to support this mission, we invite you to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">join The Medical Futurist Patreon Community\u003C\u002Fa>. A community of empowered patients, future-oriented healthcare professionals, concerned health policymakers, sensible health tech developers, and enthusiastic medical students. If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our research and sustains our future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">\u003Cstrong style=\"background-color: #e71d3299; color: #000;\">Click here to support The Medical Futurist from as little as $3\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa> – it only takes a minute. Thank you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n",false,{"rendered":22,"protected":20},"\u003Cp>A Chinese scientist shocked the scientific community a couple of days ago with the announcement of having modified the very blueprint of life. If his claims are true, he tried to bestow two baby girls the ability to resist possible future infections with HIV. The outrage shows that humanity is not prepared to utilize the power of gene editing on embryos yet. We have no idea about the biological consequences, and we haven’t tackled the necessary legal and ethical issues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",6,22571,"closed",true,"","standard",{"_acf_changed":20,"footnotes":27},[31,32,33],511,521,488,[35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49],229,246,655,253,679,256,680,261,764,271,904,275,996,289,425,[],[],[53,54,55,56,57,58,59],1883,1969,1973,2143,3357,5861,1721,[61,14,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,70,71,72,73,74,75,76,77,78,79,80,81,82,83,84],"post-22549","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bioethics","category-future-medicine","category-genomics","tag-ethics","tag-future","tag-genome-sequencing","tag-gene","tag-designer-baby","tag-genes","tag-designer-babies","tag-genome","tag-healthcare-system","tag-health","tag-gene-editing","tag-healthcare","tag-bioethics","tag-innovation","tag-technology-2",{"id":24,"alt_text":86,"caption":27,"description":87,"media_type":88,"media_details":89,"post":5,"source_url":129},"TMF, futuristic medical technologies","TMF, designer babies, DNA, genetics","image",{"width":90,"height":91,"file":92,"sizes":93,"image_meta":126},870,489,"2018\u002F12\u002F057_designer_babies.png",{"medium":94,"large":100,"thumbnail":105,"medium_large":109,"large_old_512x288":110,"thumbnail_old_150x150":115,"medium_old_370x208":117,"medium_large_old_768x432":120,"large_old_512x288_old_512x288":123},{"file":95,"width":96,"height":97,"mime-type":98,"source_url":99},"057_designer_babies-370x208.png",370,208,"image\u002Fpng","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002F057_designer_babies-370x208.png",{"file":101,"width":102,"height":103,"mime-type":98,"source_url":104},"057_designer_babies-768x432.png",768,432,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002F057_designer_babies-768x432.png",{"file":106,"width":107,"height":107,"mime-type":98,"source_url":108},"057_designer_babies-150x150.png",150,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002F057_designer_babies-150x150.png",{"file":101,"width":102,"height":103,"mime-type":98,"source_url":104},{"file":111,"width":112,"height":113,"mime-type":98,"source_url":114},"057_designer_babies-512x288.png",512,288,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002F057_designer_babies-512x288.png",{"file":106,"width":116,"height":116,"mime-type":98,"source_url":108},"150",{"file":95,"width":118,"height":119,"mime-type":98,"source_url":99},"370","208",{"file":101,"width":121,"height":122,"mime-type":98,"source_url":104},"768","432",{"file":111,"width":124,"height":125,"mime-type":98,"source_url":114},"512","288",{"aperture":127,"credit":27,"camera":27,"caption":27,"created_timestamp":127,"copyright":27,"focal_length":127,"iso":127,"shutter_speed":127,"title":27,"orientation":127,"keywords":128},"0",[],"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002F057_designer_babies.png",{"related_posts":131,"related_posts_footer":135,"cta_type":27,"cta_color":27,"subtitle":27,"related_books":20},[132,133,134],14192,14216,22209,[136,137,138],17644,21879,14204,{"yoast_wpseo_title":17,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":140,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":15},"Do we really need gene editing? Designer babies: From ethical issues to regulations and possible social consequences.",{"self":142,"collection":148,"about":151,"author":154,"replies":157,"version-history":160,"predecessor-version":164,"wp:featuredmedia":168,"wp:attachment":171,"wp:term":174,"curies":190},[143],{"href":144,"targetHints":145},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F22549",{"allow":146},[147],"GET",[149],{"href":150},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts",[152],{"href":153},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftypes\u002Fpost",[155],{"embeddable":26,"href":156},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fusers\u002F6",[158],{"embeddable":26,"href":159},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=22549",[161],{"count":162,"href":163},20,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F22549\u002Frevisions",[165],{"id":166,"href":167},46536,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F22549\u002Frevisions\u002F46536",[169],{"embeddable":26,"href":170},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F22571",[172],{"href":173},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=22549",[175,178,181,184,187],{"taxonomy":176,"embeddable":26,"href":177},"category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=22549",{"taxonomy":179,"embeddable":26,"href":180},"post_tag","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=22549",{"taxonomy":182,"embeddable":26,"href":183},"project_category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=22549",{"taxonomy":185,"embeddable":26,"href":186},"contact_email_category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=22549",{"taxonomy":188,"embeddable":26,"href":189},"yst_prominent_words","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=22549",[191],{"name":192,"href":193,"templated":26},"wp","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.w.org\u002F{rel}",[195],{"id":138,"date":196,"date_gmt":197,"guid":198,"modified":200,"modified_gmt":201,"slug":202,"status":13,"type":14,"link":203,"title":204,"content":206,"excerpt":208,"author":23,"featured_media":210,"comment_status":25,"ping_status":25,"sticky":20,"template":27,"format":28,"meta":211,"categories":212,"tags":214,"project_category":223,"contact_email_category":224,"yst_prominent_words":225,"class_list":232,"better_featured_image":243,"acf":270,"yoast_meta":271,"_links":274},"2016-10-19T17:09:28","2016-10-19T15:09:28",{"rendered":199},"http:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?p=14204","2021-12-06T01:08:47","2021-12-06T00:08:47","what-can-you-achieve-with-crispr-therapy","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fwhat-can-you-achieve-with-crispr-therapy",{"rendered":205},"What can you achieve with CRISPR therapy today?",{"rendered":207,"protected":20},"\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"5px\"> \u003Ctbody> \u003Ctr> \u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\"> \u003Cp style=\"color: #555;font-size: 12px;line-height: 14px\">THIS ARTICLE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2016. THE INFORMATION SHARED IN THE ARTICLE WAS ACCURATE AT THE TIME OF ITS PUBLICATION, BUT IT MAY BE OUT OF DATE NOW. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fmagazine\">BROWSE OUR LATEST ARTICLES HERE\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp> \u003C\u002Ftd> \u003C\u002Ftr> \u003C\u002Ftbody> \u003C\u002Ftable> \u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>CRISPR is the newest, most efficient and most accurate method to edit a cell’s genome. It opens up a myriad of wonderful opportunities as well as frightening ethical challenges in healthcare. We have to understand it and prepare for the medical revolution it brings upon us, so here I summarised everything to know about this genome editing method from DNA-scissors to currently unimaginable possibilities, such as having an army of gene-edited soldiers. Let me introduce you, what can you achieve with CRISPR therapy today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003C!--more-->\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>This is the second part of our article series about the amazing story of the CRISPR genome editing method. Previously, you could read about the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fcrispr\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">history how CRISPR was discovered and how the process of genome editing works\u003C\u002Fa>. Now, let me show you the mind-blowing results you can achieve with CRISPR therapy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"488\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fcrispr-therapy.jpg\" alt=\"CRISPR therapy\" class=\"wp-image-14207\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fcrispr-therapy.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fcrispr-therapy-370x208.jpg 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fcrispr-therapy-768x431.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fcrispr-therapy-512x287.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fcrispr-therapy-445x250.jpg 445w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>1) The Gene-Editing Tool\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh1>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>So you should know that \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.newseveryday.com\u002Farticles\u002F45466\u002F20160607\u002Fcrispr-cas9-bring-breakthrough-treatment-medical-ailments.htm\">scientists around the world are already using this technique\u003C\u002Fa> in several of their projects. In addition, global research and development companies started using CRISPR\u002FCas 9 for the development of drugs to treat a number of life-threatening medical conditions, including sickle-cell anaemia and cancer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>For example, \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fnewsroom.cumc.columbia.edu\u002Fblog\u002F2016\u002F01\u002F27\u002Fcrispr-used-repair-blindness-causing-genetic-defect-patient-derived-stem-cells\u002F\">Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) and University of Iowa scientists have used CRISPR to repair a genetic mutation responsible for retinitis pigmentosa\u003C\u002Fa> (RP), an inherited condition that causes the retina to degrade and leads to blindness in at least 1.5 million cases worldwide. The researchers published their study about it in Scientific Reports.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The authors of the study said that: “We still have some way to go, but we believe that the first therapeutic use of CRISPR will be to treat an eye disease. Here we have demonstrated that the initial steps are feasible”.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Using CRISPR to Treat Blindness\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FFzTmlMCUDcI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>2) The Tool Turning Genes On and Off\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh1>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In 2013, \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.theatlantic.com\u002Fscience\u002Farchive\u002F2016\u002F01\u002Fthe-most-exciting-uses-of-gene-editing-technology-involve-no-editing\u002F422619\u002F\">a researcher called Stanley \u003C\u002Fa>Qi\u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.theatlantic.com\u002Fscience\u002Farchive\u002F2016\u002F01\u002Fthe-most-exciting-uses-of-gene-editing-technology-involve-no-editing\u002F422619\u002F\">, working currently at Stanford University, found a way to “mess up” the working of the DNA scissors\u003C\u002Fa>, actually blunting them, and so creating a “dead” version of Cas9 that can’t cut anything at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The team developed ways of using the blunted enzyme to switch genes off (CRISPRi, where the i stands for interference) or on (CRISPRa, where the a stands for activation), or to tune their activity over a 1,000-fold range. They used these techniques to quickly and thoroughly screen human cells for genes that they need to grow, or to deal with a bacterial toxin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Now, instead of a precise and versatile set of scissors, which can cut any gene you want, you have a precise and versatile delivery system, which can control any gene you want. You don’t just have an editor, but you have a tiny entity controlled from outside. It is genius and scary at the same time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"489\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fcrispr-genome-editing.jpg\" alt=\"CRISPR therapy - genome editing\" class=\"wp-image-14208\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fcrispr-genome-editing.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fcrispr-genome-editing-370x208.jpg 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fcrispr-genome-editing-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fcrispr-genome-editing-512x288.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fcrispr-genome-editing-444x250.jpg 444w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>3) The Tool Treating Huntington’s Disease\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh1>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.techtimes.com\u002Farticles\u002F162951\u002F20160605\u002Fnew-rna-snipping-crispr-gene-editing-system-may-help-treat-huntingtons-and-other-diseases.htm\">One recent breakthrough is the use of a CRISPR formed from mouth bacterium that is capable of breaking RNA\u003C\u002Fa>, the part of cells that help transform genes into usable proteins. The RNA version of CRISPR was developed by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It is based on a certain enzyme known as C2c2, which helps keep bacteria protected against other microbes such as viruses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>By manipulating the RNA, researchers could influence gene activity as well as the production of protein in the body. This would effectively grant them the ability to turn the process up or down, or even switch it on or off to suit their purposes without affecting the genetic codes stored in the RNA. This whole method means that it is now becoming increasingly possible to develop better forms of treatment that can target specific malignancies in the body, such as Huntington’s disease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"C2C2: A single-effector CRISPR protein\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002F8ed_QFOlD40?list=PLlMMtlgw6qNgq9oaEBBpVD3Ruo02ufq2I\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>4) The Tool Against Malaria\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh1>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.who.int\u002Ffeatures\u002Ffactfiles\u002Fmalaria\u002Fen\u002F\">The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates\u003C\u002Fa> that about 3.2 billion people – nearly half of the world’s population – are at risk of malaria. In 2015, there were roughly 214 million malaria cases and an estimated 438 000 malaria deaths, thus it is overtly important to fight and prevent the disease. One of the best methods is to somehow fight off its primary transmitter, infected mosquitoes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.popularmechanics.com\u002Fscience\u002Fa18324\u002Fcrispr-gene-editing-used-to-make-malaria-resistant-mosquitoes\u002F\">Researchers have used gene-editing to create mosquitoes\u003C\u002Fa> that are almost entirely resistant to the parasite that causes malaria. \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.popularmechanics.com\u002Fscience\u002Fa19067\u002F11-crazy-things-we-can-do-with-crispr-cas9\u002F\">They used CRISPR to remove a segment of mosquito DNA\u003C\u002Fa>, and when the mosquitoes’ genetic system tried to repair the genome, it was tricked into replacing it with a DNA construct engineered by the scientists. They found that 99 per cent of the offspring of the genetically modified insects also had the malaria-resistant genes. So some genetic change had occurred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"822\" height=\"462\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fcrispr-against-malaria-spreading-mosquitos.jpeg\" alt=\"CRISPR therapy - Against Malaria-spreading Mosquitos\" class=\"wp-image-14212\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fcrispr-against-malaria-spreading-mosquitos.jpeg 822w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fcrispr-against-malaria-spreading-mosquitos-370x208.jpeg 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fcrispr-against-malaria-spreading-mosquitos-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fcrispr-against-malaria-spreading-mosquitos-512x288.jpeg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fcrispr-against-malaria-spreading-mosquitos-445x250.jpeg 445w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 822px) 100vw, 822px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>5) The ultimate weapon against cancer\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh1>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As a very simple explanation, cancer occurs when cells refuse to die and keep multiplying in various places in our bodies, while hiding from our immune system. With CRISPR, we will have the chance to edit our cells in our immune systems to improve them against cancer cells and to help them kill these malevolent entities in time. In the future, getting rid of cancer could mean just an injection as now against mumps which was a deadly disease for children in the 1800s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>And lately, something miraculous happened. After trying traditional cancer-treating methods such as chemotherapy and bone-marrow transplants, doctors decided to \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.popularmechanics.com\u002Fscience\u002Fhealth\u002Fnews\u002Fa18099\u002Fgene-editing-eliminate-cancer\u002F\">use gene-editing technologies in a last-ditch effort to save a girl\u003C\u002Fa> who was suffering from lymphoblastic leukemia. The doctors altered the immune system, namely T-cells of a donor to more effectively locate and kill leukemia cells – without attacking the patient’s organism. Actually, they did not use CRISPR, but another method, TALEN, but in any case, it turned out to be a huge success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How CRISPR Can Help Fight Cancer\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FlC2bc2s5IwY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>6) The Shield Against Duchenne Syndrome\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh1>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Patients with the devastating Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy lose the ability to walk by their teens, and often die from one of a number of complications—like respiratory or heart failure—at a young age. The disease is caused by a mutation that prevents the body from producing the dystrophin protein, a critical protein in the development of muscle tissue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Since the syndrome is retraceable to one specific mutation of a gene, researchers are experimenting with the use of CRISPR in finding a treatment for it. \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Farstechnica.com\u002Fscience\u002F2016\u002F01\u002Fgene-editing-shows-promise-in-treating-muscular-dystrophy\u002F\">This year, experiments showed that\u003C\u002Fa> scientists were able to treat mice with the Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy through gene editing – thus the technology has great promise in treating people suffering from this deadly illness in the near future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fwatch?v=JBso2lleM48\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>7) With the Advancement of Research, We Could Have Clinical Trials in 2017 (!!)\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh1>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The discovery of CRISPR has been having the impact on science as the discovery of the DNA and the Human Genome Project in itself was. Research labs are popping up like mushrooms, such as Intellia Therapeutics or CRISPR Therapeutics. Apparently, it is very sexy to work on CRISPR-related projects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fir.editasmedicine.com\u002Fphoenix.zhtml?c=254265&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2199837\">Editas Medicine\u003C\u002Fa> is one of the leading genome editing, biotechnological company dedicated to treating patients with genetically-defined diseases by correcting their disease-causing genes. Its mission is to translate the promise of genome editing science into a broad class of transformative genomic medicines to benefit the greatest number of patients. Their areas of research include eye diseases, blood- muscle or lung diseases and cancer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>With the advancement of CRISPR research, it is somehow almost natural that the possibility for clinical trials appeared. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.technologyreview.com\u002Fs\u002F543181\u002Fcrispr-gene-editing-to-be-tested-on-people-by-2017-says-editas\u002F\">Editas Medicine said that\u003C\u002Fa> the company hopes to start a clinical trial in 2017 to treat a rare form of blindness (\u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fghr.nlm.nih.gov\u002Fcondition\u002Fleber-congenital-amaurosis\">leber congenital amaurosis\u003C\u002Fa>, which affects the light-receiving cells of the retina) using CRISPR. If Editas’s plans move forward, the study would likely be the first to use CRISPR to edit the DNA of a person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Editas Medicine to create the first genetically modified HUMANS in 2017 HD\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FGQh4w22SPpo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>These are only a few examples of the many out there. But I’m sure they will mark the beginning of a new era in genome editing and healthcare in general. However, I also believe that the long-term impacts on society and the ethics of doing research will be of much higher altitude. CRISPR could actually bring tremendous change to our future with designer babies, the eradication of diseases or that of ageing. Exactly due to such impacts, it will also generate huge ethical dilemmas and ultimate questions about our way of life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Don’t miss the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fwhat-could-crisprcas9-do-tomorrow\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Third Part of the Article Series\u003C\u002Fa> if You Are Curious Whether We Are About to Open Pandora’s Box Again or Rather to Get the Greatest Hope of Mankind!\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":209,"protected":20},"\u003Cp>THIS ARTICLE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2016. THE INFORMATION SHARED IN THE ARTICLE WAS ACCURATE AT THE TIME OF ITS PUBLICATION, BUT IT MAY […]\u003C\u002Fp>\n",14194,{"_acf_changed":20,"footnotes":27},[213,33],500,[46,48,215,216,38,217,218,219,220,221,222],355,517,570,255,571,257,260,262,[],[],[226,227,228,229,230,231],2947,2967,3585,4677,1621,2657,[233,14,62,63,64,65,66,234,69,81,83,235,236,73,237,238,239,240,241,242],"post-14204","category-biotechnology","tag-personalized-medicine","tag-gc1","tag-crispr","tag-gene-therapy","tag-genome-editing","tag-genetic-disorder","tag-genetics","tag-genomics",{"id":210,"alt_text":244,"caption":27,"description":27,"media_type":88,"media_details":245,"post":132,"source_url":269},"CRISPR genome editing method",{"width":90,"height":91,"file":246,"sizes":247,"image_meta":267},"2016\u002F10\u002Fcrispr-and-cas9.jpg",{"medium":248,"large":252,"thumbnail":255,"medium_large":258,"large_old_512x288":259,"medium_old_444x250":262},{"file":249,"width":96,"height":97,"mime-type":250,"source_url":251},"crispr-and-cas9-370x208.jpg","image\u002Fjpeg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fcrispr-and-cas9-370x208.jpg",{"file":253,"width":102,"height":103,"mime-type":250,"source_url":254},"crispr-and-cas9-768x432.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fcrispr-and-cas9-768x432.jpg",{"file":256,"width":107,"height":107,"mime-type":250,"source_url":257},"crispr-and-cas9-150x150.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fcrispr-and-cas9-150x150.jpg",{"file":253,"width":102,"height":103,"mime-type":250,"source_url":254},{"file":260,"width":112,"height":113,"mime-type":250,"source_url":261},"crispr-and-cas9-512x288.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fcrispr-and-cas9-512x288.jpg",{"file":263,"width":264,"height":265,"mime-type":250,"source_url":266},"crispr-and-cas9-444x250.jpg",444,250,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fcrispr-and-cas9-444x250.jpg",{"aperture":127,"credit":27,"camera":27,"caption":27,"created_timestamp":127,"copyright":27,"focal_length":127,"iso":127,"shutter_speed":127,"title":27,"orientation":127,"keywords":268},[],"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fcrispr-and-cas9.jpg",{"related_posts":20,"related_posts_footer":20,"cta_type":27,"cta_color":27,"subtitle":27,"related_books":20},{"yoast_wpseo_title":272,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":273,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":203},"What can you achieve with CRISPR therapy today? - The Medical Futurist","CRISPR is the newest, most efficient and most accurate method to edit a cell's genome. Let me introduce you, what can you achieve with CRISPR therapy today.",{"self":275,"collection":280,"about":282,"author":284,"replies":286,"version-history":289,"predecessor-version":293,"wp:featuredmedia":297,"wp:attachment":300,"wp:term":303,"curies":314},[276],{"href":277,"targetHints":278},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F14204",{"allow":279},[147],[281],{"href":150},[283],{"href":153},[285],{"embeddable":26,"href":156},[287],{"embeddable":26,"href":288},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=14204",[290],{"count":291,"href":292},9,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F14204\u002Frevisions",[294],{"id":295,"href":296},37307,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F14204\u002Frevisions\u002F37307",[298],{"embeddable":26,"href":299},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F14194",[301],{"href":302},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=14204",[304,306,308,310,312],{"taxonomy":176,"embeddable":26,"href":305},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=14204",{"taxonomy":179,"embeddable":26,"href":307},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=14204",{"taxonomy":182,"embeddable":26,"href":309},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=14204",{"taxonomy":185,"embeddable":26,"href":311},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=14204",{"taxonomy":188,"embeddable":26,"href":313},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=14204",[315],{"name":192,"href":193,"templated":26},[],1789987464617]