Tinkering with genes could cure inherited disease in a generation
TECHNIQUES that enable the human genetic code to be ‘edited’ show so much promise that they could cure all inherited disease and some cancers within a generation, a leading researcher claims.
Scientists are now able to remove defective sections of DNA which contain mutations and replace them with healthy DNA.
In theory, the technology – called Crispr – could allow the eradication of genetic conditions including cystic fibrosis and Huntington’s disease, and could even be used to prevent some cancers.
Yesterday Dr Edze Westra, senior research fellow in biosciences at Exeter University, said Crispr ‘has great potential for the protection of species and the environment’.
He told the American Association for the Advancement of Sci- ence annual meeting in Boston, Massachusetts: ‘In the coming decades Crispr will become super important, and I think we will see it being used to cure all inherited diseases, to cure cancers, to restore sight to people by transplanting genes. It will definitely have massive importance.’
Using the technique to alter human embryos which are then implanted in a mother is currently banned in the UK and many other countries. However a significant shift is occurring, which suggests that it is gaining acceptance.
This week two major US institutions, the National Academy of Sci- ences and the National Academy of Medicine, recommended that germline editing – gene editing of human eggs, sperm and embryos – should be allowed in medical research.
Many critics insist that such powerful techniques should never be used to alter inherited DNA as that could lead to the production of ‘designer’ babies with selected features such as blue eyes, high intelligence or sporting prowess.
Dr David King, director of Human Genetics Alert, said: ‘If scientists create GM babies, it will be impossible to avoid the “designer babies” dystopia, because the line between therapy and enhancement has not been respected with any other medical technology.’
Dr Westra said: ‘There are fears about designer babies and we have to start having discussions about that so we can understand the consequences and long-term risks.’ Germline editing is banned in the UK except to allow the creation of ‘three-parent’ babies to stop inherited disease. Parliament ruled that defective DNA in the mitochondria – parts of cells that supply energy – can be replaced if they cause devastating diseases passed down from mothers to their children.
Crispr technology is also showing promise in creating mosquitoes that resist malaria, Dr Westra said.
‘This is going further than just genetic editing and essentially placing the Crispr machinery inside cells so that they will always make, for example, an antibody in a mosquito which would prevent malaria infection.
‘It’s like turning cells into a factory. But we need to do lots of labbased work to find out what the implications and evolution of such systems will be. It could be a fantastic strategy to deal with some of the world’s biggest problems.’
‘Massive importance’