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The genetic mutation carried out last year by a Chinese scientist using the CRISPR technique was badociated with an increased risk of death of more than one-fifth.
By badyzing data from the British Biobank database of the University of California, Berkeley researchers found that people with two mutated copies of the CCR5 gene had a 21% higher mortality risk between 41 and 78 years of age. .
Rasmus Nielsen, professor of integrative biology at the University of Berkeley, said: "Beyond the many ethical issues related to CRISPR babies, the fact is that now, with current knowledge, it is very dangerous full effect of what these mutations do. "
Last year, the Chinese researcher, Professor He Jiankui, caused controversy when he used CRISPR to modify the CCR5 gene of human embryos in an effort to prevent the HIV virus from invading immune cells. Professor He then replanted the embryos in the mother who gave birth to genetically modified twins.
The protein for which CCR5 codes – which no longer works in people with the mutation in both copies of the gene – is involved in many bodily functions. Mutated copies of the CCR5 gene have already been badociated with death after influenza infection.
"In this case, it's probably not a mutation that most people would like to have. In fact, you are on average less well off, "said Professor Nielsen.
Berkley researchers badyzed more than 40,000 genomes and badociated health records in the UK Biobank database, the UK's long-term biobanking study. The database contains genomic information on half a million British citizens related to their medical records.
Berkley's findings have been published in Nature Medicine.
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