CRISPR-CAS9 is one of the newest and hottest technologies in recent times of biomedical sciences. CRISPR-CAS9 is short for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, while CAS-9 is an RNA-guided DNA endonuclease enzyme associated with the CRISPR system. It is a new and unique genome editing technology that allows geneticists and medical researchers to edit parts of the genome by removing, adding, or altering sections of the DNA sequence. It is fast, inexpensive, and accurate. This genomic technology allows us to manipulate the human genome and treat medical conditions that have a genetic component. With this technology, we can change the "amount" of a gene in a cell or delete in completely.
How this technology actually works is that you would target the DNA sequence while the guide RNA binds to the target DNA. After that, the CAS-9 enzyme binds to the guide RNA then the CAS-9 enzyme cuts both strands of the DNA and the cut is repaired.
What this technology provides is the possible treatment of genetic diseases that we thought were untreatable. We could essentially delete the gene that would cause a genetic disease. The CRISPR-CAS9 technology is accurate, flexible, and diverse in its application. The quick processing time and low cost of production also provides a lot of benefits to the biomedical sciences. The future of CRISPR-CAS9 brings direction and benefits to things such as human gene therapy, drug development, agriculture, synthetic biology, animal model development, and programmable RNA targeting to name a few.
However, since this technology is new, there are still some ethical issues that may be brought up. With this technology, we could essentially eliminate all the "bad" genes that create chronic genetic diseases and cancer. If this technology were to go into the wrong hands, it could potentially be abused and manipulated in such a way where an individual may acquire the optimal genes and may deem superior to other human beings. There is a possibility that we humans may abuse the technology to redesign the human species. Those are some thoughts on the ethical issues that may arise from the CRISPR-CAS9 technology but I believe as long as it is being used for the benefit of a patient with a life-threatening genetic disease, then there should not be an issue.
How this technology actually works is that you would target the DNA sequence while the guide RNA binds to the target DNA. After that, the CAS-9 enzyme binds to the guide RNA then the CAS-9 enzyme cuts both strands of the DNA and the cut is repaired.
What this technology provides is the possible treatment of genetic diseases that we thought were untreatable. We could essentially delete the gene that would cause a genetic disease. The CRISPR-CAS9 technology is accurate, flexible, and diverse in its application. The quick processing time and low cost of production also provides a lot of benefits to the biomedical sciences. The future of CRISPR-CAS9 brings direction and benefits to things such as human gene therapy, drug development, agriculture, synthetic biology, animal model development, and programmable RNA targeting to name a few.
However, since this technology is new, there are still some ethical issues that may be brought up. With this technology, we could essentially eliminate all the "bad" genes that create chronic genetic diseases and cancer. If this technology were to go into the wrong hands, it could potentially be abused and manipulated in such a way where an individual may acquire the optimal genes and may deem superior to other human beings. There is a possibility that we humans may abuse the technology to redesign the human species. Those are some thoughts on the ethical issues that may arise from the CRISPR-CAS9 technology but I believe as long as it is being used for the benefit of a patient with a life-threatening genetic disease, then there should not be an issue.
If you are interested in reading more about this technology, here is an article below to check out.
Riordan, S. M., Heruth, D. P., Zhang, L. Q., & Ye, S. Q. (2015). Application of CRISPR/Cas9 for
biomedical discoveries. Cell & Bioscience, 5, 33. Retrieved from
The potential CRISPR has is truly remarkable, aided even further in its simplicity. The ethical dilemma really comes down to the alteration of embryos as I am not sure how it could be used medically in a patient. I think you are right in that there is potential for abuse, but that is the case with most technologies. As medicine and technology continue to advance, federal regulation becomes more important and needs to keep up. The question really becomes: should we do something just because we can? While removing a disease allele from the population may be beneficial, what are the long-term ramifications to the gene pool as a whole? CRISPR is certainly an exciting topic in biology right now, and will be interesting to see where it goes. I would not be surprised to see a Nobel prize in its future!
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