The lineage of every organism on Earth is riddled with failures and adaptation. New branches of species have diverged as a result of natural events, predation, and the need to survive. Today, there is a new form of technology that is capable of creating the “perfect” organism. No need for generations’ worth of challenges to make sure an animal can live, after a little genome editing today, a superior version of every living thing can be created.
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, or CRISPR is a form of biomedical technology that can be used to modify DNA sequences of living organisms. Originally found in bacteria with “spacer” DNA sequences, it was discovered that they were able to transcribe DNA to RNA which was then able to guide CAS nucleotides to cut and protect DNA. In the early 2000s, a team of researchers noticed that the spacer sequence was similar to that of bacteriophages, which carry viruses, and that removing or adding certain spacer sequences can impact the phage resistance of a cell.
CRISPR allows geneticists to alter specific parts of a genome and has seen many uses beyond what may be obvious. Yes, it could potentially be possible to “fix” a disease found in the genome, but it is also possible to place one. Scientists working with mice to run trials on experimental treatments can input the sequence to create the mutation that makes the disease occur. For diseases with known mutations, it could be possible to correct the flaw and rid an organism of the disease, however this is still in testing and has not been proven to be entirely effective yet.
Because of the lack of testing there is still a lot that is unknown to scientists working with this powerful tool, as well as many risks. The efficacy of the tool is still not entirely proven. Because of the need to influence such large amounts of cells, a more efficient method of administration is still being search for, right now viral vectors are the most common. There is a fear from scientists that CRISPR could go off-target and make incorrect edits. And furthermore, new concerns have arisen about the potential side effects of the technology. A series of studies have put forward the idea that the genetic editing tool could influence the cancer-fighting ability of the cells. Researcher Allan Bradley, in a release from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said “It is important taht anyone thinking of using this technology for gene therapy proceeds with caution and looks very carefully to check the possible side effects”
Beyond the technological issues, a plethora of ethical issues arise when looking at the geneomes of gametes, which make up eggs and sperm, and also early embryos. Edits to these cells are called germline editing. This makes it possible to change the eye or hair color of an organism before they are born. The ability to enhance desirable traits has been thoroughly condemned by many scientists. As a result, many have called for a moratorium, or temporary prohibition of activity, on human germline editing.
CRISPR is an incredibly powerful tool that could have numerous positive benefits but it is always important to understand the consequences of changing our genetic makeup. Science can lead to a lot of good, but as history has shown, not every use of a piece of technology is good.
Written by Shivanshi Sathe
