First successful in testing gene editing technology

Recently, US scientists have for the first time successfully tested the gene selection technology for human embryos to repair disease-causing mutations, opening the opportunity to prevent genetic diseases over generations.

This is considered one of the important milestones in genetic research published in the prestigious British journal Nature.

Experiments were carried out by experts from Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) in collaboration with the Salk Institute and the Korea Institute of Genetics. The team applied CRISPR-Cas9 technology to correct gene mutations that cause a type of heart disease.

CRISPR-Cas9 acts as a molecular scissors that can cut off unwanted genes and replace healthy new DNA sequences.

The team applied CRISPR-Cas9 technology to correct gene mutations that cause a type of heart disease.

This technology has also been tested several times in China but does not give clear results.

In order to increase the likelihood of success, the team at the same time introduced components to modify the genome along with sperm samples from a male volunteer carrying the diseased gene during fertilization.

As a result, 72% of tested embryos used healthy copies of transgenic genes to repair mutations and growths without carrying the heart disease gene. In particular, this does not cause any mutations on other parts of the genome, a phenomenon that is a major concern in the process of genetic modification.

In addition, non-disease-modifying genes will inherit to the first generation and grandchildren of the embryo.

Although it has not reached 100% success, this technology helps to increase the number of embryos that can be genetically modified from 50% in nature to 72%.

Scientists are still cautious to warn that more experiments should be done to increase the success rate to 100%, while ensuring the level of safety before it can be put into practice.

Genetic modification technology is still a controversial topic. The protesters argue that if the technology is applied, the future will have many children born according to the "design" that their parents demand while the supporter thinks the technique will help generations. After eliminating the genetic genes that carry disease.