Question

Thinking question:What kind of consequences(including pros and cons) will the development and application of gene editing technology (including transgenic technology) bring to human society?Give your paragraph at least 350 words

Answer 1

• Gene editing refers to altering a part of genetic sequence with the desired or intended sequence.
• One of the most popular tool for gene editing is CRISPR.
• CRISPR is Clustered Regulatory Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats.
• CRISPR associated –Protein 9 nuclease Caspase (Cas-9) is used as a molecular tool for editing of genomes.
• It acts in a similar manner as genetic engineering or construction of GMO (genetically modified organism).
• RNAi has also been applied to gene editing technique:
• RNAi or RNA interference has an ability of gene silencing, by inhibiting expression of genes

Pros:

• For transgenic organism creation: for mutational related studies, editing the desired sequence by combining with other sequences may be used.
• Targeting mutaed genes like cancer mutations: knockout of the wild type mutated genes is conducted. The alteration of genome is caused by gene knockout resulting in loss of function of genes. The target genes are eliminated or inactivated.
• Treatment of diseases: diseases, specifically those that are inherited or related to genetic constitution.

Example: Muscle wasting is related with Duchene Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).

It is associated with DMD gene mutation and expression of protein called Dystrophin.

This in turn causes, degeneration of myofibrils or muscle wasting.

CRISPR techni

· Muscle wasting is related with Duchene Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).

· It is associated with DMD gene mutation and expression of protein called Dystrophin.

· This in turn causes, degeneration of myofibrils or muscle wasting.

· CRISPR/ Cas9 system of gene editing may be applied for the correction of such defects.

· CRISPR is Clustered Regulatory Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats.

· CRISPR associated –Protein 9 nuclease Caspase (Cas-9) is used as a molecular tool for editing of genomes.

· It acts in a similar manner as genetic engineering or construction of GMO (genetically modified organism).

Cons:

1.Creation of a tailored individual or a super human may become a trend by imposing best suited genes while in the fetus. Prospect of creating new modified form of life may create a derogatory feeling of low esteem and may fear a creation of better or superior race. Such controversies were observed after creation of modified twin babies by Chinese scientists in 2018.

2. Unexpected mutations or side effects were observed. In some CRISPR cases, unwanted mutations were seen in edited genome in some mice. Some edited monkeys (BAML1- circadian control gene) were observed to have depression.

3. CRISPR uses gene knock out technique, which result in permanent effect, which cannot be reversed if needed. Thus, the edited genomes may exhibit problems later in lime which may not be in condition to be altered.