Page 28 - ARUBA TODAY

A28 SCIENCE
Friday 4 august 2017

Science Says: Gene editing widely used in range of research

By LAURAN NEERGAARD future generations, so-
AP Medical Writer called “germline” engi-
WASHINGTON (AP) — neering. But it’s ethically
Gene editing is getting charged because future
fresh attention thanks to a generations couldn’t con-
successful lab experiment sent, any long-term nega-
with human embryos. But tive effects might not be-
for all the angst over pos- come apparent for years,
sibly altering reproduction and there’s concern about
years from now, this tech- babies designed with en-
nology already is used by hanced traits rather than
scientists every day in fields to prevent disease.
ranging from agriculture to Earlier this year, an ethics
drug development. report from the prestigious
New gene editing tools let National Academy of Sci-
scientists alter the DNA of ences opened the door to
living cells — from plants, lab research to figure out
animals, even humans — how to make such chang-
more precisely than ever es — and said if germline
before. Think of it as a editing ever is allowed,
biological cut-and-paste it should be reserved for
program. A look at the sci- serious diseases with no
ence. In this microscope photo provided by Oregon Health & Science University, human embryos grow good alternatives and per-
WHAT IS GENE EDITING in a laboratory for a few days after researchers used gene editing technology to successfully re- formed with rigorous over-
While scientists have long pair a heart disease-causing genetic mutation. sight.
been able to find defec- Associated Press IS THAT LEGAL?
tive genes, fixing them Where you live determines
has been so cumbersome acts like molecular scissors ever testing the technique plantable human organs if, or what kind of, research
that it’s slowed develop- to snip that spot. That al- in pregnancy. inside pigs. can be performed on hu-
ment of genetic thera- lows scientists to delete, re- The biggest everyday use THE BIGGEST HURDLE man embryos. Some coun-
pies. There are several pair, or replace a particular of CRISPR so far is to engi- Safety is a key question be- tries, especially in Europe,
gene editing methods, but gene. neer animals with human- cause gene editing isn’t ban germline research.
a tool called CRISPR- MEDICAL RESEARCH like disorders for basic re- always precise enough; Britain allows basic lab re-
Cas9 has sparked a boom The fresh attention comes search, such as learning there’s the possibility of search only.
in research as laboratories from research involving hu- how genes cause disease accidentally cutting DNA In the U.S., scientists can
worldwide adopted it over man embryos. In laboratory or influence development that’s similar to the real tar- perform laboratory embryo
the past five years because experiments, a team lead and what therapies might get. research only with private
it’s faster, cheaper, simple by Oregon researchers help. Researchers have im- funding, as the Oregon
to use with minimal training used CRISPR to successfully But promising research, in proved precision in recent team did, not with federal
and allows manipulation of repair a heart-damaging labs and animals so far, years, but out-of-body taxpayer money. Any at-
multiple genes at the same gene in human embryos, also suggests gene editing treatments like using cells tempt to study germline
time. marking a step toward one might lead to treatments as drugs get around the editing in pregnant wom-
HOW IT WORKS day being able to prevent for such diseases as sickle fear of fixing one problem en would require permis-
Pieces of RNA are engi- inherited diseases from be- cell, cancer, maybe Hun- only to spark another. sion from the Food and
neered to be a guide that ing passed on to the next tington’s — by altering cells THE ETHICS CONTROVERSY Drug Administration, which
homes in on the targeted generation. But there’s and returning them to the Altering genes in sperm, is currently prohibited by
stretch of genetic material. wide agreement that more body. Another project aims eggs or embryos can Congress from reviewing
The Cas9 is an enzyme that research is needed before to one day grow trans- spread those changes to any such request.q