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Importance of crispr
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The sequences of CRISPR were first discovered in 1987, when scientists reading genetic code found five identical segments of DNA separated by bits of DNA that match that of a virus. CRISPR, which is a specialized strand of DNA, stands for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats. It can be used as a defense system to “cut out” and destroy virus DNA and unwanted genes. It is the most powerful genetic engineering technology ever discovered, and harnessing and using it could have both powerful benefits and dire consequences.
The biggest pro of CRISPR is its function- the fact that it can be used to cut out any bad gene that it is “told to.” One way it could potentially help people is by protecting against Alzheimer’s disease by cutting out the gene that increases the risk of contracting Alzheimer’s and replacing it with a protective gene, the likes of which are found naturally in some. In trials, CRISPR was used to increase the strength of mice with muscular dystrophy. Muscular dystrophy is thus far incurable, but being able to increase the strength of
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It could cause a permanent change in generations to come in whatever organism receives the new gene. If you enhance the DNA of an animal, you run the risk of overpopulation, that animal becoming toxic to another, or changing their environment in another, unforeseeable way. The other concern, mainly regarding using CRISPR in human beings and embryos is the dilemma of crossing an “ethical line.” Embryos and future generation can’t consent to being genetically altered. CRISPR could potentially be used to create a “designer baby,” which is an embryo that has been genetically altered to produce desirable, even superior, traits. Some consider this unethical, and that it would be getting rid of natural diversity. This process of gene editing could be used to make people wealthy, instead of keeping it available for
...work of Crispr. I understand that there might be unwanted side effects through the use of Crispr on DNA that might permanently damage or turn off untargeted genes, but I believe that the possibility is present in any and every method used in working with DNA. However, it seems as if Crispr may be a more target-specific method than the other methods currently being known or used. As for the ethical concerns, these are certainly valid concerns, but I believe that the other multiple uses for Crispr may progress society for the better. For example, “designer babies” are an ethical concern because then children may be genetically altered, but what if they were genetically modified to not inherit a life-threatening disease just by changing their genes? It seems to me that the possibilities from the work and use of Crispr would create a better quality of life for society.
Sorry for my delay in getting back to you and your question. I think patenting the CRISPR technology could be very troubling. In a recent article I found that a patent already exists regarding the CRISPR technology and its specific use with eukaryotic cells, but that UC Berkeley lost their patent request for a broader usage. What’s dangerous about this is that anyone who holds the patent also holds the rights to the reproduction of the technology. This means money for the patent holder (Netburn, 2017). They could sell the technology to the highest bidder and not necessarily to a scientific or altruistic organization. Following this impact, it could mean someone could own the technology to edit genes and make cosmetic alterations in humans such
Genetically modifying organisms can greatly improve modern society by helping farmers and increasing production of. Another benefit of gene editing is in foods, genetically modified food can have a larger crop yield. Thirdly, genetically modified animals can augment modern society by making animals produce more and help keep farmers safe (Genetic Engineering). Lastly, by genetically modifying human genes researchers can attempt to cure diseases linked to faulty genes such as, AIDs and cancer (Xiong).
One of the most necessary uses of genetic engineering is tackling diseases. As listed above, some of the deadliest diseases in the world that have yet to be conquered could ultimately be wiped out by the use of genetic engineering. Because there are a great deal of genetic mutations people suffer from it is impractical that we will ever be able to get rid of them unless we involve genetic engineering in future generations (pros and cons of genetic eng). The negative aspect to this is the possible chain reaction that can occur from gene alteration. While altering a gene to do one thing, like cure a disease, there is no way of knowing if a different reaction will occur at the cellular or genetic level because of it; causing another problem, possibly worse than the disease they started off with (5 pros and cons of gen. eng.). This technology has such a wide range of unknown, it is simply not safe for society to be condoning to. As well as safety concerns, this can also cause emotional trauma to people putting their hopes into genetic engineering curing their loved ones, when there is a possibility it could result in more damage in the
Human beings are not born perfect, there are sometimes imperfections that one would not be able to fix. If an adult has a disease that is passed down from their genes, there is a high possibility that the child would get it. The ability to pick specific genes for their child is astonishing. With the CRISPR technology, one is able to create their version of a perfect baby with genes that they prefer. In many perspectives, their discovery will save a lot of families worries, making their life better, especially at the point where their lives is going to be better.
As medical technology and research advances, society’s once limited knowledge of the causes of diseases and disorders is growing. Along with this new information comes new methods of curing and at times, completely eliminating these diseases from the body. A new form of this is CRISPR-Cas 9 gene editing. According to the Your Genome article, “What is CRISPR-Cas9?,” CRISPR-Cas 9 is a “technology that enables geneticists and medical researchers to edit parts of the genome by removing, adding, or altering sections of the DNA sequence” (“What is CRISPR-Cas 9?” para. 2). In other words, the enzyme, Cas-9, is able to go into a person’s DNA and change parts of it, completely changing a person, in either terms of physical attributes or diseases in
Recently, MIT Technology Review’s editor published an article about the future of GMO. To provide some context, GMOs are genetically modified organisms that are artificially altered using a process known as recombinant DNA technology. GMOs have faced a lot of controversy, mainly regarding the health implications of GMOs. Currently, plant scientists and startups have avoided creating new genetically modified crops, due to the large costs and long approval times for new crop modifications. As a result, large agricultural and chemical producers, such as Monsanto control basically the entire GMO market and turn it into a very lucrative business. The outcome of this situation is a scary amount of dependency on a handful of profit-oriented companies that genetically modify seeds to maximize profits, rather than to improve the well-being of the consumer.
Many scientists and innovators alike are asking “What would it be like to have a baby? Or even a baby that you designed? This baby having no diseases and to cure your diseases in addition, all with the same process.” Well this can all be yours with the likely unavoidable side effects of this DNA cutting and insertion. Although, while this new and groundbreaking technology, known as CRISPR/Cas has only been used widely for three years. During, this short span of wide use it has gained overwhelming traction and controversy. The audience that this technology draws can be strongly attributed to this topic’s controversial core and its possibilities for the future.
It will make diversity and uniqueness weak, everyone will be "perfect" and no one will focus on the uniqueness of human beings. The great things we may achieve will be of less value since more people will be similar and have those same abilities. Children will be less appreciated because they will be more of a product (robot) than a unique gift. Through this practice we will face the dangers of races being eliminated and our world becoming a male dominated place. Genetic modification takes away our right to create and live our own story. If we are all genetically modified our lives will all be similar and less exciting. If creating designer babies will weaken diversity and uniqueness, why should we allow it? The world will be dull and full of clones, is it worth
When it comes to Genetically Modified Organisms, I have a neutral point of view. I see the negative outcomes of it but I also see the way it can benefit the whole world. Genetically Modified Organisms means that we are messing with nature and how it naturally works. This, on the long run, can cause many effects on humans. Genetically modifying food can lead to us having some mutation in our DNA just because we are eating foods that were modified. There are many people out there looking for organic food because they believe that the food now have to many chemicals and hormones. Small farmers can no longer make a living because they are competing with large companies that can make twice as much goods as they can in half the amount of time. On the other hand, these foods are more resistant to parasites, they grow faster, and they have higher yield of proteins in them. The ability to grow more food faster and without parasites means that there will be more people on the earth with food. There are too many people living on different parts of the world that do not have enough food to
CRISPR is a natural occurring process whose purpose is to act as a defense mechanism fighting off viruses in prokaryotic organisms. Scientist, however, have figured out a way to emulate this same process. First by creating a piece of RNA who matches part of a desired gene which they intend destroy, then the RNA is bonded to a Cas9 and sent through the nucleus, next the RNA is binded to the DNA to where it signals Cas9 to the strands, and finally the cell miserably fails to correct the cut, but along the way it accidentally adds a few nucleotides which shuts the gene down. Cas9 plays a vital role in this process since Its a protein in charge of locating and severing target DNA. The protein is split into six domains and the largest one is responsible
CRISPR has been experimented mostly on animal embryos except for the case of the procedure that took place in China. What people worry about the most is the fear that CRISPR will be used to modify the human germ-line since it can precisely edit genes for targeted traits “which can be passed down to future generations”(The Conversation). The idea of this occurring sparks back the idea of the eugenics movement which occurred in the early 1900’s where the idea of creating the perfect race was in motion. During this time, “the eugenics movement in the US quickly focused on eliminating negative and undesirable traits” (Nature). The Eugenics movement that was evidently a “tragic time in our country’s history” (Nature) and CRISPR is the match that has sparked up the issue of creating the perfect race once
However, compared to the amount of naturally occurring mutations that happen from birth to death, it pales in comparison. A major ethical issue concerning germline cell editing is that the modifications made will pass on from generation to generation and any unpredictable changes may be transmitted to future generations. There’s also the topic of informed consent and how to implement that when there are risks that comes with germline cell modification. Another ethical issue that may skew the morality of gene editing is the possibility of people using gene editing to be genetically enhanced. For example, editing their DNA to be taller or to have a higher intelligence. These modifications would allow individuals to have an advantage over others. The use of CRISPR also raises the social issue of availability to the public. If it does become available, wealthy people would have access to it before others as the technology required to do it is
This could mean the end of all genetically inherited diseases and less suffering for families all around the world. In addition, this program is lifesaving program that will not involve much more medical research once cured. The service of the transplant will take about 6 to 7 months at most depending on the type of treatment you get according to the HSI faculty at Harvard University. Also, CRISPR-Cas9 is capable to make a better version of yourself. Theoretically, gene editing could also be used to change traits governed by a small number of genes such as muscularity, eye color, height, and memory according to George Daley, a stem cell biologist at Harvard Medical School. This comes to show that the advantages to releasing CRISPR is very noble and
Gene therapy is an experimental technique that uses genes to treat or prevent disease. Currently, there are a lot of studies and experiments that allow doctors to treat a disorder by inserting a gene into a patient’s cells instead of using drugs or direct surgery. Researchers are testing several approaches to gene therapy, such as replacing a mutated gene that causes disease with a healthy copy of the gene, inactivating, or “knocking out,” a mutated gene that is functioning improperly, introducing a new gene into the body to help fight a disease, and helping to regenerate precious cells. Although gene therapy has a very active and promising approach for a number of disease, there are still several risks and side effects. Hence, the therapy