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Despite the excitement elicited by the CRISPR edition, the researchers insisted on the need to do too fast. Two recent studies have raised concerns that CRISPR may not be as effective as previously thought and, in some cases, may result in undesirable side effects.
The first study showed that when the Cas9 protein, which is part of the CRISPR system that cuts DNA before correcting the mutation, cuts the DNA of the stem cells, it causes their stress and prevents them from being modified. While some cells can recover after their DNA has been corrected, other cells could die.
The second study showed that a protein called p53, well known for its protection against tumors, is activated by cellular stress. The protein then inhibits the CRISPR editing. Because the CRISPR activity is stressful, the editing process can be thwarted even before it has accomplished its task.
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In addition, like most technologies, not all changes are accurate. From time to time, CRISPR targets the wrong sites in the DNA and makes changes that researchers fear to cause disease.
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In the longer term, it is clear that technology has great potential for treating human diseases. Recent studies have revealed new aspects of how CRISPR works that could have implications for how these therapies are developed.
Read the full and original article: Here's what we know about CRISPR security – and reports of "genome vandalism"
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