Bill Gates, Google supports DNA editing research to cure genetic diseases

Bill Gates and many other names in the technology village have invested $ 120 in a project to study genetic modification methods to cure genetic diseases.

The research project changes DNA for healing

Editas Medicine Inc. recently reported that they have received $ 120 million from investors to support research to develop a precise technology capable of DNA repair and treatment of genetic diseases .

This project attracts the investment of many prominent figures in technology such as Boris Nikolic, chief scientific and technological adviser of Microsoft Corp, Bill Gates (Microsoft co-founder), Katrine Bosley (CEO one biotechnology company) .

In addition, there are other investors such as Deerfield Management Co., venture capital fund, Fidelity Management & Research Co. In the second round of fundraising, the Editas said that the number of donors has tripled compared to the first time (2013), including Flagship Ventures and Polaris Partners.

The Editas , based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a company developing a treatment method known as CRISPR-case.9 technology . The company is trying to use this method to repair faulty genes that lead to human eye disorder and work with Juno Therapeutics Inc. for cell anti-cancer methods. Editas have not yet conducted human trials and they refuse to provide a specific roadmap for their studies.

CRISPR helps scientists correct human genomes correctly by removing faulty DNA and replacing it with a complete component. This technology is considered to be cheaper and easier to implement than some of the other technologies currently being researched and developed.

However, there are also many people who oppose this method, they call to prohibit the impact on DNA of sperm, embryos and human eggs. Opponents fear that this method will interfere with human natural reproduction . However, the Editas representative said that the study will only aim at healing people, not interfering with the seeds of life as some people worry.

CRISPR has "wide applicability," said Jim Flynn, manager of Deerfield, the partner who invested $ 20 million in the project. Besides the Editas, a number of other biotech companies also research genome modification including CRISPR Therapeutics, Cellectis SA, Intellia Therapeutics Inc. and Precision BioSciences Inc.