Imagine a world in which superhumans live: strong, resilient, smart and never sick. Think something from the realm of Marvel films? Not at all. An ideal future is possible - you just need to redraw your DNA.
The first genetically modified babies were born in China. They were artificially conceived, and an HIV carrier became a semen donor. Children, too, could be struck by a terrible disease. However, this did not happen - local scientists turned off the gene responsible for HIV for them when the fetus was still in the embryonic state. Doctors have applied CRISPR technology - an advanced DNA alteration method that will make you strong, healthy and practically immortal.
If you have money. Much money.
To the layman, talk about editing the genome seems like something out of the category of science fiction. Nonetheless, biologists have been debating the possibilities of CRISPR for a long time - since the last century. This system was originally discovered as a defense mechanism for bacteria against viruses in the late 1980s. Then experts saw in her the ability to change DNA.
For a patent on a method for decoding the genome, two state universities fought for a long time: the Broad Institute in Massachusetts and the California Institute in Berkeley. Companies spent millions on lawyers, realizing that in the future this invention would bring them fabulous profits. As a result, the Broad Institute won - it still pours tons of dollars into the promotion of genomic projects. They are also working on a modification in Russia: we are also studying the possibility of disabling "unwanted" genes like HIV infection.
Moreover, Russian specialists could be the first to raise GMO children if they wanted to. “Technically, our group could have transplanted embryos back in February 2018, and then our genetically modified child would have been born earlier. But we didn't have that goal. My team will also give birth to such a child, we just go to this slowly, repeatedly checking the safety of technology, - said geneticist Denis Rebrikov in an interview with Republic. In general, genome change is not a fantasy, but a reality, it is about to knock on our doors. But is it dangerous? Ethical?
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What are the consequences?
Dr. Sandy Macra, president of the biotech company Sangamo Therapeutics, which conducts DNA-altering experiments, described the process. “We cut your DNA, open it up, insert the gene, sew it up. It becomes part of your DNA and remains for the rest of your life."
CRISPR works in three stages. First step. The viral DNA is memorized. It ends by embedding its fragments into a special "library". Further transcription is the synthesis of RNA on the DNA template.
Second phase. Secondary entry into the cell of viral DNA and recognition of viral DNA. The viral DNA is "scanned" and the enzyme introduces a double-strand break in the viral DNA.
Stage three. It consists in non-homologous stitching of the ends - this means that the ends of the gap are stitched together "at random", often with the introduction of mutations. It is these mutations that cause the "shutdown" of the viral genetic machine.
In 2017, Brian Madew, a 44-year-old chef, underwent a DNA-editing operation. Brian suffered from Hunter's Syndrome, a hereditary metabolic disease that causes numerous organ pathologies. This disease is more common in boys and is caused by a genetic mutation. People die from severe forms of Hunter's syndrome in adolescence. Madew was lucky enough to survive - but he also underwent 26 operations and had problems with hearing, vision, respiratory tract, gallbladder and bones. DNA editing has not made up for the damage done by the disease. But it stopped his progress and saved the man from daily injections of expensive drugs.
True, today such an operation is not a panacea, but rather a lottery: scientists are playing with Mother Nature, and it is impossible to fully weigh all the risks. The consequences of genome editing are irreparable. “When we repeatedly make sure that the genomic editing technology is accurate enough for“combat”use, we will be able to use it for medical purposes,” says Denis Rebrikov. That being said, Madew's case is so far exceptional. Sangamo Therapeutics continues research.
In the future, using the CRISPR method, it is possible to treat other genetic diseases - hemophilia, leukemia, cystic fibrosis.
Another problem: editing can provoke unwanted behavior in other genes. For example, patients were inserted with a foreign fragment, and after that they developed leukemia - interference with the native DNA activated the cancer gene.
At the same time, interference with the genome is also an ethically controversial procedure. Will CRISPR Lead to Social Divide? In November 2017, Patriarch Kirill opened the XXI World Russian People's Council. There he spoke about the development of medical technologies. The words of the patriarch are quoted by TASS:
Voices are heard that modern technologies are capable of creating artificial intelligence and artificial organs, that soon it will be possible to modernize our minds and bodies so that new creatures will arise. Belief in technology today is the same as belief in progress; it is a kind of quasi-religion. The rapid development of medical and genetic technologies is seen as a serious challenge. Futurologists already predict the imminent stratification of humanity into two races. Some predict the greatness of supermen, while others - the fate of subordinates. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia
At the same time, the patriarch noted that advanced biotechnology in itself is not evil if they are "available not only to wealthy representatives of society." However, it cannot be ruled out that conservative citizens can hear in the words of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church only an incentive to ban.
Western society is also still wary of disruptive technology. For example, the leading scientific journals Science and Nature, for ethical reasons, did not publish a study by Chinese scientists from Sun Yatsen University in Guangzhou. The Chinese were the first in the world to modify the DNA of embryos, which is prohibited in the United States and a number of Western countries. There is also debate about morality in Europe. However, Stanislav Bushev believes that these restrictions are temporary.
Shortly before his death, Stephen Hawking expressed concern: in the future, the world will be ruled by superhumans with phenomenal memory and intelligence, disease-resistant, strong and hardy. The physicist believed that ordinary people would not be able to compete with them and would literally become second class.
It is possible that technologies like CRISPR can split society into castes. After all, only the elite of society can afford such a procedure. Even now, it is difficult for a child from a poor family to compete with a child from a rich family - the starting conditions are too different.
What will happen when people with money become literally smarter, healthier and more beautiful?
Experts assure: a shift will occur, but there is a chance to avoid social tension. For example, according to Evgeny Bykov, genetic changes will be open to everyone, they just will be of different quality.
Stanislav Bushuev has a different opinion. He believes that "inequality will arise, as it always happens with any significant redistribution of the world." Moreover, according to the philosopher of biology, the very idea of inequality will change. “Flat dystopias portray rejuvenated and wiser immortal rich people, reproducing current inequality. Whereas - this is important - in principle, we are talking about drawing new lines of equality and inequality on the map of our reality,”explains Bushev.
This will bring unexpected ways to monetize DNA editing. How about cheaply putting out a “pass out”, say, low growth, but then renewing the license every year? A new business will also flourish - changing the genome at home.
The transhumanist scientist predicts the imminent appearance of "biosubcultures". People will be united not only by their profession or interests, but also by the category of upgrades in their body. Imagination draws pictures from Deus Ex, and this is how it will be, says Evgeny Bykov.
Ultimately, a person strives for one thing - to become immortal. Geneticist George Church said that in the future it is possible to create cells that are immune to the action of almost all known viruses. In his opinion, people will become immune to radiation, aging, cold, cancer and other diseases will disappear. Church predicts it will be available in ten years. Moreover, the biologist is sure that old age is an ailment that can also be combated.
However, the scientific community has a different opinion - there is no “aging” in the International Classification of Diseases. This means that it is forbidden to test drugs "for old age". Maybe DNA engineering will fix this?
So immortality does not threaten us yet - at best we will live longer. But interference with the genome will lead to new standards of humanity, will allow you to think faster and get sick less. If there is money for this, of course.
Unusual inventions of genetic engineering
Biological scientists working in the field of synthetic biology have invented a novel way to treat disease. They created exploding bacteria: an E.coli cell, upon contact with certain pathogenic cells, will explode, killing both the pathogen and itself.
South Korean scientists in the field of genetic engineering have applied the property of objects to glow in the dark. They created fluorescent transgenic puppies that were used as models to simulate human diseases. When cloning, scientists used techniques that could be used in the future to develop drugs for human diseases.
Scientists from the United States have developed a method to combat the spread of malaria and dengue. They have modified transgenic mosquitoes that live longer and are resistant to malaria.
At the moment, scientists are not only modifying animals. So, Dr. Jane Medford develops mine detector plants. Such plants turn white on contact with explosives and natural pollutants.
Another achievement of genetic engineering is the silkworm spider. Scientists have combined the genes of the silkworm with the genes of the spider to create spider silk, which, even when stretched, is stronger than steel.
An unusual biometric construction was created by the Harvard biophysicist Keith Parker. He combined rat muscle cells and an elastic gel-like base to create an artificial jellyfish. The Medusoid, placed in an aquarium with two electrodes, contracted muscle cells and floated forward. This research is of great importance for biology and develops a methodological basis for the creation of artificial organs for humans in the future.
The extracellular matrix can help humans regenerate lost body parts. The new approach was taken by Stephen Wolfe, injecting a small piece of pig bladder into the leg of a soldier who lost more than 70% of his limb in the explosion. The extracellular matrix awakens the ability to self-healing in the human body. As a result of the experiment, the soldier Isaias Hernandez regenerated most of the leg and restored its strength, although initially doctors advised him to amputate the limb completely.