EDITORIAL DISCUSSION – 29th November, 2018
5. Why Chinese researcher’s claim of gene editing of babies is problematic– THE INDIAN EXPRESS – 28th November, 2018
NEWS REPORT
1. Chinese researcher created an international sensation.
2. He claimed that he had altered the genes of a human embryo that eventually resulted in the birth of twin girls early this month.
3. If it is true, it would be the first instance of human offspring having been produced with specific desired attributes, using newly-developed tools of gene editing.
4. If it is true, it would be the first instance of human offspring having been produced with specific desired attributes, using newly-developed tools of gene editing.
WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY DNA AND GENES?
1. DNA is deoxyribonucleic acid, the chemical, present at the centre of the cells of living things, that controls the structure and purpose of each cell and carries genetic information during reproduction.
2. Gene is a part of the DNA in a cell that controls the physical development, behaviour, etc. of an individual plant or animal and is passed on from its parents.
3. Physical attributes like height, skin, intelligence, eyesight, susceptibility to certain diseases, even behavioural traits are attributed to the information encoded in the genetic material.
4. If the information is altered, we can control some of these features.
A chromosome consists of a long strand of DNA containing many genes.
WHAT ABOUT GENETIC MODIFICATION IN CROPS?
1. Genetic Modification is widely practiced in agriculture.
2. Countries like USA, Brazil, Argentina practice it widely.
3. It became contentious in countries like India.
4. In agriculture, it is to increase productivity or increase resistance to diseases.
Tampering with the genetic code is more contentious in the human beings.
WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY CRISPR?
1. It is Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats.
2. It is the most efficient technology for gene editing.
3. Gene Editing is done by using a special protein called Cas9.
4. It is simple, effective and incredibly precise technology.
It is talked about as the technology that will revolutionise human existence in future.
MORE ON CRISPR-Cas9 TECHNOLOGY
1. It behaves like a cut and paste mechanism on DNA strands that contain genetic information.
2. The specific location of the genetic codes that need to be changed or edited is identified on the DNA strand.
3. Then, using the Cas9 protein, which acts like a pair of scissors, the location is cut off from the strand.
4. A DNA strand, which is broken has a natural tendency to repair itself.
Scientists intervene during the auto-repair process, supplying the desired sequence of genetic codes that binds itself with the broken DNA strand.
MORE ON GENE EDITING CAPABILITIES …
1. Gene editing capabilities now exist with hundreds of researchers and laboratories across the World.
2. Leading scientists in the field, including Jennifer Doudna, the co-inventor of CRISPR technology that was used to edit genes in the Chinese case, have calling for a “global pause” on clinical applications of the technology in human beings.
Internationally adopted protocols is the need of the hour.
NUMBER OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS!
POINT NO: 1
Is it required for protection to HIV?
The technology is used to solve a problem of HIV infection but, it has alternative solutions and treatments.
It is not necessary to tamper with genetic material, which may have unintended and yet unknown consequences.
POINT NO: 2
Not through peer-reviewed journal.
The researcher made the announcement in the media and not through peer-reviewed scientific journal.
So therefore, there is no way to verify the claims or whether the editing was carried out in the proper manner or not.
POINT NO: 3
The technology may not be 100% precise
The technology is extremely precise, but not 100% every time.
There is a possibility that some other genes also get targeted, in such scenario unintended impacts cannot be rolled-out.
POINT NO: 4
What about regulatory approvals?
It is not clear whether regulatory approvals were taken.
In most countries, possibly in China as well, such experiments are banned.
In many countries, it would be punishable by law.
There are also data and information gaps about the experiments.
Then, this involves highly problematic issue of trying to produce designer babies.
HIGHLY USEFUL FOR TREATMENT OF SOME DISEASES
1. The most promising use of the CRISPR is in treating sickle cell anaemia.
2. This is a single gene mutation, which makes the blood sickle-shaped.
3. This mutation can be reversed using gene editing technology.
4. If this is used for such type of therapy applications, there should not be any problem.
5. In such cases, the genetic codes of just one individual are being changed to cure a disease. It is gene therapy.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN THE GENES OF EMBRYO ARE CHANGED?
1. It will be passed on to the offspring that means, we are changing the genome of the next generation.
2. If we allow this, nothing stops people with access to CRISPR technology to produce babies with very specific traits i.e., Designer Babies.
5. Why Chinese researcher’s claim of gene editing of babies is problematic– THE INDIAN EXPRESS – 28th November, 2018
NEWS REPORT
1. Chinese researcher created an international sensation.
2. He claimed that he had altered the genes of a human embryo that eventually resulted in the birth of twin girls early this month.
3. If it is true, it would be the first instance of human offspring having been produced with specific desired attributes, using newly-developed tools of gene editing.
4. If it is true, it would be the first instance of human offspring having been produced with specific desired attributes, using newly-developed tools of gene editing.
WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY DNA AND GENES?
1. DNA is deoxyribonucleic acid, the chemical, present at the centre of the cells of living things, that controls the structure and purpose of each cell and carries genetic information during reproduction.
2. Gene is a part of the DNA in a cell that controls the physical development, behaviour, etc. of an individual plant or animal and is passed on from its parents.
3. Physical attributes like height, skin, intelligence, eyesight, susceptibility to certain diseases, even behavioural traits are attributed to the information encoded in the genetic material.
4. If the information is altered, we can control some of these features.
A chromosome consists of a long strand of DNA containing many genes.
WHAT ABOUT GENETIC MODIFICATION IN CROPS?
1. Genetic Modification is widely practiced in agriculture.
2. Countries like USA, Brazil, Argentina practice it widely.
3. It became contentious in countries like India.
4. In agriculture, it is to increase productivity or increase resistance to diseases.
Tampering with the genetic code is more contentious in the human beings.
WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY CRISPR?
1. It is Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats.
2. It is the most efficient technology for gene editing.
3. Gene Editing is done by using a special protein called Cas9.
4. It is simple, effective and incredibly precise technology.
It is talked about as the technology that will revolutionise human existence in future.
MORE ON CRISPR-Cas9 TECHNOLOGY
1. It behaves like a cut and paste mechanism on DNA strands that contain genetic information.
2. The specific location of the genetic codes that need to be changed or edited is identified on the DNA strand.
3. Then, using the Cas9 protein, which acts like a pair of scissors, the location is cut off from the strand.
4. A DNA strand, which is broken has a natural tendency to repair itself.
Scientists intervene during the auto-repair process, supplying the desired sequence of genetic codes that binds itself with the broken DNA strand.
MORE ON GENE EDITING CAPABILITIES …
1. Gene editing capabilities now exist with hundreds of researchers and laboratories across the World.
2. Leading scientists in the field, including Jennifer Doudna, the co-inventor of CRISPR technology that was used to edit genes in the Chinese case, have calling for a “global pause” on clinical applications of the technology in human beings.
Internationally adopted protocols is the need of the hour.
NUMBER OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS!
POINT NO: 1
Is it required for protection to HIV?
The technology is used to solve a problem of HIV infection but, it has alternative solutions and treatments.
It is not necessary to tamper with genetic material, which may have unintended and yet unknown consequences.
POINT NO: 2
Not through peer-reviewed journal.
The researcher made the announcement in the media and not through peer-reviewed scientific journal.
So therefore, there is no way to verify the claims or whether the editing was carried out in the proper manner or not.
POINT NO: 3
The technology may not be 100% precise
The technology is extremely precise, but not 100% every time.
There is a possibility that some other genes also get targeted, in such scenario unintended impacts cannot be rolled-out.
POINT NO: 4
What about regulatory approvals?
It is not clear whether regulatory approvals were taken.
In most countries, possibly in China as well, such experiments are banned.
In many countries, it would be punishable by law.
There are also data and information gaps about the experiments.
Then, this involves highly problematic issue of trying to produce designer babies.
HIGHLY USEFUL FOR TREATMENT OF SOME DISEASES
1. The most promising use of the CRISPR is in treating sickle cell anaemia.
2. This is a single gene mutation, which makes the blood sickle-shaped.
3. This mutation can be reversed using gene editing technology.
4. If this is used for such type of therapy applications, there should not be any problem.
5. In such cases, the genetic codes of just one individual are being changed to cure a disease. It is gene therapy.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN THE GENES OF EMBRYO ARE CHANGED?
1. It will be passed on to the offspring that means, we are changing the genome of the next generation.
2. If we allow this, nothing stops people with access to CRISPR technology to produce babies with very specific traits i.e., Designer Babies.
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