A mutation causing a heritable heart condition has been corrected in preimplantation human embryos using CRISPR–Cas9
Scientists have successfully edited the DNA of human embryos to erase a heritable heart condition that is known for causing sudden death in young competitive athletes, cracking open the doors to a controversial new era in medicine.
This is the first time gene editing on human embryos has been conducted in the United States. Researchers said in interviews this week that they consider their work very basic. The embryos were allowed to grow for only a few days, and there was never any intention to implant them to create a pregnancy. But they also acknowledged that they will continue to move forward with the science, with the ultimate goal of being able to “correct” disease-causing genes in embryos that will develop into babies.
Articles:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/02/science/gene-editing-human-embryos.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2017/08/02/first-human-embryo-editing-experiment-in-u-s-corrects-gene-for-heart-condition/?utm_term=.82c16ab0e139
Journal article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature23305.html?sf103005428=1
#medicine #research #CRISPRcas9 #science #geneEdit
Science fiction become reality! I am just glad that i live in this times and i see the evolution of science...
ReplyDeleteI wonder when the first Crispr child would be born? A moral minefield indeed, but maybe necessary for long term survival of the species
ReplyDeleteAmazing
ReplyDeleteI believe this is the future. Resistance is futile, as they say.
ReplyDeleteHmm, mixed feelings, we've managed for millions of years... what happens down the line when the unintended consequences are discovered, who will want to breed with those who've been 'edited'?
ReplyDelete