Modification of human genes - is almost a reality

Chief Editor MIT Technology Review Antonio Regalado пообщался with the staff of the Harvard Medical School, who specialize in the development of methods of genetic modification. The main conclusion to which he came, is that intervention in human DNA - it is rather a question of ethics than a scientific problem. What interventions are permissible and what they can bring? Is society ready to the fact that a person can be constructed even before his birth? And as soon as the plot of the movie "Gattaca" will be the everyday reality?

A young employee of Harvard Dr. Lujan Young (Luhan Yang), one of the key figures in the development of a method of genetic manipulation CRISPR-Cas9 , recently founded biotech company, which is engaged in the altered gene in cattle. He says that the same method can be used to modify human genes. For example, there is nothing to prevent a scientist to replace the defective gene responsible for the appearance of a human sickle cell disease or Alzheimer's disease.

Despite its shortcomings, CRISPR already been successfully applied not only for animals, but also for primates. For example, genes pair macaques were изменены in the past, with the purpose of regulating the metabolism and production of stem cells. Monkeys were born healthy, but to test the success of genetic modification must pass three years before they reach maturity for a marketing *. Now, as they say genetics at Harvard, at their disposal about 20 monkey embryos, so that the expected time, such as manipulation of the human DNA are estimated at 10-20 years.

It is with the help of CRISPR-Cas9 recently a group of scientists led by Professor Salk Institute (USA) Juan Belmonte (Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte) conducted a successful experiment to remove fragments immunodeficiency virus from human DNA. In viral DNA markers have been specified in the form of RNA molecules marking fragments for deletion. This method is tested on lymphocytes and other immune cells infected with HIV. The first version of the RNA markers was able to remove the virus and should be in the 72% of the cells. Were destroyed as "fresh" DNA of the virus and its "dormant" copies.

A recent case study in the US showed that modern society is ready for such manipulations. Adults asked the question - whether they agree that the genes of their child will be performed genetic modification in order to become "smarter" and would be less prone to serious diseases. A significant number of respondents were positive: