A new form of treatment is on the rise. This type of treatment shows promise to slow the spread of diseases, cure blindness, and correct genetic defects.
Each person is different, unless of course you have an identical twin. We are all so different because we are made up of a unique genetic code. This code is housed in our cells within ribbons of DNA. Half of your DNA comes from your mother and half comes from your father. Ever since it’s discovery in the late 1850s, DNA has amazed the scientific community. It has held young and old scientists in awe.
James Watson and Francis Crick, names which appear often in school textbooks, moved the knowledge and understanding of DNA forward with their double-helix model. There are four nucleotides or substances, to keep it simple, that make up DNA. There are JUST four. Watson and Crick arranged these four nucleotide bases into pairs, building two chains which took on a twisted shape. Hence, the double-helix model.
The way in which these nucleotide bases are arranged determine eye color, height, skin color, blood type, and anything else you can think of. This also means that they can predispose you for inherited diseases and disabilities. Mistakes in the genetic code cause mutations. Mutations in the DNA sequence can cause mild or severe issues for the afflicted person.
For years the medical field has made efforts to treat these people or at least give them better quality of life. Medical professionals have used medications and treatments, trying to help their patients with no lasting results. They have recently made advancements which could change the way they look at these ‘incurable’ conditions.
The science and medical fields work hand in hand, relaying ideas and experiments to each other. As knowledge has grown about DNA, so has the treatment of mutations. A new tool has been developed under the name CRISPR. This tool is crucial to the future of gene editing.
CRISPR uses repeated sequences of DNA and enzymes, which are able to edit DNA. The sequences and enzymes are introduced to the human body through viral vectors. Viral vectors naturally multiply using bacteria cells, which they insert DNA into. This DNA integrates itself within the bacteria’s original code, changing the proteins the cell produces. Scientists have repurposed these viral vectors to potentially fix genetic abnormalities.
A main use of this technology is for sight related issues. The eye is cut off from the immune system, meaning it is much harder for the human immune system to reach and detect infections there. This means a viral vector can be inserted without fear of the immune system reacting to it. The retina cells in the eye can also maintain DNA much longer than other body cells, prolonging effectiveness of treatment.
As our knowledge of this technology widens, we will be able to help more and more people to combat these genetic disorders and diseases.
About The Author
Skylar Schade is currently a junior at Northwood High School. She believes that loyalty is the most important value. This is because it entails responsibility and accountability. If you are loyal to your craft, friends, or team you will always be there, showing up on time and meeting deadlines.
Sources
Vidyasagar, Aparna. “What Is CRISPR?” LiveScience, Purch, 21 Oct. 2021, https://www.livescience.com/58790-crispr-explained.html.
Fernández, Clara Rodríguez. “Can Gene Therapy Cure Blindness?” Labiotech.eu, 15 Mar. 2021, https://www.labiotech.eu/in-depth/gene-therapy-blindness-cure/.
Comments