What is gene editing and why is it controversial?
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What is gene editing?
Gene editing is a technique through which genes can be deleted or replaced from one’s genome. It is like removing a word in a sentence completely or replacing it with another related or unrelated word, but which would give a meaningful sentence.
Eg: Sundays are good days for work
Sundays are bad days for work
The most widely used technique of gene editing is called CRISPR, which is an adaptation of methods that bacteria use to kill invading viruses.
Eg: Sundays are good days for work
Sundays are bad days for work
The most widely used technique of gene editing is called CRISPR, which is an adaptation of methods that bacteria use to kill invading viruses.
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Why is it controversial?
No one has really found a fool-proof method of editing specific genes. Recent studies have shown that CRISPR is not as precise as scientists had once thought.
For example, scientists do think that a patient with edited genes stands a higher risk of getting cancer in his/her lifetime.
Editing in embryos can pass on harmful changes to the next generation. Which is why scientists themselves have imposed a moratorium on gene editing in embryos.
For example, scientists do think that a patient with edited genes stands a higher risk of getting cancer in his/her lifetime.
Editing in embryos can pass on harmful changes to the next generation. Which is why scientists themselves have imposed a moratorium on gene editing in embryos.