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Modern medicine has worked miracles to improve the quality and length of life. And the influence of medical science may well accelerate soon if the huge potential of CRISPR is exploited. But news that genes of twins in China were changed before birth, in a case of premature human experimentation, shocked the world.
CRISPR is extremely promising for the treatment and prevention of a wide range of diseases, such as cancer, heart disease and even mental illnesses.
These mutations will likely have an impact on cognitive function in twins
Neurobiologist Alcino J. Silva
But ethical concerns have been expressed about the use of genome editing, in addition to fears that CRISPR may be misused or even turned into a new generation of biological weapons.
These ethical concerns seem to have been validated after the announcement in January of two genetically modified girls born in China.
And a renowned scientist has now expressed his fears that genetically modified babies have had impaired brains.
It was thought that the genes of the Lulu and Nana twins had been modified before birth by a Chinese scientific team using the CRISPR editing tool.
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CRISPR: Genetically Modified Binoculars Have Improved Mind (Image: Getty)
CRISPR: The premature case of human experimentation shocked the world (Image: Getty)
The goal was to make girls immune to HIV infection, the virus that causes AIDS.
And new research shows that the same change introduced in girls' DNA, namely the removal of a gene called CCR5, could be linked to greater academic success.
Alcino J. Silva, a neurobiologist at the University of California, said, "The answer is probably yes, it affected their brains."
"The simplest interpretation is that these mutations will likely have an impact on cognitive function in twins," explains Silva.
He says that the exact effect on girls' cognition is impossible to predict and that "that is why it should not be done".
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The Chinese team, led by He Jiankui of the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, claimed to have used CRISPR for controversial purposes to remove CCR5 from human embryos, some of which were then used to create pregnancy.
HIV needs the CCR5 gene to enter human blood cells.
The CRISPR experiment has been widely condemned as irresponsible and is currently under investigation in China.
The news of the first genetically modified babies has also fueled the debate over whether CRISPR technology could one day be used to create super intelligent humans, perhaps as part of a race to biotechnology between the United States and China.
There is no evidence that he has actually undertaken to change the intelligence of the twins.
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CRISPR: The process could cure everything from cancer to heart disease and even mental illness (Image: Getty)
CRISPR: A Chinese science team changed their genes before the birth of Lulu and Nana twins (Image: Getty)
It is understood that the controversial Chinese scientist never contacted researchers who were studying the effects of CCR5 on cognition, unlike others from whom he hoped to obtain scientific advice or support.
"As far as I know, we have never heard from him," says Miou Zhou, a professor at Western University of Health Sciences in California.
Although he never consulted neuroscience researchers, the Chinese scientist was certainly aware of the connection between CCR5 and cognition.
It was first demonstrated in 2016 by Zhou and Silva, who discovered that removing the gene from mice significantly improves their memory.
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The team examined more than 140 different genetic alterations to find out what makes mice smarter.
According to her research, Silva claims to occasionally have contacts with Silicon Valley personalities and elsewhere who, in her opinion, have an unhealthy interest in the babies of creators with a better brain .
That's why, when the birth of the twins started making headlines, Silva says that he immediately asked if it had been an attempt at this type of modification.
"I suddenly realized that saints, they are really serious about this story," said Silva.
"My reaction was visceral repulsion and sadness."
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