[ad_1]
It seems that CRISPR-Cas9, a genetic editing tool that has promised to eliminate "unwanted" parts of the genome, such as those that cause disease, and even to insert from new footage, is not as safe as it seemed. A new study found that the technique could cause major damage to what had been observed previously.
To get an idea of how the technique was considered, she was considered a Nobel Prize in Chemistry believed that it could eradicate diseases. However, the researchers said Monday (16) that it could cause unexpected genetic mutations.
According to experiments carried out in a laboratory using human and mouse cells, the technique CRISPR-Cas9 frequently caused "extensive" genetic mutations . This was the first badessment that brought unintended consequences because of the use of the tool
Allan Bradley of the Wellcome Sanger Institute in England, co-author of the study, said that "DNA changes have been seriously underestimated before. The research was published in the journal Nature Biotechnology
"It is important that anyone who is considering using this technology for gene therapy proceeds with caution and carefully examines the adverse effects."
Introduced for the first time six At the beginning of the year, Microsoft began developing a tool to help scientists in the use of CRISPR-Cas9 through artificial intelligence.
With the new research, "large genetic rearrangements, such as deletions and insertions of DNA" were found in the cells, which could lead to the activation or deactivation of genes important, causing dangerous changes.
For Robin Lovell of the Francis Crick Institute, "the results do not give rise to panic or to lose faith in the methods when they are done by those who know what they are doing .
In fact, the damage only occurs when the work done is to cut a sequence, leaving open for the cell to repair. There are other methods that involve replacing or disabling sequences that should not cause this reaction.
For the moment, there is no reason to abandon the technique – you have to study a little longer until you reach a conclusion. their safety in humans.
Source link
