Can we change life itself? It sounds scary to a Content Editor, but to a Bio Technologist, a Doctor it is not impossible, as apparently incurable diseases can be cured through Gene Editing. And now AI is getting involved in that too. Genome editing (also called gene editing) is a group of technologies that give scientists the ability to change an organism’s DNA. These technologies allow genetic material to be added, removed, or altered at particular locations in the genome. A well-known method for gene editing is called CRISPR-Cas9, which is short for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated protein 9. The CRISPRCas9 system has created a revolution in the scientific community because it is faster, cheaper, more accurate, and based on AI
CRISPR-Cas9 was adapted from a naturally occurring gene editing system that pro – human’ bacteria use as a defense process for immunity. When infected with viruses, bacteria capture small pieces of the viruses’ DNA and insert them into their own DNA in a particular pattern to develop segments known as CRISPR arrays, which store the memory of the virus and similar ones. If the viruses attack again, the bacteria produce RNA segments from the CRISPR arrays that recognize and attach to specific regions of the viruses’ DNA. The bacteria then use Cas9 or another enzyme to destroy the DNA and disable the virus. Like any tool, its effectiveness depends on precision, and that’s where AI becomes effective. AI algorithms sift through vast genomic data to pinpoint the exact spot in our DNA that needs a change. It’s like having a GPS or compass which for gene editing. Scientists are using AI to design guide RNAs that improve the accuracy of CRISPR and eliminating side effects or any damage to the patient.
Genome editing is creating a revolution in the prevention and treatment of human diseases, particularly those which we used to consider as handicaps or medical challenges or an Act of God. Currently, gene editing is at the research and development phase only, to understand the cause and possible cure of diseases. It is being used for clinical trials for many diseases, which include genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, and sickle cell disease. It has created new hope for the treatment and prevention of fatal diseases such as cancer, heart disease, autism, epilepsy, and AIDs infection. Not only a cure, but an affordable cure. Scientists are working round the clock to make sure this approach is safe and effective for use in people. No one desires a repetition of the side effects of some of the COVID-19 vaccines.
Ethical questions arise when gene editing, using technologies like CRISPR-Cas9, is used to change human genes. As of now, the changes introduced with gene editing are confined to somatic cells, which are cells other than germline cells, meaning they do not create life or birth of a new human being. These changes are confined to only specific and infected tissues and are not passed on to the next generation. However, if changes are made to the germline cells, then changes made to the genes of an embryo could be passed to future generations. Humanoids could translate from movie to reality. Because of these ethical challenges, embryo-related gene editing is currently illegal in India, the USA and in many other countries and rightly so. Imagine someone becoming taller, more muscular, more intelligent through ‘Gene Editing’