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Is It Ethical To Genetically Modify Humans With CRISPR?
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All of life on earth is encoded in the four letters of DNA, ATGC. If you stretched out the
entire DNA in the human body, it would reach to the sun and back more than 300 times.
Virtually every cell in your body contains DNA that makes you -you. Just like
snowflakes, no two people in the world are alike. Even monozygotic twins are not
genetically identical.
DNA carries the instructions for the development, growth, reproduction, and functioning
of all life. However, replication errors and DNA damage can occur in the cells of our
bodies all the time. In most cases, they don’t cause cancer, or even mutation.
Nevertheless, we know that DNA errors are at the root of nearly 7,000 diseases.
So, what if we had the ability to fix them? What if you could rewrite the entire human
genome from scratch? What would you fix, improve, or upgrade?
As explained in our previous video, biotechnology is moving so rapidly that a lot of the
science that not so long ago was just fiction is now part of our everyday lives. The
agricultural industry is editing plant genomes to feed a growing population, expand the
produce aisle, and make tastier, more convenient food products.
Recent advances in genome engineering now enable us to manipulate, customize, and
reprogram our genomes, thus empowering us to rewrite our fate.
Artificial intelligence is already being used to study and diagnose a wide range of
genetic diseases by reading a person’s genome.
Building on primary gene transfer experiments, genome editing tools such as CRISPRCas systems are revolutionizing how we modify human cells.
Though immortality is definitely not here yet, many scientists just see it as a problem
that can be solved within our lifetime.
So how does the Crisp technology work?
CRISPR-Cas9 was adapted from a naturally occurring genome editing system in
bacteria. The bacteria catch and use DNA snippets from invasive viruses to produce
sections of DNA known as CRISPR arrays. These arrays allow the viruses (or tightly
associated ones) to "remember" the bacteria. If the viruses attack again, the bacteria
generate sections of RNA from the arrays to target the virus
Dr. Sam Sternberg is a biochemist and expert in CRISPR gene editing technology
He uses the “find and replace” tool in Microsoft Word to describe what CRISPR
technology resembles. In Word, you type what you want to find in the search box; in
CRISPR, you create an RNA molecule that searches for a specific sequence in the
genome.
CRISPR however is not so precise yet so the best metaphor we think comes from The
Federation of European Microbiological Societies.
Swiss Army knife.
The Swiss Army knife has different blades for different tasks — comparable to
CRISPR’s ability to cut something out, introduce a single one-letter change, or make an
insertion without a deletion.
Dr. George Church is a pioneer in the area of genome engineering and the
development of gene editing tools based on the CRISPR/Cas9 system. He wants to
create a complete human genome from scratch- about 3 billion pairs of nitrogen bases.
Although CRISPR technology is still in the early stages of clinical trials in human
patients, the main goal for him is nothing less than to cure and reverse aging.
While genetically engineered people who never age is a little unrealistic, it looks likely
that CRISPR could be the key to stop the age-associated diseases including
atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, cataracts, osteoporosis, type 2
diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and various types of cancer in the coming years.
The progress is happening faster than even some of the most prominent scientists have
anticipated. Because of advances in technology and science, every year you live today,
Similar Videos:
"Can We Live Longer By Reversing Aging?"
"CRISPR 2.0 Prime Editing To Heal 90% Of Genetic Diseases"
"Genetic Engineering Humans - CRISPR"
#sciencetime #CRISPR #cas9
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