Baby Fever?

CRISPR-Cas9 is a unique innovation that enables geneticists and clinical analysts to alter portions of the genome by eliminating, adding, or modifying areas of the DNA succession. It is currently the least difficult, most adaptable and precise technique for genetic control and, as expected, is causing a buzz in the science world. Scientists Jennifer Doudna and Emmaneulle Charpentier discuss the two key components needed to induce the change in DNA sequences which are the enzyme Cas9 and a piece of RNA called guide RNA (gRNA). So far CRISPR’s greatest effect has been felt in basic science labs. This low-cost gene editor is considered very simple to utilize. This innovation has made it possible for scientists to dive into the essential mysteries of life. Furthermore, they can do it in manners that used to be troublesome if not impossible. We’re discussing a ground-breaking new tool to control which qualities get expressed in plants, animals, and even US; the capacity to erase undesirable traits and, potentially, add desirable characteristics with more accuracy than any time in recent memory.

According to Sehrish Khan and his colleagues, CRISPR-Cas9 has a great deal of potential as an instrument for treating a scope of medical conditions that have a genetic component, including cancer, hepatitis B or even high cholesterol. One obvious limitation with using CRISPR-Cas9 as a potential treatment for a disease such as cancer is the newness of the technology. There are still many unknowns in terms of the outcomes and abilities of this process and using it to treat immunocompromised or ill individuals could have many adverse effects. The research done by Khan and his team included a break down of the role of CRISPR-Cas9 in cancer modeling which I have put below.

As you can see above, an incredible amount of research is going into the specific treatment of different types of cancer. One very obvious benefit for using CRISPR-Cas9 as a treatment for cancer is the fact that after decades of new technology we still have not found a complete cure. Although CRISPR-Cas9 may not be the end all be all in terms of cancer treatment, I believe it is definitely a step in the right direction.

Now let’s get into the exciting stuff. IF I had the choice, do I want my child to have blue eyes? Be taller or more muscular? Would I even want to have this amount of control? Interestingly enough, my senior year capstone project involved discussing and presenting the implications of gene editing. This argument is one that involves a lot of thinking and ethical reasoning but I came to the conclusion that technology such as this should be used in situations where any mental, medical, or physical health ailment is indicated. With this conclusion in mind, I do not consider cosmetic alterations to be significant enough for this sort of procedure. I believe that if cosmetic changes like eye color and heigh were allowed then humans would all slowly evolve to look the same or at least much more similar. Thinking positively, I would say that with many more years of innovation and technology creation maybe one day we could cure ALL genetically associated diseases BUT I think I may miss this event by a few centuries. CRISPR-Cas9 is a novel, fascinating, and extraordinary addition to the science community and I hope to only see technology such as this progress and expand to a larger sphere.