CRISPR Gene-Editing
Over the years, genetic therapy and editing has been a matter of extreme controversy. In an attempt to progress in the field of genetics, further research has been conducted to discover more effective genetic editing methods. China has recently been credited as the first to inject genetically edited cells, with the use of the CRISPR-Cas9 technique, into a human being.
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| Immune Cells Attacking Cancer Cells |
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Not all cancers can be treated successfully with the use of chemotherapy and surgery. Genetic editing has the potential to eradicate genetic disorders with positive results. I think that gene-editing should be utilized on a larger scale. Even though the use of antibodies is effective at the moment, I believe that genetic therapy has great potential for the future of medicine and disease treatment.
I find this topic rather fascinating because I am a biotechnology major. I enjoy studying genetics and one day, I hope to have the opportunity to work in clinical research facilities for gene therapy or in other related fields. The biotech industry is a relatively new field in science and there is so much to be discovered and created. I hope one day to be one of those individuals who can impact the world with the use of science.
Written by: K. N.
Article Source: Scientific American CRISPR Gene-Editing
China has a checkered history of human rights violations, and so its interesting that they have been the head of the spear in attempting to use genetic modifications in humans. The rest of the world lags behind because, it seems, there's a gray area in the ethics of genetically modifying human material. If some countries are already pursuing this route, will there have to be a international forum on what should and shouldn't be done? Like a global warming summit but for genetics?
ReplyDeleteThat is a rather insightful question. I would assume that some board has already been established or that they are under different rules for human experimentation. It is interesting that they wanted to lead the movement of human editing with this specific technique. But still, human gene editing is not a new concept. Trials have occurred in the past and have not been as successful as would be desired. In most cases, the patients would die, so this is a huge step in the gene-editing field.
DeleteI thought you're blog post was very interesting and i'm interested to see how china got to this point of genetic research. Overall though i think it is amazing in the strides and advancements being made through out Biological study in the pursuit of better lives for people all around the globe.
ReplyDelete-Jacob Carnation
What is the process in gene editing? Do they take a large blood sample, and then use restriction enzymes to insert the gene they want, and then it is replaced in the human body? C.W.
ReplyDeleteIn high school I read Michael Crichton frequently, and between Jurassic Park and Next I felt like I was aware of some of the potential ethical challenges and incredible opportunities our genetics research was facilitating. This is a very exciting advancement in the field to explore using an individual’s modified cells as a more direct treatment for diseases like cancer. When I read that the researchers were interested in disabling the protein that regulates the immune response it made me wonder if that might result in unintended consequences. For example, if the immune response did not regulate itself how it would normally, could it potentially target healthy cells in the body by accident and not turn off? As with any treatment, knowing the risks and benefits prior to running experiments is impossible, but I would be interested to know what success they had with this approach in animal models before they tested it on a human. I think that this approach to disease prevention and treatment is going to be very important in the future, and it will likely give care providers incredible tools to help patients. However, because therapeutic gene modification is a departure from a long history of using synthetic chemicals to treat disease, I think that researchers need to use extra caution in their studies. --D.S.
ReplyDeleteThis article is very interesting because in another article it explained how CRISPR was successfully done on a rat. To know that everyday science is making exponential advances gives me faith that one day everything will be possible and nothing will be labeled 'incurable'. The questions I have are what are the problems scientist have face trying this relatively new procedure out? What challenges have they over come to make this possible?
ReplyDeleteJH
As a diverse human species, I think it would be very hard to create one broad treatment to treat cancer in every human being. I believe that is one reason why we have such a hard time pinpointing the cause and correlation of different cancers. With gene-editing it seems it could be a more customizable option for cancer treatment, hopefully it works!
ReplyDeleteR.T.
I think that this is a great discovery because it is possible treatment for cancer and to my opinion it should be used because lots of families lose their loved ones from cancer some people don't have so much time left and this could help.
ReplyDeleteSteph S.
how long until genetic editing is available? I have done some reading about cures and treatment, and I haven't heard about anything like this? how new it? it this something they will continue working on? or something that they will be forgotten, and looked at as to risky?
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome!!! Does the article say how long it will take until they know this will work and cure cancer? What more is do be done when they have already tested a human? I ask because it's about dang time someone finds a cure. It's been way too long.
ReplyDeleteGomez