In fact, CRISPR works so well that the first human trial involving the method has already begun. In China, it is being used to disable a gene called PD-1 in immune cells taken from individuals with cancer. The edited cells are then injected back into each person’s body. PD-1 codes for an “off switch” on the surface of immune cells, and many cancers evolve the ability to thwart immune attacks by flipping the PD-1 switch to “off”. On the edited immune cells there is no switch for cancer cells to flip.
A trial in the US due to start soon is far more ambitious. This involves adding an extra gene engineered to make the immune cells target tumours and then using CRISPR to disable PD-1 and two other genes. The addition of tumour-targeting genes has already produced very promising results in trials for cancers like leukaemia, but it has not worked well for solid tumours. The hope is that combining the two techniques will make treatments far more effective.
If these trials show that editing cells’ genomes is safe, it could soon be used to treat a much wider range of diseases, likely starting with eye disorders.
Kurzgesagt has a great, albeit optimistic, video about this technology.
This is one of those technologies that has kind of slid under the radar, but has implications far reaching. Cheap, effective gene editing. Crazy times we live in.
While a 13% success rate in correcting the mutation may sound low, with the rapid growth in gene editing technology, this preliminary success is promising for treating retinitis pigmentosa.
This is a progressive eye disease with no cure at the moment. MY current conversation with patients, who have this, is whether they would like to test their kids or not for the gene. It typically means guaranteed blindness. This is game changing stuff.
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There was a radiolab episode on CRISPR that was super interesting. When people complain that the future was supposed to be way cooler, I think of things like this.
There was a radiolab episode on CRISPR that was super interesting. When people complain that the future was supposed to be way cooler, I think of things like this.
While this is awesome tech I am the type who worries about where tech could potentially lead us. Genetically modifying humans could allow governments or the rich and powerful to engineer humans how they see fit.
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Genetic engineering will transform society just as powerfully as the internet has. And just like the internet, it will change us in ways we cannot anticipate or control today. Everything from health care and agriculture to social norms and identities. Sooner than we think, the notion of your hair color, skin tone, eyes, etc. being determined by birth will be as comically anachronistic as placing phone calls through an operator on a switchboard.
The biggest red flag is human divergence - the affluent engineering their children to be smarter, healthier, more disciplined, etc. Take the advantages the wealthy can give their children today and multiply them five-fold. At some point we may well see two (or more) categories of humans with fundamentally different capabilities.
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If this day gets you riled up, you obviously aren't numb to the disappointment yet to be a real fan.
We already have the technology for that, it's called a tanning bed.
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While this is awesome tech I am the type who worries about where tech could potentially lead us. Genetically modifying humans could allow governments or the rich and powerful to engineer humans how they see fit.
I, for one, welcome technological advances similar to Deus Ex - Human Revolution/Mankind Divided, but without the resulting xenophobia. I'm probably asking for too much from society where the latter part is concerned.
(BTW for any of you of whom the reference is lost upon because you haven't played either game, you should play both.)
If these technologies can help to eliminate diseases or remove the genes from people who are likely to get things like breast cancer, then that is awesome. Making people more healthy overall is important.
Once you start getting into full scale genetic engineering though, that is where you get into problems like Khan from Star Trek.
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My 1.5 year old has a genetic condition that, under current treatments, is going to require IV needles at least 2-3 times a week for the rest of his life.
The drugs are thankfully covered by health care but are carefully controlled and very expensive (50 to 200k per year from various anecdotes I have seen).
But more importantly, he won't be allowed to take part in a lot of fun activites in order to ensure he doesn't develop any long-term, chronic, and painful issues as he grows up.
I anticipate it will be hard emotionally as well when he has to sit out of certain days of gym class, or he can't take part of some friends birthday parties, etc.
CRISPR has been wildly successful when tested on mice with his condition. I hope it develops fast enough that he can benefit from it too. Mainly so that he can be a normal kid, but man, to avoid all the needles and save the taxpayers some significant coin would be great benefit as well.
Or at least that it is an option if the gene passes to his kids/grandkids in a few decades.
Edit: I should say, he is a normal, healthy kid otherwise. He will be allowed to do a lot of activities and have fun, but with tighter boundaries for safety. We just look like enthusiastic helicopter parents to someone who doesn't know, but have good reason to be.
Last edited by calf; 12-15-2016 at 10:40 PM.
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If these technologies can help to eliminate diseases or remove the genes from people who are likely to get things like breast cancer, then that is awesome. Making people more healthy overall is important.
Once you start getting into full scale genetic engineering though, that is where you get into problems like Khan from Star Trek.
Which is where mankind always goes, when the cycling hour record goes from the current 49kms to around 120 and the Flames draft a 6ft 9inch 350 pound 18 year old who can skate at 85 miles an hour youll know Khan is only a few years away and will probably be playing as strong safety in Dallas
I wonder if these could be used to reverse or stop aging. Our lifespans are very much genetically determined. It's been a while since I took a genetics class, but in the early 2000s, they were pointing the finger at Telomers. If you could find a way to re-lengthen the Telomeres, you could extend our lifespans, potentially indefinitely.
I wonder if these could be used to reverse or stop aging. Our lifespans are very much genetically determined. It's been a while since I took a genetics class, but in the early 2000s, they were pointing the finger at Telomers. If you could find a way to re-lengthen the Telomeres, you could extend our lifespans, potentially indefinitely.
I think you would stillneed to find a way to regrow neurons while maintaining their information. Not sure this extends the maximum much. Just the average life expectancy.
Let's talk about CRISPR. A potentially species altering technology
