Scientists can now edit genes

BRITISH scientists have used genome ‘editing’ technology to reveal the role of a key gene in the early development of human embryos, a potential boost for fertility treatment.

They used genome ‘scissors’ called CRISPR-Cas9 to snip out a gene called OCT4 (thought to be a major player in embryo formation) from fertilised eggs.

“After the egg is fertilised, it divides until at about seven days, it forms a ball of around 200 cells called the blastocyst,” authors of the study said. “The study found that human embryos need OCT4 to correctly form a blastocyst.”

This was the first use of genome editing to study gene function in human embryos, which could help scientists to better understand early development, said the Francis Crick Institute, whose researchers took part in the study.

“This proof of principle lays out a framework for future investigations that could transform our understanding of human biology,” said the study published in the science journal Nature.

On a technical level, the study confirmed CRISPR-Cas9 editing as a “powerful method” for probing the role of individual genes in human development.

The technique – repeatedly mooted as a worthy candidate for a Nobel – allows scientists to remove and replace a faulty sequence on a strand of DNA with pinpoint precision.

The method can theoretically be used to eliminate disease-bearing mutations in embryos, or engineer more nutritious and resilient plants and healthier livestock.

“One way to find out what a gene does in the developing embryo is to see what happens when it isn’t working. Now, we have demonstrated an efficient way of doing this,” said Kathy Niakan, co-author from Francis Crick Institute.

“If we knew the key genes that embryos need to develop successfully, we could improve IVF treatments and understand some causes of pregnancy failure.

“It may take many years to achieve such an understanding; our study is just the first step.” – AFPRelaxnews