CRISPR Gene Editing May Cause Hundreds of Unintended Mutations in DNA

[Techno-Druid]

https://futurism.com/4-crispr-may-ca...w-study-shows/

Gene editing is a relatively new technology, and no other method currently available is as fast, precise, and efficient as CRISPR-Cas9. It has had unprecedented success in a number of fields, particularly in medicine—allowing scientists to edit HIV out of living organisms and engineer an end to malaria through the modification of mosquitoes.

Chinese scientists asserts that they’ve already used CRISPR on a human being, and clinical trials are in the mix in many locals (including the United States). Given the expected widespread use of CRSIPR in the world of tomorrow, researchers from the Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) are offering a word of caution. A study published in the journal Nature Methods revealed that CRISPR-Cas9 can lead to unintended mutations in a genome.

“We feel it’s critical that the scientific community consider the potential hazards of all off-target mutations caused by CRISPR, including single nucleotide mutations and mutations in non-coding regions of the genome,” co-author Stephen Tsang, from CUMC, said in a press release.

In the study, Tsang’s team sequenced the genome of mice that they had previously used CRISPR on in an attempt to cure their blindness. They looked for all possible mutations, even those that might have changed just a single nucleotide. The researchers discovered a staggering 1,500 single-nucleotide mutations and over 100 larger deletions and insertions in the genomes of two of the recipients.

CRISPR-Cas9 is amazing, potentially able to eliminate or at least curtail a wide range of genetic diseases and viral infections. However, we should look at the potential side effects CRISPR could have on the human genome.

On the bright side, mutations are not inherently negative and relatively harmless mutations can potentially be more beneficial as it increases our genomic diversity.

[smackyslap]

IS anyone surprised that this is a possibility?

[Independent voter]

We need a CRISPR in every garage, $211 at Walmart.

[Sunseeker]

Well duh. I mean you start fucking around with biology and biology goes "HEY! WTF MAN!" And gets all weird.

[GennGreymane]

I mean....... how was this a surprise?

[Nihilist74]

Suuuuwwwweeeeeet! I hope it creates magneto and other mutants.

[Techno-Druid]

Well duh. I mean you start fucking around with biology and biology goes "HEY! WTF MAN!" And gets all weird.

To be fair, humans have always fucked around with biology, we've just learned how to speed the process up by a significant margin.

[ONCHEhap]

Well,it's still a necessary step towards our evolution.Can't get perfect in gene editing without trial and error

[OnlineSamantha]

The reason this is worrying is because CRISPR has largely been sold as a tool for making designer genes. The whole concept was bascially that you could easily, cheaply, and precisely change just one part of the genome - the part you actually want to change. Having it backfire with as much as 1500 genes per change sets the technology back a lot. Even if they are somehow not important parts of the genome, it will not be safe for human testing if they have such unintended consequences, because genomes are complex and have a lot of interplay in how they work, so they can produce a lot of side effects.

[Sunseeker]

To be fair, humans have always fucked around with biology, we've just learned how to speed the process up by a significant margin.

But we've done most of our biological fucking via methods that already exist in nature.

[Kontinuum]

[Zecora]

CRISPR Gene Editing May Cause Hundreds of Unintended Mutations in DNA

Colour me fucking surprised...

[Deleted]

The reason this is worrying is because CRISPR has largely been sold as a tool for making designer genes. The whole concept was bascially that you could easily, cheaply, and precisely change just one part of the genome - the part you actually want to change. Having it backfire with as much as 1500 genes per change sets the technology back a lot. Even if they are somehow not important parts of the genome, it will not be safe for human testing if they have such unintended consequences, because genomes are complex and have a lot of interplay in how they work, so they can produce a lot of side effects.

Quoting for emphasis: wouldn't bat an eye if CRISPR hadn't been advertised as a precise method of gene editing.

[Deleted]

Concerns were raised, and dismissed. Concerns are later confirmed and the response is "not surprising", what else did you expect.

[dextersmith]

Inc zombie apocalypse.

[Vash The Stampede]

CRISPR is a first generation tool, and newer tools will likely take its place. I wouldn't pay too much attention to the flaws of CRISPR.

[Kujako]

No worries, it'll be tied up in litigation for at least another decade.

[Deleted]

"May" is the most unscientific word ever.

[Kujako]

"May" is the most unscientific word ever.

Actually... I would argue it's very scientific. If you cast doubt aside, you've stopped being scientific. Where the denyers go wrong, is unreasonable doubt.

[Deleted]

Actually... I would argue it's very scientific. If you cast doubt aside, you've stopped being scientific. Where the denyers go wrong, is unreasonable doubt.

Well, no...casting doubt aside isn't what I meant. Scientists know that things may or may not happen. That's why they do science; to figure out what actually does happen. That something "may happen" is completely obvious to scientists. However, when it's used as a statement, it means absolutely nothing, and then it's about the most unscientific word you can ever use.

Instead of saying "CRISPR gene editing may cause" blah blah, you should say "the study <study name> conducted by <list the scientists> in <give date, time and location information> (link here <link the study>) showed <explain study findings in detail>" or something.

Just saying "X may do Y" is just complete and utter bullshit.